Headlight Choice for 1991

[chldzpla]

I find my current headlight to be rather dim and so is the fog light.

What is your choice for replacements to acheive a better beam on a 1991 3000GT VR4? Thanks!
Dan

[Linebckr49]

very good observation. the light output is awful. in short, you have a few options:
-upgrade to an aftermarket 4x6 housing so you can change bulbs (referred to as the H4 Conversion)
-HID Kit with the aftermarket 4x6 housing
-HID retrofit.

here is a thread where i've explained the differences: http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

HID Kit pics
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

info on the basics of HID lighting
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

here's a guy who did a retrofit on his 1st gen stealth (92) with pop ups
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread.php?t=291237

[chldzpla]

I am impressed with your dialogue!

The difference is quite dramatic. I wish I could just click and pay and get all that I needed with a good set of instructions.

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by chldzpla

I am impressed with your dialogue!

i guess that's one, if not the only, thing a college education gets you, lol.

Originally Posted by chldzpla

The difference is quite dramatic. I wish I could just click and pay and get all that I needed with a good set of instructions.

if you are interested in a retrofit, which will yield the absolute best lighting possible right now (made available by latest, most current technology), then it would be worlds easier for you to do the "2nd Gen Conversion" and retrofit those headlights (that came on 3000GTs from 94-98). i did a 2nd gen retro for a guy in probably just 20 hours of total labor. much easier than my current retrofit into the pop-ups. however, i love the pop-up look, so that's why i'm keeping it.

also, i've heard very good things about the 2nd gen headlights and HID kits. that's not the way for me, but it is a very viable option for those who don't wish to invest a lot of money and even more time into a retrofit. plus, the 2nd gen headlights receive the HID kits well and put out a decent pattern with very improved illumination.

[Polygon]

If you don't want to spend the time or money on an HID conversion the Sylvania Silverstars are only $20 a bulb. I just put them in my car and they are much brighter than the bulbs I had in there before.

[Linebckr49]

Originally Posted by Polygon

If you don't want to spend the time or money on an HID conversion the Sylvania Silverstars are only $20 a bulb. I just put them in my car and they are much brighter than the bulbs I had in there before.

true, they are just 20 a bulb, but the stock pop-up headlamps are sealed beam units, which cannot have bulbs swapped in/out. he will need to get an aftermarket 4"x6" housing, then he can get the silverstar bulbs. also, a wiring adapter will be needed.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

true, they are just 20 a bulb, but the stock pop-up headlamps are sealed beam units, which cannot have bulbs swapped in/out. he will need to get an aftermarket 4"x6" housing, then he can get the silverstar bulbs. also, a wiring adapter will be needed.

Huh?

Silverstar makes a sealed beam version for the first gens. I just bought a set for my 91' and they swap right in.

[Linebckr49]

oh. i didn't know they made a sealed beam unit. you said bulb, so that made ME think "huh?" lol.

[Polygon]

Oh, whoops.

Yeah, I should have said sealed beam since they aren't bulbs.

[vectorspecialist]

eh, i just drive with highbeems on, ppl never complian, and its much brighter, but yea, without them on it is pretty dull, worse yet, mine arent even centered, it's like a cross eyed person lighting up the road.( NO OFFENSE BY THE CROSS EYED THING ITS JUST WHAT ITS LIKE)

[TorchedStealth]

I always thought my stock lights were pretty bright. I always have my foglights on when my low beams are on and ive had a lot of people flash me because they think my brights are on. Then i flash them to show them that the highs arent on yet and they stop flashing me lol. When i drive behind my friends they like me to have my fogs off so its not so bright and sometimes just to be mean i turn on my brights and they say they are really bright, so idk. But i only do that to my friends, i dont want you guys to think im an ass t everyone. I think they are stock but they are sylvania so idk if thats what they had stock but i know they arent silverstars.

[Linebckr49]

its probably not that your light seem so bright to other drivers, but rather that your lights aren't aimed properly, and are shining too high and blinding other drivers. you might check this out. go drive to a flat place in the dark, park you car 25 feet from a wall. at 25 feet, the top of your beam should drop 2.1-2.5 inches. measure from the center of your headlight. if too low, then measure from the top of your headlight. just be consistent.

[liquidPunk]

the stock headlamps are fairly dull when it comes to output, So the first thing i did to my car was get the H4 conversion kit, it was really easy to install, and even with the super cheapo bulbs that the kit came with there was a drastic improvement in lighting.

[youngvr4]

Originally Posted by vectorspecialist

eh, i just drive with highbeems on, ppl never complian, and its much brighter, but yea, without them on it is pretty dull, worse yet, mine arent even centered, it's like a cross eyed person lighting up the road.( NO OFFENSE BY THE CROSS EYED THING ITS JUST WHAT ITS LIKE)

please try not to use your high beams, not everyone has the best eyes at night and high beams can really throw someone's vision off, even wearing glasses...it does cause accidents

[chldzpla]

Wonderful input all. Thank you. It sounds like this is (see below) the way to go for the long term; however, the sealed beam Syvania Silverstar seems like a short term good fix that is inexpensive. I believe the latter is my choice. Again, thanks for all the input and good thoughts. Can I buy these bulbs at the auto parts store or is it special order?
Dan

Originally Posted by Linebckr49

very good observation. the light output is awful. in short, you have a few options:
-upgrade to an aftermarket 4x6 housing so you can change bulbs (referred to as the H4 Conversion)
-HID Kit with the aftermarket 4x6 housing
-HID retrofit.

here is a thread where i've explained the differences: http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

HID Kit pics
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

info on the basics of HID lighting
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread....&highlight=hid

here's a guy who did a retrofit on his 1st gen stealth (92) with pop ups
http://www.3si.org/forum/showthread.php?t=291237