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#1 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Headlight upgrades
I’m considering upgrading my headlights (all 4).
So what are my options here? M&H can convert these to halogen sockets. (I automatically though thought of the newer style lamps with removable lamps. IE: H4 etc. but not sure if that’s what he meant and will have to call back.) I’ll have them do the relay upgrade to get power from the battery. ![]() But do I really need H4 style lights? What are my options far as lights available and what works good? Anyone have a source for headlamps? s/t
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1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#2 |
Out of the carpool lane.
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Clark Co, WA
Posts: 5,673
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Re: Headlight upgrades
If you do the relay conversion, you might find that you're content with just that. You really won't find any brighter output with H4 style lamps unless you go with a higher wattage bulb behind them and anything higher than 55/60 is illegal. That being said, for awhile I was running 80/100 in my H4 lamps, but had them in a lowered truck, pointed down a bit more than standard.
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1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten... Last edited by Brad; 09-30-2008 at 02:42 PM. |
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#3 |
English Chevy Owner
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shropshire, UK/ Lot, France
Posts: 1,848
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Re: Headlight upgrades
I'm going to be fitting a HID (High Intensity Discharge, you may call them Xenon over there) conversion to mine as they have come way down in price. I have a conversion kit to go in my daily driver Isuzu Trooper as it has really weak lights too. I know a lot of people running these kits over here and they give a huge amount of light. They get around the relay issue as the power is taken straight from the battery to the ballasts and the original wiring is used just to trigger them. Plus they only draw 35 watts yet give out around 3 times the light of a standard 55 watt halogen bulb.
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Phil '67 C10 long fleet. 350/TH350, 4 bbl Carter, K&N, Dual exhaust, loads of stuff coming soon 2001 S10 Blazer Daily Driver, bone stock 4 door 4x4 with manual transmission Last edited by Lippyp; 09-30-2008 at 02:48 PM. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 127
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Re: Headlight upgrades
well....wattage does not neccesarly mean more light for example a standard sylvania h4 bulb can supply about 55w...now if you are running a HID kit...they run on 35w of power and produce amout 10x more light. i do h4 conversions every weekend for chevelle's trans am, c10's motorcycles...anything....hid kits have come down alot in price and they are the most bang for the buck compared to any light on the market...they used to be 300 for a kit...now you can get them alot cheaper....buy they sealed beam conversion its like 50bucks from brothers for 2lights....then the hid kit for about 100....and spend about 30min and your done....there will be no need for you to upgrade your high beam headlamps
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Pasadena, TX
Posts: 162
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Re: Headlight upgrades
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#6 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Headlight upgrades
I would honestly start off with relay upgrade, cleaning the grounds on the core support both where the lights ground, and where the support is grounded to the battery, and double checking that they are aimed properly. These 3 things will do wonders... pluss, you'll need to do it when you put better lights in anyways.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: salem oregon
Posts: 117
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Re: Headlight upgrades
don't bother with the hid kits, your lenses aren't meant for that kind of light and it goes everywhere. essentially the hid kits are too bright for your housings. the absolute best lighting you can do for these trucks would be retrofitting a set of projectors into the headlight housings. you would have to start with the euro lights from lmc truck (something with a clear lense) and fab up a mount for the projector, that way you get the proper lens and focus for the brighter hid kits. i did this on my old 05 tundra and it was amazing the light compared to a drop in set of hid lights.
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 127
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Re: Headlight upgrades
HA.....LOL.. i have been putting in these kits forever without any trouble....anybody can put whatever kind of light they want on their truck but nobody wants to be retrofitting projector lenses in some old houseing and making all kinds of modifications. it really isnt that hard to order a kit from any hid place and order a sealed beam conversion kit from brothers, or anyother place and put them on. takes hardly any time maybe an hour for everything and then your done. nothing burns or melts or causes problems, its just like any other bulb, just doesnt use a little filament to make some yellow light.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: salem oregon
Posts: 117
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Re: Headlight upgrades
right, i never said anything burns or melts, but the light looks like crap and has tons of glare
projectors are the proper way to do it, ask anyone. hids are a cheap option, but if you really want to do it properly and do the increased light justice, projectors |
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#10 | |
Lemme show you something!!
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: St.Helens, OR.
Posts: 876
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Quote:
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'67 CST-10 LWB ("Crusty") SOLD '67 GMC SWB ("Murdock") 2000 K1500 Suburban ("Betty") '95 BMW 325i ("Joy") |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 127
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Re: Headlight upgrades
hid kits range from 100 to 400....FOR 2 LIGHT BULBS.... COME ON I DONT THINK THAT TO CHEAP....ASK ANYONE
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: salem oregon
Posts: 117
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Re: Headlight upgrades
too cheap? what are you even talking about? i'm just saying hid's work way better in projectors, rather than stock headlight assemblies
ding-nice work, are you retaining the angel eyes? |
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#13 |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not sure I want to convert to HID tho.
I'm wanting to keep a somewhat classic look, and want something that can a direct fit. Anyone have a link to a source of lamps? I have this Site I used for my Land Cruiser s/t
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1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() Last edited by Sport/Truck; 09-30-2008 at 09:09 PM. |
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#14 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,643
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Daniel Stern's site (which you linked above) is the best I have ever found for lighting information.
Another good site is http://www.rallylights.com/. They also offer headlamp conversions and their prices are competitive. For the money (and results), I would do the relay/wiring upgrade and upgrade to Hellas (item #H50061 at Rallylights). Personally, I prefer the Cibies that Stern offers, but Hellas are also excellent and significantly cheaper.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#15 | |
Sierra Grande Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Mexico USA
Posts: 2,433
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Quote:
I ran Hellas in my 79 Pontiac Sport Coupe back in high school. I was running high wattage low beam and it was bright. I'll look at them again, along with the Cibies you mentioned. s/t
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1971 GMC Sierra Grande, 1/2 ton short wide, original 4 bolt 010 020 block & heads. (matching #'s). 383 stroker, SMI q jet 750 cfm, Lunati Voodoo 60102 cam, Scorpion roller rockers, Spin Tech pro street mufflers with X pipe. ![]() |
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#16 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Dansville, NY
Posts: 248
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Re: Headlight upgrades
I took out the T4's and put in Round Halogen Sealed beams from Autozone. An astounding difference. About 6 or 8 bucks a bulb if I recall.
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DIY body and paint work is cheap, making it look good... priceless -------------------------------------------- My Toys; ’26 Ford Model T ‘72 Triumph Spitfire 1500 '09 "The Briggs Flyer" Gettin' High. |
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Bethlehem, GA, USA
Posts: 389
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Re: Headlight upgrades
I have the Hella's and they are great. I have also heard that the Cibies are also excellent. I have a cheapie set of conversion housings in another vehicle and they don't direct the light properly. It just goes everywhere. Get good housings if you are going to use drop in bulbs.
Tom
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No more dragtruck for me. I'm building a new ride though. It's a '71 fleetside, 400 sbc, 700R4. Working on it now, finally. Soon to have Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI, Vintage Air, 1 piece windows, buddy buckets, etc. My new build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...17#post2861817 Best pass with the old dragtruck: 5.32 @ 131.6 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.25 60' Fogger/Plate 2003 Best pass with the street 406 hydraulic roller motor w/ mild plate tuneup 5.93 @ 114 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.29 60' 2003 or 2004 |
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#18 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Quote:
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Personally I would never consider an aftermarket setup for lights on my truck. What do you do if your whizz-bang headlight goes to he!! while you're on the road? You're screwed. What do you do if a rock kicks up and breaks the light case or whatever you call it? You're screwed.
Do the headlight relay upgrade and go to Wal*Mart or ANY automotive supplier in the US of A and pick up a set of sealed beam halogens. If one goes out ANY place on the planet you're a Wal*Mart or O'Reilleys or NAPA stop away from being back on the road. And you have $100 - $400 extra in your pocket. When did $400 become a cheap upgrade? Call me Rip Van Winkle
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#20 |
Hollister Road Co.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 6,134
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Re: Headlight upgrades
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#21 | |
English Chevy Owner
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shropshire, UK/ Lot, France
Posts: 1,848
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Quote:
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Phil '67 C10 long fleet. 350/TH350, 4 bbl Carter, K&N, Dual exhaust, loads of stuff coming soon 2001 S10 Blazer Daily Driver, bone stock 4 door 4x4 with manual transmission |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 127
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Re: Headlight upgrades
ya thats what i was wondering but up there ^ they saying using hid's is the cheap way.....THATS FUNNY I NEVER NEW 100-400 WAS A CHEAP UPGRADE EITHER.....but ya just carry the 5 dollar normal bulb in your truck....he is right it most likely wont go out but if it does pop the old hid bulb out and pop in the new one....just plugs right in
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#23 |
Chasin' the Dream
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lost in the 70's
Posts: 200
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Re: Headlight upgrades
One mans "cheap".......
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Born with a Bowtie ![]() 1971 C/10 350/350 Daily Driver/project Assumption=The mother of all ![]() |
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#24 |
English Chevy Owner
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shropshire, UK/ Lot, France
Posts: 1,848
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Re: Headlight upgrades
There's HID kits for as low as $55 on ebay, OK they're chinese made but I know plenty of people running them with no problems at all.
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Phil '67 C10 long fleet. 350/TH350, 4 bbl Carter, K&N, Dual exhaust, loads of stuff coming soon 2001 S10 Blazer Daily Driver, bone stock 4 door 4x4 with manual transmission |
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#25 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Bethlehem, GA, USA
Posts: 389
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Re: Headlight upgrades
Quote:
Tom
__________________
No more dragtruck for me. I'm building a new ride though. It's a '71 fleetside, 400 sbc, 700R4. Working on it now, finally. Soon to have Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI, Vintage Air, 1 piece windows, buddy buckets, etc. My new build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...17#post2861817 Best pass with the old dragtruck: 5.32 @ 131.6 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.25 60' Fogger/Plate 2003 Best pass with the street 406 hydraulic roller motor w/ mild plate tuneup 5.93 @ 114 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.29 60' 2003 or 2004 |
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