Electrical Headlight upgrade question

[SwampRatt]

Got a 79 CJ-7. Wiring is in pretty good shape. Got 14.5 volts to the headlight socket running, new alternator.
i have halogen headlights, Wagner I think. They are dim and yellowish, but I am used to more modern cars.
i would like to get more light but hate the led light look. Are there any conventional headlights or conventional looking led lights that would help “light up my life”?

TIA

 

[Armyvet25]

Zenon bulbs in headlight housings that allow bulb changing are a lot brighter, but you can't really see any difference when using highbeam as the low part seems to be as bright, I used them on motorcycle builds but they don't seem to hold up very well, I also use Halogen, I plan on some lower spotlight/fog white fog lights below the bumper for added light and being below the bumper I can aim them as not to blind oncoming traffic without turning them off.

 

[elwood blues]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-002850811

Same glass but it's not sealed beam. Replaceable H4 bulb

 

[Armyvet25]

you can get brighter bulbs with the headlight housings Elwood posted

 

[SwampRatt]

Are these a bolt in solution?

 

[Armyvet25]

yes

 

[elwood blues]

And if you really want to upgrade your headlights add a relay harness in too.

*I will tell you that this isn't exactly plug and play and requires a little wiring knowledge, but it makes a HUGE difference.*

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/upd-34263

 

[TSB8C]

And if you really want to upgrade your headlights add a relay harness in too.

*I will tell you that this isn't exactly plug and play and requires a little wiring knowledge, but it makes a HUGE difference.*

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/upd-34263

Great difference for sure and well worth it. You can buy a kit (as shown) or just do it yourself cheap. Here's a write-up when I did it. Easy-peasy and about $10. Headlight Relay mod

 

[Patrick]

Before investing time and money, run a heavy gauge jumper from the battery+ post to the + lead on the light socket with your engine running and headlights on. You might want to do the same on the negative lead from a solid ground. Switch the jumper on and off. I hope you like the brightness difference that makes, because that’s all you are getting. If you don’t, keep looking for the right set of headlamps. Been through it all.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Just did H4 upgrade. Installed new relay harness $12.00, 2 Osram bulbs $20.00, 2 oem glass headlights $39.00. Took 30 min. Great upgrade & no visable difference from stock look. 1st 2 pics are old sealed beam Sylvania's low & high beans . 2nd 2 pics are the H4's. Well, l I've spent a hour trying to convert & upload the pictures. Got converted to
.jpg now says file size too large. Anyway take my word for it.

 

[Rick1956]

Check your ground connections before you dump money on headlights... Jeeps need lotsa ground connections.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Just did H4 upgrade. Installed new relay harness $12.00, 2 Osram bulbs $20.00, 2 oem glass headlights $39.00. Took 30 min. Great upgrade & no visable difference from stock look. 1st 2 pics are old sealed beam Sylvania's low & high beans . 2nd 2 pics are the H4's. Well, l I've spent a hour trying to convert & upload the pictures. Got converted to
.jpg now says file size too large. Anyway take my word for it.

Grounds are key to good results with anything on a CJ.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Grounds are key to good results with anything on a CJ.

Finally got pictures resized. Here's the visual on the upgrade. The old sealed beam Sylvania's in the first 2 pictures low & high beams then the H-4s in the second 2 pictures low & high beams.

 

[Ridge Runner]

New H4 headlights

 

[mdeluca]

Got a 79 CJ-7. Wiring is in pretty good shape. Got 14.5 volts to the headlight socket running, new alternator.
i have halogen headlights, Wagner I think. They are dim and yellowish, but I am used to more modern cars.
i would like to get more light but hate the led light look. Are there any conventional headlights or conventional looking led lights that would help “light up my life”?

TIA

I upgraded my electrical so that I could add H4 style headlights with new glass housings (Hella). I don't like the LED look either; although Holley has some traditional looking LEDs that look great (pricey at $200 each).

It involved adding a Cooper Bussmann relay box which provided a 30 amp relay to high beams and a separate 30 amp relay to the low beams. This removed the load from the existing fuse box and provided for additional components (five 30 amp relays and five 15 amp circuits. All this protected by a 60 amp circuit breaker shown on the wheel well.

I did a write up on the process here:

Hope this helps,
Mike