Refurb headlights or buy new

[dan]

As I continue digging through electrical problems, I took apart the "sealed beam" headlights that someone installed on my Tudor. Partly because they're the wrong thing, partly because the light switch wasn't turning them on, partly because the engine compartment end of the wires was a rat's nest.




Isn't that lovely.


I want to fix this right, so I went to a couple of the parts suppliers and priced out the correct wiring, sockets, reflectors, lenses and so forth. The total is pretty close (within about 20%) of the cost of just buying a set of reproduction buckets with all the guts.


These black-painted buckets aren't actually correct for the car, I don't believe. I could probably get a set of originals off eBay, but all those currently listed look like they're going to need significant work to get into shape. And with eBay you're often buying someone else's unresolved problems...In any case, I was wondering if anyone had opinions about current repro headlights before I buy a set.

[1931 flamingo]

Personally I would go with new.



Paul in CT

[Bob Bidonde]

You post indicates you have more than one electrical problem. It is far better to restore original parts than to use reproductions in my opinion. In your case, I suspect that your Model A needs a total electrical system restoration, so I recommend that you replace the all of wiring harnesses, especially the main lighting harness.

[dan]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

You post indicates you have more than one electrical problem. It is far better to restore original parts than to use reproductions in my opinion. In your case, I suspect that your Model A needs a total electrical system restoration, so I recommend that you replace the all of wiring harnesses, especially the main lighting harness.

Good advice, Bob. I didn't mention it, but this is part of my wiring harness replacement project. Untangling the mess has been interesting... in the ancient Chinese curse sense.

[JayJay]

FWIW: I was having issues with the flat-headed stock-style wires and plastic inserts meeting properly with the (obviously) repro socket in the buckets. I removed the guts of the sockets and installed banana plugs on the harness wires and the socket wires, and use the push-in connectors on the wires. No trouble since. The harness wires are color coded, but the socket wires aren’t. I put a wrap of colored electricians tape to keep them straight.

[ronn]

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sell the old set for 75. and buy new..............

[Canton_Model_A's]

Dan, you could if you aren't already, replace the wiring harness, available at the normal suppliers. You might be able to get your headlights and buckets from Sullivan's Garage. https://www.sullivansgarage.com/

https://www.sullivansgarage.com/

[amherstburg]

Hi Dan;
I restored my early 1928 tudor. I purchased a pair of new headlights with fluted lenses from obsoleteandclassicautoparts.com. Look in their online catalogue on page 83. You can also phone them and they will assemble what you need.
Dave Charette

[bobbader]

Don’t know what year your Model A is, but before you drop everything to buy new, you should know that reproduction lights have been in scarce supply since Covid. Then, you also need to know that while the new buckets are very nice, the weak links are the internal wiring & sockets and hardware that holds the new assemblies together. So, in my estimation, if your buckets are sound, you’ll get away a lot cheaper to “bite the bullet”, do some research, buy the best quality wiring & socket sets available and learn how to put them together properly. You’ll be ahead of the game. Shiny new buckets don’t account for internal parts that can only be maintained with lots of cursing.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by bobbader

Don’t know what year your Model A is, but before you drop everything to buy new, you should know that reproduction lights have been in scarce supply since Covid. Then, you also need to know that while the new buckets are very nice, the weak links are the internal wiring & sockets and hardware that holds the new assemblies together. So, in my estimation, if your buckets are sound, you’ll get away a lot cheaper to “bite the bullet”, do some research, buy the best quality wiring & socket sets available and learn how to put them together properly. You’ll be ahead of the game. Shiny new buckets don’t account for internal parts that can only be maintained with lots of cursing.

I concur. To me the weak links seem to be the repro A-13075-?? Head Lamp Sockets - contacts in the wrong places, metal too thin, metal not springy enough to hold in place, diameter of the sockets either too small for the headlamp or too big for the conduit ferrules (or both).

[dan]

Originally Posted by bobbader

Then, you also need to know that while the new buckets are very nice, the weak links are the internal wiring & sockets and hardware that holds the new assemblies together.

Thanks for that--Unfortunately, the buckets were gutted when whoever-it-was hacked them to install the "sealed beam" lamps. I have the buckets, the trim ring, and that's it--I don't have sockets, lenses, wiring, or any of the "guts" so I'm going to need new innards whatever I do about the exterior parts.

[ModelA29]

Mine had halogen lights with a cobbled up harness that had turn signal wiring that was never hooked up. I bought the new Snyders reflectors (sockets etc) and Logo Lite LEDs (old style) along with their turn signal kit. I also got a new wire harness but I haven't put it in yet (winter project).

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...d=976424&cat=0

[updraught]

The new LED globes don't use the reflectors so no point buying new ones.

[springerpete]

I would call Bert's in Denver and see what they could offer you for good A parts.

[Badpuppy]

Originally Posted by updraught

The new LED globes don't use the reflectors so no point buying new ones.

You still need the reflectors to mount the sockets in. They just don't need to be reflective.

[Ayers1]

Originally Posted by Badpuppy

You still need the reflectors to mount the sockets in. They just don't need to be reflective.

My 2 cents worth, I have 2 A's, both have logo lights. The 28 has new reflectors, the 30 doesn't, mainly for the reason listed above. When you look at them from the front the 28 looks much better just because it doesn't have dingy reflectors.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by Ayers1

My 2 cents worth, I have 2 A's, both have logo lights. The 28 has new reflectors, the 30 doesn't, mainly for the reason listed above. When you look at them from the front the 28 looks much better just because it doesn't have dingy reflectors.

I think there are two “flavors” of LogoLight LED headlight bulb replacements - one that is a direct replacement, and uses the reflector, and one “focused beam” that does not. See https://www.logolites.com/products/l...ed-headlights/.

[Ayers1]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I think there are two “flavors” of LogoLight LED headlight bulb replacements - one that is a direct replacement, and uses the reflector, and one “focused beam” that does not. See https://www.logolites.com/products/l...ed-headlights/.

I have the focused beam ones that does not use the reflectors. I just didn't think about how much difference the old non shiny reflectors made in the appearance of the car. Almost looks like it has 2 black eyes! Lol

[nkaminar]

New or restore is a personal choice. But aren't we all lucky that new is an option for our Model A's.

Regarding the sockets: I have never had good luck with the sockets for the headlights. In my car I have the banana plugs that Jay Jay talked about in Post #7. From the outside the sockets look original.

[nkaminar]

Many years ago, when new reflectors were not available, I used some self adhesive reflective tape on my headlights. It worked OK and looked OK. Maybe the reflective duct tape would work.