FJ40 lighting scheme

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The side by side looks better to me! :cool:
 

L43dean

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Mr.subzali, what lights are you now driving behind? I use 7" round Hella's on my 40 and the same IPF's on my HI-LUX. Each with 55/60 lamps (bulbs) and stock wiring. Both are the non-US spec. Both are much better than US spec. sealed beams. I like the IPF's a bit more, the light pattern appears fuller with more range (on low beam). I believe the Lightforce GENESIS' are auxilary lights, and it seems you are looking for stock light insert replacements. That is where I would start. Then aux. fogs. SEE YA! HA!
 
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Rezarf

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Here is how to improve a 40's headlights... :D

135w bulbs in each one, but I did have to create an entirely new wiring setup from the battery to make it happen.

Talk about high beams! :D:hill:
 

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subzali

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I have the Roundeyes with the 55/60 bulbs. Hulk has the Hellas and says he likes them too.

Drew, my bumper doesn't really have a place to mount lights like that, but I can believe that when you go to high beams you go to HIGH BEAMS! :D
 

nakman

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the one complaint I had with the IPF upgrade is there seemed to be a very distinct break between lit and dark- it was either off or on, you could almost draw a line across the garage door at night where it went from light to dark. Your Roundeyes appear to be better than that, in that you're actually getting some dispersion.

So if I read correctly you did not do the harness? That upgrade is probably as significant as the lights.. you'll definitely get another nice punch if you do the upgraded harness (ARB, Rogers, Christo's, etc.)

I know on the 80's, the upgrade from just the harness is probably more substantial than the upgrade from stock to John Deere bulbs. But most guys do both at the same time. :)
 

Rezarf

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Matt you can build an aux fuse panel and run new wires for all the doo-dads for about the cost of a ready made harness... I would be disappointed if you didn't put that ME paper to use! :D
 

subzali

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The point is that I'm a mechanical, not electrical, engineer. I really do hate electronics, and do as much as I can to avoid having to do electrical type stuff. There is a certain amount I try to learn, but mostly it ends up in me being all pissed off at something because it's not mechanical - I can't SEE it working (or not working), as it were.

So I'm going to keep trying this and see how it goes. I'm still not sure what the beam characteristic is supposed to look like, I guess I'll get a better feel for it as I drive it (haven't driven in the dark yet), but I'm pretty sure I don't want it any brighter, at least if I have the headlights set up the way they're supposed to be.
 

Corbet

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This is more for others out there as Matt already has his round eyes. But I've got the IPF inserts in my 60 and like them a lot. There is a distinct cut off which I fell is good but extra time aiming them is required. I also use the IPF bulbs. The ones with the glow rings around them. I don't think they are available anymore but I believe they were a HIR bulb. No wiring upgrade required. Much like the ones most of us run in our 80's.
 

rover67

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I have the roundeyes, and was going to do the harness as well. The roundeyes were a great upgrade, but i still feel they can be better if given the juice they need. Will post the results.

-Marco
 

Uncle Ben

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Since I lost the turn signals on the 40 fenders (by losing the stock fenders) I ordered my birthday present.....
AUT6001C-20.jpg
Hopefully, they have a good beam!
 

wesintl

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Since I lost the turn signals on the 40 fenders (by losing the stock fenders) I ordered my birthday present.....
AUT6001C-20.jpg
Hopefully, they have a good beam!

those look pretty cool. Why not run the blinker in the bib light? You still have those right?
 

subzali

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what are those?
 

subzali

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Talking to a friend of mine yesterday got me thinking that the part I'm missing from all this is the fact that I didn't upgrade my harness.

So that will come at some point, probably sooner rather than later, maybe once it starts warming up again...

Also got a tach that I'm going to try and get installed at some point too (it's era-correct and only 3" dia., so it should work nicely where I'm thinking of putting it (to the left of the instrument cluster). :)
 

subzali

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I came across this website that describes in a little more detail about some of the lighting upgrades (IPF specifically).

http://rocky-road.com/toyipfH4.html

I'll see what happens when I upgrade the harness, and sometime take some new pictures from the same spot with the new lights.
 

subzali

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Okay, look back on page 2 - I updated the pictures, taken tonight from about the same spot as the first pictures. Now you can really tell the difference.

Drove down to my parents tonight, west of Castle Rock, nice and dark down there. The headlights were wonderful. No more straining to see the road or the sides of the road. Even on dims there was plenty of light. And the brights were something all their own. I think they are pointed a little high though, so I'll have to adjust that. And I ordered up an IPF harness, so then we'll see what kind of difference that makes :D
 

subzali

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No, for me I think this is all I need. I was thinking about putting some kind of fog light in the bumper, but around here, and considering the amount I drive the truck, it's not worth the effort and I don't want to clutter up my front end, I think it has enough stuff on it already. And once I upgrade the harness I will have more than enough light for any nighttime driving conditions that I normally encounter, including off-road at night. I'm happy with just these.

Next I need to get a rear bumper figured out and start piling stuff on the rear end (under-bed aux fuel tank, spare tire, hi-lift/shovel on back, with room for two 20L water containers) :D
 

rover67

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Matt, do you know if the IPF harness switches the high beam indicator on also?
 

subzali

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I have no idea. Maybe nakman knows, since he put it on his old 40. I'm kinda curious to see how it works, and I haven't had a chance to look at the wiring diagram to see how the lighting works, how the current is running. Maybe a relay is needed?
 
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