seanpistol
Explorer
Awesome, the 7.3L is one of my favorite engines, ever. If you're good to it, it will be good to you!
Fred the Van. The More We Explore's Adventure Van Build Thread
- Thread starter sixstringsteve
- Start date
sixstringsteve
Explorer
I just placed a large order with Chris at Ujoint. It's going to be a pretty standard 6" kit. I can't wait to get it here and start the build. I the mean time, I can be rebuilding my front axle and cleaning it up.
I wanted to give a huge shoutout to Chris. Ujoint is a major sponsor on this build, and he has been super helpful to answer any and all questions I've had.
I wanted to give a huge shoutout to Chris. Ujoint is a major sponsor on this build, and he has been super helpful to answer any and all questions I've had.
Congrats! My Ujoint 6" kit is being installed next week. Ditching my current tired Quigley setup.
My solution for headlights was to do an HID projector retrofit. I put the biggest bi-xenon projectors I could fit in some fresh eBay housings. i can give you a parts list if you are interested. Total cost was about $400 and a day of my time. Just involves a bunch of cutting, JB welding and aiming but the wiring is plug and play. It really is the best solution if you want real quality headlight output.
My solution for headlights was to do an HID projector retrofit. I put the biggest bi-xenon projectors I could fit in some fresh eBay housings. i can give you a parts list if you are interested. Total cost was about $400 and a day of my time. Just involves a bunch of cutting, JB welding and aiming but the wiring is plug and play. It really is the best solution if you want real quality headlight output.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
I'm very intrigued with projector retrofits. We'll see how much spare time I have to be retrofitting projectors when the time comes.
Even though they're kinda funky looking, I'm eyeballing the JW Speaker 8900 evolution LED headlights that DzlToy recommended.
http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8900-evolution/
Even though they're kinda funky looking, I'm eyeballing the JW Speaker 8900 evolution LED headlights that DzlToy recommended.
http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-headlights-model-8900-evolution/
I looked into those JW Speakers and I wasn't sold on them for the price, about $700 a set. I still feel that aftermarket LED headlights just don't throw enough light distance at speed compared to xenon. Plus their lumen output is less than one third of an HID projector. If I'm paying top dollar I want more than 850 lumens of output. My 2" driving LED driving lights out out 1200 lumens each.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
Hah, I mistook those to be $360/pair. They're $360 each. Out of my budget.
Which 2" LED driving lights are you using? What are the legalities of driving lights?
Which 2" LED driving lights are you using? What are the legalities of driving lights?
I bought my 15w driving lights from Sunyee International on eBay. They don't sell them anymore, but the only reason I bought those specific ones was because I had 2in holes in my bumper to fill when I removed my halogen bullet lights. I've purchased all my Osram branded bulb light bars from them and had good luck.
Legality really depends on the state and mood of a police officer. Sometimes I drive around with them on all the time. I've only once been flashed at by a police cruiser, never by other cars. They are floods so they light up the road directly in front and to the sides.
Legality really depends on the state and mood of a police officer. Sometimes I drive around with them on all the time. I've only once been flashed at by a police cruiser, never by other cars. They are floods so they light up the road directly in front and to the sides.
justcuz
Explorer
What is the Sterling out of? The later ones in pickups have a metric bolt pattern. I now recall that the Dana 60's were installed in vans long after pickups went to Sterlings. I am pretty sure the 8 on 6.5 bolt circle was used on all Dana 60's in vans. Did Chris at Ujoint have any recommendations?
I don't want to start a debate here in Steve's thread, but there are several high quality LED light companies building lights with ample output, distance, etc, for all types of vehicles and driving conditions.. In fact, Baja Designs makes a series specifically for night racing in the desert. Do you think those guys need to see where they are going at 100 - 125 MPH?
There is quite a bit of incorrect information out there regarding LED lights and the selection of proper lights for your appliction. Just buying "Cree" or "lumens" or "price" is not the answer. I can honestly recommend Baja Designs and J.W. Speaker as being top notch products. That quality, comes at a premium price, just like food, cars, tools and almost everything else in life.
As an example, going to OvEx two years ago in a mate's Dodge 2500: With a Baja Designs 20" light bar, we could easily illuminate signs that were measured to be about 2/3rds of a mile ahead in open areas. We were traveling about 80 mph and had no trouble seeing everything around us. Granted, you can't drive with a 8,000 lumen bar on everywhere, but that would apply with PIAA or HELLA pencil beam HIDs, bi-xenon OEM replacements or even standard high beam halogens. Simply, there are limits to light type, colour and output without blinding on-coming traffic or garnering a ticket, regardless of brand name, type, size, etc.
Steve, I am happy to edit this out, if you don't want it in here. To everyone else, educate yourself about LED lights and you will find there are solutions for almost every application, though not always budget friendly.
Cheers.
ujoint
Supporting Sponsor
Happy to be part of the build and look forward to the upcoming adventures!
Yes all 99/up Sterlings are 8 on 170mm. I prefer to use the 05-07's because they're a bit wider and I have the e-brake cables to make it plug & play. The 99-04's are fine, just takes a bit of adaptation to get the e-brake functional.
sixstringsteve
Explorer
It's very applicable and very relevant. Thanks for adding it.
Bikersmurf
Expedition Leader
Crestline sold Ambulances with driving lights wired to come on with the high beams. I've been running lights this way for 24
Years and never even had an officer comment on them... The last 10 years, my "Driving Lights" have been 7", 130W, ******** Cepek, Off Road lights. Even with those lights, I've never attracted any police attention.
So long as they are DOT legal, you should have no problems... Just don't mouth off to any Officers, then they'll give you an inspection notice and you'll have to tow it to the shop to get it.
Years and never even had an officer comment on them... The last 10 years, my "Driving Lights" have been 7", 130W, ******** Cepek, Off Road lights. Even with those lights, I've never attracted any police attention.
So long as they are DOT legal, you should have no problems... Just don't mouth off to any Officers, then they'll give you an inspection notice and you'll have to tow it to the shop to get it.