Grille Install

[OUMike]

Lookin' to replace my stock (cheap plastic) grile with a new chrome one from Mr. Taillight. I figure I might as well replace the head lights as well. Few questions..

 

1) Is this job easy?

2) Are the diamond headlights really worth the extra money?

3) Which bulbs are popular for good low beams? I understand they make aftermarket bulbs that burn a little brighter.

 

Thanks everyone...

[Bacona42]

I use to drive a Silverado ; here is my 2 cents as I was the owner of it for 4 years.

 

1) Is this job easy?

 

Yes, if you can read and have simple tools. Some, I know require the part to be cut out then placed in as mine required on my old truck, and it took my friend about 30 min to do with proper cutting tools. (clips were included) I think they make some that clip on over it now...but following the instructions, my friend said it was easy.

 

 

2) Are the diamond headlights really worth the extra money?

 

They look awesome and add style to your truck...if you go with new Headlights...go with new Diamond Clear Corners ($12 ebay) and Clear Diamond Parking lamps ($20 ebay). Headlights use to be really expensive before the new body style came out and you can get them now for about ($80 ebay). Drill a whole in them and put a strobe system...looks awesome. Add's great style...but projection was not any different than the factory headlights.

 

 

3) Which bulbs are popular for good low beams? I understand they make aftermarket bulbs that burn a little brighter.

 

As for bulbs...I think they are #5007 and #5009...some they sell are "off road use only" which are more blueish and brighter as I have notied. I installed a pair of them and got pulled over for having to bright of headlights in my small hick town. Before that, I had problems with them drawing to much power as the watts were different. 80w or 100w vs 55w and it burnt my switch twice and it had to be replaced. E-bay...(i am an e-bay junkie) has good headlights for cheaper prices that transmit a more white light in which you can see a lot better down the road. With those I never had any problems. I bought a set of low beams and high beams for $15 total new online ebay and I have had no problems with them drawing to much power. In my truck now, I have clear headlights and the blue bulb looks nice too when just parked and when on the road, the lights are bright white. Silverstar's are nice and last a long time and my friends llike them, but they also cost near $25 a pair. Trial and Error is the way I went. It depends on what money you are willing to spend and what kind of light you want to come out...blueish hue....hiper white...or factory off white color. Go to AutoZone or Advance Autoparts and just take a look at the selection.

 

Hope this helps. I'm not an expert, but this is what I have experienced.

[OUMike]

Thanks a lot!!

 

I actually prefer the red corners and parklamps (i know...lame right?), and the kit that I'm buying from Mr. Taillight comes with the 100% all chrome grille and a new set of parklamps. Both of my headlights are pretty discolored so I thought I'd get some new ones, and I saw those diamond ones claim to never discolor or anything because they are glass.

 

I'm going for an OEM look...but with the chrome grille I think taht will really set things off. My truck is black and the paint is pretty good (considerings its 11 years old) so I think this will work out good.

 

The Diamond headlights are bloody expensive though. Mr. Taillight wants like $160 for the pair. Gotta be cheaper somewhere? I think i'll check out ebay and see what I can find. I think I'll check out the Silverstar bulbs for the low beams. Do they make a low and a high beam?

 

Thanks again

[Bacona42]

Headlights: Go to ebay and type in- Silverado Headlights

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=33710

 

Here is a pair that are ending soon, for more money you could get cooler ones. These tend not to turn yellow which are a plus as we know how unatractive it is to have "tinted" ones. haha NASTY

 

Hey I have have misconstrued your meaning of grille. I didn't know if you meant grille Shell or Grill Inserts? If you were talking about the Chrome inserts...that was really easy to do (30 min tops) If you are replacing the whole assembly, I bet you can have that done in 30-45 min tops if that. The most time consuming part will be taking out screws and disconecting lights. The parking lamps have 4 screws in each one that need to be removed i beleive then the headlight, you have to take out the rods holding the lamps into place. Take out the bulbs in all of them. The corner lenses will stay attached ( just remove the bulb. Ditch your old grille and put the new one on. Your Filler piece is between the grill and bumper...it may come off with the grille shell so keep that and attach to new one. If putting new corners on (which I still think clear ones are awesome! haha...you'll have to get some new self taping nuts for the job that will fit. I went to local hardware shop and got new ones for like .40 total. It's a painless job. As far as corners, you said red ones?? U mean orange? I'm confused as I have not seen red Corner lenses?? Yes they do have silverstar high and low beams...I would go to the store and find them as they have them everywhere almost.

 

Whitest

SilverStar's color temperature is a white hot 4,000 K, far higher than other halogens on the market and comparable to High Intensity Discharge headlights.

 

Brightest

SilverStar shines with a luminance up to 20% greater than other halogens.

 

Have fun.

[Bgdsub72]

Diamond headlights are a huge imporvement, but get the diamond park lamps and clear corners to match. The grill swap is a very easy job, just take out the park lamps and all of the screws holding it on and stick you hand in the park lamp holes and release the clips that hold the bottom. The grill should just pop right off.

[OUMike]

Headlights: Go to ebay and type in- Silverado Headlights

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...&category=33710

 

Here is a pair that are ending soon, for more money you could get cooler ones.  These tend not to turn yellow which are a plus as we know how unatractive it is to have "tinted" ones.  haha NASTY

 

Hey I have have misconstrued your meaning of grille.  I didn't know if you meant grille Shell or Grill Inserts?  If you were talking about the Chrome inserts...that was really easy to do (30 min tops)  If you are replacing the whole assembly, I bet you can have that done in 30-45 min tops if that.  The most time consuming part will be taking out screws and disconecting lights.  The parking lamps have 4 screws in each one that need to be removed i beleive then the headlight, you have to take out the rods holding the lamps into place.  Take out the bulbs in all of them.  The corner lenses will stay attached (  just remove the bulb.  Ditch your old grille and put the new one on.  Your Filler piece is between the grill and bumper...it may come off with the grille shell so keep that and attach to new one.  If putting new corners on (which I still think clear ones are awesome! haha...you'll have to get some new self taping nuts for the job that will fit.  I went to local hardware shop and got new ones for like .40 total.  It's a painless job.  As far as corners, you said red ones??  U mean orange?  I'm confused as I have not seen red Corner lenses??  Yes they do have silverstar high and low beams...I would go to the store and find them as they have them everywhere almost.

 

Whitest

SilverStar's color temperature is a white hot 4,000 K, far higher than other halogens on the market and comparable to High Intensity Discharge headlights.

 

Brightest

SilverStar shines with a luminance up to 20% greater than other halogens.

 

Have fun.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

yea, I'm lookin' for the entire thing. My grille is all torn up, so I'll be replaceing the whole unit.

 

Thanks for the help everyone. I think I'm gonna go with the Silverstar lights and the kit from Mr. Taillight. That kit comes with grille, parklamps and fillers. I'm not sure about what I'm gonna do for headlights just yet but I know I'm probably not gonna spend $160 for ones they got on Mr. Taillight.

 

EDIT - I found some Phillips Blue Vision on the net this morning. Has anyone tried this bulbs? They are supposed to give that HID look. Anyone??

[citydriver]

I bought the whole kit from Mr.Taillight for my GMC, but I purchased the Black/Chrome grill(I'm CHEAP). the whole kit contained the Diamond Glass headlights, clear corners and Park/turn lamps. The headlights are cool and work great, I have Silverstars in them, highs and lows.

The fit of the grill was a little off and required some gentle pursuasion , but that may have been due to some minor body work that was done to the truck before I purchased it.

The headlights and clear park/turn/corners are APC, I did do some minor mods to the lights to improve the moisture seals...I used CLEAR windsheild silicone to re- seal the seams of the headlights. I also laid a bead of silicone to the park/turn lamps, then I carefully drilled 1/8" holes in the back of them, just above and to the sides of the bulbs for better heat/moisture venting....the Clear corners are still in the box, I left the amber ones on 'cause I need the reflectors for State Inspection.

I've had them installed for about a year now, without any problems other than the Chrome on the grill requiring more frequent cleaning and polishing thru the winter. The Glass headlights are heavier than the stock ones, just handle them with care as to not drop them......

[DougsTJ2]

Diamond headlights are a huge imporvement, but get the diamond park lamps and clear corners to match.  The grill swap is a very easy job, just take out the park lamps and all of the screws holding it on and stick you hand in the park lamp holes and release the clips that hold the bottom.  The grill should just pop right off.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I've done searches but can't find much info about these headlights. What is their link?

 

Yeah, the lights look cool, but do they light up the road better? What bulbs do they use?

 

Thanks in advance...

[citydriver]

Diamond headlights are a huge imporvement, but get the diamond park lamps and clear corners to match.  The grill swap is a very easy job, just take out the park lamps and all of the screws holding it on and stick you hand in the park lamp holes and release the clips that hold the bottom.  The grill should just pop right off.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I've done searches but can't find much info about these headlights. What is their link?

 

Yeah, the lights look cool, but do they light up the road better? What bulbs do they use?

 

Thanks in advance...

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

Here's the LINK to Mr.Taillight .com. You can also check the other Pref. Vendors Links on this site, or even eBay.