Replacement headlights

[240ZX]

Can anyone offer up an opinions on the replaceable H4 headlight conversion kit from Too Intense Restorations? I'm thinking that under $70.00 is a pretty inexpensive way to seeing better at night!

[MikeW]

I would be careful about making any headlight upgrade without wiring in relays at the same time. I plan to do this myself sometime in the near future. The consensus seems to be that the stock wiring/headlight switch is barely up to the task with stock lights. The full current travels a long path from the battery to the lights and back to the switch and from there to ground. Higher wattage headlamps will put a greater load on this fragile system.

That being said, the specific lights mentioned are probably worth the extra price over cheaper (sometimes plastic) alternatives.

[sblake01]

Sylvania Silverstars are much brighter than stock, cost less than H4s and plug right in with no modifications. I use them on my dailly driver 810.

[ChrisA]

Hey guys, If you switch to high wattage halogen bulbs, think about getting a Painless Wiring headlite kit. It allows you to bypass the stock wiring and use two Bosch relays to fire the bulbs. The stock headlight switch will just run the relays. The kit is powered right off the battery thus shortening the wiring as a whole. My setup is about 2 years old and works well. Relays mount next to inspection light. Nicely made harness with bulb sockets and all. Stock harness plugs have to be modified very slightly to fit the Painless plugs. If I remember correctly, I had the kit in and running in less than an hour. A lot less amperage draw on the gauge when lites are on now versus stock. Much luck!!

[240ZX]

Thanks for the input guys! The wattage rating on the bulbs I will be using are 55/60.....isn't that pretty much the same rating as the stock units? Incorperating a relay is definitely the way to keep the higher current out of the cockpit. Thanks again for your suggestions!

[symon]

Hi 240ZX

I´ve got a pair of Lucas H4 headlamps on my Z with some special Piaa bulbs that give a really bright white light. Also I´ve wired them so that on main beam the dip beam stays on through relays. Also I removed the shroud that goes over the bulb. This set up is really good & certainly up to the Z´s performance.

Also on my MG TD I´ve a pair of Hella H4 lamps with the same bulbs & instalation. They are even better. I think you should go for really good headlamp units & bulbs. It´s more expensive but you´ll not regret it !

Hope this helps.

[240ZX]

Hey Symon,

Thanks for the input!

Tom

[SER240Z]

I keep hearing everyone mention wiring a relay in if you upgrade the headlights. Can someone gimme quick diagram as to how or where to wire the relays in?

Thanks

[MikeW]

Originally posted by SER240Z

I keep hearing everyone mention wiring a relay in if you upgrade the headlights. Can someone gimme quick diagram as to how or where to wire the relays in?

Here's a couple of links I've been keeping for when I get around to this job:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/pparaska/Headlight_Relay_pg1.htm

http://www.zccne.addr.com/tech-docs/headlight-relay-upgrade.pdf

[240ZX]

SER240Z,

I have no drawing but a description. Basically, a relay has a high voltage side (+ and -) and a low voltage side (+ and -). The High voltage side typically takes power directly from a battery to the component you wish to energize. The low voltage side does nothing more than close the circuit on the high voltage side when you activate your switch, via electro-magnetic energy from a coil to close a set of contacts. The low voltage side is the coil and the contacts are the high voltage side. The whole ideal behind a relay is to keep high voltage wiring out of the cockpit. Hope this helps a little.

[BlueZee]

Here are some links:

At www.zhome.com by Stephen Judkins

Headlights by Pete Paraska

Les

[240ZX]

Les,

I have to laugh ROFL everytime I look at your avitar!!!

It reminds me of a little kid about ready to pee in their pants. Oh yah, thanks for the links.

Tom