Hella headlights
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Senior User
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
I installed a set of the Hella headlights into my 71'. Wow, what a huge difference that made. It is nice being able to seeing the same distance as I did with the halogens on bright and I don't get flashed back. 
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
I haven't adjusted them yet. I just left them the same as the old headlights. There is a tool or some shops apparently will set them using computer alignment. I just got them in and I have also been asking shops about this computer alignment thing. I will post more when I get some better possitive answers. 
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
Originally posted by MICHAELJB
What's the best way to adjust those after installation ?
What's the best way to adjust those after installation ?
They siad "If the origonal headlamps were adjusted right, installing the Hella lamps shouldn't make anything different as far as position of the lamp or light direction. It is the brightness of the lamp that becomes an issue. To fix that one would have to find a shop that has the computer that sets the angles according to the brightness and direction of the light". $$$$$$$$$$
I just had them put the level on mine to correct the lense angle and they were just fine. I couldn't find a place today that used the computer to adjust the headlamps.
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From: seattle us
Hella headlights
I just pull up to a flat wall and park about 3ft away and eyeball it. On your truck it should slightly point down, maybe an inch from the middle of the hot spot to the middle of the lens. I used to work for a co. that had one of those machines and a buddy and I used to see how good we were at eyeballing it, then using the machine. We always got very close, close enough to not notice a difference when driving between our setting and the machines.
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
That is something like what I used to do with my other headlamps, but after putting these in a few people around here kept telling me these adjust different. It wasn't a big deal to me. I never knew there was such a thing as a headlight adjustment tool. Like you, I was mainly curious on just how close I was.
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From: seattle us
Hella headlights
The adjustment comes from the housing on the truck, not the light itself. I think what they may be referring to is that a halogen light vs. regular incandescent. It's been a long time for me and we did only halogens, but I seem to remember the machines had different settings for halogens. I may be all wet, that was like 25 yrs ago, but something in the back of my foggy memory was triggered just now!
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Neptune Beach
Hella headlights
Hey Heep,
Was it just as simple as changing out the lights or did you have to install other support equipment like relays and such?
I have halogen lights in my '67 F-100 now but they just aren't bright enough to suit me. They still seem weak when I drive at night.
Was it just as simple as changing out the lights or did you have to install other support equipment like relays and such?
I have halogen lights in my '67 F-100 now but they just aren't bright enough to suit me. They still seem weak when I drive at night.
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 79
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From: Neptune Beach
Hella headlights
Hey Heep,
Was it just as simple as changing out the lights or did you have to install other support equipment like relays and such?
I have halogen lights in my '67 F-100 now but they just aren't bright enough to suit me. They still seem weak when I drive at night.
Was it just as simple as changing out the lights or did you have to install other support equipment like relays and such?
I have halogen lights in my '67 F-100 now but they just aren't bright enough to suit me. They still seem weak when I drive at night.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
Easy Money, They are made to fit right in the origonal bucket and they plug right up the same way. The hardest part was trying not to smudge the lense with my dirty fingers.
Hella Conversion Headlamp, Part No. 70 477
Hella Conversion Headlamp, Part No. 70 477
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 520
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From: california
Hella headlights
Heep, not to jinx you, but you may run across the "flashing Ford headlight syndrome". I swapped my Hellas onto my 71 F250. Seemed fine until I drove it the other night. After about 10 minutes, the headlights started to flicker on and off. It was worse if I hit the high beams. Didn't matter if the truck was rolling engine running or not. Check out the tech article about relays (Whiter Whites, Brighter Brights - by Steve Delanty). The wires around the my headlights were not hot, but the wires to my dimmer switch were getting warm and the headlight switch was also heating up. Either could be bad and need replacing, but it's too much of a coincidence and the relays are just a better idea. I'm picking up some relays and will post results.
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
To: Faithful Old Road Dog
HHhhmmmmm
thanks. I will check it out. I have been using them so far with out any trouble. Infact, I just put in some of the Xenon blue white bulbs in and they look awesome. I like the clear light they put off. Its not yellow light anymore. You got me wondering about the warm items. I will check mine out tomorrow.
Let me know about your fix, if it worked or not. Besides them flashing, do you get a brighter light now?
HHhhmmmmm
thanks. I will check it out. I have been using them so far with out any trouble. Infact, I just put in some of the Xenon blue white bulbs in and they look awesome. I like the clear light they put off. Its not yellow light anymore. You got me wondering about the warm items. I will check mine out tomorrow. Let me know about your fix, if it worked or not. Besides them flashing, do you get a brighter light now?
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
Hella headlights
Faithful Old Road Dog
I checked mine out and as of this moment everything is OK. I did talk to my nieghbor about this issue. He is a vehicle electronics freak. He mentioned that the Ford headlight switch was built to warn you that it was going bad by making the headlights blink. I guess that is better then the headlights just going out while driving down a dark road.
I am not sure if your switch is older, but probably when you installed the Hellas (which draw a lot more juice) made the switch react.
I installed a new headlight switch a little while before I installed the headlamps. So, hopefully everything is cool.
Did you get yours fixed?
I checked mine out and as of this moment everything is OK. I did talk to my nieghbor about this issue. He is a vehicle electronics freak. He mentioned that the Ford headlight switch was built to warn you that it was going bad by making the headlights blink. I guess that is better then the headlights just going out while driving down a dark road.
I am not sure if your switch is older, but probably when you installed the Hellas (which draw a lot more juice) made the switch react.
I installed a new headlight switch a little while before I installed the headlamps. So, hopefully everything is cool.
Did you get yours fixed?