Hi all:

Are there LED headlights available for the '85 E150, and if so, are they worth purchasing?

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...111240&jsn=480

 

I switched to LED headlights for both my 1982 Ford E350-based motorhome and my 1996 Jeep Cherokee XJ. There is no substitute for the maximum number of photons you can put on the road with DOT cutoff approved headlights and the reduced power draw of the LEDs places less stress on Ford's inadequate OEM wiring harness. I have run these lights on extremely hard off road runs with the Cherokee and had had no issues or failures, just an amount of light that competes with my light bar. On the motorhome, the additional light compared to the original sealed beams and to the halogens I have tried really reduces the stress of nighttime driving. The real impact of the improved light level and illumination pattern is to be found on secondary roads and driving darkened city streets in smaller towns.

But as a final comment, there is no need to shell out for the higher priced LED headlights that run to $500/pair. I was able to do a direct comparison of my $90 per pair lights with the same size 5x7/7x6 LED headlights made by JW Speaker, costing $500/pair. My friend and I signed up our respective Jeep Cherokees on a trail in the Mojave Desert (pitch black ambient) and the performance of the lights was indistinguishable, one from the other. We carefully checked illumination distance for both high and low beams, as well the side beam patterns. The headlights I'm using were purchased from Amazon:


Good Luck!

 

I need round for my 73, I swear what I've seen are no direct replacement, they require some grinding.

 

Something that I learned in the climate here in the PacNW is since the LEDs burn cool, snow and ice accumulate on the lens of those headlights ultimately rendering them rather useless.

 

This probably comes under "YMMV"! I run the LEDs in Reno, NV with nighttime winter temperatures in the Sierras of -10F to 30F routinely. I generally clear off the the front snow before starting and the lights have been fully functional for trips up and down the mountain. It's possible that my Jeep Cherokee (during the winter, my E350-based motorhome is in storage) throws a great deal of heat in the engine compartment which in turn is heating the headlights above the precipitation point. Under these winter nighttime conditions (about 20F) I measure 105F to 135F at the intake manifold which is fed by a cowl cold air intake. Summertime intake manifold temperatures are only 30F higher. Nonetheless, this winter I'll make it a point to measure the surface temperature of the LED headlights and look for icing. Would rather be in front of my fireplace than driving at night under winter conditions, given a choice!

 

Generally we get slushy snow out here and with the relative wind, can build up pretty fast.
This is the reason on Blueberry I'm going with Hella Halogen + with Flosser H4's

 

In six years here. I haven't yet experienced slushy snow. The snow has been dry and very fluffy. Snowfalls usually run 6 to 12 inches, softening during the day and then a hard ice freeze overnight. Very different conditions, indeed.

 

I just learned today with certainty that the composite headlight system of the 1998 E vans are convertible to sealed beam (and Hella Vision + headlights) easily. Just so long as all of the hardware is taken from the doner van. I'm going to do a write up when I get this all together.
Of course by now there must be LED bulbs that'll fit H4 housings and will be enhanced by the clear, long lasting glass lens that the Hellas offer.

 

I'm looking fwd to your write up!