The Ford Barn

Slopey1939 · 10-10-2016, 07:04 PM

Anyone have any experience with replacing stock light bulbs (taillight, headlight etc) with Halogen bulbs (6V) for better night driving? If so, any issues with them regarding wiring, generator and such? Do they work with stock generator (no tweeks?) wiring etc?
Thanks

deuce_roadster · 10-10-2016, 07:12 PM

Halogen lights draw a LOT of current and will burn up your light switch so you have to wire in a relay.

adileo · 10-10-2016, 07:18 PM

I assume you have a 39. For me and my 39. I added running lights, which are as good as my mordern car low beams. For tail lights I switched to LEDs. The led tail lights are very bright. These two changes are highly recommend.

fourfords · 10-10-2016, 07:32 PM

After much research and asking tons of questions, I bought halogen light bulbs for my 6 volt '33. Go to: http://www.classicbulbs.com/ This new generation of bulbs are a bit brighter than the 35/50 bulbs and do not seem to draw added voltage. I made no modifications. Pricey though.

mrtexas · 10-10-2016, 07:45 PM

Beware in that an original reflector most likely won't work with a halogen bulb as it won't be focused correctly. I had a set before the Bob Drake ones came out and the were not satisfactory. Bob Drake sells new reflectors designed for halogen bulbs that work much better. I see they are out of stock for a 39 but here is a link:

https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...78-13027-QK-12

Kurt in NJ · 10-10-2016, 08:25 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have been using quartz halogen bulbs in my A for the last 15 years---with the stock generator, 35 watt quartz halogens, no other modifications, stock sockets, reflectors, lenses, wiring

JM 35 Sedan · 10-10-2016, 08:58 PM

I have been using the newer type 6V halogen bulbs in my basically stock '35 fordor sedan since 2010. They do draw more current but they are also much brighter than the original incandescent type bulbs. I am still using a stock '35 3 brush generator, a Fun Projects voltage regulator, original stock wiring and light switch with no relay system and no known problems in the last six years. The headlight bulbs use the American Pre Focus Bases which are in the correct position for the stock reflectors on my car.
Last month I bought a set of 50/35W halogen headlight bulbs and an LED taillight bulb at the Carlisle Show from the first sourse listed below. Now my headlights are nearly as bright as my modern vehicles and project a good beam that lights up road very well in front of my car. The LED taillight is also very bright for both the running light and brake light. I feel much safer now while driving at night.

ps...I believe some of the earlier comments on this thread are based on older, original halogen bulb offererings from the past. The halogen bulbs offered by the suppliers on the links below are a newer generation design that draw less amps than the previous designs. They are a bit pricey, but worth every penny to me.

http://www.classicandvintagebulbs.com/

http://www.classicbulbs.com/

Talkwrench · 10-10-2016, 08:59 PM

Swapped headlights [bulbs] to halogen, mine is 12 volt alt with new relays and wiring. Big difference but as said it just throws light out, I covered to top of my lenses just to be "civil" to other motorists...

mhsprecher · 10-11-2016, 06:06 AM

Like JM 35, I bought some halogen headlight bulbs for one of my As and the LED tail light bulbs from Classic and Vintage Bulbs. I saw him at Hershey a few years ago. I am very happy with them. I did switch to an alternator for the car for a variety of reasons and all is good. My tail lights on my 39 are pretty bright, but I would like to switch to brighter bulbs for safety. I will do something for the headlights, too, at some point when I get it sorted out a bit more.

G.M. · 10-11-2016, 07:39 AM

I have used halogen headlight bulbs for 25 years in my 39. The replacement
3 prong sockets on wiring harness were plastic and melted from the heat of
the halogen bulbs. Replaced them with ceramic sockets and no problems since.
Never had any switch or wiring problem. When dealing with higher amp loads
all connections must be good. G.M.

blucar · 10-11-2016, 10:50 AM

The problem with halogen bulbs in the '36-39 head-lights is the prisms in the lens, not the reflectors. The reflectors just reflect the light source back to the lens, the prisms therein direct the light into pre-selected areas of the road.
The halogen conversions I had in my '39 emitted gobs of un-directed light which did not illuminate the roadway and was a problem for oncoming drivers on two lane roads.

AnthonyG · 10-11-2016, 01:38 PM

Checkout LED conversions, I know kits are available for 12V, not sure about 6V. They're very bright and low electrical draw.

fordor41 · 10-15-2016, 09:39 PM

Halogen generate a lot of heat. Use caution with plastic lens.

JM 35 Sedan · 10-15-2016, 11:19 PM

I spoke to the folks at Classic & Vintage Bulbs about their LED 6V headlight bulbs for my 35 and they advised me not to go with LED, and to stay with halogens. They said while their LED's draw less current, their offering was not brighter than their halogens. They did suggest that I try their LED taillight bulbs, and they do light up the rear of my standard model, one side only, running light and brake light.

flatheadmurre · 10-16-2016, 01:24 AM

If a bulb says 35w it will draw that amount of current no matter if it´s a normal, halogen or led unit.
The benefit of a halogen or led is the higher efficiency and added life.
So if you put in a modern high effiency halogen bulb you get a better lumen/watt ratio that gives you more light with the same current draw.

Kurt in NJ · 10-16-2016, 01:42 PM

Before I had the quartz halogens ---(the original Maxda bulbs were filled with halogen gas) ---I was using 50co regular bulbs, to make them bright I had to crank up the 3rd brush to the max--too much for a stock unvented generator so I ran it with the cover band off, when I changed over to the quartz halogens I found that I could reduce the charge rate and still have bright light---even more amazing the light barely changed in brightness when the generator was off charge at idle, the 50cp bulbs nearly went out of usable light

with the 2 35 watt headlight bulbs and the 2 tail light bulbs+ignition is about 14 amps

flatheadmurre · 10-16-2016, 02:46 PM

Next is the colour of the light a colder(higher kelvin rating) usually comes with changing from a normal to halogen.
The new ultrabright ones have an even higher rating.
The leds and Xenons can reach another notch in a range up to blueish.
The same lumen rating in a colder version is often seen as a better light.

10-10-2016, 07:04 PM	#1
Slopey1939 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 26	Halogen Light Bulbs Anyone have any experience with replacing stock light bulbs (taillight, headlight etc) with Halogen bulbs (6V) for better night driving? If so, any issues with them regarding wiring, generator and such? Do they work with stock generator (no tweeks?) wiring etc? Thanks

10-10-2016, 07:12 PM	#2
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,799	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Halogen lights draw a LOT of current and will burn up your light switch so you have to wire in a relay.

10-10-2016, 07:18 PM	#3
adileo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,772	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs I assume you have a 39. For me and my 39. I added running lights, which are as good as my mordern car low beams. For tail lights I switched to LEDs. The led tail lights are very bright. These two changes are highly recommend.

10-10-2016, 07:32 PM	#4
fourfords Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lake Elsinore, CA. Posts: 413	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs After much research and asking tons of questions, I bought halogen light bulbs for my 6 volt '33. Go to: http://www.classicbulbs.com/ This new generation of bulbs are a bit brighter than the 35/50 bulbs and do not seem to draw added voltage. I made no modifications. Pricey though. Last edited by fourfords; 10-10-2016 at 07:33 PM. Reason: spelling

10-10-2016, 07:45 PM	#5
mrtexas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 4,395	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Beware in that an original reflector most likely won't work with a halogen bulb as it won't be focused correctly. I had a set before the Bob Drake ones came out and the were not satisfactory. Bob Drake sells new reflectors designed for halogen bulbs that work much better. I see they are out of stock for a 39 but here is a link: https://www.bobdrake.com/FordItem.as...78-13027-QK-12

10-10-2016, 08:25 PM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have been using quartz halogen bulbs in my A for the last 15 years---with the stock generator, 35 watt quartz halogens, no other modifications, stock sockets, reflectors, lenses, wiring

10-10-2016, 08:59 PM	#8
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Swapped headlights [bulbs] to halogen, mine is 12 volt alt with new relays and wiring. Big difference but as said it just throws light out, I covered to top of my lenses just to be "civil" to other motorists... __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

10-11-2016, 06:06 AM	#9
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 2,817	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Like JM 35, I bought some halogen headlight bulbs for one of my As and the LED tail light bulbs from Classic and Vintage Bulbs. I saw him at Hershey a few years ago. I am very happy with them. I did switch to an alternator for the car for a variety of reasons and all is good. My tail lights on my 39 are pretty bright, but I would like to switch to brighter bulbs for safety. I will do something for the headlights, too, at some point when I get it sorted out a bit more.

10-11-2016, 07:39 AM	#10
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs I have used halogen headlight bulbs for 25 years in my 39. The replacement 3 prong sockets on wiring harness were plastic and melted from the heat of the halogen bulbs. Replaced them with ceramic sockets and no problems since. Never had any switch or wiring problem. When dealing with higher amp loads all connections must be good. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

10-11-2016, 10:50 AM	#11
blucar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 2,464	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs The problem with halogen bulbs in the '36-39 head-lights is the prisms in the lens, not the reflectors. The reflectors just reflect the light source back to the lens, the prisms therein direct the light into pre-selected areas of the road. The halogen conversions I had in my '39 emitted gobs of un-directed light which did not illuminate the roadway and was a problem for oncoming drivers on two lane roads. __________________ Bill.... 36 5 win cpe

10-11-2016, 01:38 PM	#12
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,165	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Checkout LED conversions, I know kits are available for 12V, not sure about 6V. They're very bright and low electrical draw. __________________ Nomad

10-15-2016, 09:39 PM	#13
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,516	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Halogen generate a lot of heat. Use caution with plastic lens.

10-15-2016, 11:19 PM	#14
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,858	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs I spoke to the folks at Classic & Vintage Bulbs about their LED 6V headlight bulbs for my 35 and they advised me not to go with LED, and to stay with halogens. They said while their LED's draw less current, their offering was not brighter than their halogens. They did suggest that I try their LED taillight bulbs, and they do light up the rear of my standard model, one side only, running light and brake light. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

10-16-2016, 01:24 AM	#15
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs If a bulb says 35w it will draw that amount of current no matter if it´s a normal, halogen or led unit. The benefit of a halogen or led is the higher efficiency and added life. So if you put in a modern high effiency halogen bulb you get a better lumen/watt ratio that gives you more light with the same current draw.

10-16-2016, 01:42 PM	#16
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Before I had the quartz halogens ---(the original Maxda bulbs were filled with halogen gas) ---I was using 50co regular bulbs, to make them bright I had to crank up the 3rd brush to the max--too much for a stock unvented generator so I ran it with the cover band off, when I changed over to the quartz halogens I found that I could reduce the charge rate and still have bright light---even more amazing the light barely changed in brightness when the generator was off charge at idle, the 50cp bulbs nearly went out of usable light with the 2 35 watt headlight bulbs and the 2 tail light bulbs+ignition is about 14 amps

10-16-2016, 02:46 PM	#17
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Halogen Light Bulbs Next is the colour of the light a colder(higher kelvin rating) usually comes with changing from a normal to halogen. The new ultrabright ones have an even higher rating. The leds and Xenons can reach another notch in a range up to blueish. The same lumen rating in a colder version is often seen as a better light.