GMC Headlight Upgrade

[EVRLET]

You’re right, you could do the following:

LASFIT 9005 - Hi beam bulb
Amazon price - $49.99

LASFIT 9006 - Lo beam bulb
Amazon price - $49.99

LASFIT 9007 - Dual beam bulb
Amazon price - $56.99

These are current Amazon prices. I bought the dual beam when they were on sale. Shop around on Amazon or wherever because you may find a cheaper price.

[KY_GMC]

Originally Posted by EVRLET

To put things into perspective, the 67 is bagged and I still had several people flash their high beams at me thinking I had my high beams on. But I only had the low beams on.

These bulbs should probably only be used in projector housings, not the reflector housings that you are using. I know that they say that they are halogen replacements, but this is wrong.

The Halogen bulbs that go in reflector housings usually have a coating on the end of them so that the light is directed toward the back of the housing and reflected out of the housing in the correct pattern, so as not to blind those in the oncoming lanes.

The projector housings have a lens in them that takes the light going forward (like from these bulbs or from HIDS) and then provides a cutoff so that the light only goes from the horizontal and down, and side to side. You will see a crisp horizontal line of the light.

Otherwise, you are sending light everywhere and into the eyes of oncoming drivers!

[Willys_MB]

Originally Posted by KY_GMC

These bulbs should probably only be used in projector housings, not the reflector housings that you are using. I know that they say that they are halogen replacements, but this is wrong.

The Halogen bulbs that go in reflector housings usually have a coating on the end of them so that the light is directed toward the back of the housing and reflected out of the housing in the correct pattern, so as not to blind those in the oncoming lanes.

The projector housings have a lens in them that takes the light going forward (like from these bulbs or from HIDS) and then provides a cutoff so that the light only goes from the horizontal and down, and side to side. You will see a crisp horizontal line of the light.

Otherwise, you are sending light everywhere and into the eyes of oncoming drivers!

Do you have a housing in mind that would work with these lights?

[KY_GMC]

Originally Posted by Willys_MB

Do you have a housing in mind that would work with these lights?

No, I did the halogen upgrade with relays when I restored my truck and it was a significant improvement over sealed beam. The only thing that the LED does is give you options for color temperature (bluish light) and reduced power consumption.

I did a lot of research when I updated from halogen to HID on my VW, but already had projector housings in that car from the factory.

[EVRLET]

If the light pattern is what concerns some of you, they do have LED bulbs with the top cap to reduce the scattered light effect. But it’ll cost you a pretty penny.

http://www.xenondepot.com/h4-philips.../12953bwx2.htm

There are mods you can do to any LED bulb without the cap to reduce the scattered effect in a reflector housing.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/...rd-mod.395222/


I have the relayed light setup in my 1997 Silverado and I will tell you that trying to compare LEDs to this type of setup is not a direct comparison. LED setups are for some and not for all.

[Mike's money pit]

I ordered lenses from a site called Daniel Stern or something like that. The lenses were approved by the European authority but not the DOT. The lenses were made with a sharp cutoff in the glass so that the light was directed properly and looked stock. I’ll see what I can find and post a link. I did this along with the relay upgrade and the difference was huge.

Here is a link to the website. It is pretty informative:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

Here is the headlamp I used:

[87Skier]

Originally Posted by KY_GMC

No, I did the halogen upgrade with relays when I restored my truck and it was a significant improvement over sealed beam. The only thing that the LED does is give you options for color temperature (bluish light) and reduced power consumption.

I did a lot of research when I updated from halogen to HID on my VW, but already had projector housings in that car from the factory.

Went through this myself. I ended up going with halogen Hella E-code (european standard) low beams (low/high) and high beams (high only), after tossing around a bunch of ideas. I went with halogens because I wanted a stock look.

I can't comment on the Cibie's posted above, but I believe the Hella stuff is comparable, but may not be quite as good. The Hella beam pattern has a very sharp cut-off, dead spot for oncoming vehicles, and good ditch illumination. The high beams are very bright and have good throw distance.

I can post pictures of how the Hella's look and illuminate if anyone is interested.

[Willys_MB]

Originally Posted by 87Skier

I can post pictures of how the Hella's look and illuminate if anyone is interested.

I'd be interested in seeing that!

[87Skier]

First image: left beam is Hella replacement, right is standard
Second: beam pattern on a building
Third: Hella low and high beam installed

Next time I'm out at night, I take a couple pictures down the road comparing the difference between low and high beam.

[54blackhornet]

Been installing Hellas since the 70’s....

[Willys_MB]

Originally Posted by 87Skier

Next time I'm out at night, I take a couple pictures down the road comparing the difference between low and high beam.

Those look really good. I'd like to see those pictures. Thanks!

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Mike's money pit

I ordered lenses from a site called Daniel Stern or something like that. The lenses were approved by the European authority but not the DOT. The lenses were made with a sharp cutoff in the glass so that the light was directed properly and looked stock. I’ll see what I can find and post a link. I did this along with the relay upgrade and the difference was huge.

Here is a link to the website. It is pretty informative:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

Those are hands down some of the finest headlamps available. Hellas are good lamps, easier to find and cheaper than Cibies but Cibies have a better controlled light pattern, especially on high beam. More light on the road, less light in the trees than Hellas. If you've never had E-codes, either brand will be a noticeable improvement over sealed beams. But I think most people would prefer Cibies, even at their higher price.

[87Skier]

Originally Posted by Willys_MB

Those look really good. I'd like to see those pictures. Thanks!

First picture is the low beam
Second picture is the high beam

The red dot in the middle of the picture was a windshield reflection of an interior light.

Both pictures are taken with the same shutter speed, aperature and iso to avoid any adjustment made by the camera. The brightness of the near areas in the low beam picture sort of wash out what you can see at a slightly longer distance, but it is still an accurate representation of the beam pattern and throw distance.