Author Topic: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?  (Read 391 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,641
Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« on: Sunday,April 23, 2023, 07:41:12 PM »
The prior owner of my car slightly altered the lower nose to incorporate a Lip Spoiler.
I do not see it as too obnoxious and it is correct for the period when the car was a Hill-Climb racer.
One of the major hazards of night driving in Nevada is "Open Range" cattle.
Despite a silly law prohibiting extreme long range lamps I wish to fit a pair.
I would rather pay a ticket than crash the car, and any stray cow hit instantly becomes a prize bull even if it is a steer.  ::)
The squared off lip may provide me a handy means to reinforce lamp mounting.
Looking for past examples.
Unfortunate that I do not want to use the ugly modern LED lamps, so I probably have to find vintage Hella, Cibie, etc.

Online jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,979
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,April 23, 2023, 08:06:53 PM »
Light produced vs watts consumed makes HID/Xenon lights the best option.  Though the wattage consumed is not as low as LED/LCD they punch a much bigger hole through the ether.

My set up is unconventional but very effective.  I use two 90mm xenon hi/lo headlight units behind the grill - these are small enough you could also mount them in the bodywork under the bumper and headlights.  These are my low beams and daytime driving lights.  They come on with oil pressure.  They are much brighter than 150w halogen units and only consume 30w each.  In the headlight nacelles, I have Hella off-road, driving-pattern, xenon, rally lights (with slightly under 7" reflectors).  These punch a HUGE hole.  I could stop from a 100 mph and still have more than that to spare.  All in on high, I'm burning 120w total and the lights are far, far brighter than a 540w halogen system I ran in a previous car of mine.

One downside is that you absolutely CANNOT flash an oncoming driver.  One upside is that I still have coverage for the stopping distance from 80 mph on low beam.
« Last Edit: Sunday,April 23, 2023, 08:09:41 PM by jbcollier »

Offline TurboFource

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Sep 2019
  • Location: Maryland
  • Posts: 2,180
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #2 on: Monday,April 24, 2023, 03:29:54 AM »
JB,
Any pics of your light setup?
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Online jbcollier

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Nov 2013
  • Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Posts: 5,979
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #3 on: Monday,April 24, 2023, 05:52:41 AM »

Offline TurboFource

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Sep 2019
  • Location: Maryland
  • Posts: 2,180
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #4 on: Monday,April 24, 2023, 09:14:16 AM »
Thanks JB!
The more I do the more I find I need to do....remember your ABC’s …anything but chinesium!

Offline S2Zetec54

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Joined: Feb 2021
  • Location: UK
  • Posts: 248
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #5 on: Monday,April 24, 2023, 10:16:46 AM »
Thanks for posting that info and photo….that is a very smart set up

The roads over here are often very busy during the day and yet with the original set up I struggle to use the dark hours for a quieter blat…..I have always wondered what it would look like using the area behind the grill

Cheers

Offline Richard48Y

  • Super Member
  • *******
  • Joined: Oct 2020
  • Location: No. Nevada
  • Posts: 1,641
Re: Adding driving lights, anyone done and what did you use?
« Reply #6 on: Monday,April 24, 2023, 10:25:35 AM »
I had some hope of integrating rectangular driving lights into the chin spoiler but it seems the appropriate lights are no longer available.
In any case most would be too tall.