Old truck headlights

[JRLesan]

Have a 52 model International which I've owned since '74. Converted it to 12 volts shortly after purchasing same and headlights are 6012 dual beams and puny, especially at my advanced age. Looking for a brighter 'drop in ' bulb and AM NOT interested in LED's or H4's as conversion is not on my list. I do have a relay and the wiring is , of course, oversize as the system began life as 6 volt. I'm thinking 6024's but, which ones? Are some better than others? Suggestions???

[Milky Duck]

take the bulb you have into autosparky and get the best they have got in replacement..... and left field thought...maybe put a led lightbar??? inside the grill(can be fitted/removed with two bolts later on)....you keep the look origonal but get benifit of daylight!!!!

[schutzen-jager]

i do not know the answer but most of the sealed beam boxes used to have candle power listed on the boxes - try looking on internet - why not use LED conversion ?

https://headlightrestore.us/how-can-the-brightness-of-car-headlights-be-increased/

[Winger Ed.]

I haven't needed to know much about the old school head lights lately,
but I seem to remember you could get a quartz type bulb as a direct replacement that is noticeably brighter
then the old wire filament bulbs.

[shaggybull]

I just treated my headlights with turtle wax product that removes yellow film off the beams made big difference.

[Rickf1985]

A 52 International is not going to have plastic lenses that will discolor. LOL. What I do with all of my vehicles is find the compatible Silverstar bulbs and go with them. They are substantially brighter and it is a simple bulb change. I am not sure if they have a direct swap for your 52 though. If not then a conversion is about the only option. If yours are the old style filament bulbs and you can't get Silverstars then go with Halogens, again, it is a bulb for bulb swap.

[czgunner]

All the sealed beams are pretty bad. On my old Jeeps I converted to Hella H4 or something like that....I know you said you weren't interested, but it was the only way to get enough light for my old eyes. Another tip is to examine how the power is routed. I would also set up a relay that was activated by the old hot wire to get full voltage to the bulb for more output.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[brokeasajoke]

+1 on silverstar

[Finster101]

Don't know what the aversion to LED is. Most are plug and play these days.

[JRLesan]

Seems like Silverstar bulbs come in either a sealed beam or a replaceable 'insert' which would require some kind of housing. The LED's also seem to require some kind of housing (reflector, if you will). Can someone elaborate?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I put SYLVANIA XtraVision Sealed Beam Halogen Headlight Replacements on my '71 Chev C20, they are a big improvement over traditional sealed beam and don't have the piercing white light of LEDs.

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-XtraVision-Halogen-Headlight-Contains/dp/B000C18Q44/ref=asc_df_B000C18Q44/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312104220456&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13459890841916091593&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019601&hvtargid=pla-490707069542&psc=1&mcid=696efd3e31693729b81b67a8184ae99c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqdqvBhCPARIsANrmZhPWpR0pMERALski_xOv qRLXAG3jOsmoK34_DHs-uGriG54yxyQe2zoaAqFmEALw_wcB

[ascast]

My ride has LED in it, ( a used car 2006 ) I love the bright light at night. I can see deer another 50 yds out. BUT I get flashed by other drivers all the time, even when they know I on low beam. just food for thought

[Barry54]

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/chevrolet,1976,c10+suburban,5.7l+350cid+v8,1295355 ,electrical-bulb+&+socket,headlamp+bulb,11701

I know you said you didn’t want to do led conversion. These are drop in as far as I know. They are low current draw, bright and expensive. They may not look correct either. But they would be my pick if I had to drive it on public roads after dark.

“You can’t have your Kate and Edith too”
Statler Brothers

[Tall]

Halogen bulbs use a lot more current. I would use LED.

[Rickf1985]

Current will not be an issue if he is running the original 6 volt wiring. I would still add in a relay triggered off of the original headlight wires and run the hot side of the relay though a fuse directly to battery power. That way you get full 12 volts to the lights. You would be amazed at how much voltage is lost on these old systems through line loss, bad grounds and multiple switches.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Current will not be an issue if he is running the original 6 volt wiring. I would still add in a relay triggered off of the original headlight wires and run the hot side of the relay though a fuse directly to battery power. That way you get full 12 volts to the lights. You would be amazed at how much voltage is lost on these old systems through line loss, bad grounds and multiple switches.

That is a great Idea.

[chambers]

I used relay system and added lights( LED ) on my 65' GMC 4x4. Leave the old glass lights alone and add another switch with lights. There are tons on new LED options.

[JRLesan]

LED's are expensive unless one buys cheap knock-off brands which are also EXPENSIVE.
Relay for headlights was added years ago (reread original post).
Going to use Sylvania Silverstar, or similar, as was suggested earlier by several members.
Thanks to all for suggestions...

[45DUDE]

You could check the voltage. An alternator puts out 13.80-- 14.20 volts. If generator you can install a smaller pulley. I install smaller pulleys on 6 volt tractors converted to 12 volt. A small pulley will make the lights brighter at idle. A 12 volt battery should have 12.3v--12.6 volt not running. Check the voltage at the headlight wires--It may have a bad ground.

[Finster101]

LED's are expensive unless one buys cheap knock-off brands which are also EXPENSIVE.
Relay for headlights was added years ago (reread original post).
Going to use Sylvania Silverstar, or similar, as was suggested earlier by several members.
Thanks to all for suggestions...


I guess you have to ask yourself what it is worth to be able to see at night. Every vehicle I have has been retrofitted with LED lighting. Including my two Harleys.

[ruger1980]

As sated above buy the 6024 halogens. If you want something better go to DanielSternkighting.com and he will advise you on your best options.
Relays are a good upgrade.

LED's are only legal and acceptable in housings specifically designed and approved for LED's. They also tend to blind oncoming traffic. I personally would like to take a hammer to every one I see...LOL.

In my 92 Dodge D250 I use Cibie housings with H4 bulbs which have a much better pattern than any LED you could put in it's place.

[DougGuy]

Another vote for the Silverstar! You can find aftermarket housings with reflectors and lenses for the silverstar bulbs, that would really wake up your visible light without hurting other drivers, they're bright but not blue or harsh sharp bright.

LEDs are a big learning curve to be honest, and they don't work worth a flip in housings optimized for halogen bulbs, and they irritate oncoming drivers when used in halogen reflectors.

Don't know what it would take to swap in the correct housings and reflectors for an older vehicle but I wager youtube knows!

I put the silverstars in my 2008 Nissan Xterra and polished out the lenses with the Meguiars kit Holy Moley I can see at night now REALLY good!

[farmbif]

might try calling the brillman company and ask them what options they know of or have available. the are experts in everything electrical for old vehicles

[35 Rem]

I just buy the Halogens that are advertised to be the "brightest" when I'm standing in Advanced Auto for use in my 1964 Chevy pickup. They are brighter than most new vehicles I've driven.