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Sealed beam to LED upgrade |
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TV 2M8O 
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Joined: 20-September-2006 Location: Southern Ohio Status: Offline Points: 2153 |
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 Topic: Sealed beam to LED upgradePosted: 29-March-2022 at 11:05PM |
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With the Torino now in the bodyshop for her final bodywork and paint, I have started to wrap up some of the upgrades I want to perform as she goes back together. One of those upgrades are the headlights. I have now purchased the OEM glass lens 5 3/4" conversion bulb housings, H4 LED lamps, the H4 bulb ceramic connectors as well as a male connector that plugs into the factory harness headlight connector.
Originally my plan was to use the stock headlight circuit to just drive the headlight relay to change from low to high beam but the more I read about the LEDs, it seems they draw LESS current than the old school sealed beam headlights, so now I'm thinking just replace my sealed beams with the LED assemblies and fore go the headlight relay circuit idea. Anyone else already made the upgrade to LEDs that can share their experience/method/problems?
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 TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Offline Points: 3443 |
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Posted: 30-March-2022 at 1:20AM |
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I'm interested in how that turns out. I like some late model lights, but many are too bright or project bright light in bad directions, plus color matters. I like the old traditional appearance and color in general. One of the few things I did to my first car, 72 GT, was installing four Cibie headlights plus H1 and H4 bulbs. The alternator died immediately or was already bad. I had the 55a unit converted to 80a with a new stator etc. It took a relay to run the light, an back then high amp relays were not common. I bought a solenoid virtually like a normal starter solenoid, which worked well but now I know it was too big and unneeded. The H1 and H4 bulbs used to be available in many wattage's. I used 100w in the high beam bulbs and at first something like 55w/60w in the low/highs. I forgot the details, but I do have the parts stored, plus some new bulbs(55/100's for example). I hope the LED lights work out well for you, it has great potential for better light and longevity, plus preserving the wires from breaking from old age, brittleness, handling etc.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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TV 2M8O
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Posted: 05-April-2022 at 12:10PM |
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Really, no one has converted their headlights to LEDs??
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TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
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aquartlow
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Joined: 19-December-2011 Location: Summerfield, Fl Status: Offline Points: 2341 |
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Posted: 05-April-2022 at 2:55PM |
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Joe, I converted my 4x6 sealed beams years ago to 4x6 glass housings from Autopal that uses H4 and H1 bulbs respectively. Last weekend I changed out the Xenon bulbs to LED's, the LED's are of decent quality and the light output is whiter/brighter, but the housings probably aren't optimal for the LED's light output. Haven't even driven my Ranchero at night yet, so I can't give driving impressions, but I believe I will be ordering "purpose built" LED headlights unless the drive shows me the lighting is better than just good. The biggest issue for me is paying about $1K for 4-4x6 headlights that give exceptional light output and pattern.
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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Waterloo77
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Joined: 24-May-2021 Location: Independence, I Status: Offline Points: 48 |
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Posted: 01-March-2026 at 8:24AM |
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TV, I am currently switching to led. Well, the last few days...there are no real clear directions. I have them plugged in (oe style connectors) that was the easy part. I can not figure out why the halo ring, for turn signal, is always on. The turn signal dash indicators are illuminated. If I use the switch to turn, side marker light intensifies, but will not flash. I changed the flashers over to the electronic bc the original flashers wont get hot enough to flash. I bought the uni-shine 5.75". My brain is fried trying to figure this turn signal non-op. Any electrician have some insight? LOL
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13 Ford F350
06 Ford Mustang convertible 15 Chevy Traverse LTZ 72 Ford Torino Base 302 |
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72FordGTS
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GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 6780 |
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Posted: 02-March-2026 at 9:16AM |
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I am hesitant about LED lights, so I am trying an upgrade to Halogens on a relay circuit first. CobraJoe did the Holley Retro Brights on his Torino:
https://forum.grantorinosport.org/headlights_topic21818_post237755.html?KW=retro+holley#237755 |
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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TV 2M8O
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Posted: 02-March-2026 at 10:22AM |
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Chad, can you post a connection schematic for the LEDs you are using? I'll have a look and see what might be going on in regards to your halo/turn signals not operating correctly....
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TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
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Inkara1
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Posted: 02-March-2026 at 8:55PM |
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The relays made a big difference in how bright my headlights are.
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1972 Gran Torino station wagon, light blue, 351C 2V, prior owner upgraded to 4V (2V heads), originally had a C4 but prior owner changed to C6 for some reason.
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 03-March-2026 at 1:46AM |
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Ditto. The headlight switches are old and failing from high current running through them. If you swap to LED lights for the headlights etc, then the main switch will last much longer. A relay is needed badly if you don't swap to LED lights, to preserve the headlight switch much longer.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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Waterloo77
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Posted: 05-March-2026 at 3:44PM |
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TV...Best I can do. Have yellow halo spliced with bumper turn signals. not concerned with white halo ring until I can get turn signals working properly. All wiring is o.e. exc, added halo turn signals. (Headlights work fine. I haven't installed inner led headlights yet.) I'm half temped to plug regular flashers back in to see if they work.
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13 Ford F350
06 Ford Mustang convertible 15 Chevy Traverse LTZ 72 Ford Torino Base 302 |
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TV 2M8O
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Posted: 06-March-2026 at 9:17AM |
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Chad, if I'm understanding your post correctly, you have the headlights plugged in and the yellow halo tapped into the turn signal circuit. Headlights operate correctly high/low beams? Since the yellow halo is illuminating both as a turn signal AND parking light, I'm gonna guess you have somehow tapped into BOTH circuits. The grill turn signal bulbs are DUAL FILAMENT bulbs.... one park, one turn. What year Torino are you working on and which turn signal wire did you tap? I'll look at my wiring diagram when I get home to see what color wire is turn and park....
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TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
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Waterloo77
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Posted: 06-March-2026 at 5:21PM |
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1972. It's the front bumper turn/park lights. I bet your right. I must have them tapped into the park side.
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13 Ford F350
06 Ford Mustang convertible 15 Chevy Traverse LTZ 72 Ford Torino Base 302 |
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TV 2M8O
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Posted: 07-March-2026 at 12:06AM |
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Chad,
I have attached a screenshot of the grill lighting circuit from my '75-'76 Torino-Montego wiring diagram. On my '76:  PARKING LIGHT CIRCUIT: circuit #14, BROWN wire RH TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT: circuit #2, WHITE wire W/LIGHT BLUE stripe LH TURN SIGNAL CIRCUIT: circuit #3, LIGHT GREEN WIRE w/WHITE stripe Hope this helps solve your problem......
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TV 2M8O OUT JOE 1976 Gran Torino S&H season 2-4 Clone Project Blog: http://tv2m8o.blogspot.com/ |
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Waterloo77
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Posted: 07-March-2026 at 12:41AM |
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Yeah, I just pulled mine. I may have inadvertently wired to parking side. I will check later as it's road trip time. Thanks for your help! I will update once I take a look. Those old wires, brown looks like black...lol
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13 Ford F350
06 Ford Mustang convertible 15 Chevy Traverse LTZ 72 Ford Torino Base 302 |
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Waterloo77 wrote: