If you have a vehicle that uses the classic 5×7 (H6054) sealed beam and you want a modern projector look without going full custom retrofit, the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector 5×7 headlight deserves a spot on your shortlist. This is part two of our 5×7 headlight housing showdown, and in this round we got hands-on with the brand new third generation Tru-Projector from GTR Lighting. We looked at how it seals, how it wires up, and how it actually throws light on the wall with an HID kit installed. Here is everything we found during our testing.
What Is the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector 5×7 Headlight?
The GTR Lighting Tru-Projector is a 3rd generation 5×7 headlight housing, and it is available in black or chrome. Like some of the other premium options we tested in this series, it uses a projector instead of a reflector, and it is significantly different in size compared to the original sealed beam it replaces. This is a brand new product for us to review, and after handling both the older second generation and this new third gen, we can say the upgrades are meaningful.
When you compare a stock H6054 headlight to the new Tru-Projector, you will notice the new housing is a little bit deeper in the back. That extra depth matters depending on your vehicle, and we will cover exactly why in a moment.
Will It Fit Pop-Up Headlight Vehicles?
Because the Tru-Projector housing is deeper than a stock H6054 sealed beam, fitment on a pop-up headlight vehicle like a Pontiac Fiero will probably require some type of modification. You can make it work, but you are going to have to be creative. For any vehicle with stationary headlights that do not move, this is an awesome option, and honestly one of the best on the market right now. So if you have a truck, a Jeep, or a classic car with fixed headlight buckets, this is where the Tru-Projector really shines.
Third Generation vs Second Generation
We still had a 7-inch round second generation Tru-Projector on hand to show the difference, since the 5×7 second gen units are now discontinued. The second gen had a small projector, was dual beam bi-xenon, and had a little hole in the bottom for a 194 bulb to give you a city light accent. Those looked really nice in their day and were one of the better options on the market, but a lot of things got upgraded for the third gen, and we like the new one a lot better.
The biggest functional change is the wiring. Unlike the 2nd gen version, the 3rd gen does not need a full relay harness. Each headlight housing comes with a very simple adapter harness instead. That alone makes the install cleaner and less intimidating for most people.
The Move to H11 Bulbs
On the back side there are more differences worth calling out. The third gen still uses the same style connector, but instead of an H1 bulb, it now uses a larger, more reliable H11 bulb to power the projector. The H11 is significantly larger than the old style H1 that most other companies still use for their HID or halogen projector headlights. A bigger bulb puts out more light than an H1, and it lasts longer thanks to more heat dissipation ability from the larger size.
The sealing is the part that really impressed us. The H11 bulb twists into place very easily and uses a large rubber O-ring to keep moisture out. With the old style H1 projectors, the bulb simply sat in place and was held in with a metal clip, metal on metal, with no real sealing. Moving to an H11 base with an O-ring is a genuine reliability upgrade.
Built-In LED DRL and Moisture Vent
Another big change with the third generation is the accent lighting. Instead of just a 194 bulb sitting inside the housing, the DRL or city light LED accent is now built in. There is only one, though, and this is important to understand. One side is your DRL or LED accent light, and the opposite side is actually a moisture vent. So the housing is intentionally not symmetrical. It might look like you are missing a DRL on the bottom, but that lower section is doing the job of venting moisture.
The DRL accent light has a two-wire cable coming off of it, and you can wire that up to any source you like. A switch, ignition, parking lights, or your headlights, it is up to you. That flexibility means you can make the accent turn on however you want for your particular build.
Street Legal Certification
When you look at the front of the lens around the projector, you can actually read some text molded onto it. At the top it says HC R 7.5E4, on the far side it says SAE M11 DOT, and at the bottom it says E950R. Some of that is just manufacturing detail so the maker knows what they are sourcing during production. The big thing for us as buyers is that it says SAE and DOT, which means these are regulated and legal to use on public streets.
Wiring and Bulb Options
Here is where the simplicity of the third gen really pays off. When you buy the kit, you get two black or two chrome headlights, a pair of bulbs, and two of the simple adapter harnesses. If you choose the HID bulb upgrade, you will get HIDs instead of the halogens. On the back the adapter harness plugs into your bulb, plugs into the projector solenoid activator, and then plugs into your factory headlight wiring.
The harness uses a two-pin connector that clips together, a bulb connector that goes onto the bulb, and an H4 connector that plugs into your factory wiring. If your vehicle takes a 5×7 headlight like this but does not use an H4 style blade connector, we do have adapters available to fit your application. If you are running HIDs, the connector that would normally plug into the halogen bulb plugs into the adapter wiring that comes on the HID bulb instead.
Because the housing now uses an H11 base, you have better options for what goes in it. You can run the included H11 halogen bulbs, upgrade to GTR Lighting 35W or 55W H11 HID kits in whatever colors you want, or use GTR Lighting’s LED conversion kit. We saw firsthand how the GTR Lighting HID bulb matches the shape and fitment of the H11 halogen bulb, so it drops right in and seats correctly. If you are looking at bulb upgrades in general across different housings, it is worth understanding how modern LED technology behaves, and our overview of the GTR Lighting Ultra 3.0 H7 LED Bulbs is a good reference point for how far LED performance has come.
Beam Pattern Testing
To set a baseline, we first fired up a stock sealed beam halogen. Low beam looked acceptable, but it was not very wide, not very tall, and it had that yellow glow everybody hates. That is our benchmark.
Then we tested the third generation Tru-Projector with the 55W 5000K HID kit installed. Compared to some of the other HID housings we tested in this series, the beam pattern here looks a little bit cleaner, with fewer imperfections below the cutoff line. The cutoff line itself is better defined, too. One really cool detail is the color band right at the very top of the cutoff line, particularly in the middle, where you see nearly the entire rainbow of colors. That is a neat effect going down the road or pulling up to a flat wall.
This beam pattern is not quite as wide as a housing that uses larger factory style projectors, because the Tru-Projector uses a slightly smaller projector, but it is still a massive beam pattern. It is impressively tall, with a lot of light output. There is a shadow in the center that might be noticeable, but on a horizontal road surface it should get washed out with the rest of the light.
When we flipped to high beam, the bottom section of the pattern did not change. Instead, we got a huge increase of light at the top, the center hot spot got much bigger and brighter, and the vertical shape of the beam grew massively. That is a strong low and high beam combination for a housing at this price.
Pricing and Where It Fits
If you want an affordable projector headlight with no retrofitting required, this is a really great option. As shown in the video, the Tru-Projector runs a little over 300 dollars per pair before you add an HID kit. You get great high beam, great low beam, and the coloring looks really good. The third gen Tru-Projector earns a solid recommendation from us for stationary headlight applications.
That said, it is not the only path for a 5×7 upgrade. If you would rather run a fully sealed LED unit, we also tested the Morimoto Sealed5 5×7 LED Housing and the Holley RetroBright 5×7 Sealed Beam LEDs, both of which take a different approach than a projector plus HID setup. For a deeper comparison of those, take a look at our HR Tested review of 5×7 LED options.
Shopping other brands too? The JW Speaker Model 8900 5×7 Head Lamps are a well-known premium LED alternative, and you can also find the Holley RetroBright Classic Sealed Beams from Morimoto if you want the vintage look with modern LED performance. Comparing all of these side by side is exactly why we put this showdown together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector 3rd generation different from the 2nd gen version?
The 3rd gen no longer requires a full relay harness, instead using a simple adapter harness, and it switched from an H1 bulb to a larger, more reliable H11 bulb with better sealing via a rubber O-ring.
Does the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector 5×7 headlight include a DRL or accent light?
Yes, it has a built-in LED DRL or city light accent on one side, while the opposite side is actually a moisture vent, so the housing is intentionally not symmetrical.
Will the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector fit pop-up headlight vehicles like a Pontiac Fiero?
It can fit, but since the housing is deeper than a stock H6054 sealed beam, pop-up applications will likely require some creative modification. It is better suited to vehicles with stationary headlights.
What bulb options work with the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector?
The kit comes with H11 halogen bulbs standard, but you can upgrade to GTR Lighting’s 35W or 55W H11 HID kits, or their LED conversion kit, since the housing uses an H11 bulb base.
How much does the GTR Lighting Tru-Projector 5×7 headlight cost?
As shown in the video, the pair runs a little over 300 dollars before adding an HID kit.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
