Best headlights to use, NOT LED

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1987 GMC Jimmy

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Does anyone have the part numbers for the sylvania lights? Uppers and lowers for the xtra vision ones if those are the best. TYIA, I want to make sure I'm ordering the right ones. Whatever the best relatively inexpensive option is that I can pickup in store this weekend. I'm on my first week of commuting with my new suburban and the stock lights are damn near useless. I did order the relay kit from the link posted above already.

4656XV/4651XV. And for my money, those are the best you can get. The filament lifecycle is rated the same as a standard beam where SilverStars are rated less and have been known to burn out prematurely.
 

RLC2020

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4656XV/4651XV. And for my money, those are the best you can get. The filament lifecycle is rated the same as a standard beam where SilverStars are rated less and have been known to burn out prematurely.
Awesome, just what I was looking for. Ordered all 4. Thank you very much
 

Itali83

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I just got the Napa equivalent to those lights and am planning on making my own relay kit hopefully this weekend. I’d like to see where I’m going compared to before.

Ben
 

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Mine has circle lights, so I will not be much help to the OP.
But, I had found a set of stock Jeep Wrangler headlights at the thrift store for $16 for the pair.
I just had to order a adapter to go from the stock light plug to the Jeep plug for another $8.
@Maxwellvis installed them when he needed a new light and they are much better than just putting in a new sealed beam.
Now it has H4 bulbs that we can replace with fancy ones if we wish too.
Plus they don't look out of place like some of the LED ones do.

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I agree on the LED light thing. I want a LED projector that doesnt look too far from that that doesnt cost 400 dollars each :(
 

Itali83

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I finally got around to making my own relay harness to at least get the most power to the headlights I can. I bought all new sealed beam headlights from Napa because I didn’t want to spend the money on h4 upgrades just yet.

what a difference the relays make! I made my own because it’s easy enough. I even got new plugs for the headlights as my original ones were getting a little corroded. I may try the h4’s later on but I’m in the process of putting an old school set of per-lux fog lights on it that’ll help too.

Ben
 

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make sure only to drive with fog lights on if its 1) foggy 2) not into other drivers
 

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My sealed beams are for sure old and I can literally see the faded back reflection side of the bulb so I know just new lights and relays would probably be a big change. I just figure that this is my family rig, I’m going to be changing them anyway, might as well go all out. I also drive to work at 2am on a couple roads with no street lights on it so I’d like to see animals before it’s too late. I’ve also got a set of fog lights that are cheap ones but take H3 bulbs and to help a lot with vision too.
Thank you and keep the suggestions coming.


Ben

I used the sealed beam halogens from the auto parts store and installed relays.

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I don't have a before photo, but let me just say that you could barely see 20 feet in front of the truck. Now it's nice and bright, even on low beam, and if one goes out while traveling you can go to any store and buy a replacement.
 
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DoubleDingo

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There's got to be a law in California banning high capacity headlights?

If there is, it's not enforced. High output lights are abundant here, and light bars abound, too.
 

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Itali83

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Pulled a set of these old school perlux fog lights off my 88 parts truck. Going to get new bulbs for it and run these on my suburban to compliment the new headlights and relay set up. I’ve already got relay power to my current fog lights but I put cheap led bulbs in the housings that don’t really fit well in there and don’t hit the reflector correctly. Don’t shine for ****. Going old school and period correct.

Ben

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Kevro_N_Chevro

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I finally got around to making my own relay harness to at least get the most power to the headlights I can. I bought all new sealed beam headlights from Napa because I didn’t want to spend the money on h4 upgrades just yet.

what a difference the relays make! I made my own because it’s easy enough. I even got new plugs for the headlights as my original ones were getting a little corroded. I may try the h4’s later on but I’m in the process of putting an old school set of per-lux fog lights on it that’ll help too.

Ben
I am curious as to what this diagram looks like, I will be doing some Google ing. I had four hela dual beam giving to me from the company mechanic. However I have problems with them
 

flon3y

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I just did this upgrade last week and I have to say it's well worth the money. I was not able to find a double kit of the low beams in stock anywhere, but they are available in singles at a good price. Quick and easy factory looking upgrade with much improved light output.

Low beam singles: Hella Vision Plus Headlamps 003177862
High beam double: Hella Vision Plus Headlamps 003177821

$15 Ebay Relay harness/kit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Headligh...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Works great just had to re-pin the plug that connects to my factory plug

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Itali83

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Also those lights have replaceable elements or are the sealed beam style? Just new headlights and my own relay kit made a HUGE difference with my truck. Very happy with them now. I don’t even hardly use my fog lights because I just don’t need them now.

Ben
 

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Last night, having to drive in the dark and most people having ultra bright lights and/or driving with their brights on, I decided to drive with my sunglasses on. It was great, like driving back in the 80s when light candlepower output was normal. No oncoming traffic, and the sunglasses came off, oncoming traffic, sunglasses went on. There's a lot of traffic and streetlights on city streets, so even with sunglasses on and no oncoming traffic, it wasn't too dark.
 

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