Mark and anyone else with standard 1600headlights Noahs Ark had better headlights than a std 1600!!! Probably the first mod I would do to a Datto is upgrade the headlights and wiring.
The best, most cost effective headlights for a 1600 are Halogen globed 4"/100mm outers with 60w/55w globes and 4"/100mm 100w 'landing lights". A full set from Supa Cheap Auto Parts or wherever will set u back around $150. Bosch are better quality but significantly more $$$ These parts can also be sourced from wreckers quite easily and much cheaper. I found some 100w/55w halogen globes the other day. Guy gave em to me!! Awesome! Plenty good enough for any 1600! PROBLEM! To make them work properly is complicated by the useless way that the original wiring is done. Power in a std H/L wiring system passes thru the H/L switch in the dash, then all the way forward to the headlights, on really small wires, meaning u get (usually) less than the 12v your lights were expecting. It also seems to have many more Earth problems. CURE!! The only real "fix" is to buy some relays and install them closer to the headlight and use the h/l switch to turn the relays on and off..This 'rewire' is simple, cheap, reliable, tested, and covered heaps in previous posts. Its also the standard system for wiring up the big "Super Oscars" used by the rally people.. ie reliable and bullet proof This subject should be available in FAQ form i reckon..I have a picture of mine if u want.. FINALLY and very important Check your alternator. Some 1600's are unfortunately blessed with 35amp "Lucas" electrics (Joseph Lucas is a pom who is often referred to as the "Doctor of Darkness). Hitachi were always more reliable but if it is a 35amp, old style alternator, it will never handle decent headlamps without frying itself. ie 100w landing lights will just stop it dead. 55amp alternators from BB? 200B? are also easily sourced from good wreckers. I was/am blissfully ignorent about anything electrical/electric until one wet night (years and years ago) 300km from home, my dattos 35 amp alt S*** itself cos of my new 100w landing lights, installed that day. .. hehe I was lucky enough at the time to have a mate who showed me this mod. It is the Kiwi cricket teams whiskers and i swear by i!! BUT I'll have to rely rely on Terry and the other real clever ones to fill in the techo stuff/gaps.. We really should expand these threads with the goal to have a tech articles page with the sort of stuff that keeps getting asked at regular intervals. I'm happy to get that rolling on this issue. Anyone interested in doing one on front brake options or stroker specs??? Engine swaps and specs???? And thats what happens when the Datto is runnung sweet and the sunday night movies are a bit dull cheers Mick you will most likely give it a ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Firman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 9:40 PM Subject: headlight conversion > Hi all, > just wondering what i can do to improve my really dull headlights and high beam. I think i heard someone say that they put hilux halogen lights in or something? > Anything really *BRIGHT* would be a huge improvement! > Thanks a lot > > Mark > > > _____________________________________________________________ > Get Your free Ozdat Email Account > ---> http://www.ozdat.com > --membersozdat------------------------------------------------------- OZDAT Mailing List Please Note:- Send (un)subscribe requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] No unauthorised redistribution of this email http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/index.htm http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/listindex.html http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
