Vera being totally original still has the you beaut Lucas sealed beam headlights and after a night time drive they are sadly lacking, ive adjusted them up n down but theyre still crap. So my question is do i remove the offending lucas candles and bung in a set of H4s and a relay ( i really dont want to hack into her loom) or just put up with Mr Lucas's dull yellow glow for originalitys sake.
Id like to hear from purists and demon tweakers alike.

You can have the best of both worlds...
Lucas AND H4 Halogen
They look pretty good at night, the light pattern looks like a cat's eye on the road.

http://shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?LH_Avail ... p=15&_sc=1

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I hear you. The GT still has the wonderous lucas candles.

It is easy to put in the H4s and the necessary relay without butchery!

Where the loom comes down on the drivers side and the RH headlamp plugs in, you can disconnect the lamp and plug in a couple of relays. A small bracket bolted on with the horn will hold the relays in the right place. Then just make up a small loom to run between the two headlights, relay and starter solenoid (to pick up +12V). Walla see'em kangawillafox type road kill.

Then carefully wrap the lucas lamps and place them in a box, take them to work with you and throw them in the bin.

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I binned the Lucas candles years ago, and fitted Wipac Quadoptics and a New Era headlamp relay. The lights are pretty good but now I seldom drive at night...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Are they a type of H4 or something else?

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Doc's Quadoptics or the P700's?

Lucas P700 are the usual H4, so are the Quadoptic headlamps.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Wipac Quadoptics are H4s. They are not flat on the front like the Hella ones though.
Although curvature is less than a Lucas.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks guys. Are the Quadoptics better than a 'conventional' H4?

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I do like those P700s but they might look a little odd in a clubbie, but im definitly gunna bin the lucas lights judging by the poll

Ha ha, I reckon they'd look better on a clubby than a roundie....

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

The H4's I fitted to the " Snail " are the flat face ones to suit a Leyland Mini , Vera will need the same , same light different box

http://www.minisport.com.au/prod989.htm

.

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I don't have any other H4s installed (I do own a set of Hellas) so can't compare. I bought them at the time from UK because they were cheaper than Hella H4s, and better looking.
But the vision on both dipped beam and high is good.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Mr Maxx, you should know better.
A relay in the circuit with a sealed beam is good for a very noticable light increase, then, replace the standars units for the 100w high beam version.

Sealed beam, dome lens, good light and a happier switch

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.

There are benefits to H4s over big wattage. Mine are only 55/45W but work great.
1. The halogen light output is much whiter than an incandescent candle, sealed beam or not.
2. The lenses and reflectors are much later design, so you get better distance and spread of light.

As said by others, headlamp relays are great for both more lamp voltage and switch reliability.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Those Geelong socials are held at night, and Geelong is a long way from where I live so I am lucky enough to really use them at night at least once per month.

Both the Bosch H4's I had in my last mini, and the Lucas P700s in my new mini have both thrown better light then the headlamps on my Subaru Forrester, particularly on high beam. I could put it down to the superior shape of a round headlight, or the fact that they're metal backed reflectors instead of the modern plastic....the bulbs are identical so its not that... Love the H4's however..

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.