89 waggy - worst headlights ever !!

[ScottinTexas]

As we continue to do a shakedown runs with our new 89 waggy, last night was my first drive at night.

I almost had to pull over to confirm the headlights were on and multiple times be washed out by either cars from behind or oncoming traffic,

Of course when I googled it this morning I found an hours worth of reading about upgrades,

I think I'm going to go with the BJ's relay kit and some H2 bulbs, I'd like plug/play and as simple as possible even if it cost a few dollars more,

unless someone has a better suggestion,

[will e]

LED's tend to pull less power so you can avoid the relay wiring hassle with a set of LED's.

[dodgerammit]

LED's tend to pull less power so you can avoid the relay wiring hassle with a set of LED's.

This^

I did the Serehill relay mod a few years ago.
Definitely a nice contender, but the new Holley Retrobrights would be my first choice now. Oem sealed beam look with modern visability and perfect cutoff to keep other drivers from getting blinded unlike most chinese cheapies seen out there..
They are definitely on the to-do list now.

[Yeller]

x3 on the LED lights. better than any halogen with the relay and no need for the relay, less wiring is more dependable wiring.

I have a set of amazon cheapies and couldn't be happier. I've asked friends that I have followed and met if they felt they were an issue and they have all said no. If they were I would have ponied up for a more expensive set and moved these to my mostly daytime use bronco.

Here’s the ones I used, hopefully it works, I fail sometimes lol
https://www.amazon.com/Headlight-Approv ... 13d670b6bc

[Stuka]

We have had a user here install the Holley RetroBrights, and they both look good (not too modern), and they put out great light with a sharp cutoff so you don't blind other drivers.

[89_Wagon]

I run the retrobrights. They are fantastic. Other than price, no downsides.

I did the relay upgrade with new sealed beams and I still had visibly issues. What's weird to me is that I ran sealed beams on a another car of mine not too long ago and visibility was fine. Maybe they changed the manufacturing process? Not as good as they used to be? IDK, but I like seeing at night now!

[Yeller]

I run the retrobrights. They are fantastic. Other than price, no downsides.

I did the relay upgrade with new sealed beams and I still had visibly issues. What's weird to me is that I ran sealed beams on a another car of mine not too long ago and visibility was fine. Maybe they changed the manufacturing process? Not as good as they used to be? IDK, but I like seeing at night now!

I have that issue with my 74 Bronco, it’s terrible. Had sealed beam quad lights on my 67 gmc and thought they were great.

[ScottinTexas]

installed some Holley retrobrights, modern white, so much better !

[michaelbennett902]

OP you're right. The newly installed lights are way better.

[Artif]

Phillips ultinon are a direct bulb replacement

[Mopar_guy]

I run the retrobrights. They are fantastic. Other than price, no downsides.

The downside IMO is that they have proprietary bulbs so who knows if they'll be even available in 10 years. I don't even see replacements listed. For the same money, or less, I'm getting Hella's that are a standard H4 but I'll use Philips LEDs to keep the beam pattern.

[tgreese]

I have H4 Halogens in a couple of my Jeeps. They are ok, easy to install and clearly brighter with a direct feed from a relay. The LEDs are more modern and should take less power than the H4s; I wonder why you need dropping resistors and heat sinks or fan cooling if they take less power ... you need to add the LEDs' and resistors' power dissipation to compare.

The H4s have been around for decades - I had them in my '73 CJ in ... 1973. Vastly better than the incandescent bulbs that come in these Jeeps. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

[89_Wagon]

I run the retrobrights. They are fantastic. Other than price, no downsides.

The downside IMO is that they have proprietary bulbs so who knows if they'll be even available in 10 years. I don't even see replacements listed. For the same money, or less, I'm getting Hella's that are a standard H4 but I'll use Philips LEDs to keep the beam pattern.

Maybe. If I need a replacement in 10 years I'm betting there will be something better to replace them with. But, the lifespan on these bulbs should be very, very, very long. Shouldn't be a decision I need to think about for a long time.

It's kind of hit and miss with LED H4 bulbs from what I've been told.

Here's a replacement module for the retrobrights. Looks like they've added some products and dropped the price.

https://www.holley.com/products/electri ... rts/LFRB20