HID Headlights, and horsepower/performance questions.

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

So I have a couple questions, hopefully some of you gents may be able to help with. I am refering to my 1984 4x4 S10 Blazer 2.8 V6/5 speed. Real clean rig.

Question A:

I want to do an HID conversion for my headlights. In most cases, it seems like you get what you pay for. I see alot of cheap HID conversion kits. Are the cheap ones junk, or decent? Is there a brand, or higher quality brands I should stick with?

We get alot of deer, and live up dark, un-lit roads, so I want to invest in some good lighting. Thought of a nice set of running lights, but am not a huge fan of tumorous lights hanging off of my bumper.


Question B:

I live in an area where we dont have to go through emissions testing. So I have thought of at least deleting the catalytic converter to help gain a little power. I am also planning on putting on a flowmaster for sound and some performance. I have also considered removing all the pollution crap too, mainly because it is a bitch to get around everything under my hood. And then putting on an open element air filter to help it breathe a little easier.

So would removing all the pollution crap from under the hood do more harm than good? I don't wanna lose much, if any fuel economy. Averaging 30k+ miles a year, every MPG counts.

Would deleting the cat, and installing an open element air filter make a big enough difference in performance to make it worth my while? Or am I just wasting my time? It looks to have been replaced at one point or another. This little guy could use a little more grunt if I can give it to her.



Thanks in advance for any help advise. I drive alot, and this rig is a clean truck. So I want to give it the love it deserves... Even if it does have the crappy 2.8 in it. Eventually it will get all toyota drive train and an SAS. But thats down the road....

 

[TANK]

I have yet to see a difference in the cheap vs. expensive HID kits. Guys at my work run both. One guy payed "i believe he said" $200. But he's had his for a while. and another guy just got some ebay'ers for like $60 or $70 and you cannot see a difference. The only thing I could see being a problem is bulb life. But time will tell. They have the same K's also.

as far as the smog stuff. I would be careful because a lot of engines are tuned around that crap. So unless you want to start messing with air/fuel and stuff you might want to just throw the flow on it and grab a cool intake or open element filter like you said and run it."thumbsup"

just my opinions.

 

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

I was leaning that way. There is no computer in this rig. And I have been studying all the vacuum ports. There are only 3 that need to be hooked up, and they run off of the carb obviously. I just get pissed when a process that should literally take minutes, turns into hours, because I cant get my hands into anything.


But I may just keep it all on except the Cat for any future buyers. That is not hooked up to the smog pump or anything. There aren't even O2 sensors on this thing.

 

[jwalker]

the hid kits on ebay are not to bad. as for cutting the cats out you wont see any gain in hp most of the time you will actually loose power and you will smeel the unburnt fuel really bad, especially in a blazer. some times the stock cat has a better horsepower gain than aftermarkets as well, only time it helps is if you have a wild built motor. i ran both and dynoed both and the stock was better.

 

[toyofast]

Chris, I wouldn't spend more than $150 for a HID conversion for your Blazer. I'd say if you have sealed beams now, upgrade those and then add more lights to light the terrain.

I added some brighter lights to the Xterra and when traveling over to my folks place in Central Oregon at night I'm still wanting more light but in all directions in front of me. I'm looking at adding about 4 more lights up front.

But I may just keep it all on except the Cat for any future buyers. That is not hooked up to the smog pump or anything. There aren't even O2 sensors on this thing.

I don't buy this because according to the info I can pull up on your rig, it'll be just ahead of the cat;-) Napa sells them for about $22.:lmao:

 

[Failedabortion]

I'm running a cheap hid kit in my dd and it works just fine. I'm also running 1300 watts rms to comps and a sub with no dimming on a 100a alt and stock battery. Leaves more power for the other important things...

If the emissions equipment is working I would leave it on as you will most likely lose mileage by removing it.

 

[kennyj]

I will be the first to disagree with the ebay hid kits. I ordered 2 kits off ebay and both failed within 6 months. I finally went and paid $150 from a local shop and they have been fine ever since. It is a very good investment though. I will never own a vehicle without them again.

 

[constantmotion]

Cannot go wrong with DDM Tuning for HID kits. Lifetime warranty.

 

[dkf]

So would removing all the pollution crap from under the hood do more harm than good?

Yes. Also EGR systems actually help with mpg. I would make sure the vehicle is tuned up good and maybe switch to synthetic fluids in the diffs and transfer case which help especially in cold climates.

Would deleting the cat, and installing an open element air filter make a big enough difference in performance to make it worth my while?

Not unless the cat is clogged. That said I'm not a fan of a cat on any carbureted vehicles. Carburetors just do not control the fuel near as well as a more modern EFI system.

As for the HIDs, I had read about guys in forums having focusing and light pattern issues with some of the cheaper HIDs. I'd add some AUX lighting which will produce a wider light pattern than the headlights. As bulbs age they lose light output.

 

[ol' gravy leg]

Cannot go wrong with DDM Tuning for HID kits. Lifetime warranty.

x2 that's where I got mine. "thumbsup"

 

[RANOVRU]

On the lights Im no help.


As far as the other, if its carb'd it shouldnt have that much emission stuff on it. Maybe a smog pump?? There arent any real "performance" gains to be made by doing what youre talking about, however, I know all about cramped engine bays and sometimes that in itself is worth removing everything. Shouldnt be a big deal because of how old your truck is. If the cat is in good shape Id leave it on. Only time Ive cut them out & put a pipe in place is when they start to fall apart inside & I dont have or feel like spending the coin for a new one.

 

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

I don't buy this because according to the info I can pull up on your rig, it'll be just ahead of the cat;-) Napa sells them for about $22.:lmao:

Berto...


Your compy fails at giving accurate info. I have already looked in this thing, and all over the entire exhaust system. There is no o2 sensor or comp. The truck was a high elevation model, and the only 2 wires going to the carb, are the electronic choke, and the heated base gasket. Then there are 6 vacuum hoses on the carb, and 2 diaphragms attached to it for the upper flappers.

Chevrolet did some weird stuff. I surely thought it would have o2 sensors, and a computer for the carb, but if my memory serves me right, they really didn't start doing either until 85-86 in the cars and S10's. Although, our 83 Camaro growing up had all that stuff.... Hard to say. I just know mine doesn't have it.



Looks like I will keep all the emissions crap on, put on the flowy and open element filter. I did just put on a newer carb, that I bought for a core, and it actuals runs a bunch better. Has noticeably more power.




Perhaps, I will consider some brighter sealed beams, and just some nice running lights. Any suggestions for a good set of running lights?

 

[dragit]

hids

i have run hids for the last 8plus yrs. the first set i had i paid 250-300 for a mccullough kit, it lasted 5+years loved it but i have a 60.00 set in my full size for the last 3yrs that work just as good, if you pay over 70 bucks for hids your getting ripped, also if you do hids go with a 5500k or 6000k kit at most any higher in temp range you lose light quality and they look like a stupid blue mess."thumbsup"

 

[toyofast]

Berto...


Your compy fails at giving accurate info. I have already looked in this thing, and all over the entire exhaust system. There is no o2 sensor or comp. The truck was a high elevation model, and the only 2 wires going to the carb, are the electronic choke, and the heated base gasket. Then there are 6 vacuum hoses on the carb, and 2 diaphragms attached to it for the upper flappers.

Chevrolet did some weird stuff. I surely thought it would have o2 sensors, and a computer for the carb, but if my memory serves me right, they really didn't start doing either until 85-86 in the cars and S10's. Although, our 83 Camaro growing up had all that stuff.... Hard to say. I just know mine doesn't have it.

I'm still not buying it. I can't imagine it not having one.

Perhaps, I will consider some brighter sealed beams, and just some nice running lights. Any suggestions for a good set of running lights?

Have you looked into Round Eye's conversion?
http://www.roundeyes.com/Replacement_Headlamps-Rectangular_Conversion_Headlamps.html

Might be the ticket for you.

 

[aztitan]

ddm tuning.com

bought mine there, less than $50 a set, lifetime warranty. There are a big hit on titantalk, scionlife, j-body.org and numerous others. Ive had mine for 3 years in my car(headlights and fog lights) and 5+years on my truck, just headlights.

A++++

search online, they are plug and play and all i found were positive reviews,

 

[4xFord]

Cannot go wrong with DDM Tuning for HID kits. Lifetime warranty.

X3 Killer price and product. "thumbsup"

 

[Chris_The_Battery_Man]

Brett,


What would be the advantage of the round eyes compared to the HID conversion. After doing a little digging, it looks like it will cost me about 130 minus shipping, to do a nice 5000k HID conversion. The buckets for the lights are what's going to cost a grip. The kit from that ddm tuning is just right.


I was also going a little looking at long distance driving lights. Any suggestions there?

 

[Etype R]

I have round eyes and I love them. I also ran two different HID kits. The first one failed in less then a year. The second one lasted a little longer, but I did have to replace a ballast on it. Eventually a bulb or ballast failed. I decided to go back to normal bulbs, as I was sick of working on the HID lights.

I loved the first kit I had, which was a tru bi-xenon kit. It had a hi and low beam element in the bulb, very bright high beams and a clean pattern. The second kit I got, which was the warrenty replacement for the first kit had a moving reflector for the bulb. The beam was scattered, and the high beams were pathetic. If I can find another decent true bi-xenon kit I might switch back to them again.

 

[toyofast]

Brett,


What would be the advantage of the round eyes compared to the HID conversion. After doing a little digging, it looks like it will cost me about 130 minus shipping, to do a nice 5000k HID conversion. The buckets for the lights are what's going to cost a grip. The kit from that ddm tuning is just right.

Just on the fact of easy replacement bulbs when going with Round Eyes conversion. Sure you can buy HID replacement bulbs but have to buy them in pairs and replace them in pairs if you want the color to be the same.

If you were on your way to K-Falls in the middle of the night, HID bulb or ballast quits on you, Mr. OSP will get you for sure since out in BFE you'll be the perfect target for a ticket. While Round Eyes conversion lets you use simple and cheap H4 bulbs. So tossing an extra H4 bulb into the glove box is easier....IMO.

If it were me, I'd go with Round Eyes......but HID's give you that cool factor I guess.

 

[Grizzly4x4]

So I have a couple questions, hopefully some of you gents may be able to help with. I am refering to my 1984 4x4 S10 Blazer 2.8 V6/5 speed. Real clean rig.

Question A:

I want to do an HID conversion for my headlights. In most cases, it seems like you get what you pay for. I see alot of cheap HID conversion kits. Are the cheap ones junk, or decent? Is there a brand, or higher quality brands I should stick with?

We get alot of deer, and live up dark, un-lit roads, so I want to invest in some good lighting. Thought of a nice set of running lights, but am not a huge fan of tumorous lights hanging off of my bumper.


Question B:

I live in an area where we dont have to go through emissions testing. So I have thought of at least deleting the catalytic converter to help gain a little power. I am also planning on putting on a flowmaster for sound and some performance. I have also considered removing all the pollution crap too, mainly because it is a bitch to get around everything under my hood. And then putting on an open element air filter to help it breathe a little easier.

So would removing all the pollution crap from under the hood do more harm than good? I don't wanna lose much, if any fuel economy. Averaging 30k+ miles a year, every MPG counts.

Would deleting the cat, and installing an open element air filter make a big enough difference in performance to make it worth my while? Or am I just wasting my time? It looks to have been replaced at one point or another. This little guy could use a little more grunt if I can give it to her.



Thanks in advance for any help advise. I drive alot, and this rig is a clean truck. So I want to give it the love it deserves... Even if it does have the crappy 2.8 in it. Eventually it will get all toyota drive train and an SAS. But thats down the road....

Catalytic converters should not hurt performance on a vehicle like yours unless they are plugged up. I won't tell you to get rid of a cat because I think certain emissions equipment on vehicles is a good thing.

An open element air filter should help the motor breathe better but won't make much difference unless you retune the carb or it is already running rich. Same with the cat, if you pull it off and don't retune the carb it really won't be much benefit.

Bottom line is that I don't think pulling emissions equipment is going to get you any mpg gains and will be a waste of your time.