T3 Lenses to H4 Halogen Reflectors Conversion - Let There Be ... Better Light

10 To obtain the H4 reflectors, I need to remove the glass. I filled the lamp with a shop towel to protect the reflector while I break the lens.

11 I broke the lens inside this heavy-duty contractor's garbage bag to prevent any flying glass shards. A firm but shallow tap will do it. Gloves and eye protection are a must!

12 Using needle-nose pliers, I pried off the remaining glass; using a heat gun to soften up the adhesive works well here. I removed any remnant of glass and adhesive on the reflector edge with a sturdy knife.

13 Now is a good time to do a test-fit.

14 If the lens doesn't get seated well, you can bend out the edge a bit.

15 This will be the only time you can access the lens from the inside, so make sure and clean it thoroughly now.

16 If you need to clean the reflector before assembly, use air only, do your best not to touch the reflector-but if you happen to, use an alcohol wipe to carefully remove any fingerprints or smudges.

17 Using the comics for a backdrop, I am laying down a bead of high-temp silicone adhesive about half the width of the contact surface. Don't be too liberal, as you don't want any adhesive to be squeezed in to the reflector when you install the lens.

18 Here it is: my very own high-performance T3 headlight.

19 Now I can install any caliber H4 halogen bulb that I want. You could even use an aftermarket HID bulb if you like.

20 When I install the lights, I like to use contact grease on the connectors to eliminate future corrosion.

21 Note: The higher wattage on the H4 bulbs will increase the load on the electrical system. Therefore, I added these relief relays (arrow) from Ron Francis for both the low and high beam circuit, thus eliminating any extra load on the older original wiring and switches.

22 The best of both worlds: vintage-looking T3 lights with European performance output.

23 As the sun sets on the Pacific coast, it's good to know that the powerful new headlights will assist in bringing me home safely.