Headlight Upgrade

Dylans95Chevy said:

Shovelbill- Think Im going to go with the same headlights and bulbs as you. I like the output and reviews on the bulbs. I was actually thinking about flush mounting these in the bumper for my fog lights: https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/squadron-pro-amber-flush-mount-led-wide-cornering.asp and if I need more Ill mount a single row led bar in the grill

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If your housings are at the end of their service life, you would be best served with replacement housings. I would seriously recommend a quality relay harness to increase the voltage to the bulbs.

In Shovelbill's case, as was mine, headlight voltage around 11.5V when lit is not adequate. By putting a full 14.4V to the headlights in operation, by addition of a relay system, the increase in bulb output was over 200% more.

If torn between good bulbs ( at the moment ) and a relay harness, I will always pick a relay harness hands down. The Philips bulbs used in his case, were excellent, high efficacy units.

In case the high beams aren't enough with 9005's, move to 2500 lumen 'optically compatible' HIR, requiring minor tab modification, same base, dimensions and plug. GM # 25770739

Baja Designs manufactures great lighting products. I can't say I have direct experience with the wide amber Squadron, but an acquaintance had a pair with a different optic ( 9 degree spot ) in white, on a truck he sold. They were well made, well engineered units.

Micheal hurd- ive already got a heavy duty headlight harness built with 14 gauge wire and 2 relays.

Would new oem housings be just as good as clear aftermarkets?

Dylans95Chevy said:

Shovelbill- Think Im going to go with the same headlights and bulbs as you. I like the output and reviews on the bulbs. I was actually thinking about flush mounting these in the bumper for my fog lights: https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/squadron-pro-amber-flush-mount-led-wide-cornering.asp and if I need more Ill mount a single row led bar in the grill

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i'm very happy with what we accomplished.....and at this point can recommend what i used.

within a weeks time i'll be driving upstate NY and i will get the real world "on the road" verdict....along with accompanying "beam shots" and such.....wait a little while for that.....in the mean time read that whole saga of a thread and i guarantee you'll learn a thing or three.

years back i preferred amber fog lights. i thought them more "soothing" to the eye during rotten driving conditions......not anymore as i learned a little about the science behind lighting....that's michaelhurd's fault....he pointed in the right direction to research on my own...along with his good explanations to questions posed ...no more yellow or amber lights for me.

i searched like a nut before making my choices.....here, there and everyfu@kin where....and most of it is in that thread.....my goal was a proper LEGAL system....and at this juncture i believe we pulled it off.....twas a group effort, narrated by my numb fingers.

what branch of the service are you in?

i just started looking at those BD lights...never heard of them before, cool.....impressed so far.

Dylans95Chevy said:

Micheal hurd- ive already got a heavy duty headlight harness built with 14 gauge wire and 2 relays.

Would new oem housings be just as good as clear aftermarkets?

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Good to hear you have a heavy duty relay harness, very important to minimize the voltage drop.

New, OEM housings are a good idea, they are manufactured to conform to legal standards, are durable, ( hard coat lens ) with quality adjusters. Collision repair aftermarket housings can vary from this quite a bit. I have seen new out of the box units with adjusters that are broken or inoperative. Light emission patterns can range from downright dangerous poor ( like fingers on your hand pattern ) to a large 'hot spot'.

shovelbill- thanks for all the great info! Im ad Air Force.

Michael hurd- I built it using a diagram off of this forum I believe. I can post pictures of it if your interested in seeing it. I was looking at the tyc brand headlights, turn signals and corner lights

Dylans95Chevy said:

shovelbill- thanks for all the great info! Im ad Air Force.

Michael hurd- I built it using a diagram off of this forum I believe. I can post pictures of it if your interested in seeing it. I was looking at the tyc brand headlights, turn signals and corner lights

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thanks for your service....

toward the last few pages of my thread i posted about the quality of the TYC "replacement OEM style fog lights".....that **** couldn't go back to Amazon fast enough..absolute garbage...i can't comment on their headlights as i've never even seen a set, but i'm jaded to that brand now.

perhaps someone that runs them will chime in as to the integrity of them.

No problem. I seen that and have heard about the foglight issues, but ive seen there parking lights and they look good, so headlights may be the same. But may just go with the clear glass ones.

shovelbill said:

the other bad thing about LED's is they don't melt ice and snow in cold climates, they don't get hot enough....unless they're specifically designed to do so.....again, by companies that actually spend money to DESIGN them through a good R&D program.

good lighting will help you navigate safely and give you time to react to obstacles, animals and hazards etc......WITHOUT blinding the **** out of oncoming traffic.....cheap lighting is often copied by the chinashitz and sold at "deep discounts".....the counterfeit industry is alive and well.....and provides you with GARBAGE.

check this out:

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Hey Bill, thanks for posting the video.

shovelbill said:

the other bad thing about LED's is they don't melt ice and snow in cold climates, they don't get hot enough....unless they're specifically designed to do so.....again, by companies that actually spend money to DESIGN them through a good R&D program.

good lighting will help you navigate safely and give you time to react to obstacles, animals and hazards etc......WITHOUT blinding the **** out of oncoming traffic.....cheap lighting is often copied by the chinashitz and sold at "deep discounts".....the counterfeit industry is alive and well.....and provides you with GARBAGE.

check this out:

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Click to expand...

Thanks Bill

drewcrew said:

Hey Bill, thanks for posting the video.

Thanks Bill

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you're quite welcome.....

sharing is caring.....LMFAO