I bought a Vintiques 40-13027-QK12TS Halogen headlight conversion kit from Mac's. I intended to put the headlights together today but am a bit puzzled about just how the bulb, reflector and plug in for the bulb all get assembled. The only instruction I found in the box was zero help. There's a springy wire bail but not wanting to overstress and bend it out of shape I can't see just how it's intended to hold things together. I'm likely being too gentile with it and just need to get more aggressive with the wire bail. The plastic body of the bulb has "notches" that match up to tabs in the reflector so it appears the bulb goes in from the "front" of the reflector and then the plug in is installed from the back side. Anyone used the same conversion kit that can offer suggestions? The headlight buckets are '35 Ford Pickup. Photos or a video would be great! My searches didn't turn up any helpful video. Thanks Lynn
I can find that part number but cannot find the Vintique site to see if they have instructions. I did find this. https://www.brattons.com/files/index/download/id/1498155843/ By part number they are these with the late model style bulbs like are in my daughter's HHR 1933 1934 Ford Quartz Halogen Headlight Reflector Conversion Kit w/ Turn Signal | eBay Those bulbs go in and twist to lock in stock sockets I'm not sure how they work in those reflectors. The other style Has H-4 bulbs that are held in with a spring that clips under some tabs on the reflector.
Mr48chev's links are right on track. The 1st link, the yellow instruction, is all that was in the box. The 2nd link is a conversion kit exactly like what I'm working with...same bulbs, same plug, but likely a slightly differently sized reflector for my '35 pickup headlight buckets. By trying to fit everything in place, the bulb nests into the "socket" area of the reflector from the front side, but it appears it will take some aggressive work with a needle-nose pliers to get the wire bail over the base of the bulb to even get close to the area where the bail would clip into the reflector "socket". I hesitated to get too ham-fisted with the wire so I don't end up ruining the whole she-bang by inadvertently trying to assemble it incorrectly. Here's what I recall the bulb looks like, although I'm not at the shop to say 100% https://gorecon.com/product/9007-12...VOEZfCut4mynh2NnMVywFQPztXpRFy0RoC8aEQAvD_BwE FWIW, I do believe it's a halogen bulb that I have. The only place I can see that the wire bail would go over the base is over the plastic just above the "O" ring? Seems that's going to be quite a stretch since that's well above the ring with notches for the wire that is in the reflector. I could try to get a photo or two of what I have tomorrow but it's going to be kinda wierd since it will be like taking a picture of something that's up against a mirror. Lynn
This ad has pics of assembly near bottom. One photo shows back of reflector with wire installed. http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...0&pm=1&ds=0&t=1522300224000&ver=0&cspheader=1 Does that help?
pprather....The kit in your link is a H4 style bulb, I believe. The bulb base has "ears" and yes, that kit assembles on the back side of the reflector. My kit has the wire bail and place to fit the bulb on the front side of the reflector like the one in the link that Mr48chev posted. I had hoped to find a video online of the assembly process, but found nothing other than this, and it uses the halogen bulb with "ears" (H4?) so it's not quite the same. I'll mess with it some more tomorrow afternoon and maybe starting fresh it'll all seem so obvious. I can't be in the shop too much tomorrow since it's our 36th wedding anniversary! Lynn
Check the small photos at bottom of this ad. Enlarge the reflector photo and see if that is a help. http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...0&pm=1&ds=0&t=1604447157000&ver=0&cspheader=1
I'm going to say that the bulb goes in from the back and the spring catches the bulb around the ring that it normally lock s into the reflector in the car such as my daughter's 08 HHR Just make sure that after you have it all in place that you wipe the glass part of the bulb off with alcohol to remove any finger prints or oil from your hands or you will have a burned out bulb showing a nice fingerprint in the glass.
I just installed this same kit and thought the bulb went in from the back. Could not make it work at all. Well I slept on it and woke up to the thought of installing the bulb from the front. That worked and I haven't looked back. Just drove it around this evening and love the lights now. And by the way an H4 bulb will also work as it has the 3 spaces in the ring to hold it in place. I had one lying around so I tried it.
I had that kit or one similar in my Big Lights that were on my ride when I got it... The Halogens were upside down and the hi/lo wires were installed in reverse... I was able to reorient the bucket by rotating it 180° and switch the wiring clips in the plug and they were still shit due to silvering deterioration but far better than they were...orientation of the bulb is important and its easy to note when you switch to high beam it rises up and not down...if I'm not mistaken the center clip on the plug to the bulb goes up...I reoriented/rotated the bucket because the halogen bulb locator was siliconed into the old bucket... If you look at a new 7" sealed beam you orient the bulb in your vintage bucket the same... As others have mentioned the the reciever for the bulb is fixed to the modded bucket and the bulb clips in, not sure if it's through the back and the clip was added from the front...and you just push the plug on once its clipped in. I still have them...I will verify...I have pics... There was a Thread I shared images...I'll try to find it... It was in a Thread here I learned how to orient the Hi/Lo as well...useful tech that was for sure... My Lows worked but basically glowed...So I always ran on Hi...rarely did anyone flash me for blinding them...
I had the same issue with figuring out how to install the light on my Vintiques kit for a 28 Model A. The bulb goes in from the front, the spring has to be "modified" (I.E. manhandled) to get it to catch and retain the light bulb. The signal is meant to go to the bottom side of the headlight. It definitely takes some figuring to get it installed, nothing is straightforward with their conversion kits and their instructions suck.
Bumping a 3-year-old thread. X2 everything @05snopro440 just said. Here are my '28 A headlights on the workbench:
The Jalopy Journal
