LED Headlights

[septantrionalis]

Hey, does anyone have a recommendation on LED headlights that I can use to replace the standard halogen sealed beam headlamps I currently have?  I want the headlamps to look stock, but with LEDs underneath.  I haven't been able to find anything.  I assume I need a casing + LED lights.  I am also hoping for "plug and play".  I was able to replace the bulbs in my motorcycle with LED lights and it was just a literal replacement of the bulb.  No other wiring.  I was hoping for the same thing with regards to my truck.

My truck is a 1974 Chevy K10:

[Da67goatman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFLmu2MfTg

[septantrionalis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFLmu2MfTg

Thats exactly what I was looking for.  Thanks!

[Da67goatman]

That's not an all-inclusive list but its a great starting point and they show you patterns which is ultra-important

[frotosride]

there are a lot of EURO style housings out there so you can swap in any bulb of your choice. unless you want to be stuck with strictly LED's. check with Chris and see if he has them on the shelf first.
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[VileZambonie]

I have yet to see any that look stock.

[Spool]

Your truck is beautiful, man. Did you paint it yourself?

[frotosride]

I have yet to see any that look stock.

I just put LED bulbs in my EURO style light buckets and they look as close to stock as possible except the light cap diffuser covering the bulb.  They do project really well especially with HID's but no one else liked them except me.... Dont worry I took out the HID's to stop blinding people.

[septantrionalis]

Your truck is beautiful, man. Did you paint it yourself?

Its literally a Maaco paint job.   I asked for flat black and did the mid-tier.  I set the bar pretty low, but it actually came out looking really good.

[JohnnyPopper]

I have yet to see any that look stock.

I just put LED bulbs in my EURO style light buckets and they look as close to stock as possible except the light cap diffuser covering the bulb.  They do project really well especially with HID's but no one else liked them except me.... Dont worry I took out the HID's to stop blinding people.

Post pic please?

[frotosride]

Sorry I haven't posted a pic yet. My core support is in migrant mode as it's moved around the garage to support everyone's needs but my swap.

[MY1978]

I am changing all my lights, interior and exterior, to LEDs.  I found really close to stock lights that I will send in PM if interested. 

My question is, with the LED change over, I've seen videos that just install them, I've seen videos that add resistors.  I've seen videos that add a new head light harness to bypass the battery, to light switch to head light path.  So my question is.......

1) - Do I need to install resistors??  this truck is a 1978 so NO computerized idiot light involved to get confused
2) - Do I need to install a new light harness.  Since LEDs draw less power, will the direct wire to the battery, this harness requires, burn out, blow up or shorten the life of my LED's.  Bulbs are inexpensive to replace compared to the actual headlights.

Thanks.

[JohnnyPopper]

I am changing all my lights, interior and exterior, to LEDs.  I found really close to stock lights that I will send in PM if interested. 

My question is, with the LED change over, I've seen videos that just install them, I've seen videos that add resistors.  I've seen videos that add a new head light harness to bypass the battery, to light switch to head light path.  So my question is.......

1) - Do I need to install resistors??  this truck is a 1978 so NO computerized idiot light involved to get confused
2) - Do I need to install a new light harness.  Since LEDs draw less power, will the direct wire to the battery, this harness requires, burn out, blow up or shorten the life of my LED's.  Bulbs are inexpensive to replace compared to the actual headlights.

Thanks.

pls post or PM pics. Thx!!

[frotosride]

You do not need resistors for the headlights. Led headlights are designed to take the full load and most of the built in drivers already have resistors to slow the electron flow and keep the LED from burning up. The only reason to use resistors are for the blinkers. The OEM flasher relay will not recognize the small load from the LED's and cause a fast blink which Is simply annoying to most people.
Harness: as long as the switch and harness are in good working order they will work just fine. There's really no reason to replace them unless you just want to.  If you get the right style LED s then they will simply plug into the factory harness. If you absolutely want to make sure your lights are getting all the power they require, you can simply use the power wires from the switch at the head lights as switching power and runn a separate power from the battery to the relay. This will usually brighten up most headlights due to carbon build up on the contacts of the switch. It's not required though.

[78 Chevyrado]

I have these hella lenses on my truck "hella 002395301"  They are DOT and have an excellent cutoff which you want with LEDs.  Those hella lenses are fully glass and way clearer than any sealed beam lights.  They are a little flatter on the face than the old sealed beams.  I got mine originally with silverstars.  Worked good.  I got my LEDs and I put "H4 Philips 12953BWX2 LED Bulbs" in them.  I already had the hella lenses from years ago with the zxe halogen bulbs with driving lights that come on with the highbeams, also zxe bulbs.  these philips bulbs alone are brighter than my old headlights and driving lights combined!  Cannot recommend them enough...!

They're expensive, but they are plug and play.  they have a control box for each headlight to mount, but your factory harness plugs right in.  They also don't have adjustability on the beam pattern which was what i was looking for as I can't set a proper beam pattern by look anymore than i can tell you how a muffler sounds by describing it.

I don't know how long they will last but so far its been 3 months and no change in lighting brightness or pattern.  I would buy them again no problem, especially after seeing the troubles people have been having with those adjustable beam lights.

Second pic shows how bright they are VS. my driving lights that have ZXE bulbs in them.  They also have a relay harness on them directly wired to the battery.

first pic is of lowbeams only.

second pic is of high beams and driving lights.

Third pic is of low beams showing their cutoff.