911SC Headlight options

[rx7_tech]

Hi All, I purchased a project 78 911SC recently and one of the many issues is a lack of headlights. And I mean I've got nothing but the buckets in the fenders. I purchased the parts manual, but I wanted to ask for recommendations here before pulling the trigger on anything. I've heard the original sealed beams are pretty bad, but I'm not about to drop $2k on LED retrofits. Is there a decent (Hella?) H4 retrofit I should look at? If I do the H4 retrofit - what headlight trim rings do I need?

Thank you!

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/70476.htm?pn=70476-M44&SVSVSI=0790&DID=3874

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PELH470477.htm?pn=PEL-H4-70477&SVSVSI=0790&DID=55715

[creaturecat]

you can do an inexpensive Hella H4 upgrade, if you wanna look at the sugar scoop style headlights.
2-300 bucks. lots available - might find a used set of rings in your colour.

the euro H4 set up is gonna cost 700 - 800 bucks. or more - if you want colour matched rings.

a relay set up is recommended. you can build that for 20 bucks - and (potentially) save yourself the 600 buck hi/lo headlight switch repair.

[darrin]

rx7 tech == how low ($$$-wise) do you want to go? In order to fill the fender buckets, you need to get either a set of used sugar scoop assemblies (that will hold the H4s you referenced above) OR one of the 911-specific lens and headlight assembles (e.g. the Bosch h4 listed here https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/91163111300.htm?pn=911-631-113-00-OEM&SVSVSI=0811&DID=12453 or one of the LED/etc. aftermarket setups based on this)

If you're OK with sugar scoops (and have a way to paint the housings), I'd post an ISO for a pair in the classified section and see what you can find - - looks like a nice pair of white ones sold for $100 a month(ish) ago -- anybody that chose to upgrade to a 911-specific lens/headlight assembly should have a spare set of sugar scoops sitting around. Sugar scoops with H4 headlights will put out very good light

[dlagerstrom]

I put the Hella Vision Plus, as in your second link, in my '82. They are really nice for a not too expensive version.

Didn't notice you need everything. I have the US version parts from my car that I will no longer be using. The trim rings are painted light blue metallic.

[Andnkuhn]

I bought HELLA 002395801 Vision Plus and installed the Jwest relay. The relay was EZ to install and I have zero electrical experience.

[MichaelSJackson]

For completeness. H1s? Expensive.

Independent Hi & Low blubs and reflectors. Therefore, you can use bigger watt high bulbs and aim them where you want. Pretty hard to out drive them.

[HarryD]

FWIW, this is what you need: Original Chrome Sugar Scoop Headlights w/ Hella H4 Lamps

They come up pretty frequently. Watch the for sale ads.

[mrdstr]

buy VW bug headlight buckets, I went with plain glass and not fluted https://www.jbugs.com/product/111941037C.html

buy a set of H4 trim rings.
Get a set of JW Speaker 7" LED headlights.

You now have a high performing cheap set of LED lights that rivals the more expensive kits.

[jakg104]

Originally Posted by mrdstr

buy VW bug headlight buckets, I went with plain glass and not fluted https://www.jbugs.com/product/111941037C.html

buy a set of H4 trim rings.
Get a set of JW Speaker 7" LED headlights.

You now have a high performing cheap set of LED lights that rivals the more expensive kits.

This sounds like a pretty good option. Do you have any pictures of this setup? Any issues with aiming the lights after installing them in the vw bucket?

[dlagerstrom]

The VW buckets come with a chrome trim ring, hence the suggestion to find some H4 rings you can paint.

My issue with the VW bucket is that I couldn't find any without the parking light bulb socket. Makes it look wrong in my opinion.

Aiming LEDs is the same as for other lights.

[jakg104]

Originally Posted by dlagerstrom

The VW buckets come with a chrome trim ring, hence the suggestion to find some H4 rings you can paint.

My issue with the VW bucket is that I couldn't find any without the parking light bulb socket. Makes it look wrong in my opinion.

Aiming LEDs is the same as for other lights.

Thanks Dave. Agreed regarding the hole for the parking light bulb..

This JW Speaker light seems like it could look good with being a bit more period correct.
https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/model-8700-evo2-classic-led-light/

[timmy2]

No affiliation to seller, but these would do the trick.
Bosch H4s

[Jonny042]

Probably not quite as budget as some other options, but $685.00 is a steal for brand new H1's from Auto Foreign Services:

https://www.autoforeignservices.com/

There really is no substitute......

[darrin]

Originally Posted by dlagerstrom

The VW buckets come with a chrome trim ring, hence the suggestion to find some H4 rings you can paint.

My issue with the VW bucket is that I couldn't find any without the parking light bulb socket. Makes it look wrong in my opinion.

Aiming LEDs is the same as for other lights.

Bit of clarification -- the VW buckets affix to a vw's front fenders via a tab located under the chrome ring, while our 911 headlights use a screw that goes through the bottom of the chrome ring. In order to use vw buckets with a 911, one needs to replace the VW chrome ring with one drilled for a Porsche (e.g. https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/91163193300.htm?pn=911-631-933-00-M253&gclid=CjwKCAiA_eb-BRB2EiwAGBnXXh3gFa9ST10fhC4bADnfDqSq0CJYEwnHlKziVF YKryoh2rx1RTJBpxoC11IQAvD_BwE) -- one can ALSO add the paintable h4 rings over these (just as with the 911-specific h4 assemblies), if they desire.

[creaturecat]

YMMV, however, i dunno how folks make peace with the look of the foreskins. aka sugar scoops.

[76FJ55]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

YMMV, however, i dunno how folks make peace with the look of the foreskins. aka sugar scoops.

Well I guess it's what you know and how open you are to other's ideas and beliefs. Some people probably do take Porsche design to be truth, kind of like the Bible, Qur'an, Wikipedia and Battlefield Earth.

[dlagerstrom]

Good point about the chrome ring attaching with screw below. I have my 356 on the brain as that is the car I am working on now.

Thanks

[Larmo63]

Sugar scoops shall be forever known as foreskins.

Thanks for the new term.

[Otter74]

For ca. $600+, I would (and did) get LEDs over H4s in a minute. They work!

As for foreskins (LOL - I'm using that term now too), I never cared about how they looked vs. H4s/H5s until the minute I bought my own car, when I immeidately stopped liking them.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by Jonny042

Probably not quite as budget as some other options, but $685.00 is a steal for brand new H1's from Auto Foreign Services:

https://www.autoforeignservices.com/

There really is no substitute......

I have the AFS H1s in my '72. Absolutely beautiful, like jewelry. And the light output is better than the H4s I had in my '84. Hard to go wrong with these if they are in your budget.

Pelican offers them as well - https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/AFS91163110100.htm?pn=AFS-911-631-101-00&SVSVSI=5872&DID=168250