C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

what headlightto use for better visibility?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 08:49 AM
  #1  
brent317's Avatar
brent317
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: lore city ohio
Default what headlightto use for better visibility?

I want to change out the factory front headlights in my 95. but would like to see if any one can tell me about theirs, if they changed and what type and where to order from? Thanks brent317
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 09:23 AM
  #2  
PLRX's Avatar
PLRX
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Default

You can use sylvanias



You can change to H4 bulb by buying the casing and the bulb

Or

Projector headlights for $16

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-...ht_5986wt_1165

HID

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-...ht_6675wt_1165
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 09:41 AM
  #3  
RollaMo-LT4's Avatar
RollaMo-LT4
Race Director
20 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,773
Likes: 178
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Default

I have the Sylvania Silverstar's installed on my '96 and am very happy with them.
Much brighter than the stock ones were.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 09:42 AM
  #4  
Flame Red's Avatar
Flame Red
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,519
Likes: 1,305
From: Windermere FL
Default

+1 on the Sylvania's. I changed them out years ago to the SilverStars and they are much better than stock.

Only thing is that they are glass and not plastic lenses like the OEM so they are heavier. If you motor bushings are marginal that may push them over the edge. Not hard or expensive to replace the bushings if they go - just time consuming.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 09:45 AM
  #5  
Muffin's Avatar
Muffin
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Default

Originally Posted by RollaMo-LT4
I have the Sylvania Silverstar's installed on my '96 and am very happy with them.
Much brighter than the stock ones were.
I had very poor luck with a cheap H4 conversion. If you go this route spend the bucks for a good one.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 10:19 AM
  #6  
wro87's Avatar
wro87
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 857
Likes: 1
From: Morrisonville Illinios
Default

We have had a set of HELLA repalcements in our 87' since new. Back then I had put 130/90watt bulbs in them and just last month finally burnt one out. Your standard bulb will be 65/55 watt so you can see how much more brighter these are. Don't go with alot of those blue hd look they will throw a different hue withthe light and give you some distortion and not as bright stay around 5000degK and it should be like noon day sun. The only thing you might you will do is have to remember to dim them sooner and you might want to put in heavy duty plugs in to take the higher temp but your charging system will handle it with no problem.

Good Luck wro87
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 10:25 AM
  #7  
cfi's Avatar
cfi
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Lansdale PA
Default

I love my sylvania,s very good vis adn I'm old and can't see.

Red Coupe 90
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 10:55 AM
  #8  
JrRifleCoach's Avatar
JrRifleCoach
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Default

Hellas, The reflectors are perfect for low flying vehicles like Vettes.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 01:40 PM
  #9  
GKK's Avatar
GKK
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Default

Don't buy any cheap headlights on Ebay, they're very low quality and reflect the light pattern poorly.

Buy the Hella H4 headlight housings from http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_200...Headlamps.aspx and choose the 85/80 watt Osram H4 bulbs. The Headlamp kit with the 85/80 H4 bulbs will be $122.36.

Last edited by GKK; Aug 28, 2009 at 06:16 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 06:36 PM
  #10  
PLRX's Avatar
PLRX
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Default

Will the stock wiring handle 80W?

Originally Posted by GKK
Don't buy any cheap headlights on Ebay, they're very low quality and reflect the light pattern poorly.

Buy the Hella H4 headlight housings from http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_200...Headlamps.aspx and choose the 85/80 watt Osram H4 bulbs. The Headlamp kit with the 85/80 H4 bulbs will be $122.36.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 07:25 PM
  #11  
samsonb's Avatar
samsonb
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 8
Default

I plan on buying some Sylvanias at Wally World for $10 a piece. They are right below the Silverstars.

I know I don't like those lights that look like you have spot lights on the front of the vehicle. It doesn't look good, and blinds everyone.

Has anyone done that driving light upgrade as mentioned in the Corvette 101 project book?
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 07:34 PM
  #12  
c4cruiser's Avatar
c4cruiser
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Default

Originally Posted by PLRX
Will the stock wiring handle 80W?
Yes. I had the Hella housings and some APC Xenon H4 bulbs that were 130/100 watt and never had a problem. The Hella housing are real glass but there are no problems with the headlight motors and gears handling the extra weight The Hella units come with an H2 bulb and that is really not much different than a standard halogen light in terms of output.

THe Hella lamps have the lenses cut so that the low beams have a flat top to the light pattern. That helps to prevent glare from fog, rain or even snow. They also provide extra light to the right so that the edge of the road is illuminated better that stock lamps. High beams are much brighter with a higher wattage bulb and the lens focuses the light output to resemble a driving light. IIRC, CIBIE makes a similar lamp housing and it's a good upgrade too.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 07:57 PM
  #13  
WVZR-1's Avatar
WVZR-1
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,406
Likes: 2,744
Default

You can "improve" any lamps you use by improving the wiring and including relays in the power circuits! Will the "existing" handle the additional "draw" of the hi-powered bulbs? Not very well!!

Good reading here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/csr.html

An up-graded harness/relay system will generally result in much superior performance even from the OE build bulbs!

Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 28, 2009 at 08:02 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 08:12 PM
  #14  
GKK's Avatar
GKK
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by PLRX
Will the stock wiring handle 80W?
Yes, the stock wiring can easily handle the extra wattage. My 91 Vette's stock headlight fuse is 15 amps so, it would take a total of 1500 watts before the fuse would blow.

Last edited by GKK; Aug 28, 2009 at 08:39 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2009 | 08:31 PM
  #15  
jsinga's Avatar
jsinga
Pro
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
Default

Get the stuff from Daniel Stern Lighting. He has everything you need.
You will be amazed at the difference.
Go for the relay kit even if you use stock watt bulbs. The voltage drop in the factory wiring cuts a big chunk out of what any bulb puts out.
He's not kidding about the 130/100w bulbs burning up the factory wiring. Mine draw 18amps on low beam. It would just melt out your dimmer switch before blowing fuses.
Now I see stuff at night and drive around it, not just run over it. At least equal to any HID stuff.

JS
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 08:01 AM
  #16  
AGENT 86's Avatar
AGENT 86
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,333
Likes: 262
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Default

Another happy customer using Hella E spec lenses and 100/80 H4's with stock wiring.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 08:19 AM
  #17  
vetteman42's Avatar
vetteman42
Pro
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 696
Likes: 18
From: Jenkintown PA
Default

Originally Posted by AGENT 86
Another happy customer using Hella E spec lenses and 100/80 H4's with stock wiring.
Not as bright as AGENT 86 (100/55), but "light years" above stock. Go here and call or email them they are very helpful and can advise on what exactly fits your use and purpose....http://www.rallylights.com/default.aspx

SAVE THE WAVE
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To what headlightto use for better visibility?

Old Aug 29, 2009 | 08:39 AM
  #18  
Midnight 85's Avatar
Midnight 85
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Default

Originally Posted by AGENT 86
Another happy customer using Hella E spec lenses and 100/80 H4's with stock wiring.
Same here! Stock and anything Sylvania makes cannot compare and I have tried all three. I will keep the Hellas.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2009 | 05:24 PM
  #19  
aboatguy's Avatar
aboatguy
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Default

Originally Posted by GKK
Yes, the stock wiring can easily handle the extra wattage. My 91 Vette's stock headlight fuse is 15 amps so, it would take a total of 1500 watts before the fuse would blow.
Not unless they changed the electrical theory formulas since I graduated Basic Electricity and Electronics School in 1983. I believe 180 watts is more like it. V x I =P

If we solve the formula for 12 a volt 15 amp circuit we get 180 watts not 1500. However, a house circuit rated at 120 volts and 15 amps will safely handle your 1500 watt load.
Originally Posted by GKK
Don't buy any cheap headlights on Ebay, they're very low quality and reflect the light pattern poorly.

Buy the Hella H4 headlight housings from http://www.rallylights.com/Hella_200...Headlamps.aspx and choose the 85/80 watt Osram H4 bulbs. The Headlamp kit with the 85/80 H4 bulbs will be $122.36.
Do the HL79567 ECE 200mm Headlamp bolt right in???


Mike

Last edited by aboatguy; Dec 23, 2009 at 05:38 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2009 | 06:55 PM
  #20  
jon0108's Avatar
jon0108
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 3
From: Newark, New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by joshwilson3
I plan on buying some Sylvanias at Wally World for $10 a piece. They are right below the Silverstars.

I know I don't like those lights that look like you have spot lights on the front of the vehicle. It doesn't look good, and blinds everyone.

Has anyone done that driving light upgrade as mentioned in the Corvette 101 project book?
Yes, I did the driving light mod upgrade. You do notice a difference. Actually I only did one side and waited till nightfall to see the comparison. I believe you are upgrading from a 35 watt to 50 watt bulb.
As far as headlights, I ended up using Sylvania X-travision
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:57 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE