Custom Cruiser -74 replacing the lamps for the headlights.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2013 | 08:46 AM
  #1  
Odmark's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 68
From: Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
Custom Cruiser -74 replacing the lamps for the headlights.

How the hell do i replace these? I thought it was just regular Halogen 4 lamps but seems like the lamp itself is integrated with the headlight itself. Just a wire behind the lens if you know what i mean, kind of hard to explain.

You are not supposed to replace the whole headlight right? Very grateful for fast answers.
Old Jan 13, 2013 | 09:11 AM
  #2  
jaunty75's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 15,194
From: southeastern Michigan
Originally Posted by Odmark
You are not supposed to replace the whole headlight right?
Yes you are! Back in those days, the headlight lamp itself was integrated into the lens housing, and you replace the entire unit.

This is what your headlights look like.



You replace the entire thing. It's not like modern headlights on cars today where you just replace the lamp itself.

For your car, you will have to remove the trim around the headlights and then remove the lights themselves. They're usually held in place with three screws around the perimeter of the light. You'll normally unplug the three-prong (low-beam) or two-prong (high-beam) connector on the rear first. The lamp shown in the photo above is two-prong, so it's a high-beam.


Here's a three-prong lamp.

Old Jan 13, 2013 | 09:12 AM
  #3  
Lady72nRob71's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,798
From: Plano, TX
Originally Posted by Odmark
You are not supposed to replace the whole headlight right?
On these older cars, you DO replace the entire glass assembly. They should still be available at local parts shops or big box stores.
Old Jan 13, 2013 | 03:22 PM
  #4  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,802
From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by Odmark
You are not supposed to replace the whole headlight right?
Seriously? The one-piece headlight bulb is called a sealed beam. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that the current non-sealed beam headlights were made legal for use in the US.

Boy, do I feel old now...
Old Jan 13, 2013 | 08:02 PM
  #5  
rocketraider's Avatar
Oldsdruid
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,629
From: Southside Vajenya
Odmark is in Sweden. Europe has used composite and separate-bulb lamps for years longer than we have here in North America.

Yeah, at first I thought "he can't be serious" until I looked at his location. Then his question made sense.

I'm not sure he'll even be able to find a sealed beam in Europe.
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 07:13 AM
  #6  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,802
From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by rocketraider
Odmark is in Sweden.
DOH!

I missed that completely. Oh well, RockAuto ships to Europe. Also, you can get halogen sealed beam replacement lamps.
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 07:16 AM
  #7  
droldsmorland's Avatar
CH3NO2 LEARN IT BURN IT
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,635
From: Land of Taxes
I still feel OLD!
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 09:14 AM
  #8  
rocketraider's Avatar
Oldsdruid
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,629
From: Southside Vajenya
Izzatchoo makin' them old man noises?!

Guy in my office says when he first gets up in the morning and starts moving around it sounds like somebody walking on bubble wrap with all the pops and creaks.

To kinda sorta get back on topic, I needed floodlight bulbs for one of the motion lights at the house. Apparently there is no such thing as a regular old PAR38 floodlamp anymore- they are all either LED ($$$) or halogen(which I think burn too hot). That and all the outdoor rated ones I can find locally are not a true "sealed" beam type- they have separate reflectors and lenses, glued together. I have already had one of those to separate and drop the lens onto the concrete patio, with predictable result.

It's like I've heard said- "Progress was all right once, but it went on too long."
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 11:09 AM
  #9  
joe_padavano's Avatar
Old(s) Fart
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,802
From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by rocketraider
Izzatchoo makin' them old man noises?!

Guy in my office says when he first gets up in the morning and starts moving around it sounds like somebody walking on bubble wrap with all the pops and creaks.
Sadly, Glenn, that isn't even funny anymore...
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 12:14 PM
  #10  
dancutlass's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 390
From: Munich, Germany
If you don't find any sealed beams here, you could convert to seperate-bulb lamps...
Try the headlights of a BMW E3, that's what I used in my 66, don't know if yours are bigger in diameter though Joe??
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 12:34 PM
  #11  
rocketraider's Avatar
Oldsdruid
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10,629
From: Southside Vajenya
74 will still have round sealed beams so the BMW light conversion will probably work.

Didn't Hella produce separate-bulb halogen lamps at one time, that were a direct fit replacement for American 5" and 7" sealed beam lamps?
Old Jan 14, 2013 | 12:48 PM
  #12  
dancutlass's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 390
From: Munich, Germany
Originally Posted by rocketraider
74 will still have round sealed beams so the BMW light conversion will probably work.

Didn't Hella produce separate-bulb halogen lamps at one time, that were a direct fit replacement for American 5" and 7" sealed beam lamps?
Don't know if they made them especially as a replacement for the American lamps, but the E3 headlights, I have, are made by Hella as well and they fit perfectly, so maybe Hella sold them as a "conversion kit"
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Christophe2m6
Electrical
10
Oct 31, 2014 11:37 AM
Arrowstorm
Vista Cruiser & Wagons
6
Feb 13, 2014 09:16 PM
GOldman
Electrical
5
Nov 26, 2012 10:44 AM
TripDeuces
Electrical
34
Aug 3, 2010 07:20 AM
DuezPaid
Parts Wanted
1
Nov 3, 2007 01:21 AM




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:59 PM.