How to double the power of your headlights without spending a penny!

crazypete · 09-02-2003, 11:45 AM

I'm so proud of myself for this one!

Originally, I had used my foglights to do the bear's share of the illumination as those crappy clouded over headlights were near useless. Well, after driving over some of those metal plates in the road over in malden, the lenses ripped off the fogs and I needed a different lighting solution....

check this out!

As far as I can tell, a headdlight works like this: The bulb does not actually shine out through the lens but rather projects it's light backwards onto a reflective dish, which then casts a lesser light back through the lens. So here's what you do! Pull your headlight bulb out and (wearing latex gloves and goggles and being careful in general) scrape and sand with 200 grit sandpaper the top of the bulb. Basically take that rubber cap off the top. I found a single edged razor works well too. Now the light goes straight out and still goes back torwards the dish. Replace em and go for a drive. Impressive, huh? What a difference a little sanding makes. You think that's cool then hit your high beams! Man, I light up like a 1/4 mile's worth of 128 at a time.

If the state inspectors give you crap about it, it's a $20 fix to get some standard bulbs.

Have fun everyone!

09-02-2003, 11:45 AM	#1
crazypete Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 592	How to double the power of your headlights without spending a penny! I'm so proud of myself for this one! Originally, I had used my foglights to do the bear's share of the illumination as those crappy clouded over headlights were near useless. Well, after driving over some of those metal plates in the road over in malden, the lenses ripped off the fogs and I needed a different lighting solution.... check this out! As far as I can tell, a headdlight works like this: The bulb does not actually shine out through the lens but rather projects it's light backwards onto a reflective dish, which then casts a lesser light back through the lens. So here's what you do! Pull your headlight bulb out and (wearing latex gloves and goggles and being careful in general) scrape and sand with 200 grit sandpaper the top of the bulb. Basically take that rubber cap off the top. I found a single edged razor works well too. Now the light goes straight out and still goes back torwards the dish. Replace em and go for a drive. Impressive, huh? What a difference a little sanding makes. You think that's cool then hit your high beams! Man, I light up like a 1/4 mile's worth of 128 at a time. If the state inspectors give you crap about it, it's a $20 fix to get some standard bulbs. Have fun everyone! __________________ 91 GT Carb conversion, holley 600 double pumper, edelbrock performer intake, FMS "C" drop springs, march 1000 underdrive pullies, crane 1.7 roller rockers, GT-40P headers, bassani x pipe, american thunder catback, FMS 4.56's, msd aL6, trunkmount battery, A/C eliminator kit, 3000 stall tci streetfighter, AOD with transgo kit, A+ servo, 300M hardened lockup shaft, kevlar bands and 28,000 gvw trans cooler, 3 core radiator, 300 lbs stripped with a full interior