hid headlights

[Jsieger89]

I've got a 87 chevy with a 89 suburban front clip swap, I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for some hid headlights I like the bright white ones.
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

None... Get relays or relays with sylvania silverstars. Hids are just dangerous for oncoming traffic without proper cutoff and aiming hids are a technology designed for projectors.
And projector retrofits can be very spendy
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[andrewmp6]

I'm with insidious the right way is pricey the cheap way will blind people.And some states adding hids to anything that didn't have them factory is illegal now.

[Psycho_SWB]

LMC sells 150mm headlights for the 89-91 suburban front end.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csb/full.aspx?Page=2

You can get HID lights from eBay. 5000K bulbs are really white. 6000K bulbs are white with just a slight hint of blue.

[TexasSteve]

Originally Posted by Psycho_SWB

LMC sells 150mm headlights for the 89-91 suburban front end.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csb/full.aspx?Page=2

You can get HID lights from eBay. 5000K bulbs are really white. 6000K bulbs are white with just a slight hint of blue.

I tried headlights like those once. They were worse than my old stock halogens, Threw them in the trash, went & bought Sylvania SilverStars & never regretted it!

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

None... Get relays or relays with sylvania silverstars. Hids are just dangerous for oncoming traffic without proper cutoff and aiming hids are a technology designed for projectors.
And projector retrofits can be very spendy
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80% true. HIDs were also designed for reflector housings as well, but only if that reflector housing was designed for HIDs. There were several OEM applications such as several Nissans and Infinitis, Lincoln MarkIV, several Acuras, Escalades, etc. (D2R bulbs)

Putting them into reflector housings not meant for HIDs can cause light scatter and potentially horrible glare for oncoming traffic, this can also be the case when putting them into projector housings not meant for HID as well.

Even retrofitting the correct HID projectors is illegal, as it is not a DOT approved housing once modified, although it is a much safer option than plug and play kits.

With that said, I do run plug and play HIDs in my daily driver, while not perfect, it does not glare as bad as most, I have yet to be flashed once by oncoming drivers after about 6 months of driving. My old 2003 GMC I ran them for 2 days before removing them because it was horrible, I replaced the housings with OEM Denali projector housings, while still not designed for HID, they were a huge improvement, and I was never flashed for highbeams again. My 2001 2500HD, lifted 8" on 38" tires never had a problem with the P&P hids getting flashed by oncoming drivers.

I have come to the conclusion a few things that make a difference in reflector housings, although this is not concrete. Clear lenses and a casper shield over the bulb greatly cut down on glare for oncoming drivers, and fluted lenses seem to scatter the light much worse. Also color has a lot to do with it as well. Bluish-purple color temperatures, while they do cut down on usable light for the driver, are more "intense" and distracting to look at for oncoming drivers, they also act as an attractant to the police, much like a blue bug zapper. A purer white light is much easier to look at, provides more usable light, and doesn't attract as much attention.

In the case of these trucks, I feel that projectors are way out of place, as well as any bluish tint light. I agree with others, just upgrade the lighting with some relays and add some silverstar sealed beams, you will be happy with the result.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I agree 100% with what you said I only mentioned projectors since I'm sure they don't make hid housings for his style that don't use projectors

I beleive blu'burbon has morimoto mini h1's retrofitted to his front clip
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/store.php
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[83GMCK2500]

Those 150MM lights that LMC sells are a-w-f-u-l. Short of a true projector lens/enclosure for HIDs the best (but still not 100% legal) option is a set of QUALITY (NO Autopal/DDM/EBAY/LMC Plastic BS) E-Code lenses. The best write-up that I know of for this size of light is this one: HERE

[rockasilly]

The best lights for the application are these:

http://http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=100160

They are DOT and are plug and play. We use them on all of our big trucks at work. They have a nice white light around 5000k and a great light pattern. They are super expensive though. Some of the more frugal owner/operators just buy the low beams.

Personally, I am a cheapskate. I vote a quality semi sealed beam set with relays. 55w silverstars for low and 100w Xenon for high.

[TexasSteve]

I have seen lots of Projectors fitted into H4 housings & they work out REAL well. Can even get Hi/Low projectors with a cut-off shield that appear "stock", but they aren't DOT legal. Inspectors rarely look close enough to notice and automatically just assume what it in there is a DOT conversion. And even if they do look close at the lens, the DOT mark is there just no longer applies since it has been modified.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by rockasilly

The best lights for the application are these:

http://http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=100160

They are DOT and are plug and play. We use them on all of our big trucks at work. They have a nice white light around 5000k and a great light pattern. They are super expensive though. Some of the more frugal owner/operators just buy the low beams.

Personally, I am a cheapskate. I vote a quality semi sealed beam set with relays. 55w silverstars for low and 100w Xenon for high.

Those don't fit his application, he is after the next size smaller rectangular lamps. I've seen those, nice to hear a good review on them.

[rockasilly]

Yup, I dont know why my brain decided not to retain that info from the time I started reading the thread to the point I decided to reply. My bad.

[kalbert]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

None... Get relays or relays with sylvania silverstars. Hids are just dangerous for oncoming traffic without proper cutoff and aiming hids are a technology designed for projectors.
And projector retrofits can be very spendy
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+1. Silverstars are hands down the best headlight ever. Clean easy install, bright white (not blue) light, keeps the character of the truck intact.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by rockasilly

The best lights for the application are these:

http://http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=100160

They are DOT and are plug and play. We use them on all of our big trucks at work. They have a nice white light around 5000k and a great light pattern. They are super expensive though. Some of the more frugal owner/operators just buy the low beams.

Personally, I am a cheapskate. I vote a quality semi sealed beam set with relays. 55w silverstars for low and 100w Xenon for high.

At 900lumens those things are as pitiful as using a mag light.
With my projectors topping 4000lumens I would imagine those would be like candles in the dark.

LEDs have a long way to go before they are good headlights
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[rockasilly]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

At 900lumens those things are as pitiful as using a mag light.
With my projectors topping 4000lumens I would imagine those would be like candles in the dark.

LEDs have a long way to go before they are good headlights
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LEDs HAVE come a long way and ARE good headlights. At least these ones are. I am not saying go and get some sort of LED replacement bulb in a 9007 housing. Those are junk.

My daily driver has factory HIDs and I love them. I jump in one of our trucks at work and I love those headlights as well.

There is more to comparing headlights than just lumens. I can also assure you that these are no "mag light" but, this isnt an HID vs LED discussion. I am just offering legal options for better lighting (vs. OE).

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by rockasilly

The best lights for the application are these:

http://http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/headlights/#product=100160

They are DOT and are plug and play. We use them on all of our big trucks at work. They have a nice white light around 5000k and a great light pattern. They are super expensive though. Some of the more frugal owner/operators just buy the low beams.

Personally, I am a cheapskate. I vote a quality semi sealed beam set with relays. 55w silverstars for low and 100w Xenon for high.

if thats a picture of them to the left they are butt ugly!!

[4x4toy]

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

Good reading here. May help with someones lighting upgrades.

[Jsieger89]

This is my headlights, where can I get super stativas for it that fit no hassel
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[Pop's C-10]

Originally Posted by Jsieger89

This is my headlights, where can I get super stativas for it that fit no hassel
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http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par..._413425_0_7703

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Good thread I found here. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=491436&page=2
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[Jsieger89]

what relays should I upgrade to to get the most out of my silverstR
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

You can go to pretty much any parts store and you should be able to find 30 amp relays with four prongs. Those seem to do the trick
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