96 "sport" package...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

SrBernelli

Junior Member
Joined
May 15, 2018
Posts
11
Reaction score
4
Location
Fort Mill, SC
Ram Year
1996
Engine
318
My restoration toy is a 96 1500 with the "sport" package. Previous owner bashed in the front a bit and I'm collecting parts to repair/upgrade her. I'm liking a set of 1 piece aftermarket headlights, but they say they won't work with "sport" models. I BELIEVE the sport package for 96 was just a body color painted front end... but I could very well be mistaken
So.... in 1996, a "sport" package differed from stock how?

Thanks
 

dodge dude94

Millennial Boomer
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Posts
27,745
Reaction score
6,426
Location
East Texas
Ram Year
1998 Ram 1500
Engine
5.9 Magnum
First and foremost: Welcome.

Secondly, Sport package trucks were merely SLTs with body color painted bumpers and fascias. That's all. No more, no less.

Thirdly, one piece headlights, while some think they look good, are absolute trash.
Find a set of two piece headlights. I say this because the one piece units fit horrible, even if you're not trying to aim them. The second you try and get a usable beam of light out of them they stick out at odd angles. Because of this, one piece headlights for these trucks generally break after a couple months.


If you want an UPGRADE that is factory, buy a set of NFC/CAPA certified 99+ Sport repop headlights. They're a clear lense, dual bulb headlight. Use the more modern 9007 55W bulb for the low beam and the 9004 bulb for high. You'll have to clearance the headlight pockets in your fenders but they're worth it.

You will have to buy a Sport conversion harness with relay kit for them to work, HOWEVER, those harnesses are badass in that they pull juice directly from the battery, not through your headlight switch and multifunction stalk. That being said, that harness will make them even brighter than if they were on a 99 new.
 
OP
OP
SrBernelli

SrBernelli

Junior Member
Joined
May 15, 2018
Posts
11
Reaction score
4
Location
Fort Mill, SC
Ram Year
1996
Engine
318
I appreciate the welcome, and the reply. My 96 is a shortbed, Larame with the works as far as options (power everything, a.c. woodgrain dash, etc) The "sport" package being one more.
I'm more than a little disappointed to hear that the one piece light assemblies are pretty crappy. I was looking forward to the look of a slightly smoke tinted light assembly. So they're pretty much all junk?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mop

dodge dude94

Millennial Boomer
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Posts
27,745
Reaction score
6,426
Location
East Texas
Ram Year
1998 Ram 1500
Engine
5.9 Magnum
If you want to see at night don't ever go with a smoke lens. Black housing is okay, smoke is not. By and large one piece are bad. Two piece will offer you better fitment and proper alignment.
 
OP
OP
SrBernelli

SrBernelli

Junior Member
Joined
May 15, 2018
Posts
11
Reaction score
4
Location
Fort Mill, SC
Ram Year
1996
Engine
318
The assemblies I was looking at are black with a clear lens. I was hot rodding back in the 80s and 90s enough to know completely tinted sucks at night. Lol
This is what I had in mind

2lh-ram94jm-abm-sample1.jpg
 

EvilSpirit

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Posts
265
Reaction score
83
Ram Year
1996
Engine
5.9 Magnum
Secondly, Sport package trucks were merely SLTs with body color painted bumpers and fascias. That's all. No more, no less.

My black 96 SLT/Sport came with black grill, front bumper/fascia, rear bumper, and mirrors. Has SLT badging on cab by rear side windows and said SPORT in red on rear sides of box. So yes, just a trim package.
 

dodge dude94

Millennial Boomer
Joined
Sep 5, 2013
Posts
27,745
Reaction score
6,426
Location
East Texas
Ram Year
1998 Ram 1500
Engine
5.9 Magnum
The assemblies I was looking at are black with a clear lens. I was hot rodding back in the 80s and 90s enough to know completely tinted sucks at night. Lol
This is what I had in mind

View attachment 140566
Sorry I'm just now getting back. Switching to a 6-2:30 shift is a pain.

Anyway, yeah, 1 piece housings are going to be a bear to aim and will likely either break or leak a short while down the road.
 

Bigtman07

Registered User
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Posts
9,329
Reaction score
287
Location
Piqua, Ohio
Ram Year
2000
Engine
Cummins 5.9
Always had one piece lenses on my trucks. Never had an issue. Set I have now had the Retro Treatment. Other than they are getting old and faded worked great. I agree on smoked though. If you like to see at night smoked is not fun.
 

RAMbunktious98

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
Posts
19
Reaction score
19
Ram Year
1998
Engine
5.2 Magnum
Sorry I'm just now getting back. Switching to a 6-2:30 shift is a pain.

Anyway, yeah, 1 piece housings are going to be a bear to aim and will likely either break or leak a short while down the road.
I installed a one piece and I'm really satisfied with it. I did go to the extreme and cut out some of the steel to get to my adjustment screws but other than that I'm loving it8f05bf531c5137d61b43193e91a15357.jpgc1cf60b525f98d9e5c92504f6df51949.jpg

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Bigtman07

Registered User
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Posts
9,329
Reaction score
287
Location
Piqua, Ohio
Ram Year
2000
Engine
Cummins 5.9
^^^^That is one thing I wish I would have done originally. Getting to the adjuster screw on the aftermarkets is a PITA.^^^^
 

dapepper9

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Posts
5,908
Reaction score
2,224
Location
Iowa/Nebraska Border
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9L V8
My problem with one piece is they're rarely levelb or if they are they point really low. Ive dealt with a fair amount of them doing projector retrofits in them and they're ****. A 2pc will outperform them everytime and unless you're doing paint work. I haven't been able to open 2pc corners yet so no painting on them. The only set of 1pc ive ever dealt with that had any sort of respectable fitment was my old SpecD halos and those were garbage in output and tacky to look at. Cool for 16-17yr old but otherwise trash
 

RAMbunktious98

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
Posts
19
Reaction score
19
Ram Year
1998
Engine
5.2 Magnum
My problem with one piece is they're rarely levelb or if they are they point really low. Ive dealt with a fair amount of them doing projector retrofits in them and they're ****. A 2pc will outperform them everytime and unless you're doing paint work. I haven't been able to open 2pc corners yet so no painting on them. The only set of 1pc ive ever dealt with that had any sort of respectable fitment was my old SpecD halos and those were garbage in output and tacky to look at. Cool for 16-17yr old but otherwise trash
I've heard some of these one piece has their cons. I haven't had any problems with this set. When I first installed them I had my regrets. Driver's side was shooting straight up to Mars and passenger side was blinding oncoming traffic lol. But when I opened up the sockets an was able to have access ( with a right angle drive ) it made a world of difference. I've had these for about 8 months now and not one problem.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Snowmanak406

Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2013
Posts
77
Reaction score
6
Location
MT
Ram Year
1997
Engine
Magnum 5.9
sport model headlights differ from not sport as they have 2 bulbs, separate high/low bulbs, while non-sport has a single 9004 bulb. (i believe they had started doing this in 99?-02).
i am debating on going for the sport model and getting a HID projector retro. dapepper9, what retro kit(s) did you use and what one in your opinion is the best/easiest for fit/finish/quality?
 

dapepper9

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Posts
5,908
Reaction score
2,224
Location
Iowa/Nebraska Border
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9L V8
sport model headlights differ from not sport as they have 2 bulbs, separate high/low bulbs, while non-sport has a single 9004 bulb. (i believe they had started doing this in 99?-02).
i am debating on going for the sport model and getting a HID projector retro. dapepper9, what retro kit(s) did you use and what one in your opinion is the best/easiest for fit/finish/quality?
I would do either sport or retro. Doing both would:
A. Cost a fortune
B. Introduce a huge headache
C. Look funky.

Adapting to the 99+ sport setup would take a proper wiring job. Then if you do a retro on top of that, you're looking at either quad projectors (difficult, doesnt line up well and looks weird) or a projector + an LED high beam (useless when paired with a projector).

Sport with good halogens can be done relatively budget friendly, looks good and clean, performs well and doesn't attract the attention of an otherwise nosey cop.

Retrofit looks killer and performs killer but can attract the attention of aforementioned nosey cop and requires a bit of modification.

Your question about what kits i use, for my personal stuff i use all morimoto. Can be expensive but im a big fan of the quality and fit and finish of their harnesses/ballasts. I find their D2S easier to install and looks and outperforms the mini h1 though they point down weirdly. If you're curious about that, TheRetrofitSource has a video showing it. Also on Lightwerkz site they sell a projector called the G5R. It's basically the morimoto D2S but better in performance and slightly cheaper too. They both have their ups and downs, i like the g5r for my personal situation.

Now i may use Morimoto BUT when i do builds for others i use ACME. Their quality and performance is nearly the same as morimoto but for less than half the cost. My only gripe with them is the finishing of the harness/ballasts doesn't look as good. Their projectors are honestly the better ones to use because the performance is so close the extra $100 you pay for morimoto just makes a guy look stupid. It's more or less brand name purchasing at that point.

I should really do a good info post on the subject that i can refer or add to over time lol
 

Snowmanak406

Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2013
Posts
77
Reaction score
6
Location
MT
Ram Year
1997
Engine
Magnum 5.9
Dapepper9, I could definitely see an info post being very beneficial, especially for new to headlight people like me, also a build/how to would be great if/when you do them again, have found very few of the actual install of these for these trucks and most on old threads that pictures are removed. The bulb style was going to be my next question as from the site I was looking at them for almost seemed to insist the h1 was the only viable option but labeled the ds2 as a secondary. I guess I was thinking the sport as it seemed they were the only ones the projectors fit in well. On the harness portion I have seen a "can-bus 9007/9004" harness, a mopar 9007 harness (our bulbs are 9004) or I think there was a motocontrol one, are these truck picky and require the mopar one or canbus, or is it non particular?
Thanks!
 

dapepper9

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Posts
5,908
Reaction score
2,224
Location
Iowa/Nebraska Border
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9L V8
Dapepper9, I could definitely see an info post being very beneficial, especially for new to headlight people like me, also a build/how to would be great if/when you do them again, have found very few of the actual install of these for these trucks and most on old threads that pictures are removed. The bulb style was going to be my next question as from the site I was looking at them for almost seemed to insist the h1 was the only viable option but labeled the ds2 as a secondary. I guess I was thinking the sport as it seemed they were the only ones the projectors fit in well. On the harness portion I have seen a "can-bus 9007/9004" harness, a mopar 9007 harness (our bulbs are 9004) or I think there was a motocontrol one, are these truck picky and require the mopar one or canbus, or is it non particular?
Thanks!
Any 2 piece headlight works awesome. Harness you need the standard 9007/9004 or the motocontrol one. I generally use the motocontrol for my own, pretty nice kit.

Also, if you click here I have a pretty basic writeup I did awhile back on a set. Doesn't go into a ton of detail (sorry) but the detail I did post there is specific to these. When it comes to shaving down the socket, bench/disc sander works amazing. You'll see what I mean
 

Bigtman07

Registered User
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Posts
9,329
Reaction score
287
Location
Piqua, Ohio
Ram Year
2000
Engine
Cummins 5.9
Personally I went the Retro route on my truck. I wall agree it can be a bit of a headache. One being if you have factory fogs the highbeams light will come on if you turn the fogs on. Apparently you need a resistor since the Retro removes resistance in the circuit. On a 96 I'd go with a set of single with an LED bulb upgrade myself.
 

dapepper9

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Posts
5,908
Reaction score
2,224
Location
Iowa/Nebraska Border
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9L V8
Don't do an LED bulb, it's not an upgrade in these trucks. Poor factory pattern and LEDs only make it worse. Just glares.

On a retrofit you shouldn't gane those issues using fogs. The harness doesn't change anything in the circuitry
 

Bigtman07

Registered User
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Posts
9,329
Reaction score
287
Location
Piqua, Ohio
Ram Year
2000
Engine
Cummins 5.9
Sadly on my system it did. So now i have a high beam light all the time lol

Even on an aftermarket clear lens the LED doesn't help? thats a bummer.
 

dapepper9

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2013
Posts
5,908
Reaction score
2,224
Location
Iowa/Nebraska Border
Ram Year
2001
Engine
5.9L V8
It doesn't. The design of these headlights lends itself to a large bulbous blob of a pattern. Even a good LED won't have the hotspot with these trucks to be able to reach out well and with the combo of average truck height, large spread and natural tendency of an LED to glare it's not a good combo for others on the road.


Some vehicles, LED is a great option. Many vehicles that have a factory protector with a halogen bulb or vehicles with a tighter pattern have real nice results with a GOOD LED bulb. 4th gen trucks are a good example. Supernova V3 and V4 bulbs are awesome in them regardless of whether it's the projectors or the reflector lights
 
Top