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Best Headlight Upgrade for LX Torana


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#1 Liam S

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Posted 02 October 2022 - 01:38 PM

Hi all,

 

What is the best Headlight upgrade for LX Torana? 

 

Someone had mentioned Fyrlyt (https://www.fyrlyt.com/driving-lights) but they really only do spotlight style lights without high/low beam, would it be applicable to use these units as a low beam light and install a second light for the high beam?

 

Thanks in advance.



#2 Heath

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 08:57 AM

That company just looks like a spotlight company. So they could handle your spotlights (if you want to have spotlights on a Torana - I would not want big round spotties on my Torana personally) so these will of course never function as diffused low beam lights. And of course, they are not designed to mount in a universal 7" headlight bucket, because they are an aftermarket spotlight. They are not a replacement headlight.

 

The best headlight upgrade - bar none - is universal 7" round semi-sealed headlight housing (try and find one with a nice convex lense shape to look more original in a Torana), with a window for the park light, and a 100/55W warm H4 globe in it. No need to re-invent the wheel here.

You will need to grind out the opening of your lightlights bucket and possibly rad support a little bit to make room for the parker globe holder.

 

I would recommend setting up relays for these headlights to get the most out of them and to keep your switches/wiring safe with this upgraded current.

 

They don't look shit, they are cost-effective, and they work well. If you set up lights like this and still aren't satisfied, you may then want to add spotlights.



#3 76lxhatch

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 01:29 PM

You could even be considerate to other road users and just replace with new H4 units with standard wattage. It's amazing how much better the light is compared to 45-year-old sealed beams.



#4 Liam S

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 02:37 PM

That company just looks like a spotlight company. So they could handle your spotlights (if you want to have spotlights on a Torana - I would not want big round spotties on my Torana personally) so these will of course never function as diffused low beam lights. And of course, they are not designed to mount in a universal 7" headlight bucket, because they are an aftermarket spotlight. They are not a replacement headlight.

The best headlight upgrade - bar none - is universal 7" round semi-sealed headlight housing (try and find one with a nice convex lense shape to look more original in a Torana), with a window for the park light, and a 100/55W warm H4 globe in it. No need to re-invent the wheel here.

You will need to grind out the opening of your lightlights bucket and possibly rad support a little bit to make room for the parker globe holder.

I would recommend setting up relays for these headlights to get the most out of them and to keep your switches/wiring safe with this upgraded current.

They don't look shit, they are cost-effective, and they work well. If you set up lights like this and still aren't satisfied, you may then want to add spotlights.


Thanks mate.


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#5 Statler

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 03:47 PM

There are plenty of suppliers of the new fandangled LED lamps which light up in a rainbow of colours & look out of place on an early car. I would check with your State before fitting them though. 

Locally there are 2 main players for a 7" H4 lamp , Narva & Hella. 

The Narva lamps just don't fit. The parklamp bulb is in the wrong place. Stick with the (dearer) Hella H4's. 



#6 Liam S

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 05:12 PM

There are plenty of suppliers of the new fandangled LED lamps which light up in a rainbow of colours & look out of place on an early car. I would check with your State before fitting them though.
Locally there are 2 main players for a 7" H4 lamp , Narva & Hella.
The Narva lamps just don't fit. The parklamp bulb is in the wrong place. Stick with the (dearer) Hella H4's.


Thanks mate.


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#7 Bigfella237

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 07:47 PM

Just a quick note on the eBay specials, apart from getting one that physically fits, with a park light bulb, you also need to make sure it's designed for right hand drive vehicles. LHD lenses project the wrong pattern for our side of the road.

 

I believe there's some ADR compliance marking that's supposed to be on the lens too but I doubt anybody would ever check as far as roadworthy/defects/etc. are concerned?



#8 ozyozyozy

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 08:54 PM

Found the lenses to suit H4 globes then fit a HID kit.
They are technically not legal but work very well, just dont have them adjusted too high to blind oncomers.

#9 neglectedtorana

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Posted 03 October 2022 - 09:24 PM


http://www.gmh-toran...ght-conversion/

Some other threads on the same topic, I have the Hella with H4 bulbs in 55/60w and they are good. Much better than the originals

#10 Bigfella237

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Posted 04 October 2022 - 10:46 AM

Found the lenses to suit H4 globes then fit a HID kit. ~


I didn't think you could use HID in a Low Beam / High Beam (alternating) type arrangement because it takes a certain amount of time for HIDs to "warm up"?

 

Every car I've seen with HID has a dedicated (always on) low beam and just switches on/off the high beams when appropriate.

 

There's nothing worse than dipping off high beam to absolute darkness, especially with another car coming toward you! (Been there, done that.)



#11 Rockoz

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 07:00 AM

There are HIDs that move the lamp slightly with a solenoid arrangement to alternate between low and high.

Had them in a VS Commodore.

Worked really well, and were very bright.

Had to adjust them down a couple of times.

Would go for a warmer colour than the really white ones though if doing it again.

 

Best choice I found for the round headlights was 90/130W Halogen inserts, with relays fitted of course.

Good light and not a lot of fuss.

 

Cheers

 

Rob



#12 arrimar

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 09:43 AM

.

Attached Files



#13 hanra

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 11:10 AM

^ I have to agree with that. Who drives old cars at night time these days? 



#14 Heath

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 12:36 PM

If I didn't drive old cars at night, I wouldn't drive old cars at all. I virtually never drive out my driveway and then return before the sun has set.

 

They have to have wipers, headlights, indicators, and heaters. If I could retire, I would only have old cars for transportation.



#15 LXCHEV

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 01:28 PM

And who doesn't enjoy a night out at the drive-ins alongside a tonne of other classics, not to mention cruise nights etc... and the list goes on. Definitely nice to have good headlights!

 

I put crystal style (7" H4) headlights in mine probably 15 years ago. From memory they were around $35 each from Bright Light Auto Parts - but I don't think they exist anymore. The headlights look fantastic (have received a lot of positive comments on them over the years from those who notice), but they don't have any provision for parkers which has always annoyed me. I'll eventually replace them so that I get working parkers again. But at the time it was just a quick and cheap upgrade to H4's.



#16 hanra

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 02:33 PM

Bugger that. Too many stolen cars on the road, bugs, kangaroos and other wildlife willing to damage your car at night time. 



#17 Liam S

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 05:50 PM

Yeah but Brad, you live up north where it’s not only the odd wallaby and kangaroo you hit, it’s pigs, emus, cassowaries, crocs. I do however intend to drive this at anytime I want so the lights are definitely a requirement, and good lights even more so.


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#18 skap

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 07:49 PM

Any headlight that is not those ugly LED's like Keithys Taxi has... frOcking hideous looking things.. 



#19 ChrisLC

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 08:53 PM

Keith loves em

 

Any headlight that is not those ugly LED's like Keithys Taxi has... frOcking hideous looking things.. 


Edited by ChrisLC, 05 October 2022 - 08:54 PM.


#20 skap

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 08:54 PM

Keith loves em

 

Must have shares in them.... ;)



#21 ozyozyozy

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Posted 05 October 2022 - 09:38 PM


I didn't think you could use HID in a Low Beam / High Beam (alternating) type arrangement because it takes a certain amount of time for HIDs to "warm up"?

Every car I've seen with HID has a dedicated (always on) low beam and just switches on/off the high beams when appropriate.

There's nothing worse than dipping off high beam to absolute darkness, especially with another car coming toward you! (Been there, done that.)


As said by someone, they have a solenoid in them, all it does really is adjust the height/spread of the beam, same light between high and low.
Found them much better than any halogen globe.




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