Sport Headlights Install Questions

[jeepit]

I am about to do this conversion and I have the question about the easiest way to get the bumper moved enough to slip the new headlights in.
I have looked through some prior threads and recall one saying to remove to just the plastic part covering the bumper.
Curious to what others may have done.
I need to mark my current light beam on the garage wall. What distance should truck be from wall?

 

[The patriot]

Doing this from memory....
There 2 bilts that connect the bracket to the frame on each side of the bumper. Loosen them and it should drop enough to give you room to work.
I have an aluminum UTE on there for about 10 years now, so it's different. Cant even look to confirm. Different brackets.
Sorry.

 

[BarryG]

I also have an aftermarket bumper now for many years but seem to recall the same as Patriot. Loosen those bolts and I think it I will tilt down just enough.
As far as aiming here is a link
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

 

[jeepit]

Thanks guys. This will help alot!

 

[BMelhuish]

I did this conversion several months ago

. I started to drop the bumper, but it started to be a real PITA and would add quite a bit of time to the job. So, I decided to see if I could get the lamps in without removal. With a little twisting and turning of the lamp, they went right in without dropping the bumper. Patience my friend. You can always drop the bumper if it doesn't work out.

 

[surfbeetle]

On some of the older 2nd gens, you have to cut out some metal so that the lights will fit. My older truck is a '95 and I had to cut the opening. Also I used the brite box from Geno's and every once and a while in hotter weather is blows the fuse.

 

[BMelhuish]

You should not need to cut any metal on a 2002. Gen 2 trucks made later in 1998 and forward already have the cutouts for sport lamps.

 

[jpogue]

I just did this upgrade on my 96 without dropping the bumper. The only problem I had was the bottom mounting bolt for the new headlights was not easy to put in with the bumper in place. Many bad words were said but I still think dropping bumper would have been worse since I had to do everything by myself. Oh and as for the upgrade I did Firefighters relays and man can I see at night now. Took a bit of adjusting but got em pretty much dialed in now.

 

[jdross440]

When I put mine in I wired them through relays to power bulbs directly from batteries. I also wired them such that on low beam all bulb lows are on and when hi all hi and low are one.

 

[GAmes]

I found this method works well with single bulb headlights.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

 

[klcammie]

tp://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html . Great article on aiming thanks for the link.

 

[OakViewJeff]

Jeepit
I just completed this upgrade on my 1999 2500 Dodge and did not need to lower the bumper. I used some blue masking tape on the plastic part of the bumper to avoid scratching the plastic. You have to twist and turn the old light to get it out. The old light on my driver side had developed a leak and had water inside the lens. The new lights are amazing, especially with the Brite-Lite kit on high beam, I get driving lights and both hi and low beams on when I hit the hi beam switch.

 

[jeepit]

Finally completed this at a buddies shop yesterday. Yuge difference in brightness and clarity with these headlights. Didn't make any adjustments in aiming...has anyone needed to get them re aimed?
Like others have said, "should have done this a long time ago."

 

[flexyxj]

I did this conversion several months ago. I also have an aftermarket bumper so I didn't have any problem getting at the bolts or removing/installing the lights. On my '96, I did have to do some cutting of sheet metal to fit the Sport headlights but it wasn't difficult at all. Once I had them fitted, I primed and painted the edges that were cut. I used Dorman lights purchased on Amazon and the pre-made harnesses from Daniel Stern Lighting. For bulbs I used the Phillips Xtreme Vision 9004 and 9007 per Daniel Stern's recommendation. The difference is staggering. I highly recommend this mod and wish I had done it sooner!

 

[MRoberts]

This is the best BOMB I did on my 02! Read everything from Daniel Stern, get or make a good wiring harness (I had Daniel Stern make mine or referred me to someone, can't remember) best harness ever. No cutting needed on a 02, loosen the bumper/frame bolts.

Just use some good quality bulbs in your new lights, no need to get stupid spendy bulbs, the light output is going to shock you!

 

[DVolk]

Is the headlight wire harness kit that LMC sells is that the one to make the head lights brighter , which bulbs do you recommend for a 1998

 

[flexyxj]

Is the headlight wire harness kit that LMC sells is that the one to make the head lights brighter , which bulbs do you recommend for a 1998

I'm not familiar with the harness that LMC sells. I ordered mine from Daniel Stern Lighting. They were spendy but worth every penny. They are of high quality and they hook to the battery for taking all of the strain off of the factory wiring and switch. Any harness that lights both low and high beam lights at the same time with be nice and bright but the bulbs aren't designed to handle the heat of both filaments burning at the same time and will shorten the life of the bulb dramatically. I used the Phillips Xtreme Vision bulbs per Daniel Stern's recommendation....

 

[GAmes]

Define "dramatically". I've had my high/low beams operating together for about 15 years. In that time span I've driven almost a million miles, very much of it with my headlights on. I think I've replaced three, maybe four bulbs. Wiring in two relays to take the load off the headlight switch and a diode to have the low beams stay on with the high beam is a low tech, couple hour job on older Rams.

 

[MRoberts]

^follow this ^

GAmes slipped in a head of me! I meant follow the advice of flexyxj in Post #17.

 

[flexyxj]

Define "dramatically". I've had my high/low beams operating together for about 15 years. In that time span I've driven almost a million miles, very much of it with my headlights on. I think I've replaced three, maybe four bulbs. Wiring in two relays to take the load off the headlight switch and a diode to have the low beams stay on with the high beam is a low tech, couple hour job on older Rams.

I was simply sharing what I was told by Daniel Stern Lighting. He was adamant about running both filaments at the same time. I really don't see a need to, but to each his own....I really don't see why it would be necessary. It makes that much of a difference going to the Sport light set up.