Sabbot Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Has anyody any experience of replacing the standard 7" sealed beam units with a Hella H4 units. I just purchased a set of H4sthinking they would be a direct swap but found out that the rim of the Hella unit is about 3/6" thinner than the sealed beam unit. The consequence of which is that the linear ("W' shaped) springs that are used to retain the sealed beam units are too small to hold the hella unit securely. I'm guessing there is an easy fix for this in the form of a new set of retaining springs but I don't see them listed anywhere. Any ideas (short of refitting the original sealed beam candles) would be appreciated. Thanks Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboeric Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 I haven't done it in a 7, but have done the swap in about a dozen other cars. They always were a direct replacement. I've never seen a spring for retaining a sealed beam - always a steel ring around the outside, retained with 3 screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabbot Posted April 9, 2011 Author Share Posted April 9, 2011 That has been my experience as well, but for some reason the sealed beam units on my caterham get cipped into the rim (which screws onto the back with one screw) rather than mounting into the back of the lamp housing with screwed and sprung mount as they do on triumphs and elans etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilo Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 You might consider using some Automotive sillycone to glue the H4 housing into the chrome ring?? Semi-permanently (you can always exacto knife thru the sealant..if genuinely necessary) Unlike the sealed beam unit, removing the chrome ring will not be necessary for replacing bulbs.. It could conceivably stay there for ever?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabbot Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Sounds like a plan - Maost of the casr I had when I was younger were held together with bondo so "gluing" a light in place semi-permanently with silicone seems like reasonable (and simple) option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I recently bought a set of Hella H6024 7" Round E-code Hi-Lo Conversion Headlamp Kit. I ended up bending the retaining springs a bit until they held the headlamp properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erioshi Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 Have the H4 units helped significantly with available light? I'm in the middle of rebuilding an old Europa and improving the lighting is a critical need. I figure I'll need to address the harness as well as the bulbs and housings, but would like know the new reflectors are solid upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest speedcraft Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 i have the same hella H4's as noted above and thought they just dropped into the caterham headlight rims with the stock W springs. i dont remember doing any mods to get them to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xflow7 Posted July 6, 2011 Share Posted July 6, 2011 I replaced mine with Hellas some years ago. I think with the same ones you are talking about. I also had a little bit of slop around the rim of the sealed beam, but from memory I was able to shim behind the springs with some kind of material (may have been scraps of that neoprene-like stuff you can get to line toolbox drawers). It's worked fine and I've never had any problems since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted July 7, 2011 Share Posted July 7, 2011 I haven't driven much during the night after putting in the hellas. They are a bit brighter but the major change was when I reaimed the headlights higher. They were aimed a bit low and I left unsafe driving over 40 in pitch black conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 You guys with big headlights ought to get a set of these and eliminate your turn signals. They're pretty bright in my 67 truck... bit pricy though (scroll down) might find cheaper elsewhere. http://www.itsasnapwireandcable.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erioshi Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 My concern with those is that the Europa's lights are so deeply set that the front turn signals would be invisible do almost any driver who didn't see you head on. I am considering replacing the blisters, but not until I find the right solution. They might be a good option for a seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilo Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 For an Europa?? yes H4's 'help' .. some. But in truth a pair of KC Hiliters bolted to the roof of that thing wouldn't be a misstake either. That *car* is genuinely More frightening in traffic than any Seven. Outward visibility just sucks in those. Hell you simply... cannot... see beside or behind you. Seeing further in front , while nice, will have NO impact on survivability in traffic. IMO those hideous contraptions are an accident awaiting an occaision. PS: I owned one for 12! years. Next owner Died in it within 2 weeks... true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 After rebuilding my Europa, and seeing that I was basically protected by a 1/8 inch of fiberglass, decided to sell it to... soon after I found this place http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/cars_home_new.htm and wished I would of known about it before all the work I did. Might of kept it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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