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Old 02-16-2011, 04:22 AM   #1
stroked84
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Question Headlight help

I would like to put relays on my headlights. Can someone tell me where in the lines to put them and how to wire the terminals please...thanks
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Old 02-16-2011, 11:12 AM   #2
bmchevy1979
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Re: Headlight help

here is a diagram I have
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1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 350sbc/SM465/NP205, dana44 front, corp 14bolt rear with 4.10s and a powertrax locker, custom rear bumper 400sbc in the works.
1981 GMC C1500 stepside 250i6, 3spd, 12bolt with 3.08s 2.5/4drop on 15x10 with 275/50r15
81 GMC C3500 cab-chassis dually with utility bed 350sbc, Sm465, 14bolt with 4.10s nv4500 getting ready to go in
1979 Chevrolet K5 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434096
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Old 02-16-2011, 11:29 AM   #3
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Re: Headlight help

Heres another one...
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Old 02-16-2011, 11:38 AM   #4
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Re: Headlight help

whats the purpose for running relays?
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Old 02-16-2011, 12:44 PM   #5
stroked84
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Re: Headlight help

When I bought the truck the po had installed these crystal white headlights, and i have already been through 2 diff headlight switches they keep melting. They last about 5 or 6 weeks then melt down.
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Old 02-16-2011, 01:16 PM   #6
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Re: Headlight help

stock output halogens the ($20 pair from AZone or Advance) are bright as day on low since I did the relays.
Now I'm wondering if I can put relays on the tails to make them stand out more (since I have '39 ford tails on the stepper)
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Old 02-16-2011, 01:20 PM   #7
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Re: Headlight help

Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowGT View Post
whats the purpose for running relays?
It allows a solid 12v to your headlights greatly increasing their lighting ability. This and the painted cluster mod are the best thing you can do to these trucks to improve safety.
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Old 02-16-2011, 01:43 PM   #8
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Re: Headlight help

Is there a preferred place to get this kit - in other words, is any particular kit better than any other?
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Old 02-16-2011, 01:58 PM   #9
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Re: Headlight help

Quote:
Originally Posted by N2TRUX View Post
It allows a solid 12v to your headlights greatly increasing their lighting ability. This and the painted cluster mod are the best thing you can do to these trucks to improve safety.

painted cluster? is that so the cluster gets brighter as well?
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Old 02-16-2011, 04:03 PM   #10
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Re: Headlight help

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painted cluster? is that so the cluster gets brighter as well?
Yep. Disassemble the cluster and paint both the blueish white housing the gauges set in as well as the back side of the front cover(located between the clear lens and the gauges) GLOSS WHITE to get the most benificial use of the light output of your #168 bulbs.
In the past I've tried a variety of things to get my gauges to light up brighter.
1. CHanged all bulbs to 194's (Found out later 194's are a bit lower wattage/candlepower than the 168's)
2. Tried going with 921 bulbs much much brighter/hotter bulbs = Had to insert bulbs into sockets from the front as bulbs were too large to fit thru openings in back of cluster. Also bulbs started to melt cluster housing.
3. Tried "CHROME SILVER" paint = actually got darker/harder to see gauges.
4. tried FLAT WHITE & SEMI GLOSS WHITE paint = A bit better improvment than the factory.
5. L.E.D. BULBS = Not enough sideways light output for my likeing. worse than having 1 or 2 bulbs burnt out.
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Old 02-16-2011, 04:48 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DriverDown View Post
Is there a preferred place to get this kit - in other words, is any particular kit better than any other?
There are several companies that sell a kit, but you can piece one together too. The Bosch style relays and pigtails can be had for less than 10.00 a set. The rest is simple wires and a few connectors.
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Old 02-16-2011, 06:04 PM   #12
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Re: Headlight help

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Originally Posted by N2TRUX View Post
There are several companies that sell a kit, but you can piece one together too. The Bosch style relays and pigtails can be had for less than 10.00 a set. The rest is simple wires and a few connectors.
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Thanks - I'm absolutely going to try to get this and the painted cluster mod completed, although I think I'll start on a junkyard housing before inevitably ruining the one in the truck. Also, I don't have any electrical experience, so the kit may be worth it assuming there are instructions included.

I'm driving this truck several times a week, so this really should have been the first thing I did...
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Old 02-16-2011, 06:12 PM   #13
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Re: Headlight help

gonna follow this one. gotta try the cluster thing soon. and had no idea about relay. no electrical experience here. hopefully someone will post a step by step
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Old 02-17-2011, 10:56 AM   #14
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Re: Headlight help

here is a link with some info about installing them http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=182351
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1974 Chevrolet K5 Blazer 350sbc/SM465/NP205, dana44 front, corp 14bolt rear with 4.10s and a powertrax locker, custom rear bumper 400sbc in the works.
1981 GMC C1500 stepside 250i6, 3spd, 12bolt with 3.08s 2.5/4drop on 15x10 with 275/50r15
81 GMC C3500 cab-chassis dually with utility bed 350sbc, Sm465, 14bolt with 4.10s nv4500 getting ready to go in
1979 Chevrolet K5 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434096
1976 Chevrolet C10 R.I.P. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=434195
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Old 02-17-2011, 11:58 AM   #15
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Re: Headlight help

Quote:
Originally Posted by triophan View Post
stock output halogens the ($20 pair from AZone or Advance) are bright as day on low since I did the relays.
Now I'm wondering if I can put relays on the tails to make them stand out more (since I have '39 ford tails on the stepper)
I was wondering tha same thing about tha tails also..
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Old 02-17-2011, 07:05 PM   #16
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Re: Headlight help

I just replaced my headlights with Sylvania xtras's and I didn't notice any real improvement in the output. So this would help with the output correct?
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Old 02-17-2011, 07:39 PM   #17
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Re: Headlight help

guys I just noticed that the relays in the diagrams are 4 prong and not 5 prong. Would it matter and could a 5 prong be used since I have a bunch of 'em. You would just have an unused wire...right?
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Old 02-17-2011, 09:49 PM   #18
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Re: Headlight help

Quote:
Originally Posted by yellowGT View Post
guys I just noticed that the relays in the diagrams are 4 prong and not 5 prong. Would it matter and could a 5 prong be used since I have a bunch of 'em. You would just have an unused wire...right?
The 5 prong relays are SPDT and the 40 amp versions are cheap. The standard Bosch or ISO relay sockets have 5 holes but there's no reason that both 87 & 87a have to be wired.
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