[supercrouton]

I know that there are reproduction unity headlights out there.

BUT, if you like the higher quality look and feel of the original vintage Unity lights, here is a step by step of how to make the smaller 4 1/2" lights into a usable hi-low beam headlamp, with an actual good pattern of light.

First thing is to source a par36 sealed beam replacement, it should have a metal reflector. It should be less than $10, plus shipping.

Then drill out the original bulb mount hole to about 3/4".


Next is making a mount for an H4 type bulb. Here is the initial ring turned from aluminum. The pattern of light your setup will produce will depend on how far your spacer ring holds the bulb from the reflector. I wired mine up to a drill battery and measured the distance the bulb flange needed to be from the reflector, once I determined the pattern looked right.


Make a notch to clock to bulb in the correct orientation.




There is probably a better way to make a retaining wire, like recycling one from a cheap headlight but I didn't have one handy. I made the wire from some stainless filler wire.








Next will be the mount....

 

[JAWS]

Holy sheep shit!!

Nice tech!!!

 

[greasystain]

btw... i have like 8 of those lights at the shop.... id love to get rid of them!!!

haha shameless

 

[supercrouton]

Next, sand the back of the reflector, and jb weld the new ring on, make sure it's straight and clocked in the right position so your hi-low beam is not a left-right beam.

 

[Rasmussen]

Good stuff, thanks. Just scored an almost as new looking Unity and plan to use it for that special build

 

[Skibo]

Nice retrofit. For those of you wanting to run a sealed bulb as opposed to an H4, the standard HD 5 3/4" drops right in.

 

[govmule84]

Good work!

 

[supercrouton]

Nice retrofit. For those of you wanting to run a sealed bulb as opposed to an H4, the standard HD 5 3/4" drops right in.

Actually it won't. Sorry, I forgot to mention, this light is the smaller 4 1/2" unit. I will edit the first post to clear that up I scoured the interwebs and parts stores and could not find a hi-low beam setup in this size.

 

[HD48FL]

Nice work!

 

[supercrouton]

Holy sheep shit!!

Nice tech!!!

Thanks!

btw... i have like 8 of those lights at the shop.... id love to get rid of them!!!

haha shameless

Small ones? If so, send pics

Good stuff, thanks. Just scored an almost as new looking Unity and plan to use it for that special build

I know right. This light has been hanging around for about 5 years till I could get around to it.

Good work!

Thanks!

Nice work!

Thanks

 

[Irish Rich]

Actually it won't. Sorry, I forgot to mention, this light is the smaller 4 1/2" unit. I will edit the first post to clear that up I scoured the interwebs and parts stores and could not find a hi-low beam setup in this size.

Wagner makes a hi/lo sealed beam in 4 1/2", Mid-USA stocks it under pn 11911. Mid-USA also has a single beam replaceable H-3 55w bulb/reflector in 4 1/2" under pn 11922.

Almost all the street rod shops have H-3 replaceable bulb hi/lo conversion kits for reflector-type lights. Speedway has a kit for $29.99, but they only come in pairs. You get 2 ea. conversion housings, bulbs, and hi-temp 3 prong plugs. They come with simple install instructions, and I've used these quite a few times. Share a kit with your buddy.....
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Quartz-Halogen-Headlight-Conversion-Kit,2980.html

 

[Guest]

Mid USA also has a 3 1/2 that uses the H-4 bulb PN 11042

Pretty cool, well made with a daytime low draw 5 watt running light...

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[M.O.Ther]

I did something similar with H3 bulbs and small LEP backup lights, off an English car. They're about the size of a Hella VW backup light, and are pretty bright with the quartz bulbs. See the link below.

I didn't measure the focal length like supercrouton and my beam isn't as focused as I would like. Next time.

I made sure to use real JB weld and not JB Quick, as the original says it stands up to higher temps.

Rich, those kits are for H4 quartz. The H3 is a single filament bulb with a short wire tail, like in the pics in this post:

http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=742480&highlight=stainless+wipac#post742480

 

[supercrouton]

Wagner makes a hi/lo sealed beam in 4 1/2", Mid-USA stocks it under pn 11911. Mid-USA also has a single beam replaceable H-3 55w bulb/reflector in 4 1/2" under pn 11922.

Almost all the street rod shops have H-3 replaceable bulb hi/lo conversion kits for reflector-type lights. Speedway has a kit for $29.99, but they only come in pairs. You get 2 ea. conversion housings, bulbs, and hi-temp 3 prong plugs. They come with simple install instructions, and I've used these quite a few times. Share a kit with your buddy.....
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Quartz-Halogen-Headlight-Conversion-Kit,2980.html

Rich, You are the man! That is exactly what I was looking for 2 months ago. Oh well, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment On the other hand, I did get to tweak the focus of the beam with my home-made ring. Thanks!

 

[hardtop]

God i love JJ. I picked up and old unity spot at a car show a while back. i just dug it out today and was trying to figure this out... you guys did it for me! supercrout; where did you get the bulb? who makes it? part number? any info is helpful?

 

[supercrouton]

God i love JJ. I picked up and old unity spot at a car show a while back. i just dug it out today and was trying to figure this out... you guys did it for me! supercrout; where did you get the bulb? who makes it? part number? any info is helpful?

I got that bulb off of E-gay. The seller intentionally removed the part number front the original packaging, but if you use the search "par 36 4411" you will find the right set up. Feel free to post your results here as they may help the next guy. I just searched E-gay with those terms and found the right light and actually found some LED headlamps too in a 4411. If anyone has had any success with those I'm, sure inquiring minds would want to know.

Here is a pic of the original packaging...

 

[crawler07]

Dan you the man!!

 

[LamarWright]

Perfectly managed thread. I am so glad you have shared led light wonderful information.. i am inspired to get these modifications.. Thanks again

 

[supercrouton]

Dan you the man!!

Thanks Crawler!

Perfectly managed thread. I am so glad you have shared led light wonderful information.. i am inspired to get these modifications.. Thanks again

Thanks. And while this is not likely the first time this has been done, it is a super solid way to mount almost any light to a Triumph bottom clamp, and it keeps the light tucked in low and tight....

 

[Rob Axel]

Great Tech info Dan.... You never cease to amaze!
plus all of the added information from J.J. members.... seems as though a new headlight may be on my project bench with a LED bulb....