heavy duty headlight sockets? Brighter lights stuff

[rhkcommander]

Hey guys I've been looking around and don't know whats good or bad, sofar all the heavy duty 9004 sockets are 16 gauge wiring or dont list it... is 16 enough, i want the best socket or else why bother if i have to upgrade again . I would guess the higher temp stuff allows for more current but figured I'd ask OB

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...counter=0&itemIdentifier=308940_167897_15908_
Part Number:
85811

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...cket-for-9004-9007-bulb?itemIdentifier=421808
Part Number:
46-9994

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...25v6?itemIdentifier=767900&_requestid=3882619
part Number:
84791

http://www.amazon.com/3A-Racing-46-9994-Headlight-Socket/dp/B000CFSLE0

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370341342545&viewitem=#vi-content

http://www.amazon.com/9004-Heavy-Wattage-Wiring-System/dp/B001GWZ2HC

http://www.amazon.com/eAutoWorks-9004-Heavy-Upgrade-Harness/dp/B001GWT82W

For those of you who dont know, its in reference to this article http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/8/039/article/Whiter_Whites_Brighter_Brights.html

 

[Devilish]

I like the sockets from ebay. I found some ceramic sockets here http://www.autolumination.com/hid_harness.htm . They cost almost $3.50 less for 2 shipped to my address. I don't know if 16 guage wire is enough. Personally I would probably take each connector out of the sockets and replace the wire with 14 guage.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

If you are meaning the 3-prong head-light sockets, I have posted the part-number around here in a dozen threads for the NAPA/Echlin ones that I use.

They are pre-wired with 12-AWG wire and the socket is of a much better stuff than what Ford used.

I just went to NAPA and asked for replacement head-light pig-tails for a big truck.

I have a couple sets in boxes around here somewhere; maybe I can find them and get the number.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Before I found the NAPA sockets, on a couple trucks that I did, I carefully removed the terminals from the sockets, carefully opened the crimps, and then crimped/soldered the terminals onto new 12-AWG wires and replaced them into the sockets.

This is a pain-staking slow process that will yield at least one finger a deep puncture wound.


One advantage to doing thus is that the three wires are one continous length, with no splices, making for a much neater job.

But, you still have the original not-so-heavy-duty socket.


Best of both worlds would be to buy the good ones from NAPA and then replace the short pig-tail wires with full-length ones.

 

[rhkcommander]

Thanks a million midnight I'll see if I can sneak over to napa today

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Box is in hand and the number is :


NAPA/ECHLIN # LS6235


I hope I found it before you left for the store.

 

[rhkcommander]

Box is in hand and the number is :


NAPA/ECHLIN # LS6235


I hope I found it before you left for the store.

Yeah i didn't make it

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/DetailSKU.aspx?SKU=ECH+LS6235 , those fit the 9004/7 lamps or for h4? pretty sure im runnin stock 9004s. looks like it would work just making sure, thanks for all the help too !
Hope you all have a good Christmas

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Yeah i didn't make it

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/DetailSKU.aspx?SKU=ECH+LS6235 , those fit the 9004/7 lamps or for h4? pretty sure im runnin stock 9004s. looks like it would work just making sure, thanks for all the help too !
Hope you all have a good Christmas

The sockets I refer to fit all 3-prong SEALED-BEAM bulbs, round or square, such as the 6054s on most of my trucks.

I tend to forget that some trucks don't have genuine sealed-beams, so I am not sure in your case.

 

[adrianspeeder]

How I wire mine up...

You must be registered for see images attach

Adrianspeeder

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Here's a set of 9007's



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CERA...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5ad70f0964

 

[The Warden]

I tend to forget that some trucks don't have genuine sealed-beams, so I am not sure in your case.

I don't have any part numbers, but I believe the sockets are unique to the headlight setup...i.e. your part number will work on '80-'86 trucks with sealed-beams, and a different socket will work on '87-'91 trucks, and IIRC a third different socket is needed for '92-'97 trucks which actually use a different bulb than '87-'91 trucks. If anyone knows the part numbers for the upgraded sockets for the later trucks, it seems to me that would be great to put in the Parts Bin (if the parts aren't already listed)...

One other concern with '87-'97 trucks is, how much bulb wattage can the housings hold? ...IMHO the more powerful the lights, the better, but I don't want to melt the housings, either!

 

[Optikalillushun]

the 9007 and 9004 use the same style socket but its wired different.

 

[rhkcommander]

the 9007 and 9004 use the same style socket but its wired different.

yeah i saw that, i think the ground was switched with the high or low

no seal-beams for me, they look nice butseems like a waste tossing the whole shabang... its probably better idk, thats why i'm here to learn

guess ill hit napa when i get the SOB started (chasing fuel leak, im thinking its before the filter...)

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

no seal-beams for me, they look nice butseems like a waste tossing the whole shabang... its probably better idk, thats why i'm here to learn

I know many of us are simply stuck with whatever type of head-lights that the manufacturer provided and most would have to completely re-design the grille and trim to convert to sealed-beams.


Myself, I very much prefer the old style sealed-beams for several reasons.

The first being that the genuine glass looks good as new thirty years later, not all scratched and cloudy-looking.

Should a stone or other projectile bust the light, it can be replaced good as new, even at Walmart; I have even seen replacement sealed-beams on the shelf in little old country stores.

So far as tossing the whole thing, they are made of melted sand and pose no threat to any environment, if that sort of thing worries anyone.

 

[The Warden]

Sealed beams give you more options on replacement...I've said before, but I'll say again that I'm a BIG fan of my E-code drop-in sealed beam replacements.

The later trucks with the aerodynamic lights don't give you many choices for lens replacement (none at all with '87-'91 trucks ), but they also give you more space between the radiator and the grille for an intercooler, tranny cooler, etc. I still don't see a good way to get an intercooler into an '80-'86 truck while retaining the a/c AND the grille. Actually, I think that 6 Nebraska IDI's is the only one on here who's put an intercooler on an '80-'86 and kept his a/c, and last I checked, that involved eliminating the grille altogether.

Slightly off-topic, but IMHO it's worth thinking about when comparing bulb assemblies on these trucks, since anyone who would consider converting may need to consider this.