aftermarket headlights ?

[1983shorty]

after going deer hunting and driving down some DARK roads i realized how bad my headlights are. they are both aimed a little low which doesnt help. are there any aftermarket headlights for an 83 gmc pickup ? other than the halogen sealed beam type ?

[Bad71chev406sbc]

LMCtruck.com

They've got a great unit that replaces the sealed beams with an H4 bulb. I'll see if i can't find a link. I put them on my uncles truck.....'75 swb.....they are AWESOME!!! Just about under $100.

http://lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/0069.html

[texan1186]

i just put the sylvania silverstar low beam headlights in my 82. i got the pair for 42 dollars at the local parts store and were well worth the money IMO. They are way brighter and whiter, they also provide more light out to the side as well. For a 2 lamp system the part # is H6054ST and for a 4 lamp system the low beams are H4656ST and the high beams are H4651ST.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

I got new lights from Walmart like 2 years ago for my Blazer and they are hella bright. I also got a set of 100 Watt foglights bolted in the middle of the front pushguard that work great.

[magnethead]

Originally Posted by texan1186

i just put the sylvania silverstar low beam headlights in my 82. i got the pair for 42 dollars at the local parts store and were well worth the money IMO. They are way brighter and whiter, they also provide more light out to the side as well. For a 2 lamp system the part # is H6054ST and for a 4 lamp system the low beams are H4656ST and the high beams are H4651ST.

Did they have them in the 7" round variety?

I seriously think that to a point, my front turn and roof lights are brighter than the low beams on my truck

[1983shorty]

Originally Posted by Bad71chev406sbc

LMCtruck.com

They've got a great unit that replaces the sealed beams with an H4 bulb. I'll see if i can't find a link. I put them on my uncles truck.....'75 swb.....they are AWESOME!!! Just about under $100.

http://lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/0069.html

i think ill get a set of those. they fit into the old buckets right ? i have a broken aiming bolt on the pass side. ill need to get a new one of those. do you need the upgraded headlight harness or is the original ok to use ??

[boxrodz]

I've been running Silverstars for a while now. I like the light output over the stock halogens, but they tend to have a shorter lifespan. Sylvania has now come out with Silverstar Ultras that has a longer lifespan. They are a bit more in cost. But, they usually offer rebates to help offset the expense. I understand that the Osram which owns Sylvania offers a european version of Silverstars that are actually recommended over the Sylvania Siverstars. My next upgrade is to H4s (9006s) with a set of housing that I like.

Originally Posted by 1983shorty

i think ill get a set of those. they fit into the old buckets right ? i have a broken aiming bolt on the pass side. ill need to get a new one of those. do you need the upgraded headlight harness or is the original ok to use ??

You could upgrade the wiring to optimize your light output. Follow this link:

http://73-87.com/7387garage/exterior...ight_relay.htm

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by magnethead

Did they have them in the 7" round variety?

I seriously think that to a point, my front turn and roof lights are brighter than the low beams on my truck

Yes. Look for the H6024ST as a replacement.

[TexasJeff]

I put silverstars in my truck about 3 years ago, and they made a huge improvment. I drive the truck only about 5000 miles a year, but I have not had any problems with them. I would recommend the highly.

[1983shorty]

are the silverstars just a better sealed beam headlight ? i have heard of them but dont know exactly what they are.

[TexasJeff]

yes they are a sealed beam headlight, I had to make a small modification to the plastic on the plugs but cutting off some. The back of the silverstars is shaped different and the plugs did not fit right

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 1983shorty

are the silverstars just a better sealed beam headlight ? i have heard of them but dont know exactly what they are.

In the case of our trucks, yes but thy make Silverstars for lots of applications. I have had them in my late model GM trucks as well. Great bulbs, awesome light at a decent price.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by TexasJeff

yes they are a sealed beam headlight, I had to make a small modification to the plastic on the plugs but cutting off some. The back of the silverstars is shaped different and the plugs did not fit right

Hmmm....
When I installed a pair of Silverstars on the '83, I had no problems. Basically, plug and play with no mods.

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

... Great bulbs, awesome light at a decent price.

Word...

[Bad71chev406sbc]

but then again...the best part about the LMC conversions....are the fact you can replace the bulbs.....not just that, but you can replace the bulbs in the back, with higher wattage ones....even convert to HID.

[Zoomad75]

I'd do the relay upgrade too so you can maximize the output of silverstars or H4's. Just doing the relays brightens up stock halogens and makes H4's (and probably silverstar too, but I never tried them).

Do a quick search here on headlight relays, we had a big dicussion on it a while ago. Mikes 73-87 page has an article on it that I contributed to.

(LMC sells a kit to do the same thing if you are not sure of your wiring skills)

[magnethead]

here's the link: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=182351

now a question: I don't understand some of the lingo there..can somebody explain that a little better? It'd be easier for me at least if i saw it drawn with a schematic view of a relay with the terminals numbers, rather than a drawing of the physical view of one. I get the part where you hook up the wires from the headlight, but what wires is it talking about coming from the fuseblock? Isn't that the same thing as putting 2 relays on the same circuit?

I'd have to have a schematic to understand it, i don't get drawings and textual explanations.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by magnethead

here's the link: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=182351

now a question: I don't understand some of the lingo there..can somebody explain that a little better? It'd be easier for me at least if i saw it drawn with a schematic view of a relay with the terminals numbers, rather than a drawing of the physical view of one. I get the part where you hook up the wires from the headlight, but what wires is it talking about coming from the fuseblock? Isn't that the same thing as putting 2 relays on the same circuit?

I'd have to have a schematic to understand it, i don't get drawings and textual explanations.

Actually, I think Rob is referring to the link that I included in Post #7 which he authored (along with some help from Russell). Enlarge the schematics listed in the write-up and it'll probably help answer your questions.
(You're right... visualizations are worth a 1,000 words.)