Headlight upgrade
 

Hello all,

I have found this site a wealth of knowledge over the past few years. I wanted to thank everyone for that.

My predicament now is headlights. I have two with bulbs that need to be replaced so I decided now is a good time to upgrade. I would like to upgrade my original 1969 GMC C30 headlights to LED. They are the 4 5.75 bulbs. I have no idea where to start or the best bulbs for the job.

Any and all information would be welcome!

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

So do you currently have the factory seal beams or have they already been converted to halogen?

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

The Nokya sealed beam conversion kit and LASFIT 9005 HB3 9006 HB4 bulbs seems the way to go. The lights are $90 a pair on Amazon and the bulbs are $63 for all 4.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

All sealed beam..still original.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Okay, so are you wanting a halogen conversion with LED headlight bulbs, or the fancy projectors or whatever with the LED halos? Just trying to clarify.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

100% correct

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Wait I think you misread my question. So, a factory looking housing with a LED bulb? OR something like this?:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

I don't have a preference yet...looking for ideas. Would like plug and play but wouldn't be opposed upgrade of the whip as well

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Oh okay. LMC has a pretty good selection of traditional lights and traditional looking with halos. These are pretty cool but pricey:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Before you do the lights do the relay upgrade this will insure you get the most out of your lights to begin with. A lot of people stop at this mod after seeing how bright they are.
I have been looking at a set for my 64 SS Impala as well but haven't found what I want yet.:chevy:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Not trying to hijack the thread but what is this upgrade? Is it a plug and play deal?

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

It depends on if you buy a kit are make your own. I made my own and wired them in. The relay takes the load off the truck wiring system. It improves the out put of your lights.:chevy:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Please don't buy the "new" ultra bright ones ! Don 't know what kind they are but they are blinding for the oncoming traffic. I drive a tractor trailer rig at night and my colleagues and I all agree they should be illegal ! The shade of white is just very uncomfortable to the eye. I wouldn't want to be on a country road with those lights coming at me ! They absolutely blind you !

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

As I have never had a gmc. Do both bulbs act as hi/low or dose it just switch from inner to outer or vice versa?

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

The outer lamps are both high and low beam. The inner lamps are high beam only.

So on high beams, all four lamps are lit.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

A slight diversion in the topic, but maybe it will help the OP. Does anyone have a before/after pic of the difference in headlight brightness with a relay kit? I suspect that a relay kit would also serve to brighten the tail and marker lights, since their voltage supply would be higher if the headlights were fed through a circuit directly from the battery, instead of all the power going through the headlight switch. I could just drop the $30 for the relay kit, but I would rather spend $30 worth of time on diagnosis, because I was so poor as a kid that the only thing I could pay was attention. ;)

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Thanks, but I'm curious about just the relay and stock bulbs difference first. I like what you did there!

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

I bought a set of the LMC bulbs like up above. I also bought their relay wiring harness in hopes of making them brighter. The wiring harness didn't last 2 months. Relays immediately gave up.

I already had some HID lamps installed, not the old style bulbs. Once I get the other issues worked out on the pickup I intend to install the new LMC bulbs and try to get the harness working again.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

This is why I made my own harness and it works great. I've done my 71,67, 64 Impala and my 56 Bel Air + a few friends vehicles.:chevy:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

What did you do differently in making your own harness? i.e. beefier relays?

Thanks,
Jeff

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

There is a huge difference in cheap relays vs Bosch-Tyco relays. The longevity of the Bosch is amazing. I ordered some cheap relays for my cooling fan and air ride management, but the relays failed within a month. I paid extra for the Bosch brand and a year later, still going good. The relays in my Ford Expedition are all Bosch and I have never replaced one...bought new in 2000 and has 180,000 miles. That says something.

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

When I did mine LMC was having terrible reviews on theirs. The wires where backwards. Also as stated I used Bosch relays. Mine have been in the truck for several years now and no problems.:chevy:

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

I just bought a pair of 7 in halogens from rockauto for 8.00 each

Re: Headlight upgrade
 

Thanks, when I reinstall, I'll upgrade to Bosch relays and check the wiring. That could have been the problem all along, I just don't drive it enough.