Bright lights??????

[eastsideauto]

I seem to remember reading something about wiring some relays into the headlights. Will this help with the pathetically weak bright lights that I have? My brights do shine brighter than the lows but they are both pitiful.

 

[The Warden]

It'll help in that you'll get full voltage to the light bulbs, which will make the bulbs brighter. However, that's only one part of the equation...an equally important question is, what shape is the lens on your housings in? If the lens is yellowed and/or dull, that'll rob a LOT of light from the bulbs, even if they're putting out as much light as possible.

It's possible to sand down the lenses and get them smooth and close to clear, but IMHO you'll be time and money ahead if you replace the housings. Also, I'd recommend a headlight film like this: http://www.autoanything.com/lights/60A1218A0A0.aspx (they have one that fits the OBS trucks) for the new housings...you may need to replace the film every few years, but the lenses underneath should stay good as new

 

[thx997303]

Yes, the relays allow full voltage to the headlights, and preclude flashing ford headlights, and smoking the headlight switch.

Im going to be doing this soon. Got a drawer full of relays.

 

[whiteboyslo]

LMC truck sells a 'plug and play' kit that adds the relays. Some have had issues with the relays in their kit, but I've had mine on for over a year with no issue.

If you're serious about more light, you may want to look into HID conversions for your truck. There are replacement headlights for OBS trucks on eBay that give you the correct projector housing needed to properly install HIDs. Some of them are a bit gaudy, but others aren't too bad, and you really cannot do better than HID. I just wish someone offered something for bricknoses, but oh well......

Mike

 

[gandalf]

I seem to remember reading something about wiring some relays into the headlights. Will this help with the pathetically weak bright lights that I have? My brights do shine brighter than the lows but they are both pitiful.

There is a link in the TECH ARTICLES for this.

BRIGHTER BRIGHTS

 

[thx997303]

I have an issue with that write up. He suggests attaching 14 gauge wire to pre-existing 18 gauge wire in the headlight connectors, then running a 20 amp fuse. There is no point to the fuse if you follow this route. The 18 gauge wire will act as a fusible link and burn long before that 20 amp fuse will pop. The highest rated amperage I've seen claimed for 18 ga stranded wire was 13 amp. Of course the headlights should only pull about 10 ish amps on high beams.

That method could be used, but it isn't one that I would recommend. It could start fires, though it's not likely. His option #3 of removing the original pins and soldering your new 14 ga wires to them is the only one of his suggestions that I would use.

As an aside, the beer fixation is annoying. But that's not technical.

Now, what interesting thing could I use a relay with an 87a spade for? Power some running lights or something like that maybe? For some reason, all of my relays are ones with 87 and 87a lugs.