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MG MG Y Type - Night driving.

Maybe not for the "purists" nor for the producers of the "trailer queens" but for the true enthusiasts who enjoy driving their magnificent post war classic "Y"s - here's a little tip which definitely makes night time driving safer and more enjoyable. A couple of years back while walking through a wreckers yard, I happened upon an early model Volvo and noticed that the headlights were larger than the normal seven inch sealed beams. Measuring them at around eight inches, I took a pair home and slipped them into a spare pair of "Y" Type King of the Road headlight shells. Surprise, surprise - they fitted beautifully. Now the H4's light up the way like never before and the average punter would never spot the difference. Definitely safer and definitely more enjoyable night driving complements of Volvo and their H4s.
cj constantine

My LED's produce a similar strong beam. I've read here on this forum somewhere that LED's are not legal but I have never been stopped.

You mention that your Volvo headlight option is not one for the purists, I guess then that the LED's in my trafficators, flashing in sync with my indicators, is not for the purists either. And I don't suppose that the traditionalistas will approve of my, badge bar mounted spotlights, being fitted with a flasher switch so that I can flash a thank you to motorists who beckon me out with a quick flash of their headlights.

R Taylor

Cecil Kimber (MG founder) was not a purist. Wasn't the first MG a Morris which had been modified to suit a special purpose? If you have read "Maintaining the Breed" (by John Thornley, General manager and Director of MG and head of their racing department), you will know that MG race cars were constantly being modified to solve problems.

So go for it with a clear conscience. Just put the original parts aside (clearly labelled) so they can be put back on the car when it is in a museum in 2080 when things, unfortunately, might be different.

Anything which helps us keep these cars safely on the roads, must be good.

Cheers,
Bob Schapel
R L Schapel

Thanks for your encouraging comments guys, attached is a photo of the Volvo H4s installed in the "King of the Road" buckets.
Regards
Christopher J.

cj constantine

Car looks great Christopher.
I agree it is a great upgrade to get more light to achieve a safer level of motoring.
I have done the same with a set of 7 ins headlights, but wish to achieve the same with a set of 8 ins " buckets " I have .I would hope to get a set of Volvo 8 inch light,so if anyone knows of a similar car that shares that size please advise me.

A question, from which model car do these 8 inch lights come from - the YB ?

Say, as you are close by we must catch up.

CR Dickinson

One thing I forgot to mention in fitting the Volvo H4 semi sealed beams was that I fitted individually fused relays to the high and low beams on the driver's side. The original setup had 60-70 watts through the light switch. The H4s are 55 watts each so by having the passenger side headlight going through the headlight switch and the driver's side light going through the relays, not only do we reduce the watts through the switch but we still have one headlight operating if one or the other "blows". Hope this is as "clear as mud" to anyone who is interested in following up on the improved night vision provided by fitting the Volvo H4s.
Christopher J.
cj constantine

Interesting Thread,
MY LED headlamp bulbs have a beam pattern that renders them useless for night driving. I'm using Standard British Pre Focus units, which are great with filament bulbs but low powered (glow worm in a jam jar springs to mind) I'm reluctant to fit higher powered bulbs even though I've uprated the cable sizes and fitted relays to preserve the switch, I've more respect for dynamo.
As it is, a compromise when raining, heater/demister or windscreen wipers?with filament bulbs in the headlights.
David
D P Jones

A friend of mine, Anthony Pearson, does lots of special globes and lights and sells them throughout the world. He has LEDs on his own Y Type and demonstrated them to me about a week ago. They are MUCH brighter than the originals and only draw a small fraction of the current of the originals ..... no need to upgrade cables and fit relays. He also does double filament sidelights which have white parkers and BRIGHT yellow indicators. The parker turns off while the indicator is working so the moderns can see where you are going. All controlled within the globe! Compatible pos and neg earth. I have ordered a pair.

Bob Schapel
R L Schapel

Thanks for that Bob, I'm a keen user of LEDs and have fitted them to all my vehicles except for the headlights. I did try them in one of my Dodges, paid a bit for what were supposed to be the best, but little joy so have gone with the Volvo option in them as well. Everywhere else LEDs. Your friend's option for LED park/indicators sound terrific and I'd love to know more - availability, cost and your assessment of effectiveness would be great. I look forward to hearing more.
Regards
Christopher J.
PS:Attached photo of H4s fitted to my Dodges


cj constantine

Hi Christopher and others,

The parker/indicator bulbs are $25 each. They work on pos and neg earth and come in either equal pin or offset pin base. I think they might require a different flasher unit which doesn't flash more rapidly with the lower current draw of LEDs. I recently asked Anthony for a set, along with bases to match (as I have a 1972 "cobbled-up" arrangement in my road TC) but told him "no hurry". Hence I have not yet seen them in the flesh.

Just Google "Vintage and Classic Bulbs" or "Anthony Pearson Lighting" and you will get to his website to order globes and see his other products. I think Anthony can supply the flasher unit too.

Since the 1970s Anthony has set new standards with his restorations of his own MGA, TC, TD, Y-Type, Magnette etc. He is also always in charge of all our concourse events (including National Meetings) here in South Australia .... so you can see he really knows his stuff and is a true MG enthusiast.

Bob Schapel

R L Schapel

There was once a time when a popular boast was to claim that one could drive only on side lights, now boast is all about massive lumen power. I must confess although the optician tells me I have only slight cataracts, on a wet night some on-coming head lights seem like a wall of light caused by surface reflection. When will the race to out-light everyone else on the road end. The trouble is I have particularly good night vision which was very useful when flying a light aircraft at night but on the road is painful. Bryan
B Mellem

B Mellem wrote: "There was once a time when a popular boast was to claim that one could drive only on side lights,"

When the optician tried to sell my wife additional specs for night driving, she told him, "Don't be silly, I don't need them." He insisted that she did need them. To which she replied. "Have you never seen Harry Potter? Witches see better in the dark."
R Taylor

I have never flown a broomstick, usually a PA28 Bryan
B Mellem

This thread was discussed between 16/07/2017 and 21/07/2017

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