G'day all,
I know, I know...another question about my daughter's 69 bug...lol.
After driving back from Sydney the other day/night in that mongrel stormy weather..I noticed that the front left headlight was not working...so me being me decided to have a look. Once I had dissassembled the headlight and removed it from the fibreglass guard I noticed that it was a 2 piece headlight. It had this huge round 40/45w globe that was of a wierd H4 design that didn't have the normal 3 tab locating base. I managed to find some replacement globes that were rated at 55/60w...however the reflectors in both headlights are far from being nice and shiny..the lower half of the reflector is corroded and I imagine that it doesn't help with the light output much at all. The question is...can I swap some other headlight assembly in there to bring them up to a decent level of brightness?.I had a pretty frustrating time getting all the little clips back in place and the reflector lens has a few mounting tabs covered in rubber that locate it in the carrier so it can be adjusted...my god..it is a complicated way of doing things when so much more easier ways are available. Any takers who can lend me a kind word and advise what can be retro-fitted to these.?

Hey Gazza

I have just done this swap a few months ago. I presume the fibreglass gaurd has a steel bucket. If it does, buy some of these headlights and buckets. There is metal tabs in the original frame part in the guard that this item screws into. Took me 5 mins to do each side.

http://www.classicveedub.com.au/SpareParts/Parts_Results.asp?NAV=4&Item_C...

I have a 68 with Hella H4 semi sealed beams. They work extremely well. Picked up some mounts years ago that bolted straight in but sorry, I have no idea what model VW they came from. I suspect 76 type 1's had these semi sealed beams but am no expert. Sure there will be someone on here that can help more.

you'll get to love vw headlights

p45t bases fit only vws afaik so no auto shop tends to carry them only vw shops



like hulby said 75 onwards kombis and bugs have semi sealed lights

they still use the P45T vw bulb but there alot more user freindly and can be bought new easy enough

Actually I picked up a pair of them from AutoPro for $4.95 each..as well as a pair of H4 Helagon..hella john..hallowgen..whatever !!! 55/60w globes with the same base but in normal narrow globe design for $15.95 each and used those instead. I also removed the clip in clip out metal dome that sat in front of the golf ball sized p45T globe and put these away in case I need to refit them at a later date (yeah..I know...I'm a hoarder)..you should see my shed...lol...one man's junk is another man's treasure and you can just bet that the day after you throw something out that has been gathering dust for the last 20 yrs...you'll need it !!!

the tin deflectors are fine to remove if your running H4s now

theyre only in theyre for the old assymetrical bulbs like the one i posted above. H4s have there own deflector in the tip of the bulb.

you found some old VW p45t bulbs for $4.95??? reallly???GTFO!!

wow i didnt think new ones of them would still exist let alone that cheap
last one of them i bought was about 12 years ago and was about $20

so could i just take the mounting frame to an auto sparky and get a newer light to suit?