Looking at Lighting Options
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 310
Likes: 28
From: Seabrook Tx
Looking at Lighting Options
I have found that my high beams are just fine in stock configuration, but the low beams are woefully inadequate. I should get the radioflyer set-up but I am hesitant to because I am not sure that I want to invest that much in my "starter" Vette with 145k miles. I am sure I will go that route in my next Vette, which will almost certainly be a very low mileage car.
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
You have many options before you have to open up your wallet.
Sylvania silver stars, 9005 mod has great results and very cheap,
A set of HID's will be a little more money but well worth it.
Go thru the above options (investigate) and see what meets your needs.
Feel free to PM me for details.
Sylvania silver stars, 9005 mod has great results and very cheap,
A set of HID's will be a little more money but well worth it.
Go thru the above options (investigate) and see what meets your needs.
Feel free to PM me for details.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have found that my high beams are just fine in stock configuration, but the low beams are woefully inadequate. I should get the radioflyer set-up but I am hesitant to because I am not sure that I want to invest that much in my "starter" Vette with 145k miles. I am sure I will go that route in my next Vette, which will almost certainly be a very low mileage car.
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
I have these lights in my C5 and they are a tremendous improvement even though the high beam lights are still a halogen (SilverStar) bulb. Some C5's came from the factory with badly molded lamp housings. On my car, the high beams were aimed a good 4 feet higher
than the low beams when the low beams were properly aligned. The Radioflyer housings are molded properly so there is no alignment issues. My RF units also came with a Hi-4 harness that allows both high and low beams to be on at the same time.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 902
From: Republic of Texas
One nice thing about the Radioflyer Bi-xenon HID package is that you don't have to make any permanent modifications to the car to install them. If, at some point, you decide to move to another C5, you can simply swap the stock headlamp assemblies back in and move the HID sets to the newer car.
I have these lights in my C5 and they are a tremendous improvement even though the high beam lights are still a halogen (SilverStar) bulb. Some C5's came from the factory with badly molded lamp housings. On my car, the high beams were aimed a good 4 feet higher than the low beams when the low beams were properly aligned. The Radioflyer housings are molded properly so there is no alignment issues. My RF units also came with a Hi-4 harness that allows both high and low beams to be on at the same time.
I have these lights in my C5 and they are a tremendous improvement even though the high beam lights are still a halogen (SilverStar) bulb. Some C5's came from the factory with badly molded lamp housings. On my car, the high beams were aimed a good 4 feet higher
than the low beams when the low beams were properly aligned. The Radioflyer housings are molded properly so there is no alignment issues. My RF units also came with a Hi-4 harness that allows both high and low beams to be on at the same time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I have found that my high beams are just fine in stock configuration, but the low beams are woefully inadequate. I should get the radioflyer set-up but I am hesitant to because I am not sure that I want to invest that much in my "starter" Vette with 145k miles. I am sure I will go that route in my next Vette, which will almost certainly be a very low mileage car.
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
Therefore, I am looking for a cheap fix for now. I saw that one of the forum vendors has a product that replaces the stock fog lights with higher powered ones that supposedly provided more illumination than the pop-up low beams.
Is that plausible? Are there other inexpensive avenues to better lighting?
Running higher wattage fog lamp bulbs, or even better HID bulbs as the fog lights are projector lenses. However it is not advised to run your fogs as replacements for your low beams. They are not located in the optimal spot and have little adjustment. It may not be even legal to do so. They can be used to augment your low beams.
Finally, as said you can invest in quality projector headlights like Radioflyer and always move them to your next vette when ready.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 310
Likes: 28
From: Seabrook Tx
Nicely summarized.
I was thinking this might be my best compromise, but I can see that it is not the solution. I am thinking I might try the converted 905 to see if that gets me enough. I don't supposed anybody out there is selling them in converted form?
I was thinking this might be my best compromise, but I can see that it is not the solution. I am thinking I might try the converted 905 to see if that gets me enough. I don't supposed anybody out there is selling them in converted form?
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Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 902
From: Republic of Texas
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...at-doesnt.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 310
Likes: 28
From: Seabrook Tx
I understand the analysis. And yes, I know your headlights are the best as acknowledged in my original post. However, that doesn't help with my current situation. I can't justify a $1000 investment in parts and installation for headlights on a high mileage car that I only paid 9K for.
Last edited by Crussader; Dec 16, 2015 at 10:43 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 902
From: Republic of Texas
I understand the analysis. And yes, I know your headlights are the best as acknowledged in my original post. However, that doesn't help with my current situation. I can't justify a $1000 investment in parts and installation for headlights on a high mileage car that I only paid 9K for.
http://shop.radioflyerinnovations.co...lights-015.htm
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 200
Likes: 30
From: Layton Utah
The sun guns look the best BY FAR. I love the way the look. However, I just have a 55w HID kit in car with nothing else changed, can be had for $35.. and it increased light output significantly (2-3x stock) to a clean white light and doesn't blind other drivers as some sellers lead you to believe. I worked in auto parts in the past and watched somebody put in every type of halogen in a row (the 9 dollar ones to the 70 dollar sylvania ones) and they all look basically the same(bad). For that 70 dollars you could get two HID conversions done. Save your hard earned money and don't spend 1k on a 35 dollar fix.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 310
Likes: 28
From: Seabrook Tx
Thanks for the tip. I looked up the DDM kit and it seems like it has real possibilities for my situation. It's raised a ton of questions for me, though.
1 - 35 or 55 watt? Pros and cons of each?
2 - Bulb type? There are too many options with no explanation of the differences that I can find. As long as I'm in there I might as well do both Hi and Lo right?
3 - Bulb color? Is there a recommended choice for my application? (I don't care what the color looks like visually. I want the best illumination for driving)
4 - What harness do I need?
5 - Do I need the Error Eliminator?
6 - Adapter cables? From what I could find on the website it looks like I need these.
7 - Are these legal?
I will be researching these issues on my own, but it would certainly help to have input from someone who has been there.
1 - 35 or 55 watt? Pros and cons of each?
2 - Bulb type? There are too many options with no explanation of the differences that I can find. As long as I'm in there I might as well do both Hi and Lo right?
3 - Bulb color? Is there a recommended choice for my application? (I don't care what the color looks like visually. I want the best illumination for driving)
4 - What harness do I need?
5 - Do I need the Error Eliminator?
6 - Adapter cables? From what I could find on the website it looks like I need these.
7 - Are these legal?
I will be researching these issues on my own, but it would certainly help to have input from someone who has been there.
Last edited by Crussader; Dec 17, 2015 at 09:47 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 167
Likes: 10
Thanks for the tip. I looked up the DDM kit and it seems like it has real possibilities for my situation. It's raised a ton of questions for me, though.
1 - 35 or 55 watt? Pros and cons of each?
2 - Bulb type? There are too many options with no explanation of the differences that I can find. As long as I'm in there I might as well do both Hi and Lo right?
3 - Bulb color? Is there a recommended choice for my application? (I don't care what the color looks like visually. I want the best illumination for driving)
4 - What harness do I need?
5 - Do I need the Error Eliminator?
6 - Adapter cables? From what I could find on the website it looks like I need these.
7 - Are these legal?
I will be researching these issues on my own, but it would certainly help to have input from someone who has been there.
1 - 35 or 55 watt? Pros and cons of each?
2 - Bulb type? There are too many options with no explanation of the differences that I can find. As long as I'm in there I might as well do both Hi and Lo right?
3 - Bulb color? Is there a recommended choice for my application? (I don't care what the color looks like visually. I want the best illumination for driving)
4 - What harness do I need?
5 - Do I need the Error Eliminator?
6 - Adapter cables? From what I could find on the website it looks like I need these.
7 - Are these legal?
I will be researching these issues on my own, but it would certainly help to have input from someone who has been there.
55 watt = more lumens
Wasnt hard to hook up on my V-Rod
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 120
Save your nickels and dimes - buy the best
My RadioFlyer ACA conversion is so awesome. The cat's meow. The dog's bark. The cow's moo.
They are fantastic. I could have scrood around trying to find a cheaper way to get better headlights. After all the reading I did my conclusion was there is no free lunch in this area. I could have tried to put my own package together using some Morimoto parts etc. and might have saved $100. Might have saved nothing.
Unbelievable improvement.
They are fantastic. I could have scrood around trying to find a cheaper way to get better headlights. After all the reading I did my conclusion was there is no free lunch in this area. I could have tried to put my own package together using some Morimoto parts etc. and might have saved $100. Might have saved nothing.
Unbelievable improvement.