![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 264
|
![]()
Drove my truck this morning before daylight . Leave my headlights on hi-beam and nobody notices . Would LED headlights be brighter and are they 'plug n play'? Thanks
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 2,154
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
They may need to be adjusted/aimed
Also the current for the headlights goes through the headlight switch and the dimmer switch, this causes a slight drop in voltage that results in a dimmer light. One solution is to wire the headlights directly to battery/alternator through a pair of relays. This will allow the lights to operate at a higher voltage (usually 14.3 depending on the condition and output of the alternator) There are some threads on here that address this upgrade and the pre-made harness is available from several sources if you aren't comfortable wiring yourself. Here's one https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...adlight+relays
__________________
1967 C10 Step side 1968 C10 Step side 1970 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer ............. ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 1,177
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
LED headlights are plug-and-play and outperform the OE style sealed beams as well as other headlight upgrades such as H4 with Relays.
1.LED headlights are plug-and-play 2.They reduce voltage load on headlight switch 3.LED life span outlasts sealed and H4 4.Provide a cleaner brighter light pattern than sealed/H4 Initial cost/investment for LED is a bit high but considering all the above (no need for relay harness, modifying stock wiring, replacing H4 bulbs or sealed beams, etc), it's a sound investment in performance and safety. Do your research and comparisons as there are quite a few different LED vendors/brands to choose from. I recently started using some of the Holley Retrobright LED's, performance and quality are very high but it's the OE look that got me to try these in the first place.
__________________
66 GMC Suburban Custom 66 Chevy K10 Suburban |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 2,154
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Quote:
I'm not a fan of the funky halo style or some of the other LED ones. They just dont look right on a C10...(IMO)
__________________
1967 C10 Step side 1968 C10 Step side 1970 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer 1972 Chevrolet K/5 Blazer ............. ![]() Last edited by A1971Blazer; 10-03-2023 at 02:17 PM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Redwood City, CA
Posts: 1,177
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
For what it is worth, I ran some "un-scientific" tests of my own on three different vehicles over the years (67 C-10, two different 66 Suburbans) using three different style LED headlights (Retrobrights, LMC and Summit). Only one of the vehicles had the relay harness/H4 upgrade. While this upgrade is highly recommended for OE sealed beam and H4 style lights, I never saw any difference in brightness when using any of the LED headlights with it. I equate this to LED technology, requires less amp draw, uses less energy, run cooler, etc.
__________________
66 GMC Suburban Custom 66 Chevy K10 Suburban |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Who Changed This?
![]() Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,444
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Without the relay, and with the relay. Notice that even the park lamp is brighter.
__________________
~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Eastern Oregon
Posts: 2,343
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Do yourself a favor and buy a set of Hella H4 and the relay’s necessary to remove the load on the headlight switch. You will be impressed by the difference. The instillation is not very difficult.
__________________
71 C-20 07 Magnum RT AWD |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Vancouver B.C.
Posts: 206
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Sub'd for future reference.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 264
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Thanks everyone , good info !
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 3,095
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
.
I cruise my H4, relay harnessed lights on bright all the time too. I've never had anybody flash me or otherwise seem annoyed. If I aligned them properly, I suspect this wouldn't be the case. These are plenty bright for me and my purposes. Those Holley RetroBright LED units look real nice and would likely be a worthy upgrade but the entry price is very steep. Even if I use the 100 dollar Summit Racing gift card I won at the GoodGuys event, I would still have to cough up too much cash. -klb
__________________
67 C10 fleet fuel injected '70 402, 700r4, 3.73 posi 07 335 sport turbo 6sp 94 Trans Am GT LT1 6sp posi -- sold after 22yrs 99 540 sport V8 6sp -- sold 73 240z L24 4sp -- given to friend 68 C10 step 350/350 3.73 open -- sold |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,166
|
Re: 1969 C 10 headlights
Here is a site with good information on lighting. I have the Hella H4s in my Burban. When I bright people who driving around with illegal and or unaimed obnoxious lights they notice.
https://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/tech.html
__________________
Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. ![]() RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|