Has anybody tried the Holley LED headlight retrofit kits?

 

I think the price scares most people off. I know I can't spend that kind of money on headlights.

 

They're not cheap. But I've tried 3 or 4 other brands and kinds of LED headlights, and they have all be worthless.

 

Same here. There are a lot of things my car needs and extremely expensive headlights is not one of them.

 

I just drive with my high beams on. No one flashes me, it's the equivalent of todays normal headlight.

 

I find that the Halogens (H5001 and H5006) work satisfactorily on these cars. How much night driving do people actually do anymore.

 

I sprung for them soon after they became available - plug and play install - I think they're awesome in terms of light output and dispersion pattern.

and yeah - pricey..... Daniel Stern Lighting is another great source for E-code lamp selections for classic autos, so you might want to check them out as well.

 

I don't have them, but I've heard some good feedback from folks that are willing to pay the price.

If your headlight are totally stock now, a proper upgrade would include a new housing with separate H4 bulbs ($90) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002850811, plus a good relay kit so the factory wiring and headlight switch isn't supplying full power to the lights ($150) https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/pro...ht-relay-kits/

At that point, you're pretty close to getting the Holley LED bulbs for your low beams and running them off the factory harness.

I've already installed upgraded housings with H4 low/high bulbs and H1 high beam bulbs, with the above relay harness. My light output is nice and I drive confidently at night, but I'd still consider upgrading to the Holley Retrobright kit if I find myself driving at night more often. They aren't for everybody, though.

 

I found them to be a big improvement, too.

But when I wanted to return to original T-3s I had to make those work. Here's what I found:

With horn relay voltage at 14.0, the voltage at my headlights was 11.5.

I put in 4-pin Bosch relays with 10 ga wire (yes, overkill) to connect the headlights directly to the horn relay and got 13.95 V at the headlights.

The light output of an incandescent lamp filament varies with more than the cube of the voltage (actually about 3.3 power). So the lumen output of the T-3 at 13.95 V was 93% more than the light output at 11.5 V.

Physiologically, we don't perceive brightness change in that same ratio. Our vision perceives greater brightness proportional to the square root of the brightness increase.

All in, that meant theoretically my lights looked 39% brighter just by changing their voltage. That seems to be in the ballpark, because I would have guessed that the lights were almost 50% brighter.

LEDs have very little brightness change over a range of 11 to 14 V, so they will look much brighter no matter what your wiring situation is. They may be higher cost, but they are plug and play. No wiring skills required.

 

The problem I’ve found, at least with what I’ve done so far, is that the retrofit housings do not have any fluting, and therefore no beam focus or cutoff. It’s like having a huge flashlight.

 

Are you referring to the Holley Retrobright housings? They do have the proper lens.

Some of the aftermarket housing don't, you're right. These do:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002425811

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002850811

 

I may try these on Ratalina, my ‘60 Pontiac Catalina. I don’t care on that car that they don’t look like stock sealed beams.

 

check this prior post out if not already seen:

Holley LED headlights- Whoa..... PRICEY!! - ClassicOldsmobile.com

post# 14 and 16 have photos of my lamps pre and post install

 

I did buy the Holley Retrobright headlights for my 72 Cutlass. I still had the original T3 bulbs. The new lights are such an improvement!! I am pleased with them even though it was an expensive purchase..

Rick

 

How is the beam pattern and cut off? Any mods required to make them work?

 

Plug and play , no mods. The beam is good and focused. I like them. I got the classic white as well.

Rick

 

Those Holleys are inexpensive.
Compared to these:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Unite...me,350199.html