Headlight advice?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Here's the 'fluted' ('99-'02) lenses with 'clear' turn signals from Recon (junk). BTW, the aircraft landing lites on this bumper are unfreaking believable for light output - wish they fit on my new bumper.
Here's the 'clear lens' ('03-'04) and turns from same year. (only pic I could find! - this was camp in Seattle last summer...)
And finally, the '05-'07 ($155/pr - "Eagle Eye's") and '07 grill w/new bumper. Looks GREAT, but miss the extra lite. I ordered some Hella bulbs, we'll see if that helps...
The 'cloning' is effective. The starter finally died the other day and a guy sees me changing it in parking lot and says 'that trucks awfully new to be needing a starter'. I could have told him it has almost 300k on the clock, but just shrugged my shoulders and said 'it is a FORD'. hehehe
Here's the 'clear lens' ('03-'04) and turns from same year. (only pic I could find! - this was camp in Seattle last summer...)
And finally, the '05-'07 ($155/pr - "Eagle Eye's") and '07 grill w/new bumper. Looks GREAT, but miss the extra lite. I ordered some Hella bulbs, we'll see if that helps...
The 'cloning' is effective. The starter finally died the other day and a guy sees me changing it in parking lot and says 'that trucks awfully new to be needing a starter'. I could have told him it has almost 300k on the clock, but just shrugged my shoulders and said 'it is a FORD'. hehehe
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Here's the 'fluted' ('99-'02) lenses with 'clear' turn signals from Recon (junk). BTW, the aircraft landing lites on this bumper are unfreaking believable for light output - wish they fit on my new bumper.
Here's the 'clear lens' ('03-'04) and turns from same year. (only pic I could find! - this was camp in Seattle last summer...)
And finally, the '05-'07 ($155/pr - "Eagle Eye's") and '07 grill w/new bumper. Looks GREAT, but miss the extra lite. I ordered some Hella bulbs, we'll see if that helps...
The 'cloning' is effective. The starter finally died the other day and a guy sees me changing it in parking lot and says 'that trucks awfully new to be needing a starter'. I could have told him it has almost 300k on the clock, but just shrugged my shoulders and said 'it is a FORD'. hehehe
Here's the 'clear lens' ('03-'04) and turns from same year. (only pic I could find! - this was camp in Seattle last summer...)
And finally, the '05-'07 ($155/pr - "Eagle Eye's") and '07 grill w/new bumper. Looks GREAT, but miss the extra lite. I ordered some Hella bulbs, we'll see if that helps...
The 'cloning' is effective. The starter finally died the other day and a guy sees me changing it in parking lot and says 'that trucks awfully new to be needing a starter'. I could have told him it has almost 300k on the clock, but just shrugged my shoulders and said 'it is a FORD'. hehehe
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 12,177
Likes: 40
From: Newport, WA
Yes. Take the whole headlight assembly out of each rig and swap. The lights are held in with 2 funky metal clips on top and a snap-in plastic jobby on the bottom... getting the lower one off can be a real task.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 823
Likes: 5
From: Dallas, Oregon
Check my post on Headlight Relays + DRL. I made a harness to increase the voltage to my headlights, and upgraded from the 01 fluted lenses to the 02 style clear lenses. These are very bright and I'm very happy with them. I kept the amber turn and marker lights, but that is a personal choice.
I think my headlights are now a match for the projector lights on new cars. I can not see a need for HID lights since these are very bright. If I was a speeder, I might consider driving lights for really straight, empty roads on moonless nights. As it is, these lights are plenty bright for my aging, night-vision challenged eyes.
I think my headlights are now a match for the projector lights on new cars. I can not see a need for HID lights since these are very bright. If I was a speeder, I might consider driving lights for really straight, empty roads on moonless nights. As it is, these lights are plenty bright for my aging, night-vision challenged eyes.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Bartlett, Tn (Memphis)
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Other bulbs for the PAR 36 size include 'Crown Victoria Police Spotlight' which has a VERY narrow beam - 6 degree spread, iirc? (The 'aircraft landing' bulbs have 30 deg iirc?)
It usually only took a blip from them to encourage stubborn oncoming traffic to turn off high beams.
I had them on a 3 way switch wired to come on with high beams, by themselves or off.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 42
rallylights.com sell the pigtails for about $9 ea.
I have the '05-'07 headlights and would NOT do it again. I had the '03 'clear lens' housings and a relay harness w/80/100 Hella bulbs ($100 relay harness & bulbs from rally...) and they put out WAAAAY more light than these '05's and silly silverstars... Don't worry about annoying oncoming drivers with these high-wattage bulbs like the stupid HID a-holes - the optics are intact and the cut-off line prevents other drivers from being 'blinded'. The extra light from this combo is amazing!
The H13 bulb ('05-'07) is a POS design and nobody makes 'heavy duty' pigtails because the bulb itself is the weak link.
Get some used OE clear lens style lights off of some sucker who went with the late-model junk! Mine were $100 shipped and included the turn signals. They will go on wifey's Excursion as soon as I get a chance. Guess I'll add driving lights and fog lites to the '05-'07 junk to get my light back...
I have the '05-'07 headlights and would NOT do it again. I had the '03 'clear lens' housings and a relay harness w/80/100 Hella bulbs ($100 relay harness & bulbs from rally...) and they put out WAAAAY more light than these '05's and silly silverstars... Don't worry about annoying oncoming drivers with these high-wattage bulbs like the stupid HID a-holes - the optics are intact and the cut-off line prevents other drivers from being 'blinded'. The extra light from this combo is amazing!
The H13 bulb ('05-'07) is a POS design and nobody makes 'heavy duty' pigtails because the bulb itself is the weak link.
Get some used OE clear lens style lights off of some sucker who went with the late-model junk! Mine were $100 shipped and included the turn signals. They will go on wifey's Excursion as soon as I get a chance. Guess I'll add driving lights and fog lites to the '05-'07 junk to get my light back...
Something is a miss. I run the silverstar lights in mine and get flashed by oncoming traffice every now and then. It is always amusing to see their reaction when I flash the Hi beams back at them. I also installed the $.10 britebox mod. I did my install about 2 years ago and have been very happy with it -- 0 problems.
But i guess, if I would have looked for the cheapest pigtails for the install i would have had the same problem. People seem to forget the factory harness in our truck is NOT DESIGNED for the newer bulbs and this is why an upgraded harness is a must. An upgraded harness for the factory 9007 makes a huge difference!!!
Oh well, caveat emptor. To each each his own- I would do this upgrade again in a second.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
This place has the best price on the upgraded harnesses. This is one for a direct replacement for our trucks.
Upgraded Headlight Harness for 94 to 04 Ford with 9007 Bulbs
They also have the one to go to another type lamp also.
Upgraded Headlight Harness for 94 to 04 Ford with 9007 Bulbs
They also have the one to go to another type lamp also.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 524
Likes: 2
From: Redmond, Or
Thanks for all the replies guys, If anyone needs the H13 sockets with pigtails I found them for $3.50 each, I can make the wire harness with relays for under $20.00 and about 15 minnutes.
When I did my lights the harness' were on back order and I got tired of waiting and just went with the pigtails.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
I wish I had the technology to do a little drawing but the 'harness' is simple.
All it does is use a stock headlite plug to trigger relays for hi-beam and low-beam. You need a male 9007 plug and (2) heavy-duty 9007 female plugs and (2) 30-40amp relays. This will provide full battery power to lites vs. the up to 2v drop provided by the skinny factory wires that run for miles thru harnesses up to dash and steering column and finally back out to lites.
Look at the picture of harness posted earlier...
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1632828/i/50-9106_ezr2.JPG
If you are using stock-wattage bulbs, use the 'other' stock plug to install a diode between hi and low beam terminals. This will keep low-beams on when hi-beams are activated. (aka, $0.10 'brite-box')
The harnesses I've gotten from rallylights.com were worth every penny. Super heavy-duty wire, heavy-duty plugs and Hella relays/bases. Better than OE quality!
All it does is use a stock headlite plug to trigger relays for hi-beam and low-beam. You need a male 9007 plug and (2) heavy-duty 9007 female plugs and (2) 30-40amp relays. This will provide full battery power to lites vs. the up to 2v drop provided by the skinny factory wires that run for miles thru harnesses up to dash and steering column and finally back out to lites.
Look at the picture of harness posted earlier...
http://i.b5z.net/i/u/1632828/i/50-9106_ezr2.JPG
If you are using stock-wattage bulbs, use the 'other' stock plug to install a diode between hi and low beam terminals. This will keep low-beams on when hi-beams are activated. (aka, $0.10 'brite-box')
The harnesses I've gotten from rallylights.com were worth every penny. Super heavy-duty wire, heavy-duty plugs and Hella relays/bases. Better than OE quality!
