whats involved (headlights)

[waybad]

any cutting involved with changing out the front headlights to the
7" halogen lights? I know I have to put a relay in there but I thought I
read somewhere on here you had to cut the headlight bucket?
also which is the best one for night driving,, getting older and can't see at night..urg
thanks Tink..

[mr48chev]

If you run the regular halogens from the auto parts store they go right in. You might have to make some changes if you are running the lamps that use H-4 bulbs as the rubber seal around them needs more clearance. I had to trim the buckets on my 71 for clearance but when I ran Cibies in the 48 I don't remember trimming anything to get them to work.

[waybad]

thank you!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Not trying to hijack, but ive wondered about the safety of installing modern (& I assume much hotter in temp AND current draw) headlights in my '55.2 with stock wiring? Anyone have good advice on how to lessen this concern..,short of a full rewiring?
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[Indian113]

Dan,check out the 60-66 site there is a thread on doing a relay for headlights and stock wiring

[Spackle100]

You might want to check out LMC's wiring harness/relay solution for running halogens: http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/full.aspx?Page=43

[OrrieG]

That is the reason for relays. Power goes thru the relay to the lights instead of thru the light switch. Here is some information on halogens and relays:

http://www.alanhorvath.com/54chevy/halogens.php
http://www.alanhorvath.com/54chevy/headlight_relays.php

Alan also has a great detailed write up on wiring and other topics.

[waybad]

I have looked at this relay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250930456782...WAX:IT&vxp=mtr

[sweet70beast]

I've had the modern 12 volt halogen headlights in my 50 for 10 years now and have never had a problem. I do still have the stock wiring too.

[solidaxel]

I like the H-4 Phillips Extreme Power, "80%" more power!

You mayhave to trim the rear of the buckets to clear the rubber gasket.
Air saw and 10 min.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Dan,check out the 60-66 site there is a thread on doing a relay for headlights and stock wiring

And as a added benefit they will be brighter.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by sweet70beast

I've had the modern 12 volt halogen headlights in my 50 for 10 years now and have never had a problem. I do still have the stock wiring too.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I understand the purpose of relays. I am just kind of wondering (with or without the use of relays) if the stock wiring -50-60 years old, brittle insulations, splices, etc that most of us have - is safe to use. Mine APPEARS to be in pretty good shape. Not spliced, not damaged, but then I haven't tried to intentionally bend the insulation to find out if it'll crack or not - it probably would.

I WILL check out the various links and the 60-66 thread on this. I hate seeing our older vehicles going down the road with dim yellow headlights.

[mr48chev]

The relays really do take the load off your switches and stock wiring. When you have them all the stock switches and wiring do is activate the relays.

I run 55/100W H-4 bulbs in my 71 and after burning out a number of dimmer switches and having to replace the headlight switch I installed a pair of relays and have had no problems since along with the lights being brighter it seems. I drive to work at 03:30 in the morning on a section of road that is noted for having people walk down the middle of the road and get hit so I need all the light I can get at that time.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Indian113

Dan,check out the 60-66 site there is a thread on doing a relay for headlights and stock wiring

Anyone have a link? I searched "headlights" and "relays" and nothing comes up.

[mr48chev]

I posted a diagram but didn't like it after I took a good look. But I found the one That I used on my 71. A guy has to take the number of headlights he has into consideration but it is pretty straight forward.

[mr48chev]

Sorry about the huge size of that but I didn't think it was that big when I snagged it off the net. It's pretty well no nonsense with the existing wires from the dimmer switch triggering the two relays with one for high and one for low beam. I mounted the relays on the core support on the 71 so that I wouldn't have to run long wires back to relays inside the cab.

[LDO]

What headlight housings is everyone with the H4s using??

[mr48chev]

I had 7 inch Cibies in the 48 years ago and with 100W high beams you can't outrun the headlights no matter how much engine you have under the hood. I never ran Hellas but they have a good rep too.

For a lot less money I have been running these in the 71 and like them.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-H6024-6014...item4ce799d793
I run the white 100/55 H-4 bulbs. The lenses are glass and throw a decent pattern. I didn't like the blue bulbs. They also have H6024 bulbs without the citylight ring which is a shoulder on the lens. I'll get a photo of the light on the 71 when I go outside and post it.

These don't have the "city light" ring and should be more like regular headlights in appearance. http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-H6024-H4-D...item3596482e12

[waybad]

which ones put out the most light?