911 Headlight Retro Upgrade

Moby78 · 10-19-2005, 08:27 AM

I loved the look of my Father's 356[65-SC] headlights. For the time period, they represented a wonderful meld of function and aesthetics. Now that I own a '78 Turbo, I wonder if there is an option for lighting upgrade other than the H-1/H-4 route. Will the 911 fender and buckets accept the '65 lens/retainer-ring(chrome) assembly? Replacement of the sealed-beam units with
new Sylvania Silver-Star round units would be the actual lighting source. While not quite HID in performance, the Silver-Star has some darn good specs. I have seen some painted lexan units
on racers, for "aero" purposes, but have never seen a fully
functioning integration. I think the slight curvature of the late
65 356 lights [and apparently, some early 66 912s] on the Turbo would match the body line flow into the rear fenders. Looking for some insight/suggestions before I begin cutting/mods. Thanks for your time.

pwd72s · 10-19-2005, 08:41 AM

The way I understand it, no cutting needed...early VW Beetle headlight fittings are used (clear lens), and you put whatever 7" round lights you prefer behind those. I'd opt for H-4 over sylvania, but your call.

dafischer · 10-19-2005, 08:49 AM

They do go in with no cutting. Here's my 72E with early headlight assemblies and Hella Euro h-4's.

blucille · 10-19-2005, 11:04 AM

and where do you get these??

-Lewis

pwd72s · 10-19-2005, 12:48 PM

VW

KobaltBlau · 10-19-2005, 12:58 PM

wait a sec, the cover glass and trim ring are VW? or are they very early 911?

dafischer · 10-19-2005, 01:55 PM

The ones pictured are early 911/912 with adjusting screws through the chrome ring. The mounting screw also goes through the bottom of the rim, as opposed to VW, which had a mounting tab hanging below the rim, I believe.

donstevens · donstevens's Garage

I looked into this a month or so ago. The VW bucket has a tab that hangs below the trim ring to prevent a direct bolt in. This may be able to be modified by those with the proper tools and skills. I have neither.

Don

KobaltBlau · 10-19-2005, 02:15 PM

Is the glass the same, I.E. is beetle glass compatible with 911 rings?

pwd72s · 10-19-2005, 03:55 PM

A fellow R Grupper who made the swap said it was pretty simple to machine off the VW rim tab, punch & drill a hole for the Porsche mounting scew...I didn't ask about the adjusting feature, so I'm not sure. Any Beetle owners here? I'm assuming headlight aiming is done with the trim ring and cover glass off...