Corky Scott wrote:
> On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 18:05:59 GMT, Erik Litchy >
> wrote:
>
> >you need to be sure that your lights are working to thier capacity
> >are they aimed right?
> >is the wiring harness free from corrosion and big enough guage to
> >install brighter bulbs in the future?
>
> They're working fine. The problem is not that they are more dim than
> they should be, or aimed improperly, I'm just wondering if I can
> upgrade the lights, to bring them up to current vehical standards
> without having to buy a new truck to do so.
>
> I'm picturing removing the originals and simply installing new
lights,
> but lights that are current technology, with removable individual
> bulbs rather than sealed beam lights.
>
> I have no idea if anything like this is available, I'm just asking.
>
> Thanks, Corky Scott
>
> PS, I am not talking about a Xenon lighting system, which would run
> hundreds per side, I'm just talking about removing the sealed beam
> lights and installing something that looks like a sealed beam, but
> isn't.

Oh hell yeah. Consider yourself lucky that you have sealed beams, that
actually makes what you're proposing about as easy as it could possibly
be. I would actually suggest a two-step process:

1) Bypass the factory wiring and make yourself a big honkin' relay
harness with 12 or 10 gauge wire to take power directly off the
alternator to the headlights - retain the stock harness only to trigger
the relays.

2) If you still want more get some E-code reflector assemblies, now
with your sexy new relay harness you can run overwattage bulbs to
really light up the night. Stay away from the blue bulb fake HID crap,
just get good quality halogen bulbs.

I have done both to my Porsche 944 and also added a Transpo adjustable
voltage regulator to kick up my system voltage to around 14.1V. I went
from 11.5V to 14.1V at the headlights, wow, what a difference! The
reflectors that I used were the Cibie E-code units, they're not exactly
legal in most states due to the beam pattern, but if that doesn't
bother you go for it, they have a real sharp horizontal cutoff so they
don't blind oncoming traffic and have a "kickup" to the right so that
you can still read roadside signs, see deer hiding in the bushes, etc.
The high beams are simply amazing. I am still running "stock" 55/60W
H4 bulbs in them; I have a pair of 90/100W bulbs on the shelf but I
haven't seen the need to put them in (need I mention that would be even
more illegal, if that is possible) because even with the 55/60W bulbs I
have no problems at all seeing at night at anything resembling
reasonable speeds. Note that I would probably NOT run overwattage
bulbs in reflectors with a DOT legal beam pattern (i.e. Hella Vision
Plus) as they allow more light above horizontal even on low beam and
therefore have more of a possibility of blinding oncoming traffic.

I know I've kind of given you a quick and nasty explanation of what to
do and you're probably thinking "but how do I do this?" don't worry,
there's good explanations of everything at
http://danielsternlighting.com/

If you are interested in what I did to my car, the specific products
that I bought are at http://gururacing.net/ - click on "light upgrades"
- if you're lazy (like me, I've done enough crimping and soldering for
one lifetime) and your vehicle has two headlights (not four) the 944
harness might be easily adaptable to your setup, although you couldn't
use the reflectors he sells unless you have the dual 7" round (you may
have rectangular lights, I don't have a mental image of what the front
of a Tacoma looks like)

Beware of the APC brand relay harness that's sold at ricer shops, from
what I've heard and from my own cursory inspection of the harness at a
few car shows, it has all the right parts but the wiring doesn't look
that much beefier than the stock headlight wiring in many cars so the
improvement won't be as dramatic. The harness that Dan Wray sells is
WAY better in every respect and I consider it an excellent, if pricey
product. Be advised though that he makes them as a sideline and if you
go that route might have to wait until he builds another batch. Daniel
Stern doesn't sell a premade harness but he does sell the components to
build your own and I have no reason to believe that they aren't good
quality, he seems like something of a perfectionist. (not saying that
those are the only two places you should be shopping, just those are
the only two I have any experience with.)

good luck,

nate