H4 Headlights
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
H4 Headlights
Hello all,
I'm looking for some opinions on a set of headlights I found. The website lists the materials as a glass front, with a metal backside.
The glass looks to be a stock look, which I like, and has a removable halogen bulb.
The parts I'm not sure about, are:
1 - Will this perform as good or better than a stock bulb?
2 - Website says "semi-sealed". Is this going to be an issue?
3 - Should I even bother in reference to number 1?
I would have added a picture here, but it doesn't seem to be working...
Here is the Octane Lighting site: https://www.octanelighting.com/p-676-7x6-stock-style-glass-lens-headlight-metal-headlamp-h4-halogen-light-bulbs-pair.aspx
Here is their eBay listing for less cost: http://www.ebay.com/itm/7X6-Stock-Style-Glass-Lens-Headlight-Metal-Headlamp-H4-Halogen-Light-Bulbs-Pair-/231505391537?fits=Year%3A1984%7CMake%3AFord%7CMode l%3AF-150&hash=item35e6cbefb1:g:MFgAAMXQlgtS8oyG&vxp=mtr
I'm looking for some opinions on a set of headlights I found. The website lists the materials as a glass front, with a metal backside.
The glass looks to be a stock look, which I like, and has a removable halogen bulb.
The parts I'm not sure about, are:
1 - Will this perform as good or better than a stock bulb?
2 - Website says "semi-sealed". Is this going to be an issue?
3 - Should I even bother in reference to number 1?
I would have added a picture here, but it doesn't seem to be working...
Here is the Octane Lighting site: https://www.octanelighting.com/p-676-7x6-stock-style-glass-lens-headlight-metal-headlamp-h4-halogen-light-bulbs-pair.aspx
Here is their eBay listing for less cost: http://www.ebay.com/itm/7X6-Stock-Style-Glass-Lens-Headlight-Metal-Headlamp-H4-Halogen-Light-Bulbs-Pair-/231505391537?fits=Year%3A1984%7CMake%3AFord%7CMode l%3AF-150&hash=item35e6cbefb1:g:MFgAAMXQlgtS8oyG&vxp=mtr
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Those look like Hella's, which I've used off and on for several decades. I highly recommend the Hella's, although I don't know that the ones you linked to are those.
Europe went to a semi-sealed headlight a long time ago, and we followed years later. But almost (all?) new cars are semi-sealed unless they are HID or LED.
BUT, I wouldn't change out the headlights without going to one of the headlight harnesses which use relays. Read about it here: Headlight Wiring Harness - Gary's Garagemahal
Europe went to a semi-sealed headlight a long time ago, and we followed years later. But almost (all?) new cars are semi-sealed unless they are HID or LED.
BUT, I wouldn't change out the headlights without going to one of the headlight harnesses which use relays. Read about it here: Headlight Wiring Harness - Gary's Garagemahal
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Good plan, Stan. Two reasons: First, the headlights will work much better with a harness. Second, someone is going to be tempted to put a higher wattage bulb in since it is so easy, and the switch and/or wiring will go up in smoke.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Hella is the way to go. A co worker installed cheaper one in his Jeep and they didn't look good nor perform that good. I went with the Hella ones on my truck set me back $80 with bulbs. I also got one of those generic relay kits for the head lights off Ebay for $9.99 and spliced more wire in for a custom mount. I also since then upgrade from the bulbs they supplied to Sylvania Silverstar H4 bulbs. While I am not impressed with the performance it could be the headlights are not adjusted right which if I adjust them down anymore for the highbeam to be effective I would have low beam so low it wouldn't even illuminate signs on the side of the street.
If you go with the DOT ones shouldn't be a problem I how ever went with the offroad only ECE approved housings as I wanted all my light on the road and not up in on coming traffic.
If you go with the DOT ones shouldn't be a problem I how ever went with the offroad only ECE approved housings as I wanted all my light on the road and not up in on coming traffic.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
I checked out the Hella lights, and at some point will buy a set and a relay harness.
Thanks for the tip in the right direction. I definately believe you get what you pay for, the set I listed above probably does not compare to the Hellas.
Now the question is, should I get the LMC harness, or will any harness work for me?
Thanks for the tip in the right direction. I definately believe you get what you pay for, the set I listed above probably does not compare to the Hellas.
Now the question is, should I get the LMC harness, or will any harness work for me?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
The LMC harness works well, but uses non-standard relays. Since a bad relay can cause grief when traveling, you might order a spare. Or, do as I suggested on my web site and don't cut the stock headlight connector off.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Cut the stock connector off? why the one I bought as linked below has a headlight style plug so it just simply plugs into the headlight connector on the truck.
H4 Relay Harness Wire Halogen Ceramic Controller Socket Plugs Kit for Headlight | eBay
This is the style I purchased shop around on ebay though I got mine for $9.99 but was so long ago I cant find it in my purchase history on ebay.
H4 Relay Harness Wire Halogen Ceramic Controller Socket Plugs Kit for Headlight | eBay
This is the style I purchased shop around on ebay though I got mine for $9.99 but was so long ago I cant find it in my purchase history on ebay.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Its good for the price. But I found out when I cut and spliced the wire it was not truly 12ga like I had thought. It was like silver 18ga wire with the coating making it as thick as 12ga wires.
But still even at that and with a 30A fuse for my system I have not had a problem with it.
When I do a junction fuse/relay box for my truck I will be remaking it from scratch using this as a pattern but it will all be true 12ga wire. I don't know I tend to like to go way over kill.
But still even at that and with a 30A fuse for my system I have not had a problem with it.
When I do a junction fuse/relay box for my truck I will be remaking it from scratch using this as a pattern but it will all be true 12ga wire. I don't know I tend to like to go way over kill.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Those lights are Autopal brand Hella knock-offs. They're not bad quality, actually. I have 'em in my '85, with a Putco relay harness of about the same "quality" (i.e. cheapo) as the LMC product. Def. better light than the OEM sealed beams, and the relay harness takes the load off the switch. But the harness doesn't boost the light output significantly like a higher quality harness would.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
I think I will make my own harness right from the get go. I already have most of the supplies anyhow (relays, wire, solder and iron)
Plus I copied Gary and got myself a newer power distribution box, so I can upgrade quite a few other things as well.
Plus I copied Gary and got myself a newer power distribution box, so I can upgrade quite a few other things as well.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
You have read my thread and figured out what all I'm doing with the power distribution box? Or, much better yet, read the page on my web site: Power Distribution - Gary's Garagemahal
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
I got a box off ebay from a mazda/ford escape to use for my upgrades but after gutting the small box was just too heavy for my tastes so i found a aftermarket universal one that has four relays and eight fuses. The megafuse for my 3g upgrade will be a stand alone box mounted to the aide of this universal box.