Headlight recommendations
Too many variables for there to be a pat, one-size-fits-all answer. In the first place, "reasonable cost" is a moving target. I'll do my best:
There are no longer any sealed beams worth buying anymore; they're all useless junk.
The best H4 replaceable-bulb 7" round headlamps are specific ones made in Japan by Koito; I have shelves full of 'em in large and small, round and rectangular. Here's the 7" round:
The only decent inexpensive replaceable-bulb 7" round headlamp is the Hella 002 395 301 (they also make others in the same size that suck, so make sure you get that specific part number).
Bulb quality makes a giant difference in how well you get to see at night, and there's a ton of junk there, too, including all "HID kits" and all "LED bulbs" and all halogen bulbs with significant blue tint on the capsule (all this applies equally to later-model vehicles that came with replaceable halogen bulbs).
Whatever headlamps you wind up running, new or old, their aim is by far the main thing that determines how well you can (or can't) see at night, and how much glare you're throwing around. Even many brand-new vehicles have poorly aimed lamps, so it's well worthwhile to pay to get your lamps are aimed carefully and correctly.
FABO member @crackedback sells excellent headlamp relay harnesses, and our A-bodies are among the many, many vehicles that get much easier to drive at night when the headlamp circuit gets upgraded (more detailed how-and-why info here).
For more help or answers more specific to a particular vehicle/driving conditions/etc, please send me a message.
Too many variables for there to be a pat, one-size-fits-all answer. In the first place, "reasonable cost" is a moving target. I'll do my best:
There are no longer any sealed beams worth buying anymore; they're all useless junk.
The best H4 replaceable-bulb 7" round headlamps are specific ones made in Japan by Koito; I have shelves full of 'em in large and small, round and rectangular. Here's the 7" round:
The only decent inexpensive replaceable-bulb 7" round headlamp is the Hella 002 395 301 (they also make others in the same size that suck, so make sure you get that specific part number).
Bulb quality makes a giant difference in how well you get to see at night, and there's a ton of junk there, too, including all "HID kits" and all "LED bulbs" and all halogen bulbs with significant blue tint on the capsule (all this applies equally to later-model vehicles that came with replaceable halogen bulbs).
Whatever headlamps you wind up running, new or old, their aim is by far the main thing that determines how well you can (or can't) see at night, and how much glare you're throwing around. Even many brand-new vehicles have poorly aimed lamps, so it's well worthwhile to pay to get your lamps are aimed carefully and correctly.
FABO member @crackedback sells excellent headlamp relay harnesses, and our A-bodies are among the many, many vehicles that get much easier to drive at night when the headlamp circuit gets upgraded (more detailed how-and-why info here).
For more help or answers more specific to a particular vehicle/driving conditions/etc, please send me a message.
