Rusty Bowtie
General Category => General Discussion - Intros => Topic started by: munch on July 05, 2021, 12:30:20 PM
-
I got caught in the dark leaving a car show before the pandemic and could barely see enough to get home. Don't want to do that again. The headlight buckets are original 1930 Chevy and they came with brass colored reflectors which look cool, but I wonder if that is the cause of bad lighting. The bulbs that I adapted to mount in the center are new. Any suggestions?
-
I had a similar issue with my tail lights. I had the reflectors chromed and I thought that would be the best way to go for ultimate brightness. They were only bright when viewing them straight on. I did some research and round a number of publications that advised that flat white was a better choice so I spray painted them flat white figuring I had nothing to loose and they were 100 times better. Here's an excerpt from one of the papers that talks about it. Might be worth a try and you can always take the paint off it it's not any better.
Does Chrome reflect more than white?
But chrome is usually assumed to be smooth, and therefore have a mirror-like reflective property. White and chrome surfaces are similar in that most of the light that hits them reflects off, without filtering any of the wavelengths. But with a white surface, most of it is reflected in all directions (i.e. diffuse).
-
This is interesting. I have heard this before. I am putting together a set of '30 headlights for my roadster and have a nice set of stock reflectors that have cleaned up well. I also bought a conversion kit for modern bulbs. I'll be watching to see what the solution is here. I can see how white might reflect better. I can also see that the modern bulb may not put the light in the right place to be reflected or that the stock lens may not work with modern bulbs. ??? :-\
-
I had a similar issue with my tail lights. I had the reflectors chromed and I thought that would be the best way to go for ultimate brightness. They were only bright when viewing them straight on. I did some research and round a number of publications that advised that flat white was a better choice so I spray painted them flat white figuring I had nothing to loose and they were 100 times better. Here's an excerpt from one of the papers that talks about it. Might be worth a try and you can always take the paint off it it's not any better.
Does Chrome reflect more than white?
But chrome is usually assumed to be smooth, and therefore have a mirror-like reflective property. White and chrome surfaces are similar in that most of the light that hits them reflects off, without filtering any of the wavelengths. But with a white surface, most of it is reflected in all directions (i.e. diffuse).
Thanks Moose...
-
This is interesting. I have heard this before. I am putting together a set of '30 headlights for my roadster and have a nice set of stock reflectors that have cleaned up well. I also bought a conversion kit for modern bulbs. I'll be watching to see what the solution is here. I can see how white might reflect better. I can also see that the modern bulb may not put the light in the right place to be reflected or that the stock lens may not work with modern bulbs. ??? :-\
Sixball, where did you get your conversion kit?
-
I got this set from Speedway. I haven't installed it yet.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/264682950933?epid=666974959&hash=item3da0555115:g:EMoAAOSw4gZegOc5:sc:Other!89403!US!-1 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/264682950933?epid=666974959&hash=item3da0555115:g:EMoAAOSw4gZegOc5:sc:Other!89403!US!-1)
-
I bought the Reflector Kit with halogen bulbs from AAA Parts and adapted it to my original lights. They work great.
http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm (http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm)
-
I bought the Reflector Kit with halogen bulbs from AAA Parts and adapted it to my original lights. They work great.
http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm (http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm)
Tom, what size are those reflectors? Mine measure 9 inches.
-
It pays to be seen. I also replaced my tail lights with LED's, they are much brighter and give me piece of mind.
-
It pays to be seen. I also replaced my tail lights with LED's, they are much brighter and give me piece of mind.
Yes I agree, I have the led tail lights and they are great.
-
I bought the Reflector Kit with halogen bulbs from AAA Parts and adapted it to my original lights. They work great.
http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm (http://www.aaaparts.cwmax.com/chevyhl.htm)
Tom, what size are those reflectors? Mine measure 9 inches.
When you order from them you can specify the diameter so you should be able to order 9 inch reflectors.