Hid headlights?

[jrigheimer]

During my 800mile road trip I noticed that the headlight were really bad and most of the time I had to use the high beams to see anything, oncoming traffic loved it. I was thinking about a cheap hid conversion, I don't want blue or super white lights like the ricers just a light upgrade. I've been looking at this kit on amazon

Innovited AC 55W HID Xenon Conversion Kit With "Slim" ballast
Amazon.com: Innovited AC 55W HID Xenon Conversion...
Seems to be plug and play, comes with ballast and hid. Only thing I don't know is if on a 1972 c10 are the headlights sealed or can I change the bulbs no problem? Other than that seems to be a good deal the reviews are good too.

Also does anyone know what color or kelvin (k) these lights are, I kind of what a stock color like this

[TobyArnot]

First install a headlight relay kit to get full voltage to the lights. Then do your "conversion". This is what I used and they definitely brighten up the road
.
http://www.rallylights.com/h6024-7-r...dlamp-kit.html

Opt for the 100W high beams(optionB). I can light up a green freeway sign at one-half mile.

[jrigheimer]

What is the difference between a relay and the ballasts

[TobyArnot]

A headlight relay sends full voltage to the lights and is controlled by the OEM switch. Most factory wiring is old and the resistance is way too high. The realy solves all of that. As you can likely tell, I'm not a big fan of the HID Zenon lights. IMHO, they just don't look right in these old vehicles, kinda like my opinion of 22" rims.

[Custom 68]

I just did a quick search so if you do that you will find tons of information. it is here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=507368

basically tho is continue to use a "conventional" non HID bulb setup there are several to choose from but then put the relays close to the front of the truck by the head lights, this will give you a full 12-14 volts this makes a huge difference in light output from where you are now. The balist is used in the HID conversions. you will get lots of negative input on a cheap conversion as they are not made correct and usually end up blinding the other drivers and not giving you any additional light since it is not in teh correct housing. do a couple searches and you will find it is best to do the relays and better newer sealed beams.

[Custom 68]

so I am a slow typer...

[Cris.sanchez3]

This is were I got mine they have lifetime warranty and work well

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121071715666?redirect=mobile

He has all the info you need on the color and if I'm not mistaken once you get the other non-sealed headlights the bulb you will need is h4

[Underwoj]

nice Cris!! what color did u selecT?

[SS Tim]

We just did a thread on this last week. It is well worth reviewing.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...7&goto=newpost

Relays are the best place to start for most people.
Then either a sealed beam (silverstar) or a quality bulb conversion.

[catch2otwo]

If your going to go HIDs, please either do a projecter lamp conversion or a lens made for the HID. If not you will just scatteryour HID light everywhere, just like those pesky ricers and then oncoming traffic will really hate you. A properly setup HID/projector setup will have very crisp light cutoff to keep the light where its supposed to go.

Check out dapper lighting
http://www.dapperlighting.com/

[DreamRyder1963]

Also cheap in mind that a true HID bulbs are $100 a piece to replace. If you get a non sealed unit with 9003 or H4 bulbs you will be able to find one readily are at reasonable cost. I have 9003 ZXE (good white lights) bulbs in my 71 and I have more than enough light at night. All my vehicles will be getting them soon.

[Matt Cramer]

Originally Posted by catch2otwo

If your going to go HIDs, please either do a projecter lamp conversion or a lens made for the HID. If not you will just scatteryour HID light everywhere, just like those pesky ricers and then oncoming traffic will really hate you. A properly setup HID/projector setup will have very crisp light cutoff to keep the light where its supposed to go.

This. A HID bulb has a totally different light output pattern and the reflector needs to be designed for it to get a good pattern. Putting a HID in a reflector meant for an H4 bulb tends to result in a pattern that's halfway between high beams and low beams with a little extra random light thrown all over the place.

[jrigheimer]

Where can I get a headlight relay, I'm not good enough with electrionic a to make one my self. I heard that painless makes a decent one but will it work for our trucks

[jrigheimer]

http://m.ebay.com/itm?itemId=281146739569

Will this work?

[907lukeman]

i went this rout.
http://www.classicparts.com/Headlamp.../#.U0R45Siw6Ig
helped out a lot. just a plug and play

[SS Tim]

Instead of buying first, take the time to understand what you are doing.
In the other thread I posted the link to, included a link within to Daniel Stern's pages. There is very good reading there.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/tech.html

When it comes time to do anything to your truck start with the basics as we said in the other thread. Specifically grounds, wiring, connectors at the headlamp, head lamp switch and the dimmer switch.

Then once you are satisfied add in the relay kits, go quality.

After you have the relays then you can decide how much more you want to go. The great thing is incremented this way results in benefits and you can stop. Relays and cheap sealed beams are better than stock or deteriorated stock. Better sealed beams are the next step unless you want to jump directly to replaceable bulb headlamps.

Bottom line is learn before you spend. If you don't know anything about electrics get some help. Hoping an eBay bargin kit's instructions will solve all your problems is a bad start.

[jrigheimer]

Originally Posted by 907lukeman

i went this rout.
http://www.classicparts.com/Headlamp.../#.U0R45Siw6Ig
helped out a lot. just a plug and play

I think I will go this route thank you. I know how to solder and basics electronics but not like circuit boards and resistors.

[SS Tim]

Originally Posted by 907lukeman

i went this rout.
http://www.classicparts.com/Headlamp.../#.U0R45Siw6Ig
helped out a lot. just a plug and play

Since Classic is so sparse on details and pictures, what are you getting for $35. Is it a quality heavy gauge harness? Are the relay feeds fused? Is the instruction sheet any good or real basic?

[DreamRyder1963]

Originally Posted by jrigheimer

I think I will go this route thank you. I know how to solder and basics electronics but not like circuit boards and resistors.

If you can solder at all half way decent, you can do circuit boards and resistors. Just take your time and check polarity on the components.

[Cape Codder]

If you learn how a relay works and understand it hooking it up will be obvious.

[Andy4639]

Putting relays in my truck was one of the easiest mods I've done. Your factory light connection is a 3 wire hook up. Low beam, high beam and ground for both.

-30 = constant [positive (+)] power (usually wired directly to car battery)
-85 = coil ground (wired to the negative (-) battery terminal or any grounded metal panel in the car)
-86 = coil power (wired to the control source. could be a switch, or it could be the car's IGN or ACC circuit.)
-87 = When you hit the headlight switch it sends power to this lead which in turn goes to the high are low beam of the head lights.

You will need 2 relays for the mod one for low beam one for High beam.

[skorpioskorpio]

<sigh>

The purpose of HID lighting in new (well not as much anymore) cars is to reduce the size of the reflector by reducing the heat output to give designers more choices in materials and reducing frontal area, it's not a better light source. HID is also a stop gap technology that will be long gone 10 years from now replaced entirely with high output LEDs. Sorry to say but investing in HID lighting is like going out and buying a plasma TV at 2001 prices, why would you do that?

[Wreckless_71]

Originally Posted by Cris.sanchez3

This is were I got mine they have lifetime warranty and work well

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121071715666?redirect=mobile

He has all the info you need on the color and if I'm not mistaken once you get the other non-sealed headlights the bulb you will need is h4

Yes, the stockers are sealed type bulb. But the glass front H4 conversions and get a good set of silverstars. Or if you are really interested in HIDs get a 4500K or 5000K bulb. They are pure white with no blue color. The 4500K will be closer to the natural sunlight color.

[leddzepp]

Relay upgrade and Sylvania Silverstars. Done. If you still can't see with this combo you should not be driving at night.

[thump426er]

This has been a great thread and I truly feel like I'm about to do the best mod I'll ever do to my old trucks after reading this,,,, other than an LS swap. (simple things in life).
When both my low beams wouldn't come on last night but highs still did, I didn't have time when I got home to chase wires/switches so I came here to do a quick search over lunch and see if others had experienced this and to qualify my hunch of dimmer (or wiring thereabouts) and found this thread. Awesome!!
This is a great forum, with great knowledge and sharing of it. Thanks