454SS fog lights

^ I'll keep an eye out for ya.

TruckinAin4Sissies said:

^ I'll keep an eye out for ya.

Click to expand...

That's the punch-line to a really bad old joke!

TruckinAin4Sissies said:

^ I'll keep an eye out for ya.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Going to go to the yard on the 1st to see what I can find. Let me know what you find.

88GMCtruck said:

There are two types of fog switches, the horizontal and the vertical one.

One came in the "luxury" Suvs, so Escalade, Denali, z71 and limited tahoes. It sat in the vertical stack, in the lowest of the 3 openings. The Exc luxury (regular stuff) used the horizontal fog lights switch, where the 4wd switch typically is. There are different pigtails for each (both in pinout and in size/shape) however each has the same wire colors and connections.

Exc. luxury (horizontal)

You must be registered for see images attach

Luxury (vertical stack)

You must be registered for see images attach

Factory wiring diagram for later generation GMT400s

You must be registered for see images attach

Click to expand...

Should be most beneficial info, thanks! Just started working on my '96 again and this is one of the projects I need to finish up.

So...an update.
I ended up getting a harness made from the switch to the lights. The lights had some kind of plug (female) & the male end was nowhere to be found on any website or from any auto electrical supplier.
The guy that made the harness supplied matching plugs on the light end of it. Easy swap on the light's plugs.
These repro lights are the same as the factory. The bulbs are replaceable. H4 IIRC.
The lenses are glass. They didn't like the 130w bulbs. Ran so hot, they caused the lenses to explode!
Only way to get those replaceable bulb lights, is to buy a complete set of lights & brackets. Again. $130.00. Uhhhmmm...nope!
Found out that places like Tractor Supply, Princess Auto, Canadian Tire, + others, sell lights that are the exact same size & bolt right into the housings! $20.00. Non-replaceable 55w bulbs. They're bonded to the housings. No way those bulbs were coming out. Bit of wiring to get them to work. No Biggie.
Those got pinged by pebbles over the next year. (Low truck probs! Lol!) Broke the lenses. Bought another set of the $20.00 specials.
Then, one morning on the way to a job, I went through a large intersection (4 lanes each way, same as the cross street) where they had raised up the cross street considerably. Just at the beginning of a rather steep climb.
60mph. Truck raises up to the limit of the suspension over the cross street rise, fully compresses on the downside, & before it can settle back to ride height, I catch the valance, lights & the lower part of the bumper on the transition from the bottom of the bump to the beginning of the hill. In the bottom of that big dip.
Everything from the bumper down is smashed, trashed & busted to all to hell.
Damn!
So...the non-fog valance is back on.
Managed to save the fog light brackets. They got a bit twisted, but not so bad that they couldn't be salvaged.
Kept the broken valance. It'll be a pattern for the F/L holes.
Now, I'm looking for some 2 row X 3 light LEDs.

The bulbs in them are H3 bulbs, H4 is a dual filament Hi/Low and much larger.

There are a few options for the lights in the US, all with removable bulbs. OEM replacements are slightly better as they have bulb shields. A lot of the GM cars of the 90s era also used them.

OEM style
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Fog-Light-Driving-Lamp-Driver-or-Passenger-Side-Chevy-Olds-S-10-BLAZER-RH-LH-/231848206335?fits=Model:98&hash=item35fb3adfff:g:AwIAAOSwCGVX6nqf&vxp=mtr

Aftermarket ones that bolt in, replaceable bulb. Glass is usually thinner on these though plus no sheild.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-4X4-OFF-R...ash=item19dbca0c36:g:hxwAAOxy3yNTjSRw&vxp=mtr

Ahhh...H3's. It's been a while!
Thanks, Dave.
Still thinking about an upgrade to the LEDs, though. Just don't know if they'll look right or not.
Probably better light output than the factory fogs, as they're just that...fogs.
Low wide beam.
When I do get around to doing the LEDs, I'll probably get one spot & one fog. They'll both be on at the same time, so that'll provide a nice wide light for up-close, with the reach of a spot thrown in.

Not really impressed with the new LED headlight bulbs I installed.
They're bright for sure, but very scattered. No definite cut-off. No real real 'reach' on the distance, though.
Had a few people flash me with mine on low.
So, I guess I'm 'that guy', now. Damnit!
They shut their H/beams down right quick when I give it back to them with the 4-hi!
But, they're just not what I was hoping they'd be.

sewlow said:

Ahhh...H3's. It's been a while!
Thanks, Dave.
Still thinking about an upgrade to the LEDs, though. Just don't know if they'll look right or not.
Probably better light output than the factory fogs, as they're just that...fogs.
Low wide beam.
When I do get around to doing the LEDs, I'll probably get one spot & one fog. They'll both be on at the same time, so that'll provide a nice wide light for up-close, with the reach of a spot thrown in.

Not really impressed with the new LED headlight bulbs I installed.
They're bright for sure, but very scattered. No definite cut-off. No real real 'reach' on the distance, though.
Had a few people flash me with mine on low.
So, I guess I'm 'that guy', now. Damnit!
They shut their H/beams down right quick when I give it back to them with the 4-hi!
But, they're just not what I was hoping they'd be.

Click to expand...

Reflector housings only work with the bulb designed for it, period. Yes, you can physically jam a different bulb in there, but it won't work properly.

There is only ONE focal point, similar to a satellite dish. Slide the LNB in or out a few mm and see what happens to your signal.

HID's have a crescent shaped arc between the electrodes, compared to a filament.

HIR's are an acceptable alternative to 9005/9006 bulbs, with identical dimensions to 9005/9006, although the base requires a modification to the keying, in order to be installed in housings for 9005/9006.

sewlow said:

Ahhh...H3's. It's been a while!
Thanks, Dave.
Still thinking about an upgrade to the LEDs, though. Just don't know if they'll look right or not.
Probably better light output than the factory fogs, as they're just that...fogs.
Low wide beam.
When I do get around to doing the LEDs, I'll probably get one spot & one fog. They'll both be on at the same time, so that'll provide a nice wide light for up-close, with the reach of a spot thrown in.

Not really impressed with the new LED headlight bulbs I installed.
They're bright for sure, but very scattered. No definite cut-off. No real real 'reach' on the distance, though.
Had a few people flash me with mine on low.
So, I guess I'm 'that guy', now. Damnit!
They shut their H/beams down right quick when I give it back to them with the 4-hi!
But, they're just not what I was hoping they'd be.

Click to expand...

Yeah. A lot of the aftermarket LED pod lights are super scattered unless you get high-end brands that are actually rated... I've been wanting to install my factory fogs on the dually and just haven't done it yet, I wanted a LED bulb for them but there aren't anything I've liked so I'll probably go with a HID in the H3C factor (very small bulb) as there isn't much room in the housings. My 88 I just drilled a hole in the housings.

michael hurd said:

Reflector housings only work with the bulb designed for it, period. Yes, you can physically jam a different bulb in there, but it won't work properly.

There is only ONE focal point, similar to a satellite dish. Slide the LNB in or out a few mm and see what happens to your signal.

HID's have a crescent shaped arc between the electrodes, compared to a filament.

HIR's are an acceptable alternative to 9005/9006 bulbs, with identical dimensions to 9005/9006, although the base requires a modification to the keying, in order to be installed in housings for 9005/9006.

Click to expand...

It's true, although with there are also some products that work better than others, combined with the fact most DOT lighting (at least in the era of these trucks) is pretty cruddy to begin with.

I will say the combination of the TYC elegante headlights with HID lows and LED highs works well in my truck. I don't get flashed. The pattern i have currently is much more crisp and accurate than my OEM housings and halogens.

Same goes for the HID setup in my 88 with Bosch E-code H4 housings.

I've always had good luck with 9006/9005 HIDs as they can get pretty close to the correct focal point. My LED highbeams have adjustable depth sot he focal point was adjusted - granted they are high beams so they are adjusted for max light not pattern.

88GMCtruck said:

Yeah. A lot of the aftermarket LED pod lights are super scattered unless you get high-end brands that are actually rated... I've been wanting to install my factory fogs on the dually and just haven't done it yet, I wanted a LED bulb for them but there aren't anything I've liked so I'll probably go with a HID in the H3C factor (very small bulb) as there isn't much room in the housings. My 88 I just drilled a hole in the housings.


It's true, although with there are also some products that work better than others, combined with the fact most DOT lighting (at least in the era of these trucks) is pretty cruddy to begin with.

I will say the combination of the TYC elegante headlights with HID lows and LED highs works well in my truck. I don't get flashed. The pattern i have currently is much more crisp and accurate than my OEM housings and halogens.

Same goes for the HID setup in my 88 with Bosch E-code H4 housings.

I've always had good luck with 9006/9005 HIDs as they can get pretty close to the correct focal point. My LED highbeams have adjustable depth sot he focal point was adjusted - granted they are high beams so they are adjusted for max light not pattern.

Click to expand...

Bigger is better in terms of optics and reflectors. A small light source, optimally placed with an accurate reflector, and a proper lens will outperform a larger light source with less than optimal reflector and lens.

No matter what I did to the lights on my 1993 Caprice, they sucked hard core. I had Heliolite 80/100 bulbs, relays to boost the voltage and had polished the lenses.

I have had older Honda's with composite lights that were absolutely fantastic, Stanley has been their lighting supplier for many, many years now. My newer Civic has 9005/9006 halogens and they absolutely blow away the same bulbs in my GMT400, as far as pattern and performance per watt goes.

It really is a crap shoot what we are given by vehicle manufacturers.