FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Thu Dec 17, 2020 7:08 am

The next project on the radar screen for the 914 is the headlights. I started a thread over on 914world.com that has gotten a ton of responses. Basically, I asked for an update from the board on the latest and greatest in the world of LED headlight conversions. The gist of the conversation is that buying a housing specifically designed for H4 halogen bulbs and using said bulbs is a plug-and-play upgrade that costs under $100 and gives good results. Better results are achieved by using a high wattage H4 bulb, but that entails installing another relay (and to be honest, I'm not exactly sure what that means - sounds easy, but what kind of relay and where does it go?).

You can take the exact same housing for the H4 halogens and plug in an LED bulb, also. Unfortunately, there is disagreement as to whether this will provide a decent light beam as the focus may be off. Most posters over there seemed to think this is not the best way to go.

There are some really good "sealed beam"-type LED units out there, the best known of which is the GE Nighthawk 68921. But, they are relatively expensive and they are thicker than stock, which requires adjusting the headlight buckets to make them open & close. So, that doesn't sound great.

Lastly, apparently there are "about 1,000" thinner LED "sealed-beam" type units made for vintage Jeeps, and those will fit our 914s. They are thinner and cheaper than the Nighthawks. So, I am going to look into those. Apparently, they are plug and play and use considerably less juice than the OEM lights (which is a plus on an older car).
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

theprf
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by theprf » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:50 am

Please don't put "drop in" LED or HID bulbs in housings designed for halogens. The focus point of the LED or HID light source is not in the same place as the halogen bulb and you will have massive light scatter and be blinding oncoming cars. You would be able to see very well, though.
Here in MA this would be an instant fail on the yearly state safety inspection - although many people do it anyway and seem to get away with it.

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:10 am

theprf wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:50 am Please don't put "drop in" LED or HID bulbs in housings designed for halogens. The focus point of the LED or HID light source is not in the same place as the halogen bulb and you will have massive light scatter and be blinding oncoming cars. You would be able to see very well, though.
Here in MA this would be an instant fail on the yearly state safety inspection - although many people do it anyway and seem to get away with it.
That is exactly the general consensus over there. My plan is to get one of the "sealed beam" LED units so that the housing is designed to have a good light pattern. The only trick is the cost vs. quality. I think you can get a cheap set that performs no better than the "drop in to a halogen housing" bulb. On the other hand, I'm not really interested in spending $500 or more as I don't drive the car much after dark. I'm looking for something in the $200 to $300 range that performs well. And if not, well the halogens are still an upgrade at around $100.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Cuda911
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by Cuda911 » Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:59 pm

Have you done the Chicken Mod yet?
Mike

'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:35 pm

What’s the chicken mod?
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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Cuda911
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by Cuda911 » Fri Dec 18, 2020 11:15 pm

FRUNKenstein wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:35 pm What’s the chicken mod?
There was a TSB. Hang on, I think I have it somewhere.
Mike

'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:08 am

Cuda911 wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 11:15 pm
FRUNKenstein wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:35 pm What’s the chicken mod?
There was a TSB. Hang on, I think I have it somewhere.
A2ED30DF-710A-4647-88A7-E5E39EC01EB4.jpeg
A2ED30DF-710A-4647-88A7-E5E39EC01EB4.jpeg (33.81 KiB) Viewed 1645 times
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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32wildbilly
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:33 am

I'm not going to google that!
FRUNKenstein wrote: Sat Dec 19, 2020 9:08 am
Cuda911 wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 11:15 pm

There was a TSB. Hang on, I think I have it somewhere.

A2ED30DF-710A-4647-88A7-E5E39EC01EB4.jpeg
Never gonna make you cry...

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Cuda911
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by Cuda911 » Sat Dec 19, 2020 10:06 am

Found it.
Attachments
dRQnE5M.jpg
dRQnE5M.jpg (96.81 KiB) Viewed 1640 times
Mike

'68 Ford Custom 500; '70 Plymouth Cuda; '71 Ford Econoline; 73 Porsche 914 1.7, '74 Porsche 914 1.8; '74 Suzuki TC185; '86 Suzuki GS450L; '88 Subaru GL104WD Turbo Ltd Edn;; '88 Subaru XT; '91 Lexus ES250; '93 Jeep Wrangler, '99 Porsche Boxster, '03 Turbo VW Beetle; '03 Porsche Boxster; '03 Porsche Carrera C2; '07 Porsche Cayman, '11 BMW 328i, '12 Porsche 991 S, '14 Porsche Cayman, & a mishmash of other vehicles.

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32wildbilly
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Sat Dec 19, 2020 10:38 am

Somebody has been into the eggnog early this year and I don't blame him.
Cuda911 wrote: Sat Dec 19, 2020 10:06 amFound it.
Never gonna make you cry...

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