Samurai7one Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 I want to swap in some H4 lights and add LED bulbs. I see many types and cooling device configurations of led bulbs available, has anyone tried them? What mods were necessary? Results? IF YOU CAN PLEASE, mention the brand /type bulb you used. Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 I've got LED housings. 7 inch jeep ones, just pull the old housing out, put the new one in. You probably will have to cut out the rear to fit the plug through. Not sure on just bulbs. I had some for foglights on my daily and they would not be adequate for use as headlights. I did just buy some tailights that have a built in projector on the bulb with a powerful cree light that I should be testing out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmoralesbello Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 dmoralesbello TRADER FEEDBACK 0 0 0 TOTAL RATING 0% Always Here Members 3 211 posts LocationKey Biscayne, FL, USA Report post Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Here's an update on the headlight bucket extension mod that we started a while back but are only now in the process of installing. A 3"extension was welded in and a "pocket" for the LED ballast was incorporated into the back of the bucket. After finishing off with black anticorrosive paint a 0.5" hole was drilled on the engine side of each bucket, fitted with a rubber grommet, the OEM wires were fed through and the LED ballast placed in its pocket and held with 3M double stick trim tape. The Autopal headliamp with the LED light installed has the cooling fins protruding from the back plus the ballast but fits nicely into the modified extended bucket. The remaining installation is SOP. The intensity, quality and focus of the light emanating from the LED bulbs is excellent and the final look is very close to stock. Edited November 12, 2016 by dmoralesbello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samurai7one Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 Wow😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPMS Posted September 29, 2017 Share Posted September 29, 2017 I first converted to HID bulbs and ballasts in Hella housings, but I was disgusted by the poor quality of the electronics. The best of them only lasted a few months before blowing out. I took a chance on some LED bulbs, and they've lasted since February of 2015. I bought the New Brights All-in-One LED Headlight" off Amazon for around sixty bucks. I did have to cut out the back of the headlight buckets to make space for the fans. I sealed up the holes in the buckets with silicone sealant and a pair of tuna cans, then painted the whole thing black so it's inconspicuous. After thirty months they are still working well, but they do flicker from time to time. They are supposed to have a five year warranty, so I'll try that out and see if they'll honor their word. The headlight switch that used to get very warm is now completely cool and I've stopped blowing fuses, so I'm very happy with the LEDs on that front. The light throw on low beam is better than stock bulbs, is about the same as halogen, and isn't as good as HIDs. However, they work 100% of the time and they don't make my car burn down, so to me that is a win! On high beam the focus does not change like it does on HID or halogen. An additional LED illuminates at a different focal distance, supposedly shining through the "high beam" areas of the lens. It's better than just the low beams, but not as good as having a dedicated, higher-powered filament. One of those dedicated LED lenses like they make for Jeeps might work better, but I can't get over the looks of them. I'll probably try a different set of bulbs soon and see if they have a better high beam now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primaz Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 For LED's you need to replace the entire light assembly NOT just a bulb. I have used this on one of my 240Z's and my Jaguar 3.8s and they work GREAT! https://headlightrevolution.com/vision-x-pair-of-7-round-vortex-led-headlight-w-low-high-halo/ It is a little expensive but I think they are worth it. They are very bright with a very even wide light beam and they use such a fraction of the AMPS a conventional headlight would use. They also have a lifetime guarantee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D9inger Posted September 30, 2017 Share Posted September 30, 2017 (edited) Yes I have. I wanted to use LED H4s but they were internally restricted to low beam OR high beam. My 78 280z doesn't turn the low off when high beam is selected so I did a two relay mod that corrected this. worked out great. The LED H4 bulbs came from superbrightLEDs and the headlights are from Summit, Hella Ecodes. They need aimed but I'm really happy with them. This is the drawing I came up with this morning after spending yesterday trying to understand the manual. I can add some more info to the schematic if someone needs it. PS The SuperBrightLEDS fit in the unmodified headlight buckets, I'm not sure they will stay cool enough yet but they come with a lifetime warrenty so I'll let you know. I thought about cutting a hole in the back of the bucket, welding on a short section of 2" or 2 1/2" exhaust pipe and capping it (also welded) to add some additional cooling area like dmoralesbello did but smaller. Then undercoat it after installation. We'll see! Edited September 30, 2017 by D9inger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D9inger Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 I also added a negative bus and a hot from battery fused bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramagedained Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 I also have a pair of the 7" VisionX lights. I already like them, and I know a lot of people that with their offroad lights that get beat pretty hard and they hold up. They fit just like the sealed beams did without modifying anything. The High beam pattern is like an offroad spot light, while the Low is like a good HID with a sharp cutoff. This means they can be adjusted properly without blinding oncoming traffic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Potato Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 D9, I'm in the same situation. I can only get full blast H4 led. When I turn in high beams they shut off. I'm thinking your map and relay setup might work. Can you add some details to your setup? I can weld and do body work. Electrical is a little iffy for me. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D9inger Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Disco, I'll try and work up a step by step. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D9inger Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 I hope this makes since.... The basic of how it works is… Stock wiring 12V from the battery is supplied to the fuse panel from the battery, there it is split left and right through two fuses, one for the left and one for the right. When you turn on the headlights 12V goes directly to the headlights from the headlight switch, it provides power to BOTH high and low beams. The low beam ground is constant, when the headlights are selected on, the low beams will illuminate. The ground side of the high beam circuit is controlled by the high beam/low beam switch to the left of the steering wheel. When high beams are selected a ground is provided to complete the circuit to ADD the high beams. The low beams do not turn off when high beams are selected. Now for my mod What I did was added two relays that removed the full current/amperage through the headlight switch and high beam switch. Now the headlight on/off switch applies 12V to both relays. The first (low beams) has a unswitched ground. When you turn on the headlights, the low beams come on. Left on my drawing. The second relay is controlled by the high beam/low beam switch. When low beam is selected the second relay is not energized and provides a “normally closed” path to power the low beams. When high beams are selected the second relay (the right relay on my drawing) is energized and removes the ground from the low beams circuit and provides a ground for the high beam circuit. The way I accomplished this is by finding the 12V hot (headlight switch on) to the driver’s side. Then I located the constant ground for the low beams and the switched ground for the high beams. The 12V hot from the headlight switch to the driver’s side provides power to both relays. Relay one (on the left side of my drawing) is grounded so it is energized when the headlights are turned on. Relay 2 (right side) is also powered but is missing the ground to complete the circuit and energize it. That ground is provided by the high beam switch. When that ground is provided the relay is energized and power is removed from the low beams and added to the high beams. In the end the headlight switch now controls a relay, the high beam switch controls the other one, one relay provide power to the headlights, the other controls the power for low beams and for the high beams . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primaz Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) On 10/4/2017 at 9:14 PM, bramagedained said: I also have a pair of the 7" VisionX lights. I already like them, and I know a lot of people that with their offroad lights that get beat pretty hard and they hold up. They fit just like the sealed beams did without modifying anything. The High beam pattern is like an offroad spot light, while the Low is like a good HID with a sharp cutoff. This means they can be adjusted properly without blinding oncoming traffic. I have them on two of my 240z's and love them. I also used their relay so that when I am on high beam all 5 LED elements are on and that is incredible vision! They also look cool with circle of LED's on the perimeter. I did a lot of searches and read all of the LED reviews especially the Jeep and off road as our headlights on the Z car is the same as Jeeps and 911's. The Vision X LED is the best rated in the marketplace. I also have them on my 1963 Jag and they are well worth the money. Also these use so much less AMP's than stock... Edited February 3, 2018 by primaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruceno21 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Reviving an old thread... the headlights on my 75 just went out... so looking at just upgrading to LEDs while I am at it... thoughts on these? https://www.headlightexperts.com/h6024-dual-beam-sealed-beam-led-headlight-conversion-kit Or even cheaper some of these... I do think the halo is pretty cool and have seen it on some Zs that look good. The ones linked above also do the halo and would love to see pictures of those if you have some. https://www.ebay.com/i/163985244449?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=163985244449&targetid=4581046486499628&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=403204662&mkgroupid=1239149819509085&rlsatarget=pla-4581046486499628&abcId=9300377&merchantid=51291&msclkid=1788c271a9261a4ca5069d2f106c155a I am not sure if I would bypass the steering wheel switch which I am sure is my problem here so figured while I am in there wiring things I can upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhm Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 I don't have any personal experience with that particular LED conversion kit; but I have tried replacing halogen bulbs with LED bulbs. They put out a ton of light; but the beam management is usually horrible because the reflector needs to be shaped specifically to optimize the design of the specific LED bulb. As a result, you get a huge unfocused beam of bright LED light....but no real benefit in night-time driveability. The results can often be even worse than your halogen lights; and the unfocused beam is often blinding oncoming drivers. If you're looking for quality LED headlights, take a look at Dappers or Trucklites. (P.s. I'd be surprised if those particular LED bulbs fit in the stock Z headlight buckets....those big aluminum cooling fins hanging off the back of the bulb will probably interfere with the metal mounting bucket. Obviously, you could cut up the bucket if you were determined to install these.) For bargain LED headlights, I have used those eBay models. Was surprisingly pleased with both the amount of light put out and the quality of the beam. Several vendors on eBay offer them, and I've seen a variety of styles, with and without the halo. in white and other colors. Most of them are made in China. I had the plain-jane version, without the halos. My next pair of LED headlights will probably be 7" Trucklites. They seem to be a nice blend of quality and affordability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruceno21 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 I checked out the Dapper Lighting sight and for the price, and what looks like ease of install, these seem like a good option for the price: https://www.dapperlighting.com/collections/1974-1978-datsun-260z-280z/products/7-classic-projector Trying to decide how much I want to spend on lighting... and feel like if I do these, then I need to do LED tails and then I get into a "Give a mouse a cookie" situation... then rather drop this type of cash on the disc brake conversation for my 280z. Hum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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