I'd like to get some brighter light output from my headlights since the stock 9006 bulbs suck big time.

I found these: http://www.carid.com/1995-dodge-dako...-60072427.html

The site description says that they are a replacement for the sealed beam units. I know that the Gen 1s were upgraded from the sealed beam to housing that took the 9006 bulbs.

Does anyone know if these units will still be able to fit despite that? If not, is there extra hardware I can pickup to make the switch back to sealed beam style housings?

Are there any other suggestions for better light output aside from just popping in an HID kit? (an option I am not really found of due to the potential for beam pattern to be off)

 

You can retrofit the sealed beams, but it'll take new headlight covers, a different wiring harness, and the buckets to fit the sealed beams.

Have you tried cleaning the lens to where it's clear (not smooth clear, but not-fogged not-yellowed clear) first? If not, maybe new headlight assemblies might help first. Edit: RockAuto does list'em, http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/d...assembly,10762

Second is to replace the current wiring with a relay harness of a heavier gauge wire, so that there's more voltage to run the lights (causing them to be brighter). Something like this Putco unit (note: I link to this because it shows what I'm talking about; you don't have to buy the Putco itself.)
Third, if you don't mind changing a bit more often, there's higher output bulbs like the Sylvania ZXe and UltraStar bulbs. They're brighter, but don't last as long. (I'm at 2 years on the ones in my 4666 retrofit housings on my 1988, though, so ...)

Fourth, if you've never changed the bulbs - halogen bulbs get dimmer with age, and need to be changed before they burn out to maximize the output. If yours are factory, you probably have fogged headlights being backlit by dim bulbs *grins*

(I tried those retrofits - they suck, no aim, no beam pattern at all worth mentioning, and the 4666 headlamps were better for seeing down the road.)

RwP

 

Thanks for the feedback Ralph.

The bulbs are (almost) brand new. I got a pair of the off the shelf Sylvania from Wallmart. (pretty sure they were a pair of the UltraStar.)
Popping in the new bulbs was one of the first things I did when I bought the truck back in September because of the above said reason. I also tried one of the lens defog/cleanup kits, but the are still kinda nasty looking.

I guess I might be looking at some OEM replacements from Rock Auto. (was checking those out before I made the original post here)

As for the relay Harness, I figured that would have been part of doing a retrofit anyways, so I'll probably do that as well and see where it gets me. Come down to deciding if I want to pay for a premade one, or make one myself if I can find the components cheap enough to make it worth while.

 

Get rid of the Sylvania bulbs and install something like some Wagner or Hella bulbs. Sylvania bulbs are garbage for light output, I've tried them in a couple vehicles, they always end up being worse than the factory bulbs.

An HID kit can be a very good option (the only option I use now), they produce far more light and you can easily adjust your headlights to keep the beam where it belongs.

That's my

 

Ndr...my 92 Dak had severe lens oxidation from sitting seven years awaiting a donor engine. I tried all the other home made remedies, but nothing worked. So, I tried the Mequeirs "Heavy Duty" Headlight Restoration Kit...30 bucks at Advance Auto. It comes with 1000 and 3000 grit finishing disks and sanding pad, PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish, a buffing pad that attaches to any drill, headlight protectant you use after cleaning and a microfiber towel. Worked great and now I can drive at night!