Topic: Are you Square?

[Oilsmoke]

So Who loves there Square Headlight?  If one was to Up grade there Lights what would you use?

[Jeffy]

Eh, I don't look at the front that much.    For extra candle power, I prefer to use aux. lights.  I have PIAA 540's on ym Jeep right now.  I like them because I get both a wide Fog Light as well as a narrower driving light. (both are 55w so I can use them onroad and off.)  The biggest problem I have with Jeep headlights, CJ/YJ/TJ, is that the lights are too high and too close to each other.  So, it like one beam while driving.  The wider beam of the fogs help up close to laminate the whole road.  Although when speeds pick up or there is a need for more light further out, I switch to the driving lights which are a lot brighter then the headlights.

I have some cheaper PIAA 60 series lights that I used to have up front.  Now I use one as a reverse light.  I should probably swap it out for a $5 light though, LOL!

My other set of lights which aren't on the Jeep anymore are 6" round Cebie Ion.  I loved these lights when they were working.  The Ion bulbs look clear but when you turn them on they go yellow.  A 55W Ion is about as bright as a 80-90w bulb.  The lights are big since the lens is 6".  There isn't anything fancy with the reflector or housing but it is nicer then your ordinary KC's.  I might run then again since the reflector is better then the ones in my smaller lights, but mounting a huge light is a pain.  Not to mention the covers are all but gone.  Hard plastic covers don't last long in the sun.  Larger lights are more susceptible to rock chips.

If I was going to buy some inexpensive lights, I'd probably go with Hella lights. IPF's are fairly good too but cost a lot more.

Another thing to keep in mind is mounting.  Don't mount them too far forward.  I have mine mounted so they are not the first thing up front.  My 940's have survived two accidents up front.  There's a small chip in the glass but it's not a crack and still seals fine.  Oh one other thing, lights don't like water.  You'll burn out the bulbs in no time if they get too much moisture inside the housing.  Make sure the drains are pointed down.  You might have to take the light apart to flip the whole housing or lens around.

Oh and as for headlight replacements, I've heard people use Silvania Silver Stars.  I thought about using them but I don't really need more light now.  Even though they are brighter, they will still have a limited pattern.  There are some H3 conversions for the sealbeams, but again, if it rains a lot or the headlights get dunked, they will burn out fast.

[chrisfranklin]

I personally like the square ones.  When the CJs weren't selling well, the YJs -- square lights and all -- got the sales numbers back up.  Frankly, if the YJ had round headlights from the factory, I don't believe it would have sold as well at the time it was produced.  It would have been like, "(yawn) Wow same old Jeep but with fuel injection...maybe I'll look at that new '89 Miata" instead.

I like the TJ, JK, CJs ok too but the TJ and JK lights were the idea of the DC Wonderkins -- as in, "oh Yaah, lets make a Jeep that looks like the ones we used to commandere in WW2     

[jeepheap]

i like the square head lights! i grew up with them so it's what i like. (i'm 28) my first experience with a jeep was a scrambler, but even then i thought it was old, i was like 7. the square head lights make me think of all those 80's movies i love and what i always thought was cool.

but now i know that just about any jeep is cool. (except compass, patriot, and commader.)

[Oilsmoke]

I am after Headlight replacement. Here are a few choices

I am a Fan of 4wd.com  Is there better place, Customer service has be good to me and shippings fair.

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=78&plID=0&partID=3311
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=78&plID=0&partID=3310
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=79&plID=0&partID=10181

[Jeffy]

I am after Headlight replacement. Here are a few choices

I am a Fan of 4wd.com  Is there better place, Customer service has be good to me and shippings fair.

http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=78&plID=0&partID=3311
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=78&plID=0&partID=3310
http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?jeep-sid=79&plID=0&partID=10181

I'd go with the Hella.  Delta is a newer company and doesn't really sell high end lights.

BTW: 4WDH is owned by the same parent company as 4WPW now.  Notice all of the Pro-Comp Explorer gear in their last catalog?  I hope they don't get as bad as 4WPW.  I used to buy whatever from 4WDH over Qtech when possible.

[Oilsmoke]

Who's the parent Co?

[Jeffy]

Who's the parent Co?

LOS ANGELES--Feb. 14, 2006--Transamerican Auto Parts Company, LLC and its affiliated entities (collectively, "Transamerican Auto Parts") are pleased to announce the acquisition of Four Wheel Drive Hardware, LLC ("Four Wheel Drive Hardware" or the "Company"). Founded in 1977, the Columbiana, Ohio based Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a leading catalog and internet retailer of Jeep aftermarket parts and accessories. In addition, through its Performance Products division, Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a leader in Porsche, Mercedes, Toyota truck and domestic truck aftermarket parts and accessories. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Senior management of Four Wheel Drive Hardware, led by President Barry Ryan, will continue to lead the Company after the acquisition.

"Transamerican Auto Parts is one of the largest automotive aftermarket parts and accessories companies in the country, and with the addition of Four Wheel Drive Hardware and Performance Products, they will now be a leader in the automotive aftermarket for Jeeps, Porsches, and Mercedes," said Barry Ryan, President of Four Wheel Drive Hardware.

"Our entire organization is excited about this acquisition," said Greg Adler, CEO of Transamerican Auto Parts. "Four Wheel Drive Hardware has done a terrific job in the catalog and internet Jeep business. Transamerican started in the Jeep business in 1961, and this acquisition brings us back to our roots. We see tremendous synergies between both of our great organizations, and we look forward to taking advantage of these opportunities."

"Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a great fit with Transamerican Auto Parts," said Bo Arlander, Senior Managing Director of BSMB, the lead investor that provided the equity for the transaction. "We look forward to growing the businesses and achieving synergies in this combination."

Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal counsel to Transamerican Auto Parts.

About Transamerican Auto Parts:

Founded in the fall of 1961, Transamerican Auto Parts is a leading participant in aftermarket parts and accessories for light trucks, Jeeps, sport utility vehicles, and other four-wheel drive vehicles. The Company sells tires and wheels, suspension systems, drivetrains, accessories, and other products (i) to consumers through 45 retail locations in 17 states under the 4 Wheel Parts Performance Centers name, (ii) to more than 4,000 wholesale customers, including specialty auto parts stores, tire and wheel stores, repair and garage shops, internet retailers and jobbers under the Transamerican Wholesale name, and (iii) to consumers and businesses through mail order and internet operations under the 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers name. The Company also operates a manufacturing business that sells tires and wheels, suspension systems and accessories under the Pro Comp brand name, both through the Company's own distribution channels as well as through third parties. Transamerican Auto Parts is currently majority-owned by Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, the private equity affiliate of The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. .

About Four Wheel Drive Hardware:

Founded in 1977 in Columbiana, Ohio, Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a leading catalog and internet retailer of Jeep, Porsche, Mercedes, Toyota truck and domestic truck aftermarket parts and accessories. The Company offers Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee aftermarket parts and accessories through its "4WD" catalogs and website (www.4WD.com), and the Company offers Porsche, Mercedes, Toyota truck and domestic truck parts and accessories through its "Performance Products" catalogs and website (www.performanceproducts.com).

About BSMB:

BSMB, the private equity affiliate of The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., invests private equity capital in compelling leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital opportunities alongside superior management teams. BSMB is currently investing its $1.5 billion institutional private equity fund. Since its inception in 1997, BSMB has been an investor in over 40 portfolio companies across a broad range of industries. In addition to Transamerican Auto Parts, recent investments by BSMB include: ACA Capital Holdings, Balducci's, CamelBak Products, Cavalry Investments, New York & Company, Reddy Ice, Seven For All Mankind, Stuart Weitzman and Vitamin Shoppe. More information about BSMB can be found at www.bsmb.com.

[dexetr30]

I use Q-tec whenever possible. They have great customer support and usually call me before I can call them if there is a problem with my order.

As to which lights I prefer... Round TJ. I've had nothing but bad experiences with the YJ's I've had. I'm sure it's mostly my own fault but I won't be buying a YJ any time soon unless it looks like it rolled off the showroom floor. As for CJ's... I have no experience with them so I don't have an opinion so far.

[chardrc]

i used to not like the square lighted yj's that is until i got mine now they have grown on me.

[Oilsmoke]

After Reading the replys and doing some internet research  I pick the Sylvania H6054ST Silverstar Over the Hella Conversion. I saved 40 dollars which  can be used to invest in a set of Offroad lights mounted at the lower windshield hinge.
Cost was 19.99 each at autozone.

[lutzke21]

Using IPF conversion with H4s and PIAA 520s...

...and I like it that way.

[Colin]

I'm actually planning on doing a CJ conversion hood/grill/fenders to the front of my YJ this winter. It's not that I really dislike the square headlights whatsoever, but I like the older look of the CJ grill. It also gives me an interesting, easy, inexpensive (relatively speaking) project.

I do plan on replacing the stock headlights with some aftermarket ones though for brightness.

[OD Joe]

  Love the square headlights.  IMHO, the angular lights and grill make the YJ look more aggressive.  I like the look of the old CJ's too, and even the TJ has grown on me a bit since I first got my Jeep.  The JK creeps me out, though.  Looks like some weird TJ/Liberty experiment gone horribly wrong.  And whose idea was it to put 4 doors on a Wrangler?  Isn't that one of the signs of the Apocalypse, right up with raining frogs and locusts?
  Maybe it's just where I live here in Northern KY, but all the JK owners I've seen are rather snobbish.  They've got their polo shirts on, and their noses so high in the air they probably just can't see me wave at them.  And for some unimaginable reason, they all own hardtop/full steel door versions.  The whole point of having removable tops/doors is to REMOVE them and have fun.  Of course, people said TJ owners were yuppie in the beginning too.  Maybe it takes longer for some people to understand that Jeep thing all the stickers are talking about.

[jeepheap]

yuppie? for the 4-doors? hell they called it the yuppie jeep for yj!