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Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Or would I be better off just buying one of the many H4 conversion units that are available now?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

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Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

 

 

A decent old-school motor factors have have some knocking about. Only had sealed beams on my Scimitar. inner main beams were fine but outers were about as bright as Toc-H lamps.

 

Personally I'd upgrade to an H4 conversion for everyday use and keep a set of sealed beams or 410 fitting units for shows.

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They will be dim compared to halogen. Bit like having the tungsten 410 bulb but you chuck the whole unit when it's dead, so 40W dipped 45w main compared to the 55w (or higher) of halogens. Being pre 1985 you can fit any wattage bulb to the MGB, but if you go higher than 55/60w H4s then you'll need to run the headlamps through a relay if not done so already.

 

Modern street lighting and even the car behind you will swamp out any useful output of 410 bulbs and sealed beams.

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That would probably be OK SiC, though make sure the wiring is strong enough for 70w. Looking at 11.5A for both full beams, so you might have to run then through a relay, or replace part of the existing loom with some 15A or higher rated wire.

 

The output of a 70w sealed beam would be the equivalent of 30-35w Halogen, so would still be dimmer. Rule of thumb is halogen gives the same amount of brightness for half the watts.

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A new loom will be going in anyway, so will spec the wire to ensure whichever will be suitable and modernise the design. Halogen conversion sets are a fair bit cheaper than the old sealed beam units. However I quite fancy the old school charm of sealed beam. Probably won't be saying that when driving back in the dark.

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Sealed Beam headlights.

 

Can you still get them that are original-ish spec? If so, are they as good as they used to be or worse?

 

Or would I be better off just buying one of the many H4 conversion units that are available now?

 

Why are sealed beam headlights no-longer really available? Surely there must be enough old vehicles left in the world to justify making 7" headlights.

 

Despite trying to keep our Maxi reasonably original this is one thing I felt had to be changed.

The standard sealed beam units were still fitted when we bought it and they were worse than useless, making it virtually impossible to drive it safely in the dark.

Replaced with H4 halogen bulb units and massive improvement seen.

Actually used Mini ones, which are widely available and fairly cheap and would also fit your 1100.

They have provision for built-in sidelights but these don't have to be used and can be blanked off with rubber grommets.

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They will be dim compared to halogen. Bit like having the tungsten 410 bulb but you chuck the whole unit when it's dead, so 40W dipped 45w main compared to the 55w (or higher) of halogens. Being pre 1985 you can fit any wattage bulb to the MGB, but if you go higher than 55/60w H4s then you'll need to run the headlamps through a relay if not done so already.

 

Modern street lighting and even the car behind you will swamp out any useful output of 410 bulbs and sealed beams.

 

 

Sealed beams are 45/40w from memory.

 

I see I was beaten to it.

 

 

What about 70w/50?

 

I.e. these: https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/headlamp-unit-lucas-sealed-beam-75-50w-with-pilot-rhd-xbc103360.html?assoc=109034

 

It's more for the 1100. One sealed beam is very dead and I don't think the other side is far off either.

 

My recollection, having lived through all this in the late 70s is that original Lucas, Ring, Osram etc 7 inch sealed beam lights as fitted to my Escorts, Maxi, Cortina etc were 45 dip, 60 main, Like these New old stock ones -

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-FORD-ESCORT-SEALED-BEAM-HEADLIGHTS-LUCAS-TYPE-FITTING-N-O-S/382554749951?hash=item59120a3bff:g:RNIAAOSwPDBaFY2l

 

Current ones seem to have morphed to 50/70.

 

I replaced my sealed beam units in my 1600E for some 7" 55/60W H4s I found fitted to a car in the scappies - in my memory they were wonderful, but upon being reacquainted with similar in the crying pumpkin (classic Range Rover) recently I thought they were utter shit.

 

For maximum blinding of oncoming traffic you can LED 7" units now as seen fitted to some twatty defenders.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-7-7inch-Headlight-Headlamp-Land-Rover-Classic-Mini-Range-Rover-Jeep-Black-/321660839759

 

Out of stock but you see what I mean.

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My trailer now has a new master fitted, bled itself from lots of pumping and leaving the handbrake applied overnight, no signs of leaks on the backplates and working very well, so I stupidly looked inside the drums.

 

2UR0EMW.jpg

 

Linings declinings, I did wonder what age this trailer, Escort looking shoes would place it in the age of Dagenhams pinnacle of dustbin production, but when I double checked against internet piccys, they're subtly different, looks like they're early Cortina, fecking things older than myself, anyone recognise them? 9'' drum, I've gambled a tenner on a set already so hopefully I've guessed right.

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Anyone figured what causes the bloody irritating glovebox rattle on a k11? we put some foam behind the glovebox which removes the noise but it always comes back.

 

If I can't find a solution here, my last recourse is to get some memory foam which wont stay indented after being compressed for long, and see if that sorts it :/

Could always just tape it up lol. Speaking of K11’s. My air vents would make this awful rattle as if something was stuck in them. Turns out that a wrapper from a chocolate bar had worked its way out of the glovebox and into the fan...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Asking this one genuinely for a friend, does anybody know of a rolling road down South that has experience reprogramming EPROMs - it's in a fancy 80s Porsche with a Motronics injection system, it's had a lot of engine work done and needs it's parameters changing.

I know a guy in Southampton that reprograms EEPROM’s....did it on my Prius....I can send you his number if you want? Doesn’t hurt to ask the question...

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Because I have too much time to think whilst convalescing I began to wonder if Royal Mail bodyshops have a pogweasel tints chart so that they don't have to respray the whole vehicle after a fender bender. They can just match the amount of fading to the swatch set. Or maybe they do it by the age of the vehicle? I have not seen any post vans with different shades and new bright red panels and I can't believe that the standard of driving has improved since I knew someone who had a contract to do repairs - he was always busy.

I am curious :)

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This is one thats really bugging me!!... Anyone know of any garage(s) called "Southern Cross Garages LTD" in Market Deeping or Potters Bar

 

I presume they're long gone now and must have been Ford dealers. My 1985 Escort mk3 came with these plates on and apparently the Reg is the Peterborough area so, must have originally come from the Market Deeping Garage... cant find anything about it online, even tried .gov business checks!! Ghost garage!!!  :?

 

post-26324-0-49978400-1538000941_thumb.jpg

post-26324-0-08137900-1532902746_thumb.png

 

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This is one thats really bugging me!!... Anyone know of any garage(s) called "Southern Cross Garages LTD" in Market Deeping or Potters Bar

 

I presume they're long gone now and must have been Ford dealers. My 1985 Escort mk3 came with these plates on and apparently the Reg is the Peterborough area so, must have originally come from the Market Deeping Garage... cant find anything about it online, even tried .gov business checks!! Ghost garage!!!  :?

 

attachicon.gifMKT Deeping Ford.jpg

 

Actully i did just find this on a company check saying it was dissolved... anyway i can figure out the address? 

post-26324-0-02020600-1538001891_thumb.png

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