Headlight Adjustment

I made up a template like this one to align my headlights.. if you get your lowbeams set up the highs should be fine..

 

a note though sounds odd, make sure your headlights are in the right way up.. that will throw things way off.

 

hope this helps

Simon, thanks so much for this!

 

How would I know if the headlamps are in upside down?  They were installed by Vintage Speedsters and I've never changed them.

the bulbs are usually labelled..if you take a close look around the glass..  By the way I used a sheet of plywood to lay out my template...

Probably raised manufactures ID stamped at bottom - if its right side up - they are probably installed correctly.  Are they regular sealed beam headlight or new replaceable H4 lenses with separate bulbs?  Check for a name brand like HELLA or OSRAM/Sylvania.  Many of the cheaper replaceable units are "For Off Road Use Only" and are not DOT approved for road use.

 

If they are the old sealed beam units - consider replacing them with new H4 units.  Hella makes several different 7" lenses with replaceable bulbs units.  They off a whiter, brighter light with same power consumption.  $30-60 per unit. Nice upgrade for safer night time driving.  If you drive in congested areas consider the "City Lights" option.  

They are sealed beams of the older style.  So these new H4 units, are they drop in replacements or will I need to modify something to make them work?

 

What is the "City Lights" option?

 

Thanks Wolfgang.

Speaking of city lights, here's mine.  I took the small (yellow) bulbs out and installed yellow  (directional) LEDs.

 

Yes they are drop in replacements (if you stick with stock wattages).  They offer whiter more focused light.  City lights are used in European cities that are so well lit that you don't need (or want to blind other drivers) with even low beams.  These mark the front corners of your car on narrow city streets.  Also used when parked on narrow city streets offten when one side's wheels are on the sidewalk. They are brighter (but more diffused) than normal parking lights. On German wired cars you park and flick on the turn leaver and one side of car (traffic side) lights up for safety.

Am I the only one who has no idea what those ovals are on Simon's aim chart? We're taking a 2-inch measurement from them...but what are they?

I'm sure that's the headlight beam image.  

No Ed, you're not the only one puzzled!

 

I'm glad you asked though 'cause I've about used up my quota of "Duh?" questions for the year.

Ron O,

 

At first I thought that the planks in your garage was to raise your roadster just enough to easily slide a hydraulic floor jack under it. But I think I see a ratchet jack under the door jams but atop the planks....What am I missing? 

The planks are needed so the underside of my IM clears my scissor hoist.

 

 

Ron:

 

Where did you buy the hoist, and how much?

 

Bob

Jeez, roll up windows AND a scissors lift!!

How much better can life possibly get?

 

Bob,... Ron's lift looks like the one Jowdy has. I've seen them advertised for about a thousand dollars delivered. Al Merklin has an old one, -at least it's acquired great 'patina'- neatly embedded in his garage floor. I think he 'sweet talked' a neighbor out of it.

 

I'm making it a priority to be veeery friendly with my neighbors!

 

 

Bob- I'm not sure where he got his, but they're available everywhere. Harbor Freight has one.

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/6...ssor-lift-91315.html

 

Use your 20% off coupon, and it's about $1200.

That's a great price.  I bought mine from a company in British Columbia and paid considerably more.  It ended up costing me almost as much as a two post hoist.  Unfortunately, with my low ceiling a two post hoist was not an option.

Bob just google scissor hoist.  Find a company that's close to you, because shipping can be expensive.  The company I bought mine from is only 60 km from my house, so they shipped for free.

Darn the HF lift takes 220v! (Which doesn't exist in my condo garage).

I've recently seen one that operates on 110v

 

I'll retrace my search (Google?) and pass on that reference.

Wolfgang,  The voltage problem is an easy fix.  You need a step-up transformer that boosts your 115V to 230V.  A 2 HP motor pulls about 1500 watts, so you would need a 2000 watt transformer.  Cost should be about $200 with shipping.  115 in, 230 out. 

Wolfgang,

 

Greg Smith Equipment Sales 1-800-331-0967

 

Atlas MR-06 mid rise portable scissors lift (110v)

e-Bay# 290946533773

Alan got his from a friend of mine on Hilton Head Island who sold his IM Roadster and was willing to give away his scissors lift, just to get rid of it.  I was not in SC at the time so I forwarded it to Al and he got it.  Super deal, no matter how you look at it....it cost him gas money down and back.

Ed, Carl et al

 

The ovals in Simon's chart are the bright area in the center of your headlight beam. Get 25 feet from the wall and turn your lights on...it will become readily apparent what you are measuring from.

It's either an amazing coincidence, or somebody at the Greg Smith equipment Sales is really on the ball...but Bada-Bing...the mere mention of 'scissors lift' and a display ad for Greg Smith pops up!!!

 

Nice lift selection and and fairly decent prices...but a 20% discount coupon would be a real purchasing incentive.

 

.....Let's see if the sales/advertising guru at Greg Smiths responds to that suggestion? 

 

 

I was intrigued by the yellow LED running lamp inside the headlight unit, and so I tried a red LED since I have a red car.  Not sure I like it, but I'll go with it for a bit and see how I feel after wearing it for a while.  It's different, but I'm not sure in a good way!

 

 

 

The photo makes the bulb look yellow and the lighting pink, but in actuality it's more of a red/red effect.

 

Mine are directional from Superbrightleds.com, so they don't light up the headlight shell.  The top part of the light swivels.

 

 

Ron, do you point them straight ahead?  Where are you at in BC?

Yes, I pointed them straight ahead.

I'm located about 70 miles east of Vancouver (Chilliwack).

I used to live in Cranbrook and Kamloops, also Nanaimo.  Those were wonderful times living in a beautiful country!