After market Rectangular Headlights for 80 series… do they perform better than the factory sealed beams?

[nashqadri]

Both of my headlights adjusting screws are broken and the beam alignment is quite off. It’s annoying in the nighttime. I’ve been teyinf to find replacements and seen some people put those rectangular ones on. Not sure if they work better than the sealed factory lights. Do the spread the light well and are they bright enough. Are they adjustable in both directions vertical and horizontal? Any feedback would be much appreciated thank you. I’m attaching the picture of the lights that I’m referring to.

 

[TreadingLight]

The rectangle ones look cool and can be wired and upgraded in various ways, but in a stock configuration they are not as effective as the OEM ones molded to fit the front grill (as was standard in the US).

As far as I know, no 80 was ever subjected to sealed beams (maybe early 80s in some GCC markets?).

Personally, I'd drill out and repair the adjusters, and then start using good bulbs like Osram Night breakers or Phillips RacingVision.

But if I really liked rectangles, I'd look at OEM lamps and I'd wire them to have 4 on at low and 4 at hi to overcome the smaller reflector surface area. This is not legal in some states.

If I wanted LEDs (I don't) and had a boatload of cash I would buy Holley Retrobrights.