Old School Hella Lights

[5TTTj]

I know some with think Im heading in the wrong direction, but Ive never liked the look of LED lights, especially on older vehicles. I know the are far superior in many ways.
Anyway here goes it, I decided to remove my LED lights and go with some vintage HELLA's that i picked up from a friend the other day. For now I temporarily have the mounted up top but i may weld on some tabs so i can relocate them, nothings wired yet.

 

[OHFIVETJ]

I think they LQQK great in this pic !!!

 

[J.Cain]

Can’t agree more, I had truck lights and auxbeams for a couple of years and recently went back to the original look. I purchased DOT H7 housings paired with LED bulbs and replaced the factory Fog Lights H3 with LEDs as well. With lights off it brings back that classic TJ look, flip the lights on and it’s like looking out the windshield of my modern truck.

 

[Chris]

Very cool! I’ve always been a fan of old school Hella lights.

 

[C.J. Roberts]

I too hate LEDs. I just can't see with them. You'll get the best performance by mounting them where the LED bar is now. But they'll be better protected mounted on the lower bar. Do NOT mount them low, way too much chance of knocking them off.
When you wire them up, use 14 AWG wire. That way, if you decide later you want a higher watt bulb you won't have any problems.

 

[Obi-Wan]

 

[jjvw]

I too hate LEDs. I just can't see with them. ...

This gets into the interesting territory of color temperature and lense focusing. My intuition would be that the older technology Hella lights and housings are nicer to look through than a cheap LED light, despite the Hellas being a lower output light.

 

[ColoJeep]

This gets into the interesting territory of color temperature and lense focusing. My intuition would be that the older technology Hella lights and housings are nicer to look through than a cheap LED light, despite the Hellas being a lower output light.

The warmer Kelvin of the halogen , plus having a actual lens would be huge plusses for the Hella. 6000K. and scattered , unfocused light in all directions are hallmarks of crap Chinese LED lights , halogens for the win.

 

[jjvw]

The warmer Kelvin of the halogen , plus having a actual lens would be huge plusses for the Hella. 6000K. and scattered , unfocused light in all directions are hallmarks of crap Chinese LED lights , halogens for the win.

Agreed to the extent that we are comparing a higher quality halogen to a cheap LED.

Once we get into nicer LEDs that are both very bright and easy to look through while also being a smaller package, halogens fade away quickly. But the cost of entry into good LEDs is a barrier many won't cross.

 

[OldBuzzard]

I'm curious what the pattern will look like with those rectangular Hellas. My 2005 OEM round Hellas (with yellow film added) look like this, a true fog light pattern, thin and wide.

 

[ColoJeep]

Agreed to the extent that we are comparing a higher quality halogen to a cheap LED.

Once we get into nicer LEDs that are both very bright and easy to look through while also being a smaller package, halogens fade away quickly. But the cost of entry into good LEDs is a barrier many won't cross.

I bought a pair of ridgid D-2 dually cube 6 LED' s each , they are remarkable , but 400.00 for a pair of cube lights is tough.

 

[C.J. Roberts]

This gets into the interesting territory of color temperature and lense focusing. My intuition would be that the older technology Hella lights and housings are nicer to look through than a cheap LED light, despite the Hellas being a lower output light.

Agreed to the extent that we are comparing a higher quality halogen to a cheap LED.

Once we get into nicer LEDs that are both very bright and easy to look through while also being a smaller package, halogens fade away quickly. But the cost of entry into good LEDs is a barrier many won't cross.

Admittedly, I've never had a "good" set of LEDs, but even driving with others that have better ones, I still find that I can see better with a warmer light. A set of LEDs in a 5000 Kelvin might be better, but I simply don't have the financial wherewithal to try them.
I'd dearly like a set of Baja Designs' lights, but I'm not likely to ever get any.

 

[jjvw]

Admittedly, I've never had a "good" set of LEDs, but even driving with others that have better ones, I still find that I can see better with a warmer light. A set of LEDs in a 5000 Kelvin might be better, but I simply don't have the financial wherewithal to try them.
I'd dearly like a set of Baja Designs' lights, but I'm not likely to ever get any.

Mine has Holley Retrobrights and Baja Design auxiliary lights. They are an entirely different experience than the Trucklites and cheap auxiliary lights I have had in the past.

 

[C.J. Roberts]

Mine has Holley Retrobrights and Baja Design auxiliary lights. They are an entirely different experience than the Trucklites and cheap auxiliary lights I have had in the past.

I'd absolutely love to have the Retrobrights. But not at $200. and that's on sale! Honestly I rarely even drive at night anymore, so what I have (Bus Depot Z Beams with Hella 80/ 100 watt bulbs, Hella 550 fog lights, and four 55 watt driving lights that you can't get anymore), is adequate for my needs.

 

[TRevs]

I know some with think Im heading in the wrong direction, but Ive never liked the look of LED lights, especially on older vehicles. I know the are far superior in many ways.
Anyway here goes it, I decided to remove my LED lights and go with some vintage HELLA's that i picked up from a friend the other day. For now I temporarily have the mounted up top but i may weld on some tabs so i can relocate them, nothings wired yet.
View attachment 604520View attachment 604521View attachment 604522View attachment 604523

I think you’re right on. I put Hellas on almost immediately when i got mine, and added Hella driving lights a couple years later. Very satisfied.

 

[BobFarrell]

View attachment 604532

I agree that LEDs don't look right on older vehicles. It would be helpful if you posted a picture with your new lights on to show what they look like. Thanks!!