Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**70cst** · 10-19-2008, 04:58 PM

Ok...my truck is fully disassembled and within the next week or so it will get painted. As it starts to be re-assembled would you keep the factory headlight set up or upgrade the lights to new technology. If upgrade...what headlight set up would you go with. I know this has been discussed in previous post but I haven't read a post that fully answers my questions. Thanks in advance.

heavy70 · 10-19-2008, 05:20 PM

here is mine they are really brite, ordered them from LMC truck with the HID blue 60/55 bulbs...also recommend the wire harness they sell with the lights...

cdowns · 10-19-2008, 06:25 PM

how much do you plan to drive at night? if only 5% of the time will be night driving i'd stay factory or just use the stock type H4bulbs

**70cst** · 10-19-2008, 06:50 PM

I will be driving some nights and when I go back home it's over a 300 mile trip so it's possible to be driving at night for 3-4 hours. If upgrading gives better visibility than maybe its worth the upgrade. If I upgrade...now is the time.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 10-19-2008, 07:22 PM

We run Halogen sealed beams in out trucks and they do well at night but still have the stock look.

Jim

Dingfodgy · 10-19-2008, 07:55 PM

Brotha' you have a crap load of options when it comes to lighting. I'll break it down as well as I can.

Option 1- Get some $10 Halogen Sealed beams from
Autozone, a couple relays, 2-20amp inline fuses and about 10' of 10-gauge wire. Do the relay upgrade w/ the stock looking lamps and this will suffice for general nightime (freeway / suburban roads) driving.

Option 2- Go to www.rallylights.com and pick up a pair of Hella H4 conversion lamps with 50/75 watt Optilux bulbs. Combine these with the aforementioned relay upgrade to get significantly more light output for longer nightime streches or occasional stints on country roads.

Option 3- Go with option 2 above, but add a HID kit instead of the halogen bulbs. This will give you even more light and even though the Hellas have a very good cutoff pattern- the HIDs can still be a little harsh to oncoming traffic.

Option 4- Go to www.suvlights.com and pick up their Bi-Xenon projector kits w/ HID bulbs that fit in the stock 7" mounting. This will give you the ultimate in forward lighting, but is a very different look from the stock 6024's our trucks came with.

Disclaimer- I have no association with the web sites mentioned, I merely noted them because I've seen the products mentioned on their sites.

tcb-1 · 10-19-2008, 08:05 PM

option 5: good old T3's!!

**70cst** · 10-19-2008, 08:14 PM

Thanks all...this is very helpful.

Wreckless_71 · 10-19-2008, 09:51 PM

Here's what I put in my truck. I got new glass housings that take the H4 bulbs and lil' 194 bulbs in the bottom that double as park lights and blinkers. The bulbs I am running in the headlights are the brightest H4 PIAA bulbs that you can get. They have a really white/purple tint to them but I like the new school look. Just these lights are a 150% upgrade from the old sealed beam headlights. Oh and I have some PIAA driving lights mounted in the center behind the grill that are amazing! I do a lot of night time driving and these are a life-saver especially in our crappy NW winters.

Wreckless_71 · 10-19-2008, 09:55 PM

Here's one just in plain daylight.

BowTieMan · 10-19-2008, 10:11 PM

Wreckless 71... where did you get those housing at? I like how they alost have that smaller parking light in them.

**70cst** · 10-20-2008, 09:24 AM

Thanks again...now I have some good ideas. I looked at some of our Vendors...but didn't see any of these light on ther web sight soooooo...I may have to go off board to a differrent vendor.

Dingfodgy · 10-20-2008, 11:24 AM

Here are a couple outlets for getting some decent lamp assemblies. The ones from autoloc have an integrated turn signal in the bottom, where as the ones from Matrix have the small 194 "city light".

http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...inc=headlights

http://www.matrixracing.com/p-4619-e...s-7-round.aspx

10-19-2008, 04:58 PM	#1
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Ok...my truck is fully disassembled and within the next week or so it will get painted. As it starts to be re-assembled would you keep the factory headlight set up or upgrade the lights to new technology. If upgrade...what headlight set up would you go with. I know this has been discussed in previous post but I haven't read a post that fully answers my questions. Thanks in advance. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder! Last edited by 70cst; 10-19-2008 at 06:00 PM.

10-19-2008, 05:20 PM	#2
heavy70 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: choctaw, oklahoma Posts: 100	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? here is mine they are really brite, ordered them from LMC truck with the HID blue 60/55 bulbs...also recommend the wire harness they sell with the lights... Last edited by heavy70; 10-19-2008 at 05:22 PM.

10-19-2008, 06:25 PM	#3
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? how much do you plan to drive at night? if only 5% of the time will be night driving i'd stay factory or just use the stock type H4bulbs __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

10-19-2008, 06:50 PM	#4
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? I will be driving some nights and when I go back home it's over a 300 mile trip so it's possible to be driving at night for 3-4 hours. If upgrading gives better visibility than maybe its worth the upgrade. If I upgrade...now is the time. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

10-19-2008, 07:22 PM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? We run Halogen sealed beams in out trucks and they do well at night but still have the stock look. Jim __________________ 1971 Shortbox step side 4x4, 350 sbc, 3:07 rear end 1965 Impala SS 400 sbc, Muncie rock crusher 1966 Impala SS 396 bbc, TH 400 1969 El Camino, 350 sbc, TH 350 1971 Snowplow built on a Blazer frame 1972 GMC Short bed, stepside, TH 400, 427 BBC

10-19-2008, 07:55 PM	#6
Dingfodgy Lemme show you something!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St.Helens, OR. Posts: 876	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Brotha' you have a crap load of options when it comes to lighting. I'll break it down as well as I can. Option 1- Get some $10 Halogen Sealed beams from Autozone, a couple relays, 2-20amp inline fuses and about 10' of 10-gauge wire. Do the relay upgrade w/ the stock looking lamps and this will suffice for general nightime (freeway / suburban roads) driving. Option 2- Go to www.rallylights.com and pick up a pair of Hella H4 conversion lamps with 50/75 watt Optilux bulbs. Combine these with the aforementioned relay upgrade to get significantly more light output for longer nightime streches or occasional stints on country roads. Option 3- Go with option 2 above, but add a HID kit instead of the halogen bulbs. This will give you even more light and even though the Hellas have a very good cutoff pattern- the HIDs can still be a little harsh to oncoming traffic. Option 4- Go to www.suvlights.com and pick up their Bi-Xenon projector kits w/ HID bulbs that fit in the stock 7" mounting. This will give you the ultimate in forward lighting, but is a very different look from the stock 6024's our trucks came with. Disclaimer- I have no association with the web sites mentioned, I merely noted them because I've seen the products mentioned on their sites. __________________ '67 CST-10 LWB ("Crusty") SOLD '67 GMC SWB ("Murdock") 2000 K1500 Suburban ("Betty") '95 BMW 325i ("Joy")

10-19-2008, 08:05 PM	#7
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? option 5: good old T3's!! __________________ Doug THANK YOU to our American Soldiers & Veterans - POW MIA "You will NEVER be forgotten". The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

10-19-2008, 08:14 PM	#8
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Thanks all...this is very helpful. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

10-19-2008, 09:51 PM	#9
Wreckless_71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 363	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Here's what I put in my truck. I got new glass housings that take the H4 bulbs and lil' 194 bulbs in the bottom that double as park lights and blinkers. The bulbs I am running in the headlights are the brightest H4 PIAA bulbs that you can get. They have a really white/purple tint to them but I like the new school look. Just these lights are a 150% upgrade from the old sealed beam headlights. Oh and I have some PIAA driving lights mounted in the center behind the grill that are amazing! I do a lot of night time driving and these are a life-saver especially in our crappy NW winters. Attached Images __________________ 1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver.

10-19-2008, 09:55 PM	#10
Wreckless_71 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 363	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Here's one just in plain daylight. Attached Images __________________ 1972 K10 4" lift, 35’s, 383 stroker, 700r4, current project. 1971 C10 3"/5" static drop, 355/350. "La Bamba.” The current daily driver.

10-19-2008, 10:11 PM	#11
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Wreckless 71... where did you get those housing at? I like how they alost have that smaller parking light in them.

10-20-2008, 09:24 AM	#12
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,374	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Thanks again...now I have some good ideas. I looked at some of our Vendors...but didn't see any of these light on ther web sight soooooo...I may have to go off board to a differrent vendor. __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

10-20-2008, 11:24 AM	#13
Dingfodgy Lemme show you something!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St.Helens, OR. Posts: 876	Re: Keep Factory Headlights or Upgrade? Here are a couple outlets for getting some decent lamp assemblies. The ones from autoloc have an integrated turn signal in the bottom, where as the ones from Matrix have the small 194 "city light". http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...inc=headlights http://www.matrixracing.com/p-4619-e...s-7-round.aspx __________________ '67 CST-10 LWB ("Crusty") SOLD '67 GMC SWB ("Murdock") 2000 K1500 Suburban ("Betty") '95 BMW 325i ("Joy")



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