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H4 lights in a Vanagon
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a914622
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:09 pm    Post subject: H4 lights in a Vanagon Reply with quote

Iv come up with an almost easy way to upgrade the lighting problems on the later model vanagon.

So here are a few pics. Im loking for an intrest level?? Is it worth the space to post? This set up can use the square sealed beams form almost any auto parts store .
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Waldemar Sikorski
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm interested.
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larrytrk
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

+1
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brooklynvanagon
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes!
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allsierra123
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So are you making a kit or are we about to pay for information?im interested as well.
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a914622
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No pay or kit.
Ill go to the junkyard and take pics of how i did it, what i used , and were to trim. More of a step by step how to. Not in including the h4 lights i only had 20 or 25 bucks into it.
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allsierra123
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to know. It would save tons of money on pricey lights.
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K58
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

absoloutely
I'd like to use Cibie's in there
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Paintedbus
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i am also interested. please share!
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big swifty
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do Tell!
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kevinbassplayer
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hell yes!
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Tank83
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

what type has these lights been before? i also have h4, but original vw.
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Waldemar Sikorski
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tank83 wrote:
what type has these lights been before? i also have h4, but original vw.


You're lucky. European spec lenses are much better. At $150.00 per light this is a bargain.
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K58
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tank83 wrote:
what type has these lights been before? i also have h4, but original vw.

I have them too...nothing to brag about and definitely not worth paying more for
They have an average beam pattern which is typical of Hella H4's
If only VW had used sealed beams in a normal style headlight bucket that could be easily swapped out for real H4's
NO, they had to be their eccentric Euroselves and give us some whacky configuration that requires special expensive plastic mounts that break at will Laughing
I'm guessing that's what a914622 has come up with...
Headlight buckets from another vehicle that fit the Vanagon
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a914622
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok its on..
Ill go to the juck yard and get the goods. There is no welding. Look back on sunday and Ill try to have one done with pics and all. The last one only took 30 min.
fyi
I did see a set of vanagon h4s when i was in Canada, but didnt see a hole lot of improvment over the stockers. The light setup im running will light up a good 300 yards on high.

see ya sunday
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a914622
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok I couldn’t find a saab 900 in the pick-a-part yard . GO figure. I pulled the passenger side off to get some pics. When I was looking to do this I wanted to be able to go back to the stockers if It didn’t work, so no welding or cutting the stock vw stuff.
These little gems are what makes it all posable. The one on the right is the way you will find it on the saab,the one on the left is how im using them.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

You can see the bucket looks like it was made for the vanagon. You need to drill 3 holes for each adjuster, 1 a little bigger than the adjuster screw and 2 small to screw the screws thru.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The adjuster on the outside is in the middle (up down) and against the fold .
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is the bottom adjuster, I tried to line it up with the rivet.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The bucket needs to have the ears trimmed off to fit the vw carrier.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Sealed beam from any auto parts under 20.00
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The spring keeps tension on the bucket.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

You do need to trim the stock plastic. I used a sheetrock knife and a file. Go slow.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

The inside also needs to be trimmed to fit the out side adjuster. The pen is just to get it to take.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

This is from about 2 van lengths back low beam.55w/60w bulbs(same w as stock) The sign is about 4 feet high.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

And high beam.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Good luck and thanks for looking jcl
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K58
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

nice idea
your lights look like they could use a little adjustment
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html
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Boogievan
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh man, that is so rad!
I'm really pissed of at my headlights right now, (mostly because the adjusters disintegrated when i tried to re-aim them to compensate for the crappiness of available replacement bulbs) so this is perfect!
Nice work!
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Christopher Schimke
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That really is a great mod. Good job!

For anyone considering this modification, Ford used headlight adjusters that are similar to the SAAB's and you can buy them brand new from autobody aftermarket clip companies.

http://autobodyclips.com/index.php?Search=headlight&PageNo=3

The corosponding headlight buckets that Ford used are very similar to the SAAB versions so they should work just as well. Many Ford trucks used the same 6054 based headlights.
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brooklynvanagon
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks cleaner than.... http://members.aol.com/jmdavi/Headlights.html

I'm going to do it.
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