CMC Headlights need brighter

I need brighter headlights, my current ones are too dim at night. I just want something brighter. Does anyone know where I can buy the bulb and what I should look for?

Try aiming your high beams down and running with them on all the time.
-=theron

I've replaced the sealed beams with 7" Hella lights with halogen H4 bulbs (60/55w all wheather) They provide an improved view of the night roads. I believe that they are the legal DOT limit.
'Off road bulbs' 100/55w, 100/80w, 130/90w can be had in H4 socket configuration which fit our wiring... As well as white, blue, and xenon blue flavors.
The Hela lights have a good dispersion and fit in the head light assembly just like the sealed beams. However the oem curved glass does diffuse the light pattern more than if the Hella lense was uncoverd.
I bought these lights 3 yrs back and they continue to shine fine, got them from JC Whitney.
Note it your car sits level (& not tail high), there is a greater range to adjust the lights

Be careful running the high output H-4 bulbs. If the wiring and connectors are not designed for the extra load, you run the risk of melting them.

Chuck

Charles is this from experience? I was told that a stock alternater with stock VW wiring was safe with the H4 off road bulbs. I'm not too sure myself and could use some advice. Thanks

Dual H4 bulbs in a wiring setup not designed for them can certainly cause problems, even in the light switch itself. Normally the light switch is used to trigger a relay (or relays) which supplies the lights using heavier wiring.

Thanks George, my light setup does have a relay from Vintage. Guess I should ask Kirk.

Eddie: My comment regarding melted wiring from high output bulbs comes from my experiences w/ Harley Davidsons. I have seen and heard of numerous cases of this happening. If you run these bulbs, check not only the wires, but also the connectors and switch for possible overheating. You may be OK, just something for you to consider.

Chuck

Thanks for the help guys.

Aloha,

I have the H4's in my '67 Bug and I did melt the switch. Of course, lucky me, the switch is wired to the ignition, so when the headlight switch went out it took my ignition with it. You need to add in a fuse relay of some sort to prevent this from happening. The VW alternator (generator in my case) can handle the extra work, however, you need a smaller gauge (thicker) wire to handle it.

This happened after about a year of use. Of course, mine were the higher wattage off-road lights. Used them as the headlights. What were they?...90/130 or something? Anyway...worked awesome for those dark nights on the highway driving through the pineapple fields. Hit the brights and it was daylight.

aloha,
Joel

Hmmm So if I needed something brighter then I would have to replace them with a H4 off road type of bulb, but I would need to replace the wire for a thicker one and put a fuse and some kind of relay. Has anyone done this before? Or does anyone recommed a specific bulb,wire, and relay that I can use?

I just bought Sylvania Sealed Beam lights, bought at AutoZone. They have a blue tint bulb to give the Xenon look. They are really just super bright Halogens. No problems yet. Fuses holding steady.

(Message Edited 4/4/2003 1:58:13 AM)

Sylvania Cool Blue Halogen Sealed Beams H6024CB. They have a nice blue tint and are very bright. No wiring changes needed.

(Message Edited 4/4/2003 1:58:47 AM)

Al, I've replaced my stock sealed beams with Hella H4 lights in my VS using the 55/60W bulbs with no problems. I also have some replacement bulbs that are 100/55W that I would like to try, but I need to check out the wiring and switch first. You can get them at Performance Products 800 752 6268. Eddie

Thanks guys for the info.