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Upgrading The Driving Lights But Keeping It Older Looking

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by 2500hd, Jul 6, 2020.

  1. Jul 9, 2020
    bigbendhiker

    bigbendhiker Member

    U.S.
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  2. Jul 9, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    OK seriously- my $.02 Canuck-

    There's on road lights & there's off road lights- the difference is the lens.

    On road lights have a definate cutoff pattern to them to meet DoT/Euro spec standards. You can up the wattage but all you do is make things *in* the pattern brighter, and the pattern is not suitable, or at least optimal, for off-road use.

    Off road lights tend to be more of a "flood" pattern- i.e. the beam is spread out in all directions equally thus providing more light to the sides & above the hood line.

    Properly designed halogen & led headlamps can provide a real improvement for road use, improperly designed ones are at best a headache for oncoming traffic & can actually be dangerous.

    A good road light will never be a good off road light source, an off road light will never be good for road use.

    You've stated you're interested in improving off road lighting- I'd say find some aux flood light bulbs in the technology of your choice , 7", nice chrome case & bolt them to your bumper.

    You might want to have a look at this-



    I've added a swivel spot light to Tonk just in case something catches my interest off to the sides.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Jul 9, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Good info but you did not mention another off-road style light and that is the beam type light used for longer distances. Much narrower beam but much, much longer distances. I used them for sand/beach night running and occasional desert running back in the day. Very useful in some conditions if you couple them with the flood style lights for other conditions.
     
  4. Jul 10, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    I'm using a 100/80 halogen H4 bulb in my bike. Bulbs don't burn out, but the pigtail is close to melting.
     
  5. Jul 10, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Fair point, although I did show a pic of my spot I put on Tonk. Certainly fixed spots do have a use if you're running high speeds on reasonably flat ground but I guess I was thinking under those conditions the road lights would fulfil that requirement. I used to run 100 w aircraft landing lights on one of my cars mounted in the driving light location & they certainly do reach out there straight down the road but they didn't do s#!* at picking up anything, i.e. deer, standing 1 foot outside the beam pattern.
     
  6. Jul 10, 2020
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    My Hella long-range spots once saved me from a group of deer crossing the highway. I could see way beyond the OEM hi-beams with them.

    Even so, I put flat spots on four new tires, and butted one buck in the rear. He didn't move, but turned his head to stare at me, like "wtf, man?"
     
    Lockman and Hellion like this.
  7. Jul 10, 2020
    CHUGALUG

    CHUGALUG Member

    Silverton, OR
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    Thanks dude take a look at it with the radiator lights on

    [​IMG] I need to get one with the lights in and the green lights on.
     
  8. Jul 10, 2020
    Snoops

    Snoops Making progress, slow but at least it's forward! 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Very nice!
     
  9. Jul 11, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    I should have worded my post a little different. I meant the lights I mentioned are another option and another type of light that can be used in conjunction with other lights. I had a spotlight on my Jeep years ago and it was useful but not on the highway at night or when in the dunes or desert moving very fast.
     
  10. Nov 22, 2021
    2500hd

    2500hd Member

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    Fireball likes this.
  11. Nov 22, 2021
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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  12. Nov 22, 2021
    Uncle Vin

    Uncle Vin Member 2022 Sponsor

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    These: VCm3 - 7 INCH LED HEADLIGHT KIT - Vintage Car LEDs. Those are the only ones offered by this vendor which are convex like the originals (with the classic lense upgrade) and will fit inside of the light can. I just installed them on my Jeep and they look great.[​IMG][​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2021
    dnb71R2 likes this.
  13. Nov 22, 2021
    Lockman

    Lockman OK.....Now I Get It . 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Hey Chug......Dig the Blue , Man
     
  14. Dec 2, 2021
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    Thanks for the tip on those, I've been hoping to find some more convex replacement lenses. I love the light of the Hellas, but they are way too flat for that vintage look.
     
  15. Dec 2, 2021
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  16. Dec 2, 2021
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

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    That and the headlight buckets have no real venting. The latter is of more concern to me than just the size of the heat sinks. The obvious solution would be to wack the back off the buckets off but for some reason I can't bring myself to do that. We need VIN to leave those on for about 100 hours to see what happens----
     
  17. Dec 2, 2021
    Madmike8

    Madmike8 New Member

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  18. Dec 3, 2021
    Uncle Vin

    Uncle Vin Member 2022 Sponsor

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    I'll use them and report back on my findings. Worst case scenario, a strategically placed vent should ameliorate the problem, if there should be one. We shall see.
     
  19. Dec 3, 2021
    GillaFunk

    GillaFunk I'm the Dude, so thats what you call me. 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  20. Dec 3, 2021
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    330 bucks for a set of lights seems steep, doesn't it?
     
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