improved headlights?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 749
Likes: 13
From: SoCal CA
improved headlights?
Has anyone found replacement bulbs for the headlights that increase visibility without having to resort to a projector lens? I would love to get lights from radioflyer, but it's not in the budget right now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
I drive at night seven days a week and use high beam bulbs in the low beam socket. They don't blind oncoming cars because they are adjusted for low beams. All you need to do is cut the ridge inside the high beam bulb.(knife)
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,541
Likes: 888
From: Republic of Texas
We are planning to run a sale on the Modified Bi-xenon ACA headlights in about 1-2 weeks as soon as wee get more inventory.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Look into the HIR halogen bulbs as well. Unlike putting HID bulbs in a reflector (stock) lens they will not scatter the light. There are varying opinions if they are better than the SilverStars or not. I use the HIR bulb in the high beam of my ACA type units from Radio Flyer to compliment the HID in the low beam projector. Works well for me and I think they are brighter than the SilverStars I had previously. You can run the HIR bulbs in the stock lenses as they come in a low or high beam. If I recall you have to make a slight modification to the locking tab to get them to fit if you want to also run the HIR high beam in the stock low beam as well as the high beam.
This may help:
http://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/a...-corvette.html
This may help:
http://blog.brianmoses.net/2013/11/a...-corvette.html
Last edited by alxltd1; Mar 4, 2014 at 02:54 PM. Reason: added link
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
I got a pair of these at NAPA fro about $50. Sylvania Siverstar Ultra, what a HUGE difference over whatever was in there before.
https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/produ...tar-ultra.aspx
https://www.sylvania.com/en-us/produ...tar-ultra.aspx
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 211
From: Marana, Arizona
I replaced my stock bulbs with HIR's. I also installed Radioflyers Hi-4 Harness so low beams stay on when you go to big beams. Huge improvement in output without changing stock look and housings.
You need a pair of 9011 and 9012 bulbs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILIPS-9011...-/140607310182
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILIPS-9012...-/380758327730
The flange on these bulbs need to be trimmed to fit. Very easy to do. Here are instructions - http://shnu.us/HIR%20Trimming%20A.htm
For more background on HIR's, check this site - http://hirheadlights.com
You need a pair of 9011 and 9012 bulbs.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILIPS-9011...-/140607310182
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHILIPS-9012...-/380758327730
The flange on these bulbs need to be trimmed to fit. Very easy to do. Here are instructions - http://shnu.us/HIR%20Trimming%20A.htm
For more background on HIR's, check this site - http://hirheadlights.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,784
Likes: 2,255
From: Brighton MI
If you are looking for a nice upgrade over stock without going full out HID projector lights, I can recommend what I did: PIAA Extreme White Plus headlights and Philips 893 CrystalVision driving lights.
Definitely an improvement that you will notice. However, I do not do much driving at night. If I did, I would be in on the radioflyer set up for sure.
Definitely an improvement that you will notice. However, I do not do much driving at night. If I did, I would be in on the radioflyer set up for sure.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 40
From: Deltona Florida
You want a racehorse ......not a shetland pony when it comes to bright lights for your vette....take the time to save the money and get the Radioflyer bulb kits........only thing I can say is a 747 pilot would be proud to have these on his plane.....
It only costs 10% more to go first class...
Love mine!
Ninja
It only costs 10% more to go first class...
Love mine!
Ninja
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 1
From: Denver North Carolina
St Jude Donor '15
Another option is the E-Spec Headlights with high Watt bulbs.
It also is not a cheap option. But another way to get better lighting.
Here is a thread with lots of details.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...t-upgrade.html
It also is not a cheap option. But another way to get better lighting.
Here is a thread with lots of details.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...t-upgrade.html
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
Likes: 14
From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: McHenry Illinois
St. Jude Donor '14
Subscribing to this thread along with others I read. The more opinions and advice, the better. Still trying to decide between Radioflyer bi-xenon, HIR bulbs, Silverstar (which I have now) and other setups people have chosen. The Silverstars are better than stock, but not by much. Decisions, decisions.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,541
Likes: 888
From: Republic of Texas
Subscribing to this thread along with others I read. The more opinions and advice, the better. Still trying to decide between Radioflyer bi-xenon, HIR bulbs, Silverstar (which I have now) and other setups people have chosen. The Silverstars are better than stock, but not by much. Decisions, decisions.Something to consider: The factory headlights were designed to focus light into a small area directly in front of the car. Running silverstars, HIRs or even HIDs in these housings will only brighten this small area.
The Projector in our housings is design to illuminate an area nearly 10 times a large as the area illuminated by the factory lights and with the HID power source it has no problem doing this.
We will be having a sale on these lights very soon (within a week)