Bowtie Brody's Namesake 96 454

[88GMCtruck]

I also noticed you are the only one I've seen running the TYC-ish eBay headlights. What do you think of them? I was pretty impressed with them overall. Their brackets were kinda junk/flimsy but aside from that they are actually made pretty decently including the vent train tube instead of the little sticker like most Chinese lights have.... Plus they managed to make a light that has a good pattern....

 

[Mangonesailor]

What do you see for rpms when running 50-60? Is it in 4th, tcc locked up? 9-10 seems low for a 2500 but like I said the 285s aren't helping, that's a fair size tire for 373s.

Yeah, I'll agree. 285 is a wide tire for a medium final drive gear. Maybe 265 would help. Gotta take into account unsprung weight.

I was getting 12.5-13 after getting the speedo right on 285/75/17's, 10ply, aluminum wheels, and 4.10s. After tuning and letting it actually make power it gets like 8-10.5. But I'm fine with that, it drives so much better now.

 

[Supercharged111]

My dually does 10 empty mixed or hwy, never done empty slow hwy though. That's with 225/75/16 and a 4.10. Surprised the black fox had a 3.73. The 5 speed overdrive was a smidge taller than the auto IIRC.

 

[BNielsen]

I also noticed you are the only one I've seen running the TYC-ish eBay headlights. What do you think of them? I was pretty impressed with them overall. Their brackets were kinda junk/flimsy but aside from that they are actually made pretty decently including the vent train tube instead of the little sticker like most Chinese lights have.... Plus they managed to make a light that has a good pattern....

I love them, my one complaint is that the bases they come with suck so I can't get a good solid adjustment on them.
Between the upgraded housings, 9011/9012, HD harness, and 4Hi kit I don't know if I can ever go back to stock GMT400 lights.

 

[BNielsen]

Yeah, I'll agree. 285 is a wide tire for a medium final drive gear. Maybe 265 would help. Gotta take into account unsprung weight.

I was getting 12.5-13 after getting the speedo right on 285/75/17's, 10ply, aluminum wheels, and 4.10s. After tuning and letting it actually make power it gets like 8-10.5. But I'm fine with that, it drives so much better now.

Honestly if I still get a max of 10 but I have an assload more power I'll take that tradeoff.

I would've gotten 265s but I got a smoking deal on these 285s, and they still have tons of meat left on them so I'll just cope with it and enjoy the low gas prices.

 

[88GMCtruck]

My dually does 10 empty mixed or hwy, never done empty slow hwy though. That's with 225/75/16 and a 4.10. Surprised the black fox had a 3.73. The 5 speed overdrive was a smidge taller than the auto IIRC.

I derped. It has 4.10s I was thinking of my 06.

I love them, my one complaint is that the bases they come with suck so I can't get a good solid adjustment on them.
Between the upgraded housings, 9011/9012, HD harness, and 4Hi kit I don't know if I can ever go back to stock GMT400 lights.

Yeah their brackets were a complete joke IMO. I ended up taking the bracket/adjuster off the OEM light housings and modified the new lights to accept them. They are solid as a rock now.

 

[BNielsen]

I derped. It has 4.10s I was thinking of my 06.


Yeah their brackets were a complete joke IMO. I ended up taking the bracket/adjuster off the OEM light housings and modified the new lights to accept them. They are solid as a rock now.

How did you swap brackets? I have a set of cheap glass lenses I tried swapping over but couldn't figure out how to separate the light from the adjusters;
And went and checked out an LB7 Duramax today; and I can see why you made a change,

 

[88GMCtruck]

How did you swap brackets? I have a set of cheap glass lenses I tried swapping over but couldn't figure out how to separate the light from the adjusters;
And went and checked out an LB7 Duramax today; and I can see why you made a change,

It was a lot of work to get them apart. The OEM headlights I just cut the plastic where they mounted to get them apart, the new headlights I think i backed the adjuster all the way out so it was just the screw part, then cut the tabs free so i didn't break the light. I did have to open up the holes some, and glue a few pieces in to make them tight, but all in all totally worth it, they are rock solid now.

If you looked at an LB7, do yourself a favor and go try out a LBZ. It's even more of a night and day difference.

 

[Supercharged111]

I drove a stock LB7 and wasn't impressed. LBZ must have been a factory sweet spot because the 2015 we had at work wasn't all that great empty. Now the 2016 F450s on the other hand would drag a building down the interstate on the governor I swear. Throttle response on the Fords is vastly superior. That's all in the tune though.

 

[BNielsen]

It was a lot of work to get them apart. The OEM headlights I just cut the plastic where they mounted to get them apart, the new headlights I think i backed the adjuster all the way out so it was just the screw part, then cut the tabs free so i didn't break the light. I did have to open up the holes some, and glue a few pieces in to make them tight, but all in all totally worth it, they are rock solid now.

If you looked at an LB7, do yourself a favor and go try out a LBZ. It's even more of a night and day difference.

I drove a stock LB7 and wasn't impressed. LBZ must have been a factory sweet spot because the 2015 we had at work wasn't all that great empty. Now the 2016 F450s on the other hand would drag a building down the interstate on the governor I swear. Throttle response on the Fords is vastly superior. That's all in the tune though.

I'll have to experiment some with that, I've got a few sets of cheap junk headlights laying around as well as a few OEM lenses and bases

The LB7 is a truck for my dad; he wants to replace the 99 C3500 with something that'll pull our travel trailer without hesitation.