H4 Headlights Options

[Cal]

I'm considering updating my sealed beam headlights with period correct H4's. What's the maximum wattage bulb that can be installed without having to install relays? In the past I've installed H1's with 100/80 watt bulbs in my early SWB 911 and I needed to install relays. I'm not interested in LED lights.

[914Sixer]

You will have to stick with what you have there 60/55. Motorcycle LED's are plug and play in H4 bulbs. NO fans or canbus needed.

[brant]

even with the smaller bulbs...
your still putting a lot of load through the headlight switch
and premature failure....
(well I guess its about 50Years old... so may not be premature...)

[Cairo94507]

Please consider doing the LED conversion on those H4's. Your wiring will thank you and you will love the light output.

[JmuRiz]

I have 60/55 H4 upgrades on mine...never had an issue. I'm changing over to LED lights though (they won't look the same, but they are flip-up lights so most of the time they'll be hidden.

Let me know if you want a used set.

[Warren914]

How will it look different with LED bulbs? Are you just swapping the bulb within the enclosure or doing the full assembly? Any photos?

I have 60/55 H4 upgrades on mine...never had an issue. I'm changing over to LED lights though (they won't look the same, but they are flip-up lights so most of the time they'll be hidden.

Let me know if you want a used set.

[JmuRiz]

LED bulbs don't really work well, I'm going with a full unit.
They look more like this...whatever the original version of this was, tons of knockoffs now:(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.revzilla.com-50-1641919718.1.jpg)

[Mark Henry]

I broke down and bought a set of the 914rubber LED lights and housings on black friday.
I'm not a fan of LED's but my 60/55 H4's are just not cutting it and the 100/80w units are illegal. I'm tired of the car behind me lights over riding my H4 lights.

I can't comment on the fit and performance yet, housings look good, metal body but are plastic lenses and they do look stock. Not a stupid looking (IMHO on a 914) modern LED light.

[Cairo94507]

I had the GE Nighthawk lights in my car and they performed exceptionally well. The only reason I swapped to the H4 LED kit is I wanted the car to look as stock as possible. The performance of the GE lights was amazing. My LED's are good, but not as good as the Nighthawks were. For the few times I drive the car at night, I am fine with the H4 LED's. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Driver174]

Although my objective may be different; don't care about originality, just wanted to "see and be seen". The 914Rubber upgrade is wonderful. Head light brightness is pretty much equivalent to a modern vehicle.

All of the Spoke LED products are good as well.

[horizontally-opposed]

LED bulbs don't really work well, I'm going with a full unit.
They look more like this...whatever the original version of this was, tons of knockoffs now:(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.revzilla.com-50-1641919718.1.jpg)

Bought some of the bulbs Vintage LEDs was selling for H4 housings, but have yet to install them. Been waiting for a proper, dedicated LED 7-inch round headlight like the one above but without the bar or other modernizations to say they're LEDs.

Yeah, they're pop-up lights, but everyone's got their ticks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Having run Spoke's LED brake lights with white boards for a while, it's possible to modernize with nearly stock looks…and very, very worthwhile. Having run both 55/60 and 80/100 bulbs in H4s, don't bother with either if you have been spoiled by many (or any) modern cars.

[brant]

I ran 80/100 for from 86? to 2017?
The alternator is much happier with my vintage leds
Light is much better… and I’m old and get caught in the dark from time to time

[mepstein]

I had the GE Nighthawk lights in my car and they performed exceptionally well. The only reason I swapped to the H4 LED kit is I wanted the car to look as stock as possible. The performance of the GE lights was amazing. My LED's are good, but not as good as the Nighthawks were. For the few times I drive the car at night, I am fine with the H4 LED's. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Driving through my rural winding roads, the Nighthawks are awesome. Lots of light, far down the road and to the side. I never get flashed by oncoming cars so I'm assuming the cutoff is good. The high beams are incredible.

We don't have streetlights so the light is especially noticeable.
I'm also an early adopter and big fan of Spoke's lights. Easy to see, even in the day and no more melted rear housings.

[iankarr]

I put LED's in both of my 914s and the difference is amazing. I made a video of the install...and there's a scene showing the before/after...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkTa0JSenk0

[JmuRiz]

Holley is making a stock look one now too, might be worth a look:

https://www.holley.com/blog/post/add_modern...t_classic_look/

[horizontally-opposed]

Nice find! The Holley lights look good. Only question might be mounting depth…

https://www.holley.com/products/exterior/li...s/parts/LFRB135

[horizontally-opposed]

(With apologies to Cal for derailing his thread. I too love H4s for their period looks, but they are woefully inadequate in 2022. And my time with 80/100s had me cringing for my wiring and switches every time I swapped to high-beams)

[rgalla9146]

Note to self re 100w Halogens;
......install relays or upgrade to modern lighting
Them Holleys look good.....anyone here have install experience ?

[Cairo94507]

I agree. Nathan seems to have found a great solution. But I think someone needs to bite the bullet and buy a set to see how they fit.

One of the issues with the GE Nighthawks in my car was the headlight protruded from the pocket about 1/4" more than stock which meant we had to adjust the "eye brows" so the light did not hit them when opening and closing. Left a bit more of a gap than a stock headlight would require. Overall, not a big deal, but just so you know.

On the H4 LED lights in my car now, you do have to carefully fit the LED power module into the headlight bucket area and secure it well so it does not move around. That took a bit of fiddling as there is not a lot of room but I finally got them perfectly secured and have had no issues. I posted pictures of my installation in one of the headlight threads.

Finally, I have all of Spoke's LED lights in my car and I 1000% endorse and love them. Plug and play installation that even I could do. They make a huge difference and people comment on them regularly. The single biggest safety upgrade you can do for our old cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Jamie]

I installed VintageCar LED headlamps 2 yrs. ago after seeing demo at Okteenerfest. It was an easy plug and play swap, but the improvement in lighting was outstanding, and they look very much like the H4s I replaced. I believe it was the model 3500 they offer that I purchased, a very worthwhile upgrade for any teeners driven in darkness! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)