Where to get projectors

[Skunksmash]

I still find it odd that the company that you recommended, doesn't show them to fit the trucks. When I called them up, the rep said that they might have been taken off the fitment list for R-10 Silverado, if a customer had called and complained that they didn't fit. I guess there is only one way to find out. Order them and hope for the best. Which is what I was trying to avoid lol


Also, I found this. But unfortunately it comes with the crappy, old style headlight lens instead of a clear lens. Wish I could just find the little connector conversion, sold by itself.

http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/87/chevrolet/r10_suburban/driving_lights/headlamp_conversion_lamp_165mm_h4_55_60w_.html?3593=125277

[Skunksmash]

Hey check these out. These are Pilot, a trusted name brand headlight. They use H4 bulbs too. Only thing is, they don't have that little reflective "star" int the middle like you recommended.

http://topgearstreet.com/4x6-Halo-Headlights.html

EDIT: Found a kit I would buy in a heartbeat: Depo brand. Another good trusted brand of headlight. Only thing is, if I bought this, I'd be paying for a lot of pieces that I don't need seeing as how its for a camaro.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1985-1992-CHEVY-CAMARO-8PCS-CLEAR-HEADLIGHTS-COMBO-NEW-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aChevroletQ7cYearQ3a1985QQhashZitem3369a60d45QQitemZ220815822149QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[paniolo]

From my research I would rank Cibie, Hella, Bosch, Phillips as OEM/high quality.  The Depos, Pilots are a step or two below those.  Generic ebay kits at the bottom. 

My first instinct was a Depo or Pilot kit.  I almost pulled the trigger on some from DDM

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/4656-Halogen-Lamp  those had a plug and play connector for $60 without bulbs.  They have HID kits to add in.

But with a bit more research I decided the OEM level quality for $50 more was worth it and was going to get e-code Hellas from

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=64  for $112 which included bulbs.  Upgraded higher wattage bulbs available for an upcharge.  Actually I would have gotten the free form version for $128 ... the free form is the most recent version that has a clear lens and relies on a computer formed reflector to direct the light output.  They also sell an H1 version for the high beams that I was going to drop 100w bulbs in.

If you just want a conversion pigtail they have that at rallylights too:

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=120  $12.95, though like you said you can easily just move the terminals around.  That link also shows the pin outs at each end if thats what you decide.

Regarding HID.  That was what I started out looking for.  But the more I read I discovered there is no consensus that conversions in this format were able to safely distribute that kind of output without lowering the beams to an extent that your distance vision is impacted. In fact the consensus seems to be that HID conversion in a halogen sealed beam housing is dangerous to other traffic.   Very interesting discussion of the HID issues at:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/disadvantages/disadvantages.html  Email Daniel Stern and discuss with him.  I exchanged several emails with him ... took a little follow up to get him to respond.  I've seen some recommendations in lighting forums it is better to call him.  He is very knowledgeable and freely gives advice.  After discussing with him and others at http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?87-Automotive
  I decided to not do HID and go upgraded e-code with higher wattage.  In fact I got convinced to not go with 100/80w bulbs but 80/70w to reduce low beam glare to other users and go 100w in the high beam only housings.

[Skunksmash]

Thanks for the helpful reply. I'll probly end up going with the Depo's, or your DDM recommendation. I'm just not real impressed with all the Cibie/Hella lights. They look so old and ugly, even if they are perfectly constructed out of great materials. The lens pattern that they use has been abandoned by the automakers for good reason. So I'm looking for something that incorporates the modern technology of a clear headlight lens.

As for the HID, I can totally see what you mean by that. Its doubtful that these old trucks, among many other vehicles, could ever really do HID perfectly. But I'm sure that there are a lot of vehicles that it would work well with. Perhaps HID would be fine for these trucks, in the bright lights. Something you're not using when there are other vehicles on the road. Then just get some good dims that are non-HID. When it comes to the light pattern... eh... I don't think I'm that much of a perfectionist. I don't want to hurt anyone's eyes, I find that to be very annoying. But beyond that, as long as its plenty bright and throws out far enough, I'm not concerned with having this perfect light arc that you could take to some kind of light show and win trophies. Those guys over at the candlepower forums seem too overly concerned with that kind of thing. I just want it to be better than it was when the truck was new.

[paniolo]

I hear you on the way the traditional Cibie/Hellas look.  They rely on those ridges to aim the light.  The clear lens ones are relying on angles in the reflector to aim the light.  What Hella calls the free form (FF) light with a computer calculating how to angle the sections of the reflector.  I figured the latest research would be in the free form reflectors ... also they look cooler!  Thats where I was going with the Hella FF version:

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1787 a little more at $128 but worth it to me.  Are you going to go with a relay harness, or just plug the conversion pigtails into the oem harness?  Either way it will be a big improvement over the stocks ... which is what I wanted too.  But when I drive my Suburban it is usually a trip that ends up on dark two lane roads late at night, so getting a lot more wattage out on the high beams was a prime consideration for me.

Edit: as an aside an older Camero was following me last night with an HID kit in these same housings.  It was really blinding even in my rear view.  I was tempted to say something to him at a light but just slowed down so he would get in front of me.

[1979C20]

Thats why I stress so much about aiming. Even aiming the headlights down a degree or two will keep from blinding people and you wont sacrifice.light quality at all with HIDs because the depth of the light reaches a half mile infront of my truck because I can see the purple hint on road signs that far away.

[Skunksmash]

Man those hella's are expensive. Out of my range, I'm afraid. After considering price, I think I'm just going to get some of those depo ones for now and go with a conversion harness. I'm not going to mess with the whole relay thing until I get into HID's for the brights. So basically I'm looking for cheap, and easy lol 

[paniolo]

I can understand that ... I can be the king of cheap at times!  Like going with the ebay Cibies I picked up.  Just hope it doesn't bite me in the rear like it does some times!

Good luck.

[Skunksmash]

Does anyone know which pins in the headlight connector, need to be rearranged? And where they need to be arranged to, for it to work with H4 bulbs? Should be pretty simple to figure out I guess. Then again I don't know which ones are power on the bulb itself.


Anyway, I found this kit on amazon for converting to H4 bulbs:

http://www.amazon.com/Headlight-Adaptor-Converter-Harness-Pigtails/dp/B00408UDU0/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1313348490&sr=1-1

[paniolo]

Those rally lights links I posted earlier have the pin outs for both connectors.

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=120  click the other images for the pin out info.

[Skunksmash]

Found out some new info on all this. Well new to me, at least. I think for the high beams, its better to have H1 bulbs. And for the low, H4. I emailed a custom headlight making company and the guy said

"2 would be H1 bulb (high beam only)
2 would be H4 bulb (high and low beam)"

[paniolo]

Yep, you only need the single filament H-1 for the high beams.  I  think the base on the H-1 is a different size than the H-4.  I know the Hella site I linked above has specific H-1 conversion housings a bit cheaper than the H-4 ones.  Still around $45 apiece though.  To get cheaper housings it would not be a big deal to get four of the H-4 ones.  H-4 bulbs in say 100/55 are only about $4/5 more than than a 100w H1.  Your existing sealed high beam 2 terminal connector should hook right up to the ground/hi beam terminals on the H-4 bulb.  So all you would use is the hi-beam 100w filament. 

So you would spend $10 more in bulbs but pay $45 less in housings.

[Skunksmash]

Dang. I did not notice that the connectors for the bottom set of headlights only has two pins. Not three. So they won't fit an H4 bulb. Maybe I'll just cram 'em on there and see what happens lol

[Irish_Alley]

Been a while but thought the low had three male spades on it while the high had two.again been a while(7 years or so) so I could be wrong

tried to tell ya

[paniolo]

I think the two connector stock high beam will fit on the two connector side of the H-4 bulb.  You can double check the pin outs in the above links, but pretty sure those two connectors on the H-4 bulb are the high filament and the ground.  So it will probably work ... just have to buy the slightly more expensive H-4 bulbs and not use the low filament.  The low beam terminal shouldn't have any current to it either, so no danger with leaving it exposed.  But check it with a meter to be sure.