OK, so it's time to replace my lights. Do the Lightning style lights offer better performance? Most of the "clear" headlight equipped vehicles I've driven actually seemed worse than opaque style. Will they fit with my stock turn signals (research conflits on this one, first hand knowledge would be nice)? I'm reffering to the ones without the orange reflector (light?) built in, just clear (maybe only the HarleyDs have the orange part?).

Anybody bought OE style aftermarkets(~$40 each), and did they have a good fit? Same light output/beam? Not looking for anything that stands out much, lightning style is about as far out as I'll go. (no projectors, leds, etc.)

OE lights are a little pricey ($130 each, after all said and done, is the cheapest I've found). I also found some "Lightning" repros if anyone's tried them, looked pretty good from the picture...

Other options welcome. thanks.

99 f150 lariat.

 

I went with the Sylvania SilverStars. They put out a good bit of light. Friends say that it sucks to have me driving behind them. It is a much whiter light that the OEM. And.....they only ran $50 at Kragen. Have had them in for over a year now with no probs.

Rich

 

If you just want to replace the bulbs, the Silverstars are O.K. I don't think they are actually any brighter, but they seem brighter because they are whiter (actually bluish).

The Harleys are the only ones with the orange strip below the headlights. Lightnings are similar, but all white. I don't know for sure if they put out any better light, but I don't think so. I think they are just for appearance. Turn signal/ parking lights are apparently the same for both (lower orange reflector strip). The repros seem good, but you never know.

The only way to get significantly better headlights is to buy the Sylvania Xenarcs, which are true HID (arc) lights. I think they list for about $600, although they may be available at substantial discount now that the new F150's have different headlights. I got some used ones off eBay. You might want to try that as people trade in their older pickups and want to recoup some of their money.

PS: Although there are some replacements out there which replace both the headlights and turnsignal lights ("corners") in one piece, most are fully interchangeable. I have the Harley OE corners.

 

Sorry, yeah, I'm looking to replace the head lamp itself (lens & reflector). I am not interested in the lightning headlights for looks (though it would be a good bonus) only performance. My originals had the coating peal off the plastic and no amount of polishing seems to get them back to perfect.

I already have the Silverstars in place along with the 14ga wiring/relay mod. I'm very happy with the light output, it's just my lenses always look a little dirty (on and off).

I considered Xenarcs, but even though they are legal, I fear every cop I pass pulling me over. They tend to frown on aftermarket HID's around here, for whatever reason.

Some places advertising the lightning headlights say you MUST also get the "corners" for them to fit properly. I could swear I've seen it done with the original corners, and it looks as though they would fit, but I was unsure. Looks like they will, thanks.

I think what I don't like about the "clear" (lightning/Tundra style) lenses is they don't have ENOUGH scatter. Too sharp of a beam cut off. The opaque style (like what comes on non-lightning/HD models) seems to give just enough scatter to let me see animals eyes that are beyond the main beam. The clear style on the lightnings seem that maybe they would be better at this than other clears because of the partially "knurled" circle that the beam passes through in the lamp vs. just a diamond reflector behind the bulb that most vehicles have (like on a Tundra for example).

Thanks again, anymore input appreciated.

 

Ide go with the lightning ones. I too have the same issue that you are having, So thats what i plan on replacing mine with

 

You also need to look at the King Ranch style. They are built the same as yours, they just have a clear lense. Your OEM corners will fit with any of the other Ford 'speciality' headlights.

 

I was thinking I'd noticed some KRs with clear lenses. I assumed they were the same as the lightnings. Not all of them have them and all the pictures I've found through GIS had opaque style, even supposed 03 models. I've never gotten a good up-close look at one with them either. Thanks.

 

So, nobody's tried OE style knock-offs? Just want to make sure they don't sit a little crooked in the grill or anything. At $100 cheaper each I'm considering giving them a shot.

Tested a Lightnings headlights beside a factory stock reg. model and wasn't too impressed. I think I'll stick with OE type lenses.