Lighting upgrade time.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: High Ridge, MO
Lighting upgrade time.
OK, I'll admit it. I am getting older and cant see at night as well as I used too. I sometimes take extended trips and push my eyes even further when I do.
I have a 96 sport. This means I beat the typical sport light by a year in production. I only have a single hi/low lamp in my housings. And factory fogs all have been externally refinished to damn near new condition. And its still not enough. Other cars behind/beside mine seem to actually cast the shadow of my truck into my lights beams. On coming traffic seeming to drowned my lighting to near nothing sometimes. High beams are no problem Those seem super bright its the lows that get me down.
So question is bang for buck or lack of many spare bucks what are my options. New bulbs? Whats safe for the wiring? Are there better mostly legal ways to add more intense low beam driving/fog lights/bulbs?
I did read the half dozen or so similar thread from a ways back first but still had a few questions.
I have a couple ideas but what to see what other have to say first.
Thanks
JJ
I have a 96 sport. This means I beat the typical sport light by a year in production. I only have a single hi/low lamp in my housings. And factory fogs all have been externally refinished to damn near new condition. And its still not enough. Other cars behind/beside mine seem to actually cast the shadow of my truck into my lights beams. On coming traffic seeming to drowned my lighting to near nothing sometimes. High beams are no problem Those seem super bright its the lows that get me down.
So question is bang for buck or lack of many spare bucks what are my options. New bulbs? Whats safe for the wiring? Are there better mostly legal ways to add more intense low beam driving/fog lights/bulbs?
I did read the half dozen or so similar thread from a ways back first but still had a few questions.
I have a couple ideas but what to see what other have to say first.
Thanks
JJ
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: High Ridge, MO
That would be an option Charlie but my fun tickets wont let me have that much fun ...lol
Though I am thinking for the compared price that they ask for the silverstars or ultras. I should maybe give em a go.
I found a few non typical replacement options on this page.
http://www.autolights4less.com/9004-...9004-bulb.html
Though I am thinking for the compared price that they ask for the silverstars or ultras. I should maybe give em a go.
I found a few non typical replacement options on this page.
http://www.autolights4less.com/9004-...9004-bulb.html
I run Silverstars and am not all that impressed. You can buy Cyberwhite type bulbs for under twenty bucks a pair on ebay. I have CWs in my driving lights and they outshine my Silverstars.
I will be converting to CW type bulbs when I replace my headlight housings.
I will be converting to CW type bulbs when I replace my headlight housings.
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,055
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From: Lee County, North Carolina
how old are your current bulbs? halogen bulbs have filiments in them and over time they wear out. since you run the lows a lot more than the highs, they are going to wear out first. if the bulbs are more than a few years old then i say just replacing the bulbs ought to be good enough.
i used to have a set of nighthawk bulbs and they were pretty bright, then i switched to a set of hella's and they're just a hair brighter. i still want brighter though because i want it to look like daylight coming off the front of my truck, you can look at my sig and see that i like lights.
the silverstar ultra's are said to be the brightest bulbs you can buy and i used to have a set on my thunderbird and my sisters cirrus and they were pretty nice. so if you are going to upgrade the bulbs then you're looking at silverstar ultras, hella, nighthawk, or Cyberwhite. if you go through ebay then don't let the sellers decieve you with color temp. 4000k is the whitest/brightest light, 2000k is the cheapo halogens and they're kind of yellow, 8500k has a blue tint and isn't as bright, 12000k is purple and is even dimmer. the further you get from a 4000k bulb, the dimmer and more colorful it will be.
i used to have a set of nighthawk bulbs and they were pretty bright, then i switched to a set of hella's and they're just a hair brighter. i still want brighter though because i want it to look like daylight coming off the front of my truck, you can look at my sig and see that i like lights.
the silverstar ultra's are said to be the brightest bulbs you can buy and i used to have a set on my thunderbird and my sisters cirrus and they were pretty nice. so if you are going to upgrade the bulbs then you're looking at silverstar ultras, hella, nighthawk, or Cyberwhite. if you go through ebay then don't let the sellers decieve you with color temp. 4000k is the whitest/brightest light, 2000k is the cheapo halogens and they're kind of yellow, 8500k has a blue tint and isn't as bright, 12000k is purple and is even dimmer. the further you get from a 4000k bulb, the dimmer and more colorful it will be.
Get some Silverstar Ultras
Build an upgraded headlight harness (Also do this with fog lights)
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-write-up.html
You could also get some Hella 500 lights and pu them behind your grille
Eventualy get some 99-01 Sport headlights.
Build an upgraded headlight harness (Also do this with fog lights)
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-write-up.html
You could also get some Hella 500 lights and pu them behind your grille
Eventualy get some 99-01 Sport headlights.
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From: High Ridge, MO
I don't know and that's really a good point.
Why would I need to rebuild/upgrade a harness for regular factory replacements exactly? Would this give me more light/power than stock.
Or is this tip meant for use with HIDs
Lights behind the grill are legal in situations driving on road with low beams?
Really thanks for all those recommendations keep them coming.
Get some Silverstar Ultras
Build an upgraded headlight harness (Also do this with fog lights)
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-write-up.html
You could also get some Hella 500 lights and pu them behind your grille
Eventualy get some 99-01 Sport headlights.
Build an upgraded headlight harness (Also do this with fog lights)
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-write-up.html
You could also get some Hella 500 lights and pu them behind your grille
Eventualy get some 99-01 Sport headlights.
Or is this tip meant for use with HIDs
Lights behind the grill are legal in situations driving on road with low beams?
Really thanks for all those recommendations keep them coming.
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I would say go to WalMart, get yourself one or two sets of $20 fog lights and hide them inside the grill. That way you don't mess up the lines of your truck and you will get really bright lights. I was amazed how bright these $20 fogs really are, and if you get two sets, you will really light up the road. Cheap price and easy install. I got the 4" lights, but they do sell some 2" with the same bulb so I would think it would light up the same. They also have oval lights and square lights which you could stick in your bumper opening if you like.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
I hate to disagree with Purple (yeah right 
), but do not get SilverStars. Sylvania is in the business of making junk now-a-days.
Here is what I posted in a previous thread on the subject back in April:
), but do not get SilverStars. Sylvania is in the business of making junk now-a-days.Here is what I posted in a previous thread on the subject back in April:
Its obviously your choice, but Sylvania bulbs are junk IMO. I've tried their Ultras, their normal SilverStars, and their regular bulbs. All have failed me within a year, and none were much brighter than stock. They were a bit whiter, sure, but at stock wattage, white/blue/purple/etc. usually doesn't do any better than stocks, and has been known to actually be worse. (I am talking about normal halogen bulbs in our stock housings, not HIDs or halogen projectors.)
For everything except my headlights and fogs, I use GE bulbs. GE Nighthawk and Philips TrueVision, IIRC, are the best bulbs out there. Last time I checked, every article that compared the three companies said that GE and Philips outperformed the Sylvanias, and are about the same price.
I personally have tried all three bulbs, and if you prefer the stock yellow bulb color, you can't go wrong with Nighthawks made by GE, or TrueVisions (at least, thats what they used to be called) by Philips. O'Reillys usually carries both, or at least they used to around here.
If you prefer a whiter light (I do not recommend blue), want higher wattage bulbs, and you can find them, I run Nokya fogs (100w) and Eurolite 100w/80w high/low headlight bulbs. They are a nice white color without going to blue at all. If you run higher than normal wattage bulbs like I do, though, you will have to find HD bulb harnesses. I also recommend wiring the bulbs off of relays attached directly to the battery, as high wattage bulbs will burn up your headlight switch. If you don't run HD harnesses, you may melt your plastic ones because the stock wires are barely adequate for stock wattage, let alone more. Eurolites are made by Toucan industries, which is well known for making good bulbs. Nokya bulbs are OK... if I get a chance, I will replace them, because they aren't as white as I'd like. They just haven't burnt out yet or should any sign they will any time soon, so no excuse to change them yet.
There is also, of course, the HID conversion route.
The GEs are my favorite regular bulbs for turn signal bulbs, stop lamp bulbs, etc. They seem brighter than stockers, and I have had a set of GE tail lamp bulbs since 1 month of ownership on the truck, which is coming up on two years now, no problems. I don't know if Philips makes regular auto bulbs, I can't find them in my area if they do.
For everything except my headlights and fogs, I use GE bulbs. GE Nighthawk and Philips TrueVision, IIRC, are the best bulbs out there. Last time I checked, every article that compared the three companies said that GE and Philips outperformed the Sylvanias, and are about the same price.
I personally have tried all three bulbs, and if you prefer the stock yellow bulb color, you can't go wrong with Nighthawks made by GE, or TrueVisions (at least, thats what they used to be called) by Philips. O'Reillys usually carries both, or at least they used to around here.
If you prefer a whiter light (I do not recommend blue), want higher wattage bulbs, and you can find them, I run Nokya fogs (100w) and Eurolite 100w/80w high/low headlight bulbs. They are a nice white color without going to blue at all. If you run higher than normal wattage bulbs like I do, though, you will have to find HD bulb harnesses. I also recommend wiring the bulbs off of relays attached directly to the battery, as high wattage bulbs will burn up your headlight switch. If you don't run HD harnesses, you may melt your plastic ones because the stock wires are barely adequate for stock wattage, let alone more. Eurolites are made by Toucan industries, which is well known for making good bulbs. Nokya bulbs are OK... if I get a chance, I will replace them, because they aren't as white as I'd like. They just haven't burnt out yet or should any sign they will any time soon, so no excuse to change them yet.
There is also, of course, the HID conversion route.
The GEs are my favorite regular bulbs for turn signal bulbs, stop lamp bulbs, etc. They seem brighter than stockers, and I have had a set of GE tail lamp bulbs since 1 month of ownership on the truck, which is coming up on two years now, no problems. I don't know if Philips makes regular auto bulbs, I can't find them in my area if they do.
