Aquiring this truck I have many questions, and upgrades that I would like to do... I drive the truck daily, and sometimes in the night... I tend to try and get home before dark though because of the dim--original headlights. Im looking to find a pair that look like the originals, but are brighter. I thought about the led options, but they will take away from that original look. Anybody have any suggestions as to what I should put in?

 

Good Halogen lamps help, but won't do any good at all if the juice doesn't get there. Drake or Carpenter's makes FoMoCo script halogen repros that work great, if they get proper current.

Here's what's happening.The problem is the voltage already takes a circuitous (heh) route from battery through solenoid to headlight switch, down to dimmer switch at the floor, and then all the way out to the headlight on the driver side and finally, across to the passenger side. The ground path is partly through the frame as well. Now these trucks are 50+ years old, and rust and corrosion or paint in the electrical connections chokes off the voltage. Result: dim lights, burned out switches, slow running fans, weaker ignition, etc.

Take the time to really clean up your ground connections at block, frame, and firewall. Replace all of the ground and battery cables, clean up the block connectors through the firewall, SAE bullet connectors, etc. Headlight relays are often recommended for this issue but the underlying fault should always be remedied first.

The way to see this voltage drop, place one end of the voltmeter probe on the positive battery post with the headlights on, and the other at the positive terminal on a headlight. The drop will be displayed as a positive voltage, this is how much is being lost in the corrosion in the connectors. The spec is no more than a few tenths of a volt. Then test the negative ground side. The total on both sides should be no more than about 0.4 tenths of a volt. You will see a huge difference by getting the juice where it needs to go. I like headlight relays, and I use them but there is no substitute for a solid electrical system.

 

Do your originals there have "Made for FoMoCo" etched into the front of them in the center of the glass? It's a pretty small etching so you'd have to look close. Would look like this.



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I used Hella H4 lamps with relays in my old '74. The light was astonishing in comparison with the originals. But they don't look exactly like the originals because the lens is flat...
However, I'm going to put a similar system in my '66 before the days get much shorter.
Eric

 

I replaced a burned out headlight last year with Sylvania Xtra Vision H6024. It was so good I went out and bought another one to replace the other working headlight. I keep the old good light in the box as a spare, which is why I know the model number. I think they were $12 at O'reily Auto Parts. You could also add a simple relay like 6t6merc says, to get full juice, but I haven't done that.

 

don't waste your time with sealed beam. i used hell h4 replacements as well. use relays and enjoy modern lighting. get the e-codes sharper cut offs much nicer.

matt

 

I just upgraded my headlamps, to the LMC LED ring headlamps. When and if you do upgrade I would strongly recommend relocating the ground for the headlamps. I would say the strength of the deam doubled when I gave each light its own ground.

 

What do these lamps usually run? College student, so on a budget...sorta

 

Hella 7" Round E-code Hi-Lo Conversion Headlamp Kit., H6024 | Rally Lights

plus some relays and wiring but nothing too extreme. aim them and enjoy even better with aftermarket bulbs.

any questions feel free to ask! im happy to help.

matt

 

This may help. Whiter Whites, Brighter Brights - Ford-Trucks.com

 

Shane. I know I'm a little late on this thread, but how do you feel about the LED ring on your headlights from LMC. I'm looking into this option now and am curious about how satisfied you are.

Any one else go a similar route?? Post a pic if able, I'm anxious to see one of our Slicks with the LED ring around those 7" headlights!!