hdj81 headlight upgrade?

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Vanisljoe

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Location
Nanaimo, BC
The headlights on my 81 are terrible. I've tried upgrading the bulbs to nighthawks but they still suck s***.

Has anyone upgraded their headlights to something brighter?

Any tips/suggestions?

I read on Slee that simply throwing in a higher wattage bulb can overload the wiring
 
Theres a few options... you should start with the basics and make sure they are aimed right.

second option is to go to a new headlight assembly I know most of the stock ones are replaced as they come into the country to ones that have DOT approval I assume there are different qualities of them.

The third option is that I know on 40's many people do a wiring upgrade.... not sure if this is common on the 80's as well. Basically you wanna run a heavier gauge wire to a relay that is close to your lights and then trigger it with your existing wiring. (for high and low beams)

This will make sure that you have plenty of current for your aftermarket lights. and allow you to run higher wattage bulbs (within reason) (don't want to melt your headlight assembly do you?!
 
Most of the aftermarket 40 wiring kits get there power directly from the alternator (13.5 v) rather than getting power that has been through a mile of wire first (8-12 v)... Or so are the claims.
 
Vanisljoe said:
The headlights on my 81 are terrible. I've tried upgrading the bulbs to nighthawks but they still suck s***.

Has anyone upgraded their headlights to something brighter?

Any tips/suggestions?

I read on Slee that simply throwing in a higher wattage bulb can overload the wiring
Click to expand...

It's not the bulbs, it's the housings. (the headlights themselves)

Contrary to what the link says, they are also talking about the DEPO headlights and not just HID. If you do go HID, do everyone else (and yourself in turn) a favour and make sure to get proper projectors. I'm running the DEPOs (without HID conversion) and my low beams are adequate, my high beams are GREAT.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/458897-hid-headlights-2.html
 
bikersmurf said:
Most of the aftermarket 40 wiring kits get there power directly from the alternator (13.5 v) rather than getting power that has been through a mile of wire first (8-12 v)... Or so are the claims.
Click to expand...

There is a noticeable voltage drop in the wire (especially old wires) but also the current will be limited more by the smaller wires...

hence moving to larger wires with their own relays tends to be helpful.
 
Vanisljoe said:
The headlights on my 81 are terrible. I've tried upgrading the bulbs to nighthawks but they still suck s***.

Has anyone upgraded their headlights to something brighter?

Any tips/suggestions?

I read on Slee that simply throwing in a higher wattage bulb can overload the wiring
Click to expand...



Try driving a 40 with stock headlights, you'll never complain about the ones in your 81 again...:lol:
 
seapotato said:
Try driving a 40 with stock headlights, you'll never complain about the ones in your 81 again...:lol:
Click to expand...

Can't remember back that far... Been running Hellas for close to 20 years.
:cheers:
 
If you look at the front of Andrews truck whilst all the lights are on i recomend wearing a welding mask. Or something darker... :)
 
The 80 wiring is good enough, dont compare older cars with newer ones. Most new vehicles due run relays and are not run through dash switches. Anyways first make sure lights are aimed right, find a wall and line lights up then back up 25ft and your lights should only raise about an inch. The pia bulbs are good and are cheaper than replacing lenses, but that will have to be decided by you. Good Luck
 
Thanks Jay (and everyone else) I'll start with aiming them. I can tell they're off already by how they light the road. Time to put my 1/2 :banana: skill to work and see what I can get done.
 
which bulbs are stock in the 81? mine has been converted to HID and I am considering going back to regular bulbs, the HID's do have defelctors on them but I have no bright setting and I get flashed a bit at night. thanks. 9006's don't fit.
 
I just got the truck a month ago. the previous owner had the HID's installed. They have a ballast or something for each side that plugs into the original wiring. Then a set of wires run to the HID bulbs but only 2 wires and the HID bulb is single filiment. Not sure if the bulbs would need to be double filiment or if the ballasts can operate the bulbs on high and low beams with the single filiment?
 
HID's in halogen housings are a bad idea.

There are hi/lo beam single filament HID kits, they use a plunger thing on the bulb to move it forwards and aft in the housing. This movement re focuses the beam and gives you hi and lo.

Still illegal and inconsiderate to have them in halogen housings imo.
 
Last edited:
slowandsteady BJ said:
HID's in halogen housings are a bad idea.

Still illegal and inconsiderate to have them in halogen housings imo.
Click to expand...

This.

Such nice people that attempt to blind me will receive all 510 watts of light in their face. :censor:
 
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