Who makes H4 conversion for GMC trucks?

[chevydog66]

I am wanting to upgrade my headlights on my 72 GMC truck, they are 5 3/4" headlights. 4 of them. I also have a 66 Chevelle, which has the exact same 4 headlights. Anyone have any info? Thanks!!

[StingRay]

Bosch still makes em.

[68w/sbc406]

HELLA makes a conversion so you can put a PIAA head light bulb in there

[4x4Poet]

I'm not sure of your terminology. AFAIK, Hella's 5-3/4" H4 headlights are simply replacement headlights comprised of unsealed, halogen lens assys with H4 bulbs. Once the bulbs are installed in the lens assys, one installs them like any other headlights. No conversion necessary. Or did you just mean upgrading to H4s? In any case, you can buy 67-72 GMC 4-headlight size H4s in a set of four thru Hella.

I already checked with my local auto accessories retailer who can obtain H4s for my '71 GMC burb directly from Hella's USA division (IIRC, in Florida). Expensive, but I won't drive a truck without great headlights at night in rural, unlit Montana. The deer seem to jump out of nowwhere with 67-72 oem quality sealed beams (GE, Sylvania, etc). And I will add a headlight relay harness to give the H4s direct voltage from the alternator. Mad Electrical is my preferred source for that.

BTW, for 67-72s, I've heard Cibie headlights are better than Hellas. More expensive also.

[ChevyDude]

I bought the H4 Headlight kit for both my Chevy's : 72' K-10 and 71' C-10 from Rick's and they are a huge improvement. Kit was like $40 each but well worth it. Glass housings with the H4 bulb snapping into place and replaceable when it burns out. The headlights now throw a bright bluish white light instead of the old yellowee glow.

Don't see why you couldn't buy two kits and install this on a 4 light front GMC.

[2low72]

I was thinking about doing the same with mine!

[Stocker]

Those European E-Code lamps are a fanatastic improvement. Years ago I put a set of 5 3/4" Cibies in my '66 Corvette - sadly, long gone now....

Anyway, if you can find 'em, get a pair of high/low H4 lamps, and a pair of High beam only. Can't recall which bulbs they used H1, H2, etc) but they have different lenses & reflectors designed just for high beam. The longer, narrower beam pattern works great in conjunction with the H4s on high. Worst thing about them is there's so much light on high that switching to low seems nearly like turning off the lights....


EDIT: Guys, I just Googled for a few minutes... Cheapest I found Cibies was $55 each at Talbotco.com... Hellas at $170 for a set of four (two H4 hi/lows, two H1 highs) at Rallylights.com... not cheap by any means, but certainly high quality lamps. I would strongly advise against Z-beams or City lamps...

[chevydog66]

Chevydude, I have seen the conversion for you Chevy guys all over. But us GMC guys have 4 smaller headlights (5 3/4"). You have 2 7" Headlights. Thanks for the info 4x4poet!!

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

the chevy and gmc ones are different.

[68w/sbc406]

a chevy needs 2 7 inch H4 conversions and 2 H4 bulbs
a GMC needs 2 5 3/4 H4 and 2 5 3/4 H1 conversions

[muddpile]

So for my 72 chevy, who would everyone say makes the best kit. My headlights I have right now project about 100 feet in front of me. Not good. I would like to upgrade to the whitish-blue headlights, but who makes a nice affordable kit, where could I buy it and what's the item #?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by muddpile

I would like to upgrade to the whitish-blue headlights

Beware the blue bulbs - they pass the blue part of the spectrum and block much of the rest - thus eliminating much of the usable light your eyes can see. Result = lousy night vision. 'Course, I had to find out for myself , and they were high-dollar bulbs too.

Seriously, if anyone wants to actually cut through the hype and learn something about lighting, one place to start is http://www.danielsternlighting.com/. Doubt if I'd buy from him (too expensive), but he knows his stuff.

[724wdcopper]

i run the hella setup in my 72 chev. LOVE IT! best thing ever. had some cibies (aux) on my old 74 gmc jimmy. my dad put them on there when it was new, and they were impressive. if i had to do it over, i would look at cibies, but for the money hella is prety good.

just a side note, i run 100/55 watt bulbs. most of the ones they sell are 60/55. going to the 100 watt highbeams is a nice improvement. and yes, they are legal

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

ricks pickup parts...look at the catalog on his site.....

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

I've always used the old sealed beam bulbs. I even have two NOS AC Delco ones I was gonna use but I think I'm going with the H4 conversion too!

[ChevyDude]

Sorry about that...I didn't know that....I stand corrected!

[4x4Poet]

Stocker and 68w/sbc406 have it precise. The high beam lens assys come with different bulbs (H1) since they don't need the low beam filament. My mistake forgetting that feature. Thanks guys.

Just to be clear, Hella's true H4 lens assy kits come with Europeon style lens glass cuts–no doubt the E-code Stocker mentioned. I have them on my TravelAll (7"). So it's not just the H4 bulbs. Each lens has "H4" molded into the glass in the center of the lens.

Like near near all such headlights sold in Europe, the H4 bulbs cut off the beam (low or high) abruptly or sharply at approximately hood level out to infinity. But to the right of the pass headlight(s), the lenses direct the beam to rise up at approximately a 30º angle. This illuminates signs along the righthand roadside. Great on dark roads, especially. The sharp cut-off enables the H4s to be very bright yet not blind oncoming traffic (or clue the cops in that you have non-DOT-approved lamps.) I have never had anyone hit their brights when I'm on low-beam since the H4s never shine above their hoods. (OK, except maybe ricers.)

Edit: I looked at Cibie lamps on Talbotco.com and at Hellas on RallyLights.com. Thought someone would like the links. Thanks again, Stocker.

[Stocker]

4x4Poet, thanks for providing the links (that I failed to!). I've been using E-codes in various vehicles since the early Seventies. The difference in illumination between them and cheaper alternatives is impressive. Personally, I've never felt the need to exceed the standard 55/60 watt bulbs, and I avoid cheaper bulbs also.

[68w/sbc406]

for the longest time i had the PIAA super white 80/80s but they stoped making them in an H4 so now i have to run 60/55s. the super whites (i think they are called star bright now) look like they would be blue when they are off, but when you turn them on they are just white. i like them better than the extreams which have a blue to the light when turned on.
P.S. how cool would those yellow Cibie head lamps look in the high beam spot of the GMCs

[chevydog66]

Aha!! I found them. I will be purchasing 2 sets of these. 1 set for the 66 Chevelle and 1 set for the 72 GMC. So how much do these overload the stock wiring and fuses?
http://www.carolinaclassictrucks.com..._Code=cct-lite

[67ChevyC10Stepside]

that's like 180 bucks in lights....lol

[chevydog66]

That's the cheapest place I have been able to find them. Plus, they are a member of the board, here.

[Warrens69GMC]

.02,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...952062933&rd=1
40.00 plus the ride for 2 w/bulbs. 99.7+ feedback on 11,000 replies.
warrens69gmc

[4x4Poet]

Interesting option, Warrens69GMC. They don't have European lenses, but they do seem like a quality DOT-legal H4 set up. I'd expect the same or better brightness with a slightly less precise or useful lens refraction. Just a guess. I have less faith in DOT headlight lenses. I don't have first hand knowledge of those exact bulbs. The wattage is definitely high.

[chevydog66]

Thanks, Warrens69GMC, I will consider those as well.