Author Topic: Headlight Reflectors  (Read 2756 times)

munch

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Headlight Reflectors
« 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?

themoose

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2021, 01:10:40 PM »
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).
Too soon we get old too late we get smart. One out of two ain’t bad 8)

sixball

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2021, 01:38:49 PM »
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. ??? :-\
The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing shop.  Edwin Conklin

munch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2021, 02:09:37 PM »
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...

munch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2021, 02:11:17 PM »
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?

sixball

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2021, 06:16:24 PM »
The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the probability of the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing shop.  Edwin Conklin

TFoch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2021, 07:57:46 PM »
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
Spending time with my grandkids gets in the way of finishing my car but I don't regret it!

munch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2021, 11:13:17 AM »
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
Tom, what size are those reflectors? Mine measure 9 inches.

chopper526

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2021, 01:31:20 PM »
It pays to be seen. I also replaced my tail lights with LED's, they are much brighter and give me piece of mind.
Tighten it up til it strips, then back it off a quarter turn

munch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2021, 04:12:04 PM »
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.

TFoch

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Re: Headlight Reflectors
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2021, 05:02:25 AM »
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
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.
Spending time with my grandkids gets in the way of finishing my car but I don't regret it!

 


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