LUCAS halogen headlamp conversion problem

Colin T

New Member
Hi all, I have a headache.
I have this odd desire to be able to see where I am actually going at night, when Kitty is at last on the road, so have bought some new headlamps. I read up on the advice that to by the LUCAS branded units as many of the generic ones have proved poor quality. So I sorced a set of such from Ebay Part Nos LUB223 (outer) and LUB222 (inner) and yes they seem very nice with halogen logos on and all that.
Unfortunately the locating tabs don't match the inner mounting ring! Blast! Foiled again.
I don't really want to lose my original LUCAS bowls which are in good condition. 3 are original to the car with early steel adjusters though I had to replace the one for a later plastic adjuster unit as I couldn't save one of them ut it's still a LUCAS steel bowl.
Does anyone know if there is a correct inner ring for them? I don't want to use those plastic WIPAC ones with no inner mounting ring, just three tabs which look flimsy to me. Trying to alter the originals to work would be a painful project in it's self.
 
Hi all, I have a headache.
I have this odd desire to be able to see where I am actually going at night, when Kitty is at last on the road, so have bought some new headlamps. I read up on the advice that to by the LUCAS branded units as many of the generic ones have proved poor quality. So I sorced a set of such from Ebay Part Nos LUB223 (outer) and LUB222 (inner) and yes they seem very nice with halogen logos on and all that.
Unfortunately the locating tabs don't match the inner mounting ring! Blast! Foiled again.
I don't really want to lose my original LUCAS bowls which are in good condition. 3 are original to the car with early steel adjusters though I had to replace the one for a later plastic adjuster unit as I couldn't save one of them ut it's still a LUCAS steel bowl.
Does anyone know if there is a correct inner ring for them? I don't want to use those plastic WIPAC ones with no inner mounting ring, just three tabs which look flimsy to me. Trying to alter the originals to work would be a painful project in it's self.
Hi Colin, is it just one 'tab' that doesn't line up or is it all 3? I used to have this problem when I did the 'double dip' conversions on the Jensens. Fitting H4 lamps into the inner bowls meant that the spacing on the top leg was incorrect, I just simply cut the bowl ledge a bit wider to allow the leg to locate. Hope this helps.
 
I had the same problem when I fitted cheaper (than Lucas) halogens off ebay. Autopal I think. My solution was to replace the 3 of the bowls with Triumph Vitesse ones that I had knocking around and modify the original Rover 4th one by a spot of careful grinding to allow the locating tabs to sit properly. You don't need to trim very much off. I can understand your reluctance to lose the originality but if all new lights are like this, it might be unavoidable.
 
Hi, yes it looks like I will have to either alter the mounting ring or remover the tabs from the units. As they look like they would sit a little prouder than that of sealed beams it could be an option.
 
Hi, yes it looks like I will have to either alter the mounting ring or remover the tabs from the units. As they look like they would sit a little prouder than that of sealed beams it could be an option.
Hi Colin, I wouldn't recommend cutting the tabs off the lamps, they will rotate over time and throw your beam pattern out. Just cut the bowl location slot out a little. I do it all the time, there is only the upper slot to do and it only needs cutting slightly to the left. The lamps will sit fine once screwed back in with the retaining ring.
 
I bought a set of Lucas lights that I think were intended for an XJ40. I don’t remember having to modify anything to get them to fit, and they take readily available replaceable bulbs. Only thing that’s not so original is the lenses are less domed than the old sealed beams.
 
Hi Tom, the problem with a lot of these new style replacement lamp units is that they are dip beam H4 lamps with a H1 bulb adapter for the main beam. Unfortunately, the spacing legs on the dip and main beams are in a slightly different position
 
The ones I bought were different bowls for the inners and outers. I don’t remember there being an adapter for the H1 bulbs, though it was a few years since I did the conversion.
 
That's correct Tom, the inner and outer bowls are different. Inner are H1 main beam only, outers are H4 dip/main, hence the different spacing so as not to mix them up. The problem I have noticed with some, not all, aftermarket Chinese replacement light units is that they supply dip units with an adapter to convert the H4 to accept a H1 bulb. Not a problem doing that, just causes a bit of an issue installing in the main beam bowl
 
Ah, that's what is going on. It's been years since I bought a set of lamps but I've never had trouble fitting any of the brands I've used so I was puzzled.

Yours
Vern
 
I have read in Classic &Sports Car, that Nissan Cabstar headlight are direct replacements for the Rover headlight units and are QI and come with bulb included. They are also replacements for Jensen and Triumph. I have not checked this, nor do I know what a Nissan Cabstar is, but I offer it o the Forum as a possible source for lights
2 years ago , before the MOT, I found that Halfords and other local motor factors did not even list Rover sealed beam lights, but one place spent about 30 mins looking in their 'old stock to find he light I needed, (main beam only) because ' his father used to have a car like that' The power of the P6 fan club!

MOT tester subsequently told me that a missing main beam light was not a failure, as it did not affect the beam pattern. Again I would not like to risk this, and would not want to drive with a main beam out.
My 3500S is running with QI. main/dip bought at an auto jumble, flat glass, and standard sealed beam main. I do not like driving at night as at my age these light cannot compete with the HID light on all the Surrey SUV's
Any suggestions for an improvement of dipped beam performance??
 
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