Where to get projectors

[Skunksmash]

Cool thanks. I was thinking there was likely an easy fix due to there only being 3 prongs. What do you mean when you say to buy the more expensive bulbs? I had these picked out cause they cast a white light:

http://www.luminicsusa.com/detail.asp?p_Number=LKW-H04SF

Already got some in my stang and they are pretty cool. The light is white and very bright. I don't have the "Krypton" version of the bulbs though, so I was thinking about getting them for the 87 chevy cause it seems to be at a disadvantage already. When it comes to having a good lighting pattern and correct amount of light output.

[paniolo]

The H-4 bulbs are dual filament and cost more than single filament bulbs for a dedicated high beam housing, like the H-1's.  You have to pay about $5 per bulb more ... or $10 total.  But since that is still cheaper than the H-1 high beam housings from say Hela you still come out ahead.

[Skunksmash]

Would an H1 bulb fit the 2-prong connectors? Might be a better idea for the bright lights since H1's have two filaments, 1 for bright and 1 for dims. Although I don't know if H1 will fit in a H4 socket inside the headlight housing itself.

[paniolo]

I think the H-1's will fit the stock high beam 2 connector.  I don't think an H-1 will fit in a headlight housing designed for the H-4.

Before I bought anything on those assumptions I would call a headlight retailer and ask them.  I would call the rallylights.com people at the above links and ask them those two questions. 

[Skunksmash]

Yeah you're right. You just bend the third prong on the H4 bulb up, and it fits just fine in the two prong connector. I tried it and they work fine. So all I gotta do is just get two pair of H4 conversion headlights, and bend (or cut off) one prong on each side of the bright lights. And just leave them the way they are on the dims. Then just make sure I angle the brights well so that I get the good "bright lights" effect when I turn on the brights.

[paniolo]

I was pretty sure that would work for you.

If you are planning on spending $35 or so on exotic gas bulbs I would look seriously at the Osram Hyper 70/65W H-4 bulb at about $18/bulb.  The higher wattage will give you more lumens than any gas will.  Since you are still using your stock harness that would be the most I would want to put through it.  Here is a link http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1404

I would also do a quick check on your voltage drop when you are doing these.  If you have a digital VOM just turn on your headlights with all the bulbs installed in the circuit. 

Connect the positive (red) test lead of a voltmeter to the car battery positive (+) terminal, and the negative (black) test lead to the + terminal of whichever headlamp filament (beam) you're testing -- use the bulb farthest away from the battery. Your voltmeter will give a direct reading of the voltage drop. Write it down.

Then, connect the positive (red) voltmeter lead to the ground terminal of the headlamp bulb, and the negative voltmeter lead to the negative (-) terminal of the battery. Your voltmeter will again give a direct reading of the voltage drop. Write it down. Add the two voltage drop figures obtained, and this is the total circuit voltage drop.

It's not uncommon to have over a 1v drop ... which results in about a 30% drop in lumen (light) output!  I did mine and the various terminals ranged between a 1.64 and a 2.66! drop.  That's an approximate drop in light output (lumens) of between 40-55%.  :eek  Even with new housings/bulbs I would only be getting about half the potential light output.  That's why I'm putting in a lighting relay harness at the same time.

[Skunksmash]

Yeah I'll eventually do the relays. I'm just not into spending all the cash right now for everything. I just got four of those ebay Depo brand clear lens 4x6's for $50 shipped. They came with the H4 bulbs and the conversions on the back. That is about all I want to spend on this right now. And I'd say its at least a 100% improvement over the previous junkers. You don't have to spend a whole lot of money to get good lighting, and depo is a fairly reputable brand. Even though they're chinese lol. But they are the OEM supplier of a lot of automakers so that says something about them too. Not the best, but far from the worst.

[Skunksmash]

Ok and now a problem. Finally got to revisit this project, after having to put a portion of it on hold for awhile.

So yeah. Something's wrong. When you turn on the brights, all 4 don't light up like they used to. Now only the bottom lights light up for when you hit the brights, instead of all 4.

[1979C20]

Do you still have the relay wired in to power the low beams when the high beams turn on?

[Skunksmash]

Well I assume so. I didn't change a thing from stock really. And they all used to light up on bright, so I figure if it was there, it must still be. Must have something to do with bending one of the prongs on the lower H4 bulbs to get them to fit lol. I guess I knew there would be some difficulties. You can't fit the H4's into the two prong connectors, but they will still work if you bend up the top prong. Might just need some new bulbs that fit or something.

[Skunksmash]

Just to make sure my truck is correct and no one in the past has messed it up already... how is it supposed to be?

When you have the dims on, the bottom two light up, right? And then when you turn on the brights, the top two light up?

[1979C20]

No, unless the wirong is backwards, the bottom 2 should be the broghts and the top 2 ahould be the lows.

[Skunksmash]

Ok I had it backwards. Its the way you describe. So its gotta be the difference in the bulbs. Looks like my options for replacement bulbs are H7, H1, and H3. All those seem to be similar enough to the H4 but with 2 prongs instead of 3. Its gotta be one of those that I need for the lows.

[1979C20]

H1's and H3's are too small. Ive never seen an H7.

[Skunksmash]

All right screw it I guess I have to stop being lazy and do some wiring. Dang it. I'll just wire it up to use all 4 H4 bulbs that came in the new headlights.