Finally have a headlight out. Looking for upgrade recommendations

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oldmansmonte

G-Body Guru
Oct 29, 2010
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348
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Buffalo, NY
'85 Monte Carlo Base coupe

After 12 years I finally have a headlight out. Still has the original style sealed beams. I know technology has grown in recent years and I'm wondering what people recommend? I'm leaning towards Dixie's H4 conversion kit. Let me know what's worked for you in the comments. Thanks in advance.
 

random_farmhick

Apprentice
Dec 13, 2020
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I don't have them installed yet, but have mikes montes h4 kit(probably the same kit). I would like to go led, but my issue with many led lights is they have a horrible pattern and cutoff, so while you can see good, the person coming at you is blinded...
 
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pagrunt

Geezer
Sep 14, 2014
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Pricey but I'd suggest Hella's 003177862 H4 hi/low conversion bulbs (Summit $51.99 each) & 003177821 H1 hi conversion bulbs (Amazon "used/returned" $31.27 pair). I ordered these for my '81 Monte.
 
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oldmansmonte

G-Body Guru
Oct 29, 2010
594
348
63
Buffalo, NY
I don't have them installed yet, but have mikes montes h4 kit(probably the same kit). I would like to go led, but my issue with many led lights is they have a horrible pattern and cutoff, so while you can see good, the person coming at you is blinded...

Yeah I'm not a big fan of the ridiculous brightness of LED headlights. Especially that horizontal beam they create. You go over bumps and it's like you're just blinding everybody with these flashes. Although some of the news designs are better and pretty cool looking.
 

random_farmhick

Apprentice
Dec 13, 2020
54
59
18
Yeah I'm not a big fan of the ridiculous brightness of LED headlights. Especially that horizontal beam they create. You go over bumps and it's like you're just blinding everybody with these flashes. Although some of the news designs are better and pretty cool looking.
Well when it comes to looks, I like the original style of bulb anyways, so an h4 conversion housing suits that anyways.
 

ck80

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Feb 18, 2014
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I dunno... I like just putting a $5 halogen back in. Easy to aim pattern on the wall. Doesn't turn yellow with age. A rock or something kicks up and chips glass it's another $5 fix. There's benefits to the way it was, certainly.

I'm also a bit biased though. Nothing I hate more than being blinded by some of the modern headlight conversions people are doing, often impropertly. If I get blinded I kick on my high beams. Usually any attempt by the other driver to raise theirs it doesn't make it worse for me. If they do, I kick on the off road lights. Too many of them don't look and thing what it does to cars coming the other way. Just don't be 'that guy.'

On the other hand, I'm cognizant of what so many of the 'upgrades' do to other drivers and don't run them in my high/low beams.

That venting aside, mod away and have fun with it - responsibly.

Just try to be aware of the candle power, the distribution pattern, proper aiming, and light spectrum color as to not blind or ruin night vision of oncoming drivers. Don't become another one of the me-me-me gratification club of society that's making the world a worse place.
 

oldmansmonte

G-Body Guru
Oct 29, 2010
594
348
63
Buffalo, NY
Well when it comes to looks, I like the original style of bulb anyways, so an h4 conversion housing suits that anyways.

Some of these modern ones create a cool look and are tempting, But I just don't know if I can commit to it.
maxresdefault.jpg
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oldmansmonte

G-Body Guru
Oct 29, 2010
594
348
63
Buffalo, NY
I dunno... I like just putting a $5 halogen back in. Easy to aim pattern on the wall. Doesn't turn yellow with age. A rock or something kicks up and chips glass it's another $5 fix. There's benefits to the way it was, certainly.

I'm also a bit biased though. Nothing I hate more than being blinded by some of the modern headlight conversions people are doing, often impropertly. If I get blinded I kick on my high beams. Usually any attempt by the other driver to raise theirs it doesn't make it worse for me. If they do, I kick on the off road lights. Too many of them don't look and thing what it does to cars coming the other way. Just don't be 'that guy.'

On the other hand, I'm cognizant of what so many of the 'upgrades' do to other drivers and don't run them in my high/low beams.

That venting aside, mod away and have fun with it - responsibly.

Just try to be aware of the candle power, the distribution pattern, proper aiming, and light spectrum color as to not blind or ruin night vision of oncoming drivers. Don't become another one of the me-me-me gratification club of society that's making the world a worse place.

I know my sealed beams are ancient do they probably weren't working near 100% capability, but I live in a semi-rural suburb where dear at dusk are common. I need better vision, especially competing against these crazy new cars.
 

ck80

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Feb 18, 2014
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I know my sealed beams are ancient do they probably weren't working near 100% capability, but I live in a semi-rural suburb where dear at dusk are common. I need better vision, especially competing against these crazy new cars.
Everyone had their reasons, and, I take the opinion generally that anyone should be able to do whatever they want to the car they own unless it's some irreplaceable piece of history somehow.

I just implore those that do go down the road do it responsibly. If you're shining light further out, that means the beams are higher up. That blinds drivers coming close to you, depending how its aimed can be worse sometimes than it needs to be as well. So keep that in mind, along with everything else.

But you're right, to some limited degree a clear new glass bulb lens has some increased efficiency over one thats had a decade of grit and bug impact abrasion. Massive? Not usually. But, not all bulbs are made equal to others either, just like not all conversions are equal to others when it comes to keeping light where it matters and away from where it's a hazard.
 

melloelky

Comic Book Super Hero
Oct 22, 2017
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mass
If you're up in the air about updated headlights and the end result with them Consider doing the headlight relay upgrade,it puts direct battery power to your headlights instead of the power coming from the fuse Box.Is that results in a much brighter headlight. In my experience putting an H4 style bulb in these cars isn't that much brighter With everything else in stock form.
 
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