Author Topic: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???  (Read 2825 times)

Offline sanluis09

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Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« on: July 06, 2016, 01:49:52 PM »
Hi,

I wonder if a sealed beam original headlight could it be restored if its burned out? Do someone knows who could do it? For example, a 6012 sealed beam.

I know many of you have original headlights on your cars, maybe the original assembly ones with the correct date code (GE, Tung-Sol or Westinghouse).... what will you do when they fail? as the original headlights with matching date code are almost impossible to find.....  Is there somebody that you know who could repair them?

Here's a link of specialist on the UK which says that they could restore even the sealed beams!

http://www.chromerestorationspecialist.co.uk/services/head-lamp-resilvering/


Thank you,
Luis
1965 WW Hardtop, 289-2V, 3-speed manual transmission. Unrestored. Assembled in Mexico on the time frame of: Oct 64-Feb 65.

Offline midlife

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2016, 02:02:04 PM »
Most headlights fail when the filament burns out.  That must be hard to repair.  What this vendor offers is mostly resilvering.
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Offline Bob Gaines

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2016, 07:56:35 PM »
Hi,

I wonder if a sealed beam original headlight could it be restored if its burned out? Do someone knows who could do it? For example, a 6012 sealed beam.

I know many of you have original headlights on your cars, maybe the original assembly ones with the correct date code (GE, Tung-Sol or Westinghouse).... what will you do when they fail? as the original headlights with matching date code are almost impossible to find.....  Is there somebody that you know who could repair them?

Here's a link of specialist on the UK which says that they could restore even the sealed beams!

http://www.chromerestorationspecialist.co.uk/services/head-lamp-resilvering/


Thank you,
Luis
Luis ,keep us posted on what you find out feasibility and cost wise.
Bob Gaines,Shelby enthusiast, Shelby collector , Shelby concours judge SAAC,MCA,Mid America Shelby

Offline sanluis09

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2016, 11:15:13 AM »
The only thing that comes to my mind in order to preserve our original sealed headlights is to convert them to headlights that use interchangeable bulbs  ;D     To achieve this, you will have to cut some of the back metal to install the new connector and to make this conversion. I haven't tried this, I just thinking in the future, what could it be done to preserve the original headlights, and I don't know if this is really possible.

Here's a link that I found for someone who made something like that:

http://www.mopedarmy.com/wiki/Sealed_Beam_Conversion


Attach some extra pictures for your reference.


What do you think?


Regards,
Luis




1965 WW Hardtop, 289-2V, 3-speed manual transmission. Unrestored. Assembled in Mexico on the time frame of: Oct 64-Feb 65.

Online jwc66k

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2016, 01:53:35 PM »
It would be difficult to determine if this "modification", "alteration" or "upgrade" had been made as the rear of the bulb is not normally visible. If the change can be seen thru the glass, it would be subject to a points reduction. One more item to check by a judge.
Jim
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Offline J_Speegle

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2016, 04:24:11 PM »

The only thing that comes to my mind in order to preserve our original sealed headlights is to convert them to headlights that use interchangeable bulbs  ;D     To achieve this, you will have to cut some of the back metal to install the new connector and to make this conversion. I haven't tried this, I just thinking in the future, what could it be done to preserve the original headlights, and I don't know if this is really possible.

Back side is not metal but glass I believe so cutting it without unintended consequences is going to be low IMHO. Also with those bulbs you may have to redo the original wiring and have to add additional wiring and a relay to handle the amps needed.


What do you think?

Believe the coating on the end of the bulb may be visible and catch a judges eye on the finished product. Did on the blue bulb reproductions
« Last Edit: July 07, 2016, 04:26:24 PM by J_Speegle »
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Offline sanluis09

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2016, 06:20:19 PM »
Thank you Jeff,

I've just realized that the back side is not metal as I said before, is glass as you said. So, I would be looking with a glass vendor if they can cut the specific area without any bad consequence to the rest of the glass. I do think this could be possible. Will try this experiment with a Wagner 6024 halogen sealed beam that I have. Will post my findings.


Regards
Luis





« Last Edit: July 07, 2016, 06:22:24 PM by sanluis09 »
1965 WW Hardtop, 289-2V, 3-speed manual transmission. Unrestored. Assembled in Mexico on the time frame of: Oct 64-Feb 65.

Offline sanluis09

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Re: Sealed Beam Headlights could be restored???
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2016, 07:29:22 PM »
1965 WW Hardtop, 289-2V, 3-speed manual transmission. Unrestored. Assembled in Mexico on the time frame of: Oct 64-Feb 65.