Headlight relay mod/150mm headlights

[85 Jimmy]

I have 2 questions on this.

I don't drive my blazer that much at night, but when I do I notice that my headlights aren't that bright and I seem to out run the lights. What is an acceptable voltage drop at the headlights? I just checked mine, with the truck running I get 14.5v at the battery, I get about 12v at the headlights. Will that 2.5v make that big of a difference if I do the relay mod?

My wife is asking me what I want for Christmas and I'm thinking about telling her to get me the 150mm headlight buckets from LMC. Are these pretty much a direct plug in for the 89-91 harness that use the little connectors at the bulb? Also, for anyone that has them, do these come with bulbs, or do those have to be purchased also? Will these lights make that much of a difference?

I do have my lights adjusted.
I'll probably eventually do the relay mod anyway. I want to keep my headlights on when I turn on the high beams.

 

[paratrooper307]

I have 2 questions on this.

I don't drive my blazer that much at night, but when I do I notice that my headlights aren't that bright and I seem to out run the lights. What is an acceptable voltage drop at the headlights? I just checked mine, with the truck running I get 14.5v at the battery, I get about 12v at the headlights. Will that 2.5v make that big of a difference if I do the relay mod?

My wife is asking me what I want for Christmas and I'm thinking about telling her to get me the 150mm headlight buckets from LMC. Are these pretty much a direct plug in for the 89-91 harness that use the little connectors at the bulb? Also, for anyone that has them, do these come with bulbs, or do those have to be purchased also? Will these lights make that much of a difference?

I do have my lights adjusted.
I'll probably eventually do the relay mod anyway. I want to keep my headlights on when I turn on the high beams.

The lights on these trucks aren't so hot to begin with. What the relay mostly does is take the electrical load and moves it off the switch and to the relay, which helps control heat, and helps reduce the voltage drop-off. 2.5V will make some difference in light output, but those lights are only going to get so bright. The relay also makes the system more stable so if you do choose to upgrade the bulbs, you'll get better light output.

As for the LMC lights, I don't have any direct experience with them. I think LMC also makes an upgrade harness with better wiring, which may also help.

 

[muddysub]

Pma4x4 did the LMC headlights and harnesses, he's happy with them.

 

[sweetk30]

someone posted a nice write up on ck5 few years back . had lots of info and even brightness drop to voltage drop chart . 2v was big diffrence.

 

[Mark1968]

2.5v is a very large difference.

Get some relays and silverstars.

 

[dremu]

You're going to get ~45% more wattage at the bulbs for that 2.5V, so call it half again as much. Well worth it.

Better bulbs and/or optics help too.

-- A

 

[85 Jimmy]

So if I just did the relays and 10g wire I'd be about twice as bright as I am now?

I'll just go ahead and do both, the new headlights and the relay mod.

 

[sweetk30]

search my screen name and relay mod .

i used gm relays from 88-94 style trucks with a/c . nice h/d relays and pigtails in 1 3 pack .

and free or few bucks at local pick-n-pull yards .

 

[85 Jimmy]

I checked it out last night. I'll check it out again.