Hi guys,
My headlights have been cleaned and still dont actually brights the road as good as the newer cars. i guess its the wiring getting to me again just like the electric windows.
searching i was able to find people that have made a custom wiring with relays to be able to power the headlights properly. so i decided that it was a 2 step upgrade.
1st STEP: wiring
but then i found a kit from international auto parts that is supposedly to do the same thing.
http://www.international-auto.com/headlight-wiring-upgrade-kit/iap-headlight-wiring-upgrade-kits.cfm
do anyone knows if that would fit on a alfetta gtv6 ?
by the installation manual it would need to drill the headlight bucket.
http://www.international-auto.com/images/articles/HWKInstructions.pdf
i was wondering why not take the original wiring out and inserting it by the old hole ?!?
i doubt i would find a more ready-to-fit headlight upgrade for the gtv.
2nd STEP: headlight / reflectors / lights
on the same website i have found some HELLA headlights
http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2564&addcar=1
which i think they are illegal in australia as they look like xenon lights. as i see they are not even legal in US, they are for offroad use only.
then instead of opening my own headlights, opening, cleaning the reflector, etc. was thinking on getting the Standard halogen sealed as they are $9.
would they go well with a good halogen bulb. any suggestions?
i went to
http://www.invisionsales.com/lighting/application/
and it seems that are a couple of bulbs that passed ADR than i thought.
i`d really like a britter light, but not close to blue.
was thinking on a Xtreme power or maybe a vision. anyone have any experience with these bulbs?
what do you guys think about the upgrade? looks like a full upgrade that should make it light up the road like a perfectly new car.
G'day,
There are a few previous threads in this section on upgrading the headlights in 116 cars.
Do a search in this section on "headlight". There are detailed ones explaining the whole process.
Cheers
Here is a Carello to Hella conversion.
Relay all filaments for minimum voltage drops.
Do the relays & wiring first. A must to save your light switch from burning out and to get maximum voltage. Won't make any difference to the original Carellos 'though. Stupid design that these cars don't have any at all.
Modify the existing Carello metal parts to take new inserts:
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=1464.0
Thread showing the wiring loom I made:
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=7722.msg46624#msg46624
and my inserts:
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=2928.msg14675#msg14675
I used Narva inserts with dual low/high beam outer lights and high beam inside pair. So I had 4 bulbs with high beam. Against ADR as you are only supposed to have one pair of high beams. I used plain old halogen globes and with 4 x 100w high beams it was more than enough. The first few times I tried high beam it was startling. Really is no need to spend the money on expensive globes. By the time you ad up all the costs. relays, relay sockets, connectors, wire, 4 inserts & globes you are looking at over $400. Narva inserts were a tight fit, I had to stretch the Carello metal with a lot of hammering - panel beating technique. Get another brand of insert if you can. I think Hella are supposed to fit well. Have a good search on this site.
I've got a modern 2009 Subaru Liberty with HIDs truth be told they aren't that good at showing up the road. the blue light may be closer to daylight, but I reckon the old halogens in the 2009 Forester do a better job. There have been various discussions about the old yellow fogs they used to use and there is a bit of evidence that human eyes are more sensitive in the yellow part of the spectrum. Certainly true for an old fart like me.
The other thing with the blue lights -they look wrong with an old car like these.
I used Cibie lights in my GTV6, rewired and relayed, upgraded the alternator and used American headlight buckets rather than the modification of the old lights. Using those buckets achieves a very neat result.
Yep, get a set of US market headlight buckets if at all possible. Then you can take your pick of whatever 5-3/4" (?) diameter light takes your fancy. My white GT had US buckets with the outer lights using H4 bulbs to give both high and low beam, the inners wired purely for high beam.
On other 116s I've been able to fit relays without unduly changing the factory wiring. Use the existing wiring to control the relay switching (instead of the headlight) then add heavier wiring off the battery, through a fuse block, to power the lights. This way you can quickly bypass the relay and return the circuit to original , for example if the relay fails. While you are playing with relays, make sure you add one to the starter circuit as well.
Beware buying lights from overseas as most will be cut for LHD and these are illegal. You shouldn't run foul of any laws or registration requirements by simply upgrading your bulbs though, as long as you don't do something silly like going to HID........... ;)
If you want a REAL challenge, come up with an option for Alfa 90 headlights >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(
Al, I'm with you on the blue-spectrum lights. I hate them all. Cant abide them as LEDs for camping, LED downlights, and absolutely sick of being blinded by aftermarket HID headlights. An expert told me that one reason they are almost all blue spectrum is to fool your eye into thinking they are brighter. It's easy to make LED/HID etc with a warmer yellow spectrum light, but then they don't look so bright.
BTW I don't believe ADRs outlaw twin high beams. My Landcruiser has twin rectangular lights, the outers are high/low, the inners are high beam. I recall there used to be a 'rule' that you could only have a maximum of six forward facing white lights and this meant some cars had their parkers modified so they extinguished when the headlights were turned on. This allowed for factory driving lights. But I doubt that rule is still in force, and I think low wattage lights (5W or less?) are not counted for ADR lighting. How many 'lights' are there in all the modern forward facing LED strips?
And the sun is yellow, not bright blue.........
Forgot to add, the choice of replacement light will alter the 'look' of the car. My GT had flat/concave lights and the glass sat forward of the surrounding grille a tad. Looked a little Lambo Espada-ish from front 3/4 view.
Thanks guys.
Talking on relays have anyone installed it on the wiper motor ?
With this rain season, i realised they are not working very well.
I'd look at the wiper motor and linkage grease. Pull it all apart, clean out all that old dry grease and regrease with something modern, new and slippery.
Any other suggestions on the wipers? ways to improve voltage and/or earthing?
On my GTV there was a lot of slop due to wear in that pin blade attachment at the end of the wiper arm
I replaced the wiper arms with a set from a 75. This allowed the use of those new all rubber blades. Much less chatter and drag on the system.
The 75 arms are shorter so there was some mucking around with blade lengths.
Rainex or even Polish/wax significantly reduces the drag of the wipers on the glass and unloads the motor.
Above about 40kph you don't even need to use the wipers if the Rainex is fress, though it does make the water bead much finer with misty rain so you tend to turn the wipers on earlier around town.
ADRs... I know a bit about this: ADR 13/00 specifies that you can have either two or four "Main Beams". "Driving Lights" are optional can be fitted additionally in twos or fours, but can only be turned on by their own switch (when the main beams are on). While there are technical requirements on light spread for "Dipped Beams" and "Main Beams", there are none for "Driving Lights".
Therefore, you can legally have four Main Beams and Four Driving lights (and man, you would need one hell of an alternator....!).
Gas Discharge Headlamps have light at the blue-ish range of what is considered white light (on the tri-chromatic co-ordinates... defined in the ADRs). Yellow light is less prone to refraction, and therefore more frequently used in fog lights. Gas discharge or HID lamps produce a light that is more prone to refraction. The ADRS require vehicles fitted with HID headlamps to be fitted with compliant headlamp washers. This is because a HID headlamp with a dirty lense will appear as a Main Beam from light refraction.
Boy racers etc can buy all this stuff to make there cars seem better, but it is the state's responsibility to ensure they remain legal. These intracacies are often not well known to the people that police them.... Have you heard of people being told that braided brake lines are not legal... Bull Sh*t!!! They just have to conform to an ADR nominated standard and be traceable to it by markings.... I have had this argument before and won. ;D
I hever bought a standard Alfa headlight for my own cars. I have been doing the Hella conversion thing with relays since the late eighties.
Has anyone tried an Alfa 75 windcreen wiper motor in their GTV? I know they are lighter, but do they have more torque?
hey guys,
went to jaycar today. for all parts to do the headlight upgrade you will need at least $150 bucks on parts + the labour of doing the entire thing.
and even thou the fuse and relay holders that dont know if it can reach the 20A.
so if you can wait and dont wanna go through the hassle, the 40-50 bucks pre made ones from international auto dont seem like a bad idea to me
Substantially improved lighting on my 1980 GTV:
1. used the existing light switch to activate one relay (fused) for low beam and one relay (fused) for high beams
2. positioned relays as close as possible to light units
3. used the alternator main connection point found in engine bay (one with plastic cover) to supply power positive to each relay individually
4. each relay has two power positive outputs, one for each light
5. each light is individually grounded
While at it, by-pass ignition switch which is a source of voltage drop by using it to activate a relay (fused) to power car systems.
Quote from: kartone on June 22, 2013, 06:18:30 PM
Substantially improved lighting on my 1980 GTV:
1. used the existing light switch to activate one relay (fused) for low beam and one relay (fused) for high beams
2. positioned relays as close as possible to light units
3. used the alternator main connection point found in engine bay (one with plastic cover) to supply power positive to each relay individually
4. each relay has two power positive outputs, one for each light
5. each light is individually grounded
While at it, by-pass ignition switch which is a source of voltage drop by using it to activate a relay (fused) to power car systems.
I am going a little bit further with my 75. I am using 1 relay with an inbuilt fuse per headlight beam (so 4 relays in total).
I am also using a DPDT 'change over' relay so that low beam is switched off when high beam is switched on.
This has a couple of advantages.
Firstly, low beams are next to irrelevant when high beams are on, so switching them off will reduce the current draw from the charging system.
And if you have the rectangular headlights (like the 75's have), then you will also reduce the thermal load on the headlights themselves.
I have fitted a 75 wiper motor into a GTV and it is about the same. I have thought about fitting a relay but it is low down on the list of priorities.
I also fitted four relays (two low beam - l & r and two high beam) which was probably overkill but combined with new and beefier wiring plus new connections has made a massive difference. Am going to try some of the Phillips +100 when I get back to finish it off. In the old GTV I had installed Hella lights without relays and whilst an improvement it was not as big an improvement as the relays.
Best lights I have had in a Alfa was a '83 GTV with Hella high/low outers set up to change over filaments when going to high. The inners were driving hella driving lights activated by the main beam signal. Everything was through relays. 320W on main beam was pretty spectacular (not actually legal, but I did not know back then).
Headlights looked standard to anybody but those in the know.
How did you mount them Luke?
Just the normal method.
They have the same fitment as the normal 5 3/4" hella insert.
http://hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=819 (http://hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=preview&flmaint=819)
This was the car (post down the page):
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=10442.0 (http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=10442.0)
When I had the Strada, I lived out in the sticks in the Redlands shire in QLD and needed really decent lights at night.
My current car has the same Hi/Los on the outers, But good standard outers as the inners. This suits my switch/relay setup as my combination switch was a NOS Alfetta for square headlight cars (got it for nicks).
What do you mean by 'normal'? Inserts alone won't work on a stock RHD round headlight Alfetta, so you must have cut the backs out of the Carellos, or used US-market buckets? If there's a third method I'm very interested to learn about it.
Yes, as shown by MD above: By cutting the back of the useless Carellos out.
I have some spares at home for when I get around to it. To tell you the truth, the only reason I would do the inners is to make the them match the outers. For what I use the car for, it does not need really fantastic lights.
Strictly speaking, this is not about headlight upgrading but it could be a necessity in the future for some.
Have you noticed the switch from glass lenses to some form of acrylics for headlights?
Yes the manufacturers have been packing them in all shapes and sizes following the changing fashions of style. All well and good I suppose.
In some cases they have forgotten about the impact of sunlight on plastics.
Have you seen the evolution of the yellow and cracked lenses on cars that spend a lot of daylight time facing the sun? Depending on the shape and positioning of these plastics whether on headlights or other external lighting, the deterioration will be greatest on lenses that receive 90* burn.ie. the more horizontal their positioning, the more rapid their deterioration is likely to be.
If your car has plastic lenses, keep car orientation with respect to direct sunlight upon them whilst parked at work in mind.
Yes MD, but it's worse than that. There is no way you'll be able to source any alternative lenses because each one is so unique. At least the Alfetta has a round light in standard diameter, even if the rear section is unique.
It's hard enough when you have an U rectangular Alfa 90 headlight, imagine something much more complex like the later SUV lights!!! Plus they all seem to be so vulnerable to damage.
But I guess the idea is that once the car is ten years old it's off to the recyclers. Can you imagine attempting a complete ground-up concourse resto on say a later model WRX in 50 years time? Impossible.
Though maybe 3-D printing could be a saviour, of sorts.
I have a set of US style "buckets"to fit standard lights to a GTV6. If anyone wants them, call me. 0419 346 853
Quote from: Doug Gould on July 06, 2013, 10:20:10 AM
I have a set of US style "buckets"to fit standard lights to a GTV6. If anyone wants them, call me. 0419 346 853
Hi Doug,
Sent you mail,
Thanks
aa
Hi all so has anyone tried the Iap upgrade wiring kit? below? I'm keen to do anything to get these original lights looking a little brighter! Is the wiring and relays sufficient or should the lights be changed as well?
http://www.international-auto.com/
Quote from: Alfapride on July 07, 2013, 02:41:54 PM
Hi all so has anyone tried the Iap upgrade wiring kit? below? I'm keen to do anything to get these original lights looking a little brighter! Is the wiring and relays sufficient or should the lights be changed as well?
http://www.international-auto.com/
Wiring upgrade probably won't make a satisfactory difference.
BUT the 116's (not sure of all models) don't have relays on the head light circuits, which is asking for a smoked steering column switch if you start upping the globe wattage, especially after 30 years and the contacts are worn, dirty & high resistance. Bizarre that they never had relays originally. Try and find a replacement column switch and then notice the price.
So relays is highly advisable if you are going to upgrade the lights.
Suppose I should add that the corellos weren't fully sealed. I.e. you could change the globes for other powers (after adding relays :)). The metal seats/mounts for the globes on mine were rusty as, which would make them a big source of voltage drop. Reflectors were stuffed too. So they still woudn't be that good.
You could certainly re-use your corellos if you make sure you remove any rust, clean the inside out thorougly afterwards, paint any non electrical contact bits and then put a bit of electrolyte grease on it to stop the corrosion coming back. I have heard of people re-plating corellos.
If original looks are worrying you rather than cost, then even the stainless trim rings fit over new glass inserts. An Alfissti will know they aren't original 'cause you can see through the glass and they are shiny and silver rather than aged and tinted yellow and they are brighter than the dash lights.
Quote from: mfroes on June 15, 2013, 12:28:38 PM
Hi guys,
My headlights have been cleaned and still dont actually brights the road as good as the newer cars. i guess its the wiring getting to me again just like the electric windows.
searching i was able to find people that have made a custom wiring with relays to be able to power the led lighting (http://www.niceledlights.com) properly. so i decided that it was a 2 step upgrade.
1st STEP: wiring
but then i found a kit from international auto parts that is supposedly to do the same thing.
http://www.international-auto.com/headlight-wiring-upgrade-kit/iap-headlight-wiring-upgrade-kits.cfm
do anyone knows if that would fit on a alfetta gtv6 ?
by the installation manual it would need to drill the headlight bucket.
http://www.international-auto.com/images/articles/HWKInstructions.pdf
i was wondering why not take the original wiring out and inserting it by the old hole ?!?
i doubt i would find a more ready-to-fit headlight upgrade for the gtv.
2nd STEP: headlight / reflectors / lights
on the same website i have found some HELLA headlights
http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=2564&addcar=1
which i think they are illegal in australia as they look like xenon lights. as i see they are not even legal in US, they are for offroad use only.
then instead of opening my own headlights, opening, cleaning the reflector, etc. was thinking on getting the Standard halogen sealed as they are $9.
would they go well with a good halogen bulb. any suggestions?
i went to
http://www.invisionsales.com/lighting/application/
and it seems that are a couple of bulbs that passed ADR than i thought.
i`d really like a britter light, but not close to blue.
was thinking on a Xtreme power or maybe a vision. anyone have any experience with these bulbs?
what do you guys think about the upgrade? looks like a full upgrade that should make it light up the road like a perfectly new car.
Very impressive update.. I am trying to get new lights and I think I must try these ones.. Thanks again