Wattage on Tripod headlights?????
 

Does anyone know the lo/hi wattage on these lights?

AND, are they worth it or is better to go with the some of the lights members have recommmended in headlight related threads?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

- Snak Iyz

Snake:
The Lucas PL700 "Tripod" headlamps have removeable and replaceable lamp units. Thus, you can insert and install just about any wattage normal or halogen lamp unit into them.

So essentially, the answer is variable wattage, depending upon the lamp you install into them. I am running a high output PIA lamp that I had to bend one thin flange on the lamp in order to fit the rear orafice of the lens housing. The housing has a spring clamp that holds the lamp in. There is also a grey rubber gasket bootie or shield if you will, that fits over the lamp and lens assembly to keep moisture and water out.

The tripod holds a refelctor that shields the lamp and reflects the light from the lamp back onto the reflective lense mirror.

The non-original Tripods also have this type of arrangement as well. Finish Line sells these.

Mine have the small Lucas coat of arms inside the lense. Take a look at my gallery pics I think they may be pictorially represented there. If you double click on the picture in my gallery of the lamp it is there in high definition and will expand to a much much larger picture. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Art...
 

Thanks for the detailed feedback.

Couple of quick questions:

- I would think you would want to put in the halogen bulbs, correct?

- Any real differences between the Lucas and Finish Line headlamps, that you are aware of? (cost I am sure)

- Any complaints on these lights vs. traditional set-ups?

Thanks again,
- Paul

The Halogen bulbs are nice and brite. I would go that route and stay with a standard wattage to protect your wiring.

Yes there are dramatic differences in the real Lucas PL 700's as shown in my pictures and the "clones" from Finish Line. I do have a spare pair of the Finish Line lites that came with my car. They have a flat lens rather than the convex lens of the Lucas. They also have a round black dot in the center vs the Lucas shield. There is no insignia on them whereas the Lucas has the Lucas name.

Be aware that the real Lucas PL 700's come in two variants. The left hand drive (for the USA) and the right hand drive (for England). If you use the right hand drive PL's here in the states, you will be spreading light into oncoming traffic. You can find PL 700's in BRAND NEW form at any good Morgan dealership and the PL 700 is still a common Morgan part fitment. These will come with bulbs as well. I was able to get mine from a Morgan dealer in NY State called Morgan Motors of New England in Ancram, NY. The pair came to about $300 total including shipping with bulbs and they were brand new. They arrived about 3 days after ordering them on the phone. You can look them up on the internet via Google. Nice folks.

No complaints on these lights. The fit perfectly in the headlamp bezel and frame. I get quite a few very very positive comments on them at car shows. They look real nice and are brighter than the Hellas which I was running. They are not original equipment on the Shelby 427 Cobra, as in the 1960's they were not DOT approved but were pretty much standard on the AC Cobras in England as well as the english XK series of cars and of course the Morgans.

The only real complaint is that they are not inexpensive.

Art...
 

Thank you again for the detailed response and sources to find the lamps. For the extra $60 over the Finish Line lamps, it sounds like the Lucas PL700's are the way to go.

I appreciate the help and I will post some pictures when my car is completed, hopefully around mid-April.

Take care,
- Snak Iyz

here is another source for tri-pod lighting and/ or high output bulbs :

http://performanceunlimited.com/cobr...headlamps.html