How to get headlights brighter?

[White70C20]

My green 1970's headlights aren't terribly bright (old truck, I know). However, it seems like even other older pickups have brighter lights than mine. The green '70 is my daily driver when I'm at college, so I need it to be a little bit more safe. Most of the time I just drive at night with the high beams on all the time because they are almost as bright as a modern vehicle's low beams.

Are there upgraded headlights that I can buy? I've thought about the HID lights that LMC offer, but those cost an arm and a leg. I like the look of those blue lights on some modern cars, and seeing as how one of my Christmas presents was a set of LED taillight bulbs so my brake lights will be brighter, I figure I should get brighter headlights as well.

As always, any ideas and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

[cdowns]

you can easily take a half hour or so and disconnect all the wire teminals and clean them up to bright and shiny metal to metal contact and have brighter lights for free

[truckster]

Originally Posted by cdowns

you can easily take a half hour or so and disconnect all the wire teminals and clean them up to bright and shiny metal to metal contact and have brighter lights for free

And a light coat of grease after you've cleaned them up will help prevent oxidation.

[Boog]

Especially clean the ground wires. And I believe there is the topic up in the faq section on brighter headlights.

[Tx Firefighter]

After doing the basics (mentioned above) as far as cleaning the wiring on what you have, you can do the relay mod. Its free to cheap, doesn't take long, and will help a ton.

Cliff notes, with all your wiring in tip top shape and the relay mod with inexpensive over the counter Halogen bulbs, you'll be happy.

[Stocker]

Ditto everything posted above, and I'll add this: no blue bulbs!!!!! Even if you don't care about the glare blinding oncoming drivers, they will absolutely kill your ability to see at night. I learned this the hard way several years ago, and more recently I learned something about the science behind it.

Some HIDs have a slightly bluish tint, but that's a whole other matter.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Ditto everything posted above, and I'll add this: no blue bulbs!!!!! Even if you don't care about the glare blinding oncoming drivers, they will absolutely kill your ability to see at night. I learned this the hard way several years ago, and more recently I learned something about the science behind it.

Some HIDs have a slightly bluish tint, but that's a whole other matter.

What are blue bulbs?

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

What are blue bulbs?

Some manufacturers tint the bulbs blue to make the lights look brighter.. however the light output is very low. People still buy them like hotcakes cause they see it as a cheap alternative to hids.

[TobyArnot]

http://www.rallylights.com/h6024-7-r...dlamp-kit.html
Opt for the 100/55W hi-beams and don't look back.
Definitely add the relays, though

[truckdude239]

I swaped my bulbs to the headlight housings out of a 2008 jeep wrangler they use an h13 headlight blub which i will be doing a relay mod so i dont burn out the headlight switch

[leddzepp]

Relay mod and Sylvania silver stars...you will be very happy.

[ole dollor]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Relay mod and Sylvania silver stars...you will be very happy.

yep x 2

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by ole dollor

yep x 2

Yep!

[White70C20]

Thanks guys!

What exactly is the relay mod? Does it take very long?

[VetteVet]

Here's the relay mod from the electrical FAQS in the electrical forum.

.......http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=188478

with our own TX Firefighter.

[Tx Firefighter]

I'll give you some advice from a old man to a young man.

Don't spend a single cent on aftermarket headlight improvements until you have addressed making sure your current headlights are as good as they can be by following Cdowns suggestion. Only then, if you're still not happy, do the relay mod. That mod addresses poor design that these trucks had from the factory. And then, if after you've tuned up your wiring and done the relay mod, should you consider spending coin on HID or whatever.

I say whatever when referring to HID stuff because I have built a crap ton of these trucks, and with good wiring and relays, never felt the need to spend any more to try and improve them, so I don't even know about HID stuff. And, I'm the guy who drives down desolate roads at 4 AM through deer country on my way to work for the last 20 years.

[Bhelton]

Hids that most people run as far as brand
http://m.ebay.com/itm/330568751529
Conversion housings I purchased because they are glass
http://m.ebay.com/itm/380693270834

[Andy4639]

I have done the relay mod and I added the lights with replaceable bulbs. As far as what they are I have know idea but they are bright. Getting the factory wiring woking properly is the first thing you need to do though. My headlights are twice as bright as the factory lights I would say.
I bought the lights at the Myrtle Beach car show several years ago.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Hids that most people run as far as brand
http://m.ebay.com/itm/330568751529
Conversion housings I purchased because they are glass
http://m.ebay.com/itm/380693270834

But those are not hid housings, all you would do is blind people with that setup..

[67 chevelle]

here is your answer , read all of it
http://madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

[ole dollor]

Originally Posted by 67 chevelle

here is your answer , read all of it
http://madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml

thanks for that link....good read, and info.

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by BlackedOut67shorty

But those are not hid housings, all you would do is blind people with that setup..

Used them on several vehicles and haven't ever had an issue or complaint

[zeldman]

I agree with everyone else: check your wiring first. Years ago I bought a 72 Cheyene and the headlights were weak. I noticed that a PO had cut the ends of the headlight connecters off and had just wrapped the end of the wires onto the headlight tangs. I replaced the front wiring harness and had bright, consistant headlights again.

[Stocker]

Link to another site with more great info & expertise: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

[BlackedOut67shorty]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Link to another site with more great info & expertise: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

Very good info here.