I would like to replace my sealed beams on my '66.
Is it OK to install halogen sealed beams without adding relays ect.?
I do very little night driving but the originals (one still has FOMOCO on it) sealed beams are a little dim.
I was looking at Sylvania Xtravision H6024 65/55W at the local AutoZoo.
Headlight Question.
Yep, that is an excellent choice. If you look up the data, you'll find that the Xtravision takes about the same wattage as the old sealed beams. So its no more likely to overlad the wiring than the old sealed beams.
There have been posts about halogen lights being bad. I think there might be some truth to that if you put in the "euro" style lights that take a bulb inside, and then swapped in a higher wattage bulb. But a H6024 bulb was designed to replicate the design specs of the 6024 sealed beams -- same wattage.
HOWEVER: The wiring design in our trucks was poor from the get go and only got worse through the years. Connections get corroded which results in resistance and voltage drops. Worst case scenario is resistance in the swtich contacts which creates heat --- that leads to more corrossion and damage and a worsening cycle.
Absent putting in relays, carefully going through the system and cleaning contacts, makeing sure all the wire has good insulation, using some dielectric grease when re-assembing all help.
There have been posts about halogen lights being bad. I think there might be some truth to that if you put in the "euro" style lights that take a bulb inside, and then swapped in a higher wattage bulb. But a H6024 bulb was designed to replicate the design specs of the 6024 sealed beams -- same wattage.
HOWEVER: The wiring design in our trucks was poor from the get go and only got worse through the years. Connections get corroded which results in resistance and voltage drops. Worst case scenario is resistance in the swtich contacts which creates heat --- that leads to more corrossion and damage and a worsening cycle.
Absent putting in relays, carefully going through the system and cleaning contacts, makeing sure all the wire has good insulation, using some dielectric grease when re-assembing all help.
1965 F-100 240 Autolite 1101, Disk brake dual master upgraded, swapped over to C4 and powersteering. Bought by my Dad new in March 65'
Planned/considered upgrades:
Perhaps power brakes, 300 I6 motor and JUST maybe, AC!
Planned/considered upgrades:
Perhaps power brakes, 300 I6 motor and JUST maybe, AC!
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fmartin_gila
- Posts: 1021
- Joined: April 21, 2007, 9:58 am
- Location: Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Philippines
I slapped halogens in my '66 way back when, without any extra relays & such. The worked fine for me. 
My "Slickitis" affliction began here...
66 F100 CC/65 F100 CC/66 F250 CC
If it starts to rain, they'll tax the splash.
If you want to fish, they'll tax the bass.
If you plant a yard, they'll tax the grass.
If you don't play nice, they'll fine your *$#!
66 F100 CC/65 F100 CC/66 F250 CC
If it starts to rain, they'll tax the splash.
If you want to fish, they'll tax the bass.
If you plant a yard, they'll tax the grass.
If you don't play nice, they'll fine your *$#!
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blackagatha
- Posts: 2582
- Joined: March 10, 2007, 12:49 am
- Location: Arizona
the way I understand it, the halogens (maybe not all, but most) take more juice, and due to resistance from the system wind up being even dimmer than the originals.
DO THE RELAY CONVERSION. I did it on my truck and was astounded. Dont bother trying to clean all the connections on the original harness. NO MATTER WHAT, IT IS STILL ONLY 16GA WIRE.... IT SUCKS.
I ran 12 GA thru the relays, straight off the alternator, and a 10GA ground wire from the lights to truck. The original wiring becomes just a signal wire, can be in relatively crappy condition.
DO THE RELAY CONVERSION. I did it on my truck and was astounded. Dont bother trying to clean all the connections on the original harness. NO MATTER WHAT, IT IS STILL ONLY 16GA WIRE.... IT SUCKS.
I ran 12 GA thru the relays, straight off the alternator, and a 10GA ground wire from the lights to truck. The original wiring becomes just a signal wire, can be in relatively crappy condition.
'63 with 390 & lots of juice. But never enough. Always want more.
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crewzinforabrewzin
- Posts: 93
- Joined: September 4, 2007, 1:43 am
- Location: Oregon
i got some hella h-4's . first time i tried them one was pretty brite but that dont say much. my old lites were like driving with candels. the other h-4 was real dim, just a enuff glow to see it was on. headlite switch got hot and the headltes went out after about 10minutes. then i rewired all the headlite wiring under the hood from the firewall to the head lites, with 12 gauge wire , dual relays, fuses, and new pigtails. now ilght up about a mile stretch of road like it was daytime with my brites. maybe not a mile but seems like it. low beams are pretty brite to, brighter then my old highs by a long shot. about 3 months i have had only one person flash me, he was swerving into my lane a bit so not sure if he was givin me a heads up that something was in the road or what. so even though h-4,s are'nt highway legal as long as i hit the low beams a bit earlier then usual i dont think i will bother other drivers with them...... though it is fun now turning my highs on the people who brite me.
if your stock lites are like i bet they are you real should do a bit of up grading. i got a good price on the hellas i believe i had wire, relays and fuse blocks cost about 15$.in all i spent not much over 100$ for evry thing. it was the most rewarding 100 bucks ever spent. i realy think that was the biggest saftey upgrade money can buy. i will take them lites over brakes any day or should i say nite
if your stock lites are like i bet they are you real should do a bit of up grading. i got a good price on the hellas i believe i had wire, relays and fuse blocks cost about 15$.in all i spent not much over 100$ for evry thing. it was the most rewarding 100 bucks ever spent. i realy think that was the biggest saftey upgrade money can buy. i will take them lites over brakes any day or should i say nite
CONCIEVED IN DADS CHEVY BUT WILL DIE IN GPRAMPS FORD
Hella H-4 are rated at 100/80 watts meaning they draw 100 watts at high beam.
Clearly, if you are going to do something like that, you must rewire.
Standard "halogen" bulbs that you get for $8 or so draw the same as stock, possibly a little LESS!
This topic repeats about once a year. Do a search -- last time I actually researched it in more detail, with links and exact data from Sylvania's own website.
Clearly, if you are going to do something like that, you must rewire.
Standard "halogen" bulbs that you get for $8 or so draw the same as stock, possibly a little LESS!
This topic repeats about once a year. Do a search -- last time I actually researched it in more detail, with links and exact data from Sylvania's own website.
1965 F-100 240 Autolite 1101, Disk brake dual master upgraded, swapped over to C4 and powersteering. Bought by my Dad new in March 65'
Planned/considered upgrades:
Perhaps power brakes, 300 I6 motor and JUST maybe, AC!
Planned/considered upgrades:
Perhaps power brakes, 300 I6 motor and JUST maybe, AC!
Figured I would add this tidbit of info for anyone doing the relay setup.
In the headlight harness on our 66 there were factory plug connectors where the high&low beam wires split from one wire to two wires to go to the headlights.
One connector was a few inches behind the other about midway in the harness if I remember correctly.
Not sure if this is true on all years but it made for a clean place to tie in for the relay command wires.
In the headlight harness on our 66 there were factory plug connectors where the high&low beam wires split from one wire to two wires to go to the headlights.
One connector was a few inches behind the other about midway in the harness if I remember correctly.
Not sure if this is true on all years but it made for a clean place to tie in for the relay command wires.
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blackagatha
- Posts: 2582
- Joined: March 10, 2007, 12:49 am
- Location: Arizona