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Headlight reconfiguration On KG from US to Aus

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Gregster31 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#997510
Hi All,
Hoping you can advise.
I have a 69 KG on the way from the US.
I am looking for some advice on what I have to do regarding reconfiguration of headlights for rego.
Is an adjustment possible on the original headlights?
Do I need to replace headlights, globes, get new buckets?
I am trying to determine what I need to do before it gets here.
Thanks in advance.

gregster31

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#997515
Hi
I'm no Karmann Ghia expert but I believe You will need two RHD 7 inch sealed beams.
As far as I know all US cars had sealed beams as the type of headlamps We have in air cooled vws is illegal over there.
Was also illegal in the Golf/Rabbit over there..
7 inch sealed beams are fairly standard items so I believe all will fit..
You will just remove the US LHD sealed beams and replace them with RHD sealed beams. The original electrical plug will plug onto the new lights.
7 inch sealed beams shouldn't be expensive unless You want BOSCH OR HELLA brand sealed beams.

You cannot adjust the US LHD Lights as they shine into the oncoming traffic on low beam..

cheers

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#997516
Hi Again

You will need tail lamp lenses with amber blinkers in the top as the US ones are all red..
I think 69 KG tail lamps are similar to a late type 3 but shorter in length..
You would need the European tail lamps or clear aftermarket ones..

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Gregster31 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#997519
Thanks for the info Lee.
Generic 7" sealed beams are fine with me, do not need Bosch or Hella.
Can I get generic 7" sealed beams from local suppliers?
I am in Newcastle.
I have read up on amber indicator lenses on RTA website and found documentation that says I can leave red tail lights and clear front indicators as is. Hope this is still current. Save some $'s.

Greg

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#997524
Hi
Well that surprises Me..
I thought blinking RED tail/stop lamps were illegal..
that used to be the reason why most early US cars registered in NSW had the rear amber blinkers seperate to the RED tail lamps.
as they were added on in Australia..
My Son used to have a BIG US car [Dodge] and it had Datsun 120y [Nissan] blinkers on it.. lol

that will save You some money..

Your KG should have wrap around front amber blinkers
small or Large [type 3] depending when they changed..

Look up on ebay - 7 inch sealed beams -
$22 each postage free...

many others too...

Last vehicles to have 7 inch headlamps was possibly the GQ Nissan Patrol or the Toyota 4WD..
The japanese style headlamps had the pattern on the headlight glass very small... not a good look on a KG.. lol
Most common is the larger pattern..

cheers

Lee in Scone



cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Gregster31 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#997525
Thanks again Lee, I appreciate your advice.
I will start searching tomorrow.

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#997538
Your 69 model will have the earlier tail lights and indicators, there are many reproductions for the lenses required, I bought a set of NOS rear lenses for my Ghia from the Karmann Ghia Company OF Australia.
http://www.karmannghia.com.au/Lighting-Rear-Interior/View-all-products.html
Quality head lights http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HELLA-HALOGEN-HIGH-LOW-BEAM-INSERT-7-INCH-1058-HEADLIGHTS-FOR-H4-GLOBE-PARKER-x2-/291192068703?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43cc665a5f

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Gregster31 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#997550
Hi vw060,

Thanks for advice, if I get the Hella headlights do they fit straight into existing, or is there additional parts and adjustments required other than aiming?
Is it worth paying more and getting the name brand?

My tail lights are the same as yours in photo except US red.
I am thinking of leaving as is for blue slip, but if required can get a pair of repros locally for $120.

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#997573
If your car has the 7" sealed beams they will fit straight in, it is always good to buy the best quality you can afford and I run the Hella head lights in all my cars, the tail lights will be a personal choice but it would be safer to run the European lights that I run as you cannot confuse the indicators with the brake light.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#997577
Instead of sealed beams you might be better off going semi sealed inserts as they have the parker bulb in them which is generally needed in most states.

they are plug and play replacement for sealed beams, you may just need to run a parker wire to them.
do US KGs run the blinker as a running light like Beetles and Kombis from there do?

Special Air Service Chief "Gunna"

1,769 posts · joined Oct 2004 ·

#997586
anyone have a link to the actual bucket / adjustment mechanism if the are available?
Calling all NSW Mid North Coast Veedubbers

Click Below
Mid North Coast VW

Gregster31 Learner Dubber

9 posts · joined Jun 2014 ·

#997591
The owners manual says the light below the headlight acts as parker and indicator.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#997592
Joel wrote:Instead of sealed beams you might be better off going semi sealed inserts as they have the parker bulb in them which is generally needed in most states.

they are plug and play replacement for sealed beams, you may just need to run a parker wire to them.
do US KGs run the blinker as a running light like Beetles and Kombis from there do?
Hi Joel
The late Aussie type 3 front wrap around blinkers had an extra bulb holder in them..
Maybe two.. a small one and a large one.. like 4w and 21w bulbs but no wires etc..[I remember putting 4w bulbs them and using them as parkers..]
I would assume the KG would have the running lights in them..
but I'm not sure when they appeared in the USA.

You may have to print out the info on the RED REAR BLINKERS being allowed.. and show the person doing the BLUE SLIP...

I have Hella H4 7 inch semi sealed beams in My Beetle and the face of the glass is nearly flat, not as domed [convex] as the sealed beams..
I have late beetle [75-76] Boschsemi sealed somewhere and they were FLAT, but All round sealed beams are domed [convex] and the reflector surface is Excellent as its on the inside of the [rear side] glass.

The sealed beams have 3 locating [glass] pieces on them, and the semi sealed beams have 3 locating pieces made from metal..

Sealed beams have a clear spot in the reflector to put a parking light.
the bulb holder would have to be in the correct spot..
whereas the semi sealed beams usually have a hole in the reflector and most come with a bulb holder already in the hole..
[they are usually available with or wirhout the park light feature]

All these should just fit into the existing h/lamp bracket/bucket on the KG.. and plug in with the 3 pin plug.. already fitted..

The other thing is Quartz Halogen Bulbs with a nice WHITE beam can be fitted to semi sealed beams but there are 7 inch sealed beams available which are NON halogen - they just have the two filiments.. and if the headlamp gets cracked the filiments burn out..
the Quartz halogen Sealed beams have the filiments enclosed [Like the H4 Hella sealed beams..]
so they don't burn out when cracked...



Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#997594
Hi Lee, Karmann Ghias in 69 still had the little single bulb bullet blinkers on the front, the bigger ugly wrap round ones didnt start till 70.
They would most likely have a dual filament bulb in them on US spec cars so they doubled as indicators and running lights.

I'm just not sure if to meet ADRs you would have to swap to headlights with parkers built in like Aus spec KGs had, it would be worth checking out before you buy anything.
Some people obviously have dodgy roadworthys done, someone on here was selling a KG a while back which still had LHD headlights on it.

KGs look woeful with flat lense headlights in them, you can get semi sealed H4 inserts with the correct curved glass lense from several sellers.

Sealed beams are horrible headlights, because the whole thing is designed to be thrown out when one of the filaments blows not much effort goes into them.

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#997600
KGs look woeful with flat lense headlights in them, you can get semi sealed H4 inserts with the correct curved glass lense from several sellers.


Lucky that's just a matter of opinion.

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LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#997617
Just make sure the headlights don't have a NARROW beam in them. 😉
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#997627
vwo60 wrote:KGs look woeful with flat lense headlights in them, you can get semi sealed H4 inserts with the correct curved glass lense from several sellers.


Lucky that's just a matter of opinion.
Well it could have been worse, sloping 6 volt beetle and new Mini headlights on Karmann ghias is a horrifying trend people need shooting for 😉

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#997629
I did not know you could get headlights with one, that's for that .

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#997634
Sloping headlamps on a Karmann ghia..
Yes, I've seen one or the pics and I thought You would only do that if they were badly rusted out...
and Yes I have noticed Karmann ghias with the Flat lensed H4 headlamps..

Sealed Beam headlamps - I remember the GE made early sealed beams from the USA... the two filiments were just sitting in the centre with no hoods or anything over the low beam so they just shone straight out..
and high beam was just worse.. lol..

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---