Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

Headlight Upgrade

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 10:40 AM
  #1  
little_93_pickup's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
Headlight Upgrade

Got the H4 headlight upgrade for Christmas, it was a little bit of a pain to put in. Had to take the pushbar and grille off to get them in, but totally worth it. Looks alot cleaner with the new lights. First of many upgrades to come.



Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 10:45 AM
  #2  
drmix's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Graham, WA
Where did you get your lights from? What bulbs are you running?
The H4 conversion is on my list of things to do
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 10:48 AM
  #3  
little_93_pickup's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
Originally Posted by drmix
Where did you get your lights from? What bulbs are you running?
I actually got them off ebay and I'm running the bulbs that came in them and their pretty good.. I was looking at the Delta conversion kit that Quadratec sells, those come with Xenon bulbs. http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_120.htm
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 11:13 AM
  #4  
aa1911's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 3
From: Western Washington
x2 on details please!

I just had a bad experience with hidnation.com, they sent me damaged ballasts.... ate a big one there, can't send 'em back.... just an fyi

and where's the pics? let's see your install! I'm about to do mine finally.... wanna see as many as I can...
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 12:01 PM
  #5  
little_93_pickup's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
I forgot to take pictures when I was installing it. But it's really straight forward. Just watch when your taking the grille off (the clips are very fragile), you push them down and it will free the grille. Then theres 4 screws holding the headlights in. When you put the grille back on, I found that putting the clips on the grille and just pushing the grille on, is easier than trying to line up the little clips.
Reply
Old Jan 1, 2011 | 10:52 PM
  #6  
RobD's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, AB
Throw a pair of PIAA Xtreme White or Intense White bulbs in the meantime.

http://www.piaa.com/Bulbs/Bulbs-H4.html
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 07:18 AM
  #7  
shaeff's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 912
Likes: 9
From: Hudson Valley, NY
First step should be to do a proper headlight rewire if you're staying halogen. If you're going HID, then you bought the wrong housings.

After a proper rewire using at least 12awg wire, get some good bulbs. Stay away from Sylvania Silverstars. They suck.

Osram Nighbreaker +90 are good, PIAA are good, and a few others. Check out http://danielsternlighting.com
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 01:40 PM
  #8  
aa1911's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 3
From: Western Washington
I'm working on a rewire harness right now, I'm going to order some H4 connectors from www.autolumination.com, they have good prices on some of their stuff, check out there site for bulbs too. I plan on using the connectors so I can keep the OEM wiring as is for now... 4crawler has the wiring diagram for their harness on their site, that along with the wiring diagram for your specific model/year will make it fairly simple.

there's tons for sale though already made up, most are plug and play
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 01:52 PM
  #9  
Rerunn's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Opelika,AL
Im curious about the H4 upgrade. When you do this, the plug for the factory style lights must be removed and the H$ style must be tied in to perform this. correct? let me know if im wrong
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 02:52 PM
  #10  
xxxtreme22r's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 13,574
Likes: 72
From: Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA
no the h4 and factory plugs are the same, only time you should upgrade the plug is if your converting to a higher wattage bulb like a 100W/85W over the 65W/55W. This would also almost require the headlight wiring harness upgrade.
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 06:02 PM
  #11  
hunter4runner's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 208
Likes: 1
From: Statesboro or Loganville, GA
BTW in your sig its a 3vz-e not fe, fe is 4 valves per cyl and came in cars
Reply
Old Jan 2, 2011 | 06:51 PM
  #12  
Rerunn's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Opelika,AL
Alright thanks xxxtreme22r.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 03:47 AM
  #13  
findley's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
AA1911 can you post up the diagram you used
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 07:50 AM
  #14  
iamsuperbleeder's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,248
Likes: 33
From: Lake City, Fl
it's hard to tell, but those look like the conversion lights I had a bad experience with

2 months after installing them, they both started to fog up, and one started to rust inside from condensation...



Name:  IMG_3812Custom.jpg
Views: 2015
Size:  82.5 KB

Name:  IMG_3811Custom.jpg
Views: 2007
Size:  82.2 KB



I ended up spending about double what I paid for those for a GOOD set

Name:  IMG_3815Custom.jpg
Views: 2140
Size:  81.1 KB

Name:  IMG00257-20100203-1951Custom.jpg
Views: 2016
Size:  59.4 KB

Last edited by iamsuperbleeder; Jan 3, 2011 at 07:52 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 09:59 AM
  #15  
little_93_pickup's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
Originally Posted by shaeff
First step should be to do a proper headlight rewire if you're staying halogen. If you're going HID, then you bought the wrong housings.

After a proper rewire using at least 12awg wire, get some good bulbs. Stay away from Sylvania Silverstars. They suck.

Osram Nighbreaker +90 are good, PIAA are good, and a few others. Check out http://danielsternlighting.com
just a random question but why should i do a headlight rewiring? never heard of having to do one.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 10:04 AM
  #16  
4Crawler's Avatar
Contributing Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,821
Likes: 34
From: SF Bay Area, CA
Originally Posted by little_93_pickup
just a random question but why should i do a headlight rewiring? never heard of having to do one.
Simple test of operating voltage will tell you the condition of your stock wiring:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ml#VoltageTest



If seeing more than about 0.5 volt drop to the headlights, improved wiring may increase light output.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 10:09 AM
  #17  
little_93_pickup's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Wayne, NJ
makes sense now.. thanks.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 01:34 PM
  #18  
drmix's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Graham, WA
Originally Posted by iamsuperbleeder
it's hard to tell, but those look like the conversion lights I had a bad experience with

2 months after installing them, they both started to fog up, and one started to rust inside from condensation...









I ended up spending about double what I paid for those for a GOOD set



What bulbs are you running? They look pretty sick
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 01:56 PM
  #19  
shaeff's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 912
Likes: 9
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Even with good stock wiring, the upgrade to 12 or 10awg will be eye opening. Most factory cars skimp out big-time on headlight wiring.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2011 | 02:52 PM
  #20  
iamsuperbleeder's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,248
Likes: 33
From: Lake City, Fl
Originally Posted by drmix
What bulbs are you running? They look pretty sick
those are actually just some cheap APC H4 bulbs I had laying around

but, that's with a custom made headlight and fog light re-wire and upgrade



Name:  IMG00210-20100118-1649.jpg
Views: 2000
Size:  502.7 KB
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:44 AM.