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So I am looking for an upgrade to my headlights as my current Sylvania headlights are just not too bright. I am hoping to stick with a stock look, don’t care too much for the look of some of the LED ones I’ve seen online (Amazon) , perhaps I have not seen them all? Looking for a simple plug and play option, I am not much of a mechanic, still learning. Any suggestions are appreciated.
These are certainly available from other companies as well.
Here's a post I did in my build thread that shows a bit of the harness install. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19704361 I'm sure you can find better threads using the search function or maybe someone else will chime in with links and other suggestions.
These are certainly available from other companies as well.
Here's a post I did in my build thread that shows a bit of the harness install. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post19704361 I'm sure you can find better threads using the search function or maybe someone else will chime in with links and other suggestions.
I appreciate the suggestion, I was hoping for something that just plugs into the existing 3 peg plug that is already there, is the only potion to upgrade or are there any the use the same plug as stock that are brighter?
Brighter isn't necessarily better. Brighter means more reflections off the roadway, signs, other vehicles, etc., which ultimately will decrease the amount of visibility you have when your pupils in your eyes close down to compensate.
If your current lights are more than a few years old, you're probably just due for a replacement. A lot of people don't realize that lights wear out get dimmer over time, but they just do so slowly enough that it's not obvious. You'll also get the same kind of sandblasted effect on your headlights that you get on the windshield, which causes the light to scatter, and your visibility decreases.
That said, some of the best headlights I've ever had on vehicles are Sylvania XtraVision in old school glass halogen assemblies. It's what I'm running in the '73 Pontiac, and I have better vision with those than the brand new trucks at work with LED lights.
First is get the relay kit.
It will send a full 12 volts to the bulbs. Right now power comes from the battery thru old wiring to head light switch that is taking all the load, trhu old wiring to the floor dimmer switch thru old wiring to the lights.
The kit is PLUG & PLAY no cutting of any wires and if you want to go back, dont know why you would, you just unplug it.
The head light switch is now used as a switch for the relay and carries little load.
You will not have the head light go out on a back road because the head light switch over heated and tripped the breaker, no load on switch.
I got my kit from LMC
I also run Sylvania XtraVision in old school glass halogen assemblies with the relay kit on my 81 F100 and love the light out put.
I do a lot of driving in the dark as I start work anywhere from 12am to 6am no street lights here.
Dave ----
Here is what I used and I could not be more pleased with the outcome. It was simple to install, puts out plenty of light, looks stock, and didn't cost a fortune.
I got the Holley Retrobrights for my 78 F150 4x4. They plug right in, no need for a special harness or adapter or relay kit. I bought them directly from Holley. They look stock but they're as bright or brighter than any factory vehicle today. The profile they put out is super wide and tall (meaning from the ground in front of the truck to straight out in front). Next to my dad's Gladiator Rubicon it's obvious how much better these are. Seriously the best thing I've done for my truck in awhile, it's amazing how much it affects the experience of driving at night. I'm putting a set on my early Bronco too.
Check out this video that compares all of the popular round LED headlights at various price levels, it helped me make my decision. I was originally going to get the JW Speakers thinking more money = better performance:
The relay kit definitely made a difference for me. But a good set of LED's is an improvement on a much higher level. They're much brighter, with a color more like daylight. I too wanted to keep a stock look, but I got over that pretty fast. I spend more time looking through the windshield at the road, than I do standing on the road and looking at the grill.
They plug right in, no need for a special harness or adapter or relay kit.
You may think you dont need the relay kit but you do.
Did you read my post above on all power going thru the factory switch and old wiring?
By the time it gets out to the head lights it is no longer 12 volts but lower, go measure it sometime.
As the resistance goes up on the old wiring the breaker in the head light switch that is now weaker will trip leaving you in the dark, read no head lights.
Now put different head lights in that pull more power and that breaker is sure to trip.
The relay kit take the power off the head light switch. The switch is now only used to turn on the relays.
Because the relays supply power the head light get a full 12 volts again making them brighter to start with.
The other thing you have to watch out for on after market head lights more so the LED's they are not DOT.
If you want to blind on coming cars & trucks then run non-DOT lights and watch for the law.
Dave ----
(quote)They plug right in, no need for a special harness or adapter or relay kit.(/quote)
You may think you dont need the relay kit but you do.
Did you read my post above on all power going thru the factory switch and old wiring?
By the time it gets out to the head lights it is no longer 12 volts but lower, go measure it sometime.
As the resistance goes up on the old wiring the breaker in the head light switch that is now weaker will trip leaving you in the dark, read no head lights.
Now put different head lights in that pull more power and that breaker is sure to trip.
The relay kit take the power off the head light switch. The switch is now only used to turn on the relays.
Because the relays supply power the head light get a full 12 volts again making them brighter to start with.
The other thing you have to watch out for on after market head lights more so the LED's they are not DOT.
If you want to blind on coming cars & trucks then run non-DOT lights and watch for the law.
Dave ----
I did not read it but you got my attention. I have the relay kit and will go ahead and install it now (I originally was going to do the H4 upgrade which is why I have the relay kit). And yeah, the Holleys are DOT approved but it's a great point that cheaper options (on Amazon for example) may not be.
I think you will be pretty happy with just the relays to start with and they are not hard to install.
I had 1 relay fill with water from washing the engine bay, and stop working.
I just un-plugged the relays and plugged the trucks harness back in till I had time to fix it.
Good to hear you spent the money for DOT LED's most do not
Dave ----
I picked up 3 sets of relays when I was up in Oregon, at Tom's Bronco, now Tom's Offroad, just installed the first one on my 66 F100, and all I can say is, I should've done it a LOONG time ago!!
Pardon the pun, but night and day difference, and it was probably a 2 beer job, and for $30, a no brainer! I will be doing this to all my trucks, as it was such a noticeable difference! I highly suggest you do this first, and then if you're not happy, try different headlights. I should've bought 5, but 2 aren't on the road yet, I will be getting 2 more for them soon.
the relay upgrade as everyone else states is a great upgrade.
Buy extra relays when you buy the kit, they are not readily available at your local store so it's nice to have extras in the truck if one fails.
