DH6twinotter

Hey all,
I saw some Hella 550 driving lamps at the parts store the other day and was just wondering what you all though about them. They don't cost an arm and a leg so that's good.

Also, where can I find the bulbs that give the driving lamps more of a whiter light? Do those work any good?

Thanks. Have fun.
DH6twinotter

Corey

iTrader: (1)

The 550s are the same as my 500s, only rectangular.
Lots of light output from them for the $$$.

You don't have to use their switches either.
I have info on my website in the mods section, and the Tips section on how to wire up a Toyota switch that is made for your dash cutouts.

Here are my 500s.
http://www.pnw4runners.net/runs/91402/241024.jpg

http://www.pnw4runners.net/runs/8302/221024.jpg

You can also get clear lenses for both the 550s and 500s.
http://catalog.com/susq/hella/clr01.htm

Yes, you can replace the Halogen H3 55w bulb, but they are pretty bright the way they are.

Ask Todd, he's been in front of me in broad daylight when I turned on both sets going home on the highway.

jacksonpt

Like Corey said... they are the same as the Hella 500s that a lot of people on the board have. I've got 2 pairs of 500s on top of my rig. Lots of light, good quality light, reasonable price.

jalaber

I had those lamps many moons ago. Great for the price. Only problem was I kept breaking the lenses and since they are sealed beam replacement was not as simple as getting a new lens. I never could track this cracking to rocks, etc. I was thinking it might have been due to very cold weather and hot bulbs being turned suddenly on...cause they always broke in the winter. Anyone else experience this with any other driving lamps.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

I had the 550s in my valence on my '90 truck I use to have.
http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/tando/past/90trk1.jpg

You can barely see them here.
http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/tando/past/90trk2.jpg

They cracked on me after a few years. Cound not figure it out either, as I did not turn them on with the white covers on them.

I have had the 500s for a few years now and they look brand new.

I'd say go for the 500s, and they are also about $10 cheaper than the 550s.
Corey

joshik

yeh, the 500 series are great for the price! ideally id love the ralley 4000, but WAY TOO MUCH for lights. to me... lights are lights... as long as they are bright, and show the way, i'll stick with the $70 hellas my friend has one on his land cruiser as a reverse light... OMG its BRIGHT! we were out on the oil fields doing some boggin, and he turned on his hella 500 reverse lights, it was a SOLID BRIGHT beam of light. he says he flashes them at tail gaters (no recomended) hehe

if u can find a better pair on ebay, go for it... like 2 hella 4000 with wiring kit sold for like $200... thats good. i may dish out $200 for that then!

jalaber

You can barley see mine in the grille Here
Under the bumper Here

Finally I got rid of them and cleaned up the front end Here

joshik

i dont believe that they are sealed beamed lights. you can replace the bulb only if you burn out the bulb. the lense, im not sure of. but i kno that they are not sealed

jalaber

I may have used incorrect terminology, please post the correct one so I can learn. The lights that I had did not have a removeable and replaceable lens. The lens was sealed and the only opening on it was for the bulb. The 550's include a seperate lamp unit and lamp housing, the housing is plastic while the unit is glass. Yes you can change the bulbs...

DH6twinotter

Hey, thanks you all. I think I will get these. Are they street legal? I will probably mount them in my valance like what Corey used to have on his truck. I was thinking about cutting some holes in my valance and mounting some small round driving lamps below the turn signal. It would look sorta like what Jason B has on his 3rd gen. I dunno. I'm still fishing with that idea, but will probably just go with the earlier mentioned setup. I think I will get the switch from the local electronics store. They have some that will fit the pop out hole and I they have them with blue lights.

Will I have to cut some of the horizontal pieces in my valance grill to mount the lights?

Thanks again.
Have fun.
DH6twinotter

Corey

iTrader: (1)

When I bought the 550s back in 90, it came as a kit from some other shop.
I got ripped off, as I did not know any better.

I think I paid about $200 or more for that set of $70 lamps.
But the kit came with tubing, and showed you how in instructions how to cut your valence, and then you glued the black tubing in place to cover up the bare metal.

All he did was repackage them, and he also sealed the backs better to keep water out.
Still, it was a rip off.

Not to hard to do back then.
I saw the ad in the back of Four Wheeler magazine moons ago.
Corey

DH6twinotter

So, if I understand correctly, your kit came with black tubing that you use to put between the sides of the light and the valance to keep water from rusting the valance. Am I right?

Thanks. Have fun.
DH6twinotter

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Yes, the black gasket stuff was to surround the metal you cut.
Used a small hacksaw, and it turne dout good.
Wish I had some better pics, but that was back in '90 when I did it.
You are better off mounting them on your bumper though like I did before I got the ARB.
Very easy to drill the stock bumper.
Pics in my mods section.
Corey

DH6twinotter

ok thanks. Makes sense now. I was thinking about mounting some on my bumper when I first got my runner, but now I'm leaning more towards the valance. I think it has a bit more of a cleaner look.

Well, see ya'll.
DH6twinotter