sealed beam headlights

[surfergirl]

Hi folks,
Springs here in Cornwall and Im getting the old van ready for summer surfing.
Can anyone help with info on replacing the sealed headlight units for the van (1962) Ive always been able to wander into a car parts place or even Halfords! and pick one up, but I think those days have gone.
Could I swap to a halogen conversion without much work ? The van still has a dyno which I wonder if it will have the umpf to power the new fangled bulbs.

Any thoughts? Before the one police car down here spots the moggy winking at them!

[bmcecosse]

You can still buy sealed beam replacements. But yes - a Halogen conversion is pretty much a straight swap - and uses no more power - actually a tiny bit less - than the old lights. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Mini- ... 5890f6995a

[surfergirl]

Cool, thanks for the link thats a good deal.
Dumb question, I have separate side lights not built in the headlights, I guess I blank off this bit?
And I dont need any extra relays and what not.
Cheers.

[bmcecosse]

Use them as 'daylight running' lights perhaps with bright LED bulbs fitted! Or just don't connect them. The socket on the back of your sealed beam simply plugs into the new halogen bulb. Nothing extra required - unless you wish to use the sidelight facility in these lights.

[samuria]

Cool, thanks for the link thats a good deal.
Dumb question, I have separate side lights not built in the headlights, I guess I blank off this bit?
And I dont need any extra relays and what not.
Cheers.

you can get them without the sidelight.
also some of them have a flat lense..
where the morris ones are domed

[surfergirl]

Thanks,
Does flat or domed units make any difference?
I dropped by my local parts place today, got a quote for £20. each halogen unit or over £50. for a kit, so I think Ebay wins.
Also they say the sealed units are now no longer available.

[bmcecosse]

Sealed ARE available - look on ebay - but the price makes it uneconomic and so going up to halogen makes sense. Yes - they are around without sidelight - generally more expensive - and yes some have flat - some are slightly domed and some are considerably domed. In years gone by - it was de rigueur to have Cibie headlamps which were flat (or slightly concave) and so I don't see a problem with flat lamps now. Of course - the later Cibie Bi-Odes were heavily domed, and even more desirable - sadly extremely rare (= ex expensive) now ......

[samuria]

flat or domed will all work fine
the domed ones are more in keeping with what you have...
i bought mine for under £38..
with free delivery
andrew eggleton of morris minor parts
tele. 01225 868799

[bmcecosse]

The ebay ones look perfectly ok and £25 with free delivery.......

[mike.perry]

I would not buy unbranded halogen headlights, there are some rubbish lights on the market with poorly designed lens patterns and reflectors which rust out after a short time.
The last time I saw a pair of Cibie Biodes for sale at the NEC the price made my eyes water. Loverly lights though

[katy]

Why not just replace your sealed beams w/halogen sealed beams? It's a straight swap.

[bmcecosse]

Halogen sealed beams are 'known' but not common - can you point us to a set?

[katy]

They're cheap enough and readily available over here, but I've been led to believe (and methinks that it's true because it makes sense) that LHD and RHD have different beam patterns.
Heres one source:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/search-re ... ealed+beam

[GBond]

Yes, they're definitely different. LHD sealed beams are cheap and easy to find, even halogens (about $8 around here, by the way) but would blind oncoming drivers in countries that drive on the left side of the road.

Edit: These Wagners are available here in almost any autoparts store for really cheap.
http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/w ... /overview/

[surfergirl]

Thanks,
Toooo many choices!
I hardly drive at night, only if we have a sunset surf, beach is only 7 miles. Just want to stay legal and with the sealed beam being hard to get in the uk it will be easier to buy bulbs locally.

Seen these in Ebay shop:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MORRIS-MINOR- ... 3f0649510c

[bmcecosse]

Just go with the £25 ones I showed you! Why pay more.......?

[surfergirl]

Thanks I think I will, if they turn out to be rubbish, you know what they say about a woman scorned!

[bmcecosse]

They'll be fine - I don't see the dearer ones being any better! Top tip - run a thin film of clear silicon sealer round the join of glass to reflector before fitting - that is the 'weak point for all these halogen lights.

[IslipMinor]

it was de rigueur to have Cibie headlamps which were flat (or slightly concave)

The concave Cibié Type 22 are what have been in the Minor for the last 45 years! Obviously they have been replaced a couple of times - the first time through corrosion to the reflectors and I got a pair of NOS lights. Sadly one was hit by a pheasant on take off and the other by a stone. The replacements are very good, but not quite as good as the NOS units.

With 100/80W halogen bulbs they are really superb to drive behind, and do not dazzle oncoming traffic as they have a very sharp 'cut off'. Also very easy switch to RH dip for Europe.

[Matt]

But of course (for those not in the know) those bulbs are not legal for road use in the UK (although its very unlikely you would get picked up for it)