The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-09-2016, 05:50 PM   #1
slotard
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
LED headlights (7" round)

I currently have Jeep JK headlights on my '73 C20, but I'd like a bit more light. I know there are ($$$) good LED headlights available, but was wondering if anyone has experience with the noname stuff. I'm not a big fan of the look of projectors, so it would be something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201458184287 or this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281897878139

Part of why I'd like to try this on the truck is my motorcycle uses a compatible headlight and I'd like more light on it, and having one of two headlights on a truck go out isn't as problematic as the only headlight on a bike.
__________________
1973 C20, 350/350
slotard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 07:37 PM   #2
cadillac_al
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,375
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

The halogens in my 76 are way brighter than any of my newer cars. I can't imagine them being any brighter. Night hunting maybe?
__________________
76 Chevy K20
76 GMC K15
77 Chevy C10
77 Chevy K10
cadillac_al is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 08:26 PM   #3
slotard
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I've gotten spoiled by HIDs. Hard to compare to the S2000 lights.
__________________
1973 C20, 350/350
slotard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 09:15 PM   #4
1970pelle
Registered User
 
1970pelle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: N.E. Florida
Posts: 500
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I would go with the second set you have listed.



Ken
__________________
1985 IROC Z28 190HP TPI 305,700r4,T-tops,rear trac lock, Black on lite gray, 16in Z28 wheels
2007 Lexus ES350 (wifes)
1984 CJ7 with 1995 HO4.0L MPI, 2 1/2 OME YJ Lift





“There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.”
― Ronald Reagan
1970pelle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2016, 10:27 PM   #5
slotard
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alameda, CA
Posts: 877
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

The first look a lot like Truck Lite headlights, which I hear fairly good things about. Not sure what the second link is a clone of. I prefer the look of the first, but care more about function.
__________________
1973 C20, 350/350
slotard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 03:00 AM   #6
andrewmp6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Louisville,Ky
Posts: 5,811
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I would only buy trucklite or jw speaker brand lights.Both are pricey but well worth it from what i hear.
andrewmp6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-10-2016, 07:04 AM   #7
RodsGreen10
Registered User
 
RodsGreen10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Richmond,KY and Knoxville,TN
Posts: 1,584
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Yes it is nice being able to see at night. I have 7" led on mine. I ran oracle brand no issues. Also Amazon is full of 7" led headlights. Currently running JW Speaker EVO 2. But I like the projectors better cut off and focused beam.
RodsGreen10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 12:12 AM   #8
'68 Newtricks
Registered User
 
'68 Newtricks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Los Angeles area :(
Posts: 499
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I like how the first eBay link has a newer car for the samples. My 7" LED lights are called "NightHawk" by GE. Got them off Amazon for about $190 each. Much like the Trucklites, same design. Way better cut off than the eBay samples.
__________________
'68 C10 SWB
'85 K30 Blazer
'68 Newtricks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 08:59 AM   #9
enaberif
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I hope the LED light fad for headlight replacement dies.

In our old trucks upgrade the light harnesses and put some good housings and H4 bulbs into them and its a night and day difference.
enaberif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 09:02 AM   #10
RodsGreen10
Registered User
 
RodsGreen10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Richmond,KY and Knoxville,TN
Posts: 1,584
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by enaberif View Post
I hope the LED light fad for headlight replacement dies.

In our old trucks upgrade the light harnesses and put some good housings and H4 bulbs into them and its a night and day difference.
It won't so you are out of luck.
H4 bulbs suck and why would anyone want to do all that extra work with relays running wires when LED is plug and play. Less draw on the system and more efficient better light output.

Last edited by RodsGreen10; 02-11-2016 at 09:10 AM.
RodsGreen10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 09:21 AM   #11
andrewmp6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Louisville,Ky
Posts: 5,811
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

A lot of new cars run all led lights now,Some of them the headlights the leds are made in to the housing.So if it ever burns out its 1500 bucks for a new headlight.
andrewmp6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 07:11 PM   #12
enaberif
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by RodsGreen10 View Post
It won't so you are out of luck.
H4 bulbs suck and why would anyone want to do all that extra work with relays running wires when LED is plug and play. Less draw on the system and more efficient better light output.
LED headlights are not better. They may have brighter light output but they have a worse falloff for light than halogens. Why do you think LEDs are not common in production vehicles? Costs and the fact they don't throw light near as far.
enaberif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 07:26 PM   #13
RodsGreen10
Registered User
 
RodsGreen10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Richmond,KY and Knoxville,TN
Posts: 1,584
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by enaberif View Post
LED headlights are not better. They may have brighter light output but they have a worse falloff for light than halogens. Why do you think LEDs are not common in production vehicles? Costs and the fact they don't throw light near as far.
Listen Mr. SilverStar. LED Better light output and better cutoff more lumens more light out put period. And get out under the rock they are becoming common on production vehicles. I would guess to say you don't like HID lights either. Keep running your silverstar H4 bulbs and let us who run LEDs light the way for you. And I would put my JW speaker led lights up against any hologen bulb or hid bulb.
RodsGreen10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 07:41 PM   #14
RodsGreen10
Registered User
 
RodsGreen10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Richmond,KY and Knoxville,TN
Posts: 1,584
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Now with my smartass comment above. Vehicle headlights are evolving and changing at a rapid pace. It was HID now it's LED and the next thing coming is Laser headlamps. Audi and BMW are pushing hard for Laser Headlamps to be put into production vehicles.
RodsGreen10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 08:37 PM   #15
enaberif
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 1,181
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by RodsGreen10 View Post
Listen Mr. SilverStar. LED Better light output and better cutoff more lumens more light out put period. And get out under the rock they are becoming common on production vehicles. I would guess to say you don't like HID lights either. Keep running your silverstar H4 bulbs and let us who run LEDs light the way for you. And I would put my JW speaker led lights up against any hologen bulb or hid bulb.
Who said anything about Silverstars? Even with picking up a harness, a couple of housings and bulbs you'll still be cheaper than a good set of LEDs and have awesome light output.

You just sound like your a sales guy working in a shop trying to push product
enaberif is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2016, 10:22 PM   #16
Dieselwrencher
6>8 Plugless........
 
Dieselwrencher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Prairie City, Ia
Posts: 17,142
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I put updated housings and H4's in my 72, but they are still not as bright as the LED replacement bulbs I put in the 98 dodge I drive. Let a lone a truck lite 7" round LED head light. And yeah, a heck of a lot of production vehicles are going to LED. I have some LED bulbs for my 72 now that I'm going to try. It's cheaper than buying the expensive 7" complete lights.
__________________
Ryan
1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread
1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4
1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed
1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe
1969 Chevy milk truck
1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10
1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project


Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.
Dieselwrencher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2016, 03:57 PM   #17
68longhorn
Registered User
 
68longhorn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cape Coral, Florida
Posts: 1,123
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I have H4 lenses in my 86 with LED bulbs and they are much brighter than anything else I have tried, even silverstars. It also has that really cool pure white look
__________________
1986 Custom Deluxe 10
1978 Caprice 2 door - sold
1937 Chevrolet 2 door sedan - project
68longhorn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2016, 10:27 PM   #18
57NAPCO
F’B’D guy
 
57NAPCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas/Maine
Posts: 2,234
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Reviving an older thread...good info.

my son just bought his first round eye square body, a very nice 79 stepper. I'd like to get him some better headlights, deer dodging here in central Texas is serious. I'd like to keep em as stock looking as possible. Your input is appreciated.
***dang, sorry for big pic

57NAPCO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2016, 10:43 PM   #19
57NAPCO
F’B’D guy
 
57NAPCO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas/Maine
Posts: 2,234
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Pictures of some installed would be nice
57NAPCO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 02:16 AM   #20
andrewmp6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Louisville,Ky
Posts: 5,811
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Hella brand 7 inch h4 housing https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-0023959.../dp/B0002M9QJM throw in whatever brand h4 bulbs you like and get a headlight harness for it like https://www.amazon.com/Putco-230004H...dlight+harness or a few other brands out there.That will be the best stock looking you can get it,If you don't mind leds then http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_8100.htm http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/le...0-evolution-2/
andrewmp6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 10:28 AM   #21
Rickysnickers
Senior Member

 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Eagle, ID
Posts: 3,059
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I have the Trucklight LEDs on my truck and they are great! Yes, they are a little pricey, but the comparison between the old ones and these is nonexistent!
Rickysnickers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 12:22 PM   #22
Nick_R_23
Registered User
 
Nick_R_23's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Willow, Alaska
Posts: 881
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by enaberif View Post
Who said anything about Silverstars? Even with picking up a harness, a couple of housings and bulbs you'll still be cheaper than a good set of LEDs and have awesome light output.

You just sound like your a sales guy working in a shop trying to push product
The words "Halogen" and "awesome light output" don't belong anywhere near each other. Halogen bulbs are a very old and quite frankly, a dying technology. HIDs were a major upgrade from the junky old Halogens, but presented their own unique issues. LEDs have overcome pretty much all of those issues, less heat, much less power draw, service life is phenomenal, and has great light output. I'm not sure why you'd say OEMs aren't using them, as they are very common on production vehicles. HIDs have been in production vehicles since 1991 in Europe (hey, weren't the last squares rolling off the assembly line then?!) and 1996 in US, and the Audi R8 introduced LED headlights in 2008, which is getting close to 10 years now. It's a great light and definitely here to stay. To be honest, you sound like one of those people that thinks any new technology is "bad" and "scary".

Personally though, I prefer the look of the sealed beam headlights. I like the H4 conversion housings paired with LED bulbs. Classic styling, modern performance!
Nick_R_23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 01:09 PM   #23
aharper33
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Laramie, WY
Posts: 46
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I see that alot of you guys are from warmer areas of the country. I know living in Wyoming and dealing with the snow and ice during the winter LED's are not always the best choice because they do not produce any heat. This causes the lens to get covered in ice. I have thought of upgrading the headlights in my truck as well but because of this I have just stuck with the regular stock headlights. Just a thought.
aharper33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 03:07 PM   #24
Dead Parrot
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 2,611
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick_R_23 View Post
The words "Halogen" and "awesome light output" don't belong anywhere near each other. Halogen bulbs are a very old and quite frankly, a dying technology. .....
I remember changing out the stock headlight bulbs in my first car to Halogens and thinking that the much brighter light was awesome.

PLEASE, what ever lights you go with, read up on how to properly aim and adjust them. It does not improve your safety if that mega bright light up the space station set of bulbs renders the driver of the on coming 70mph vehicle blind.
Dead Parrot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2016, 03:10 PM   #25
loujizzel
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Temecula ca
Posts: 254
Re: LED headlights (7" round)

I have the ebay led... the trak lite replica and they work great
loujizzel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com