Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
The best thing to do, if possible, is to change to a grille/front end from another year GM truck of that generation. Those headlights will be horrible no matter that bulbs you use.
Get one from a truck that has the 200mm/6x7/H6054 sealed beams, and then put in Hella E-codes. This is BY FAR the best option, if he's willing to do it. If he's willing to change the grille, but not willing to spend the money for Hella E-codes, then he can use GE Nighthawk sealed beams.
If he insists on sticking with the [censored] headlights he has now, the best bulbs you can buy for it are the GE Nighthawk Xenon (9006NHX), the slightly cheaper Platinum (9006NHP), Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited (9006NBU), or Philips Xtreme Vision 9006. Howeverm they will still not be that great. It is NOT safe to use 9012 "HIR" bulbs on these trucks.
Whatever you decide, aim them
like this
^^^ absolutely gets my vote. ^^^ the 97 oems are poor to start with. most aftermarket is worse. THIS path is great for lighting. And I wouldn't worry about "work truck" looks. I think it's a solid, manly, simple face, with much better lamp performance.