Upgrading The Driving Lights But Keeping It Older Looking

Hi,
I am looking to upgrade the lighting on the jeep.
I want an older look so a lightbar or any newer style lights won't fit in.
Do you know of any older looking lights with led's in them that look older?
Or maybe a hidden lightbar?

Thanks

 

What I do on my motorcycles is get an H4 type reflector and put a 100watt halogen bulb in it.

Lots of debate on this topic here in the past, try searching the archive.

 

How legal do you want to be?

IMO a headlight conversion is the best bang-for-your-buck. The H4 bulbs look original-ish. As PeteL writes, there's plenty of past discussion of this topic.

 

I’ve installed hella e code H4 housings in all three of my jeeps. They look nearly identical to stock and give you tons of options for the actual bulbs - halogen, LED, etc.

 

A simple relay conversion should be the first step then go from there.

 

Are you sold on LED's? There are plenty of incandescent "old school" driving and fog lights out there. They would be a bit more of a strain on your existing electrical system, but would retain the look you are after.

You can tie them into your high beams and have added visibility when the road is clear. I run a set of upgraded Bosch driving lights relayed through my highbeams on my F350 and they really make a difference. Especially since I can aim them independently from the headlights, which gives me the ability to swing the right one off into the bush a bit more, looking for those pesky deer trying to commit suicide.

 

Hella H4 conversion headlights running 65 watt bulbs. A spare fits in a padded campbells soup can in the tool box.

 

Hellas are good; they've been around a long time. I have these 7" H6024 H4 DOT EURO CONVERSION HEADLIGHTS KIT | eBay in my CJ-6 (and their rectangular bulbs in my J20) and they seem fine. DOT approved reflector, legal bulb wattage (40/60 low/high IIRC). Under $40 to my door. Good place to start.

Not meaning to step on Focker's toes, I too wrote an article about this conversion Headlights Relays In Absurd Detail May be helpful.

 

Can you upload that again? I didn't see the image.
Thanks

 

Not legal. I will be using it mainly off road.

 

I've never in forty years had any sign my 100watt halogens troubled anyone, or that they even noticed.

For off-road, I kinda like the military blackout light - from a few feet away it just looks like a patch of moonlight to any third party.

 

Get the e-code reflectors and 100W/90W bulbs. Be sure to use relays with these bulbs. Again, the most bang for your buck. Then add additional lights if you want, though you may feel you don't need them.

 

Man Chugalug, that's one mighty fine looking front grill!, like the color.

 

I went with Wagner H6024 Halogen headlights, which are inexpensive but significantly brighter than the originals. You can see a comparison photo here: H4 Headlight Upgrade

I also use LED bulbs in the running lights (from LED Lights, Bulbs & LED Lighting Accessories | superbrightleds.com ) - red bulbs in the tail lights and amber bulbs in the front turn signals - and an LED-compatible flasher:
( https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JXLHE8S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). The increase in light output from these over the original incandescent bulbs is likewise very apparent.

 

That’s what I run in my JK. Only downside is that they burn out pretty fast. But the bulbs are cheap. quadratec currently has the hella 100/80 bulbs for $2.23/each. And the 130/90 are $2.18.

Because the halogen burns out so fast, I have been experimenting with LEDs in my TJ. I got the hikari ultra LEDs from amazon. $90 for the set. I’ve been using them for 7 months now and so far so good. (Although you’d need to burn through 20 sets of halogens before they become cost effective)

 

If you go with significantly higher wattage in halogen, it may require a high temperature pigtail connector. Up to 100watt, you can probably get away with OEM.

Mmmm. I don't recall ever replacing any of my harley's halogens.

 

100w is probably double if not triple the wattage of a Harley bulb. On my jk I have a Susquehanna wiring harness with relays, so I know it’s not a wiring issue. I just think that higher wattage bulbs don’t last as long.