If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Need expert advice (halide to halogen?)
I have a 96 Lincoln Mark 8. I don't care for my current headlights, which
are metal halide bluelights. My question: Is it possible to convert them over to regular halogen headlights. If so, how would I go about this? Thank you! |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"John Diamond" > wrote in message ...
> I have a 96 Lincoln Mark 8. I don't care for my current headlights, which > are metal halide bluelights. My question: Is it possible to convert them over >to regular halogen headlights. If so, how would I go about this? Depending on the lamp, this is how I'd do it. With a wire snipper, cut out the halide lamp from its housing. Next, install a cool blue halogen (usually by welding or wire twists) in its place. Disconnect the ballast then rearrange the power supply to handle the new halogen bulb. If you go with regular halogen you'll get a dull amber light. Blue or cool blue coated bulbs appear are somewhat white. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 8 Jan 2005, John Diamond wrote:
> I have a 96 Lincoln Mark 8. I don't care for my current headlights, > which are metal halide bluelights. OK. You don't care for them because...? Background info on your headlamp system: That HID (MH) system (ANSI 9500) is a DC system that was used ONLY on the Lincoln Mark for a couple of years before it was scuttled due to erratic/short bulb and ballast life. All subsequent automotive HID systems use the substantially more robust AC-operated D1/D2 system, with world-standardized components with much lower pricetags. Unfortunately the bulbs don't interchange directly. The DC components' manufacture was discontinued forever at the end of 1998; there exist some remaining pieces in the Ford parts system (which was the only source for them all along), but when they're gone, they're gone. > My question: Is it possible to convert them over to regular halogen > headlights. If so, how would I go about this? Well, first step is to disregard this "Burt Squareman" joker, who obviously hasn't a clue. A halogen bulb will not physically fit into the large (almost 2" round!) bulb hole in your headlamps, and even if it would, beam performance would be exceptionally poor because the optics are different for halogen vs. MH. And "cool blue" bulbs are never better than clear-glass items. So much for Mr. Squareman. Second step is to go purchase the halogen headlamp assemblies. You can get them new at the dealer, and you should not attempt to install used ones, for the early runs of these headlamps deteriorated quickly and badly (lenses opacified, reflectors corroded and peeled). Install the headlamps in the car. Be advised these headlamps perform poorly, because they are too small for the job they are asked to do. To try to compensate for the grossly undersized optic unit, Ford installed the most powerful halogen bulb available at the time of manufacture (the 9005, which is normally used only as a high beam bulb) in both low and high beams. It made the low beams legal, but only just. Add in Ford's notoriously inadequate headlamp wiring, and things get ugly. Results are halfway decent if you install 9011 bulbs instead of 9005s (see http://bmwz.org/articles/lighting/0506trick/ ) and feed 'em with relays (see http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ys/relays.html ). -DS |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 10 Jan 2005, John Diamond wrote:
> Thanks for the reply Daniel. I've decided to go ahead and replace the > halide lamp. How do I go about replacing it myself? Which part(s) of the headlamp assembly do you wish to replace? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for the reply Daniel. I've decided to go ahead and replace the
halide lamp. How do I go about replacing it myself? |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
> Which part(s) of the headlamp assembly do you wish to <replace?
My ballast is fine. I just need to replace the halide bulb with a new one. Do you know where I can buy one on the internet? I'm not even sure what the number of the bulb is. But it's for a 96 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC. Thanks Daniel |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 10 Jan 2005, John Diamond wrote:
> > Which part(s) of the headlamp assembly do you wish to <replace? > > My ballast is fine. I just need to replace the halide bulb with a new one. > Do you know where I can buy one on the internet? I'm not even sure what the > number of the bulb is. But it's for a 96 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC. The bulb type is ANSI 9500. The only source is/was Ford, and lately Ford has taken to trying to sell the dual ballast and two bulbs as an inseparable package for some obscene amount of money, especially given the relative unreliability of this DC halide system. I've had an adaptor plate designed that'll allow these headlamps to take the much more robust (and much more available, and much less costly) current-production AC halide bulbs and ballasts, but the first one'll cost $500. After that they'll be cheap. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
>
> The bulb type is ANSI 9500. Thanks for the info Daniel. Is the ANSI 9500 the same as a D2S bulb? |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Looking for advice on car restoration... | [email protected] | Antique cars | 0 | December 23rd 04 06:20 PM |
Wanna get my 1st vette, need advice!!! | HighOnFire | Corvette | 10 | October 22nd 04 08:37 PM |
Used 156 buying Advice Please ? | Steve Haigh | Alfa Romeo | 0 | April 28th 04 09:12 PM |