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Brighter headlights? #858377
11/20/10 01:09 AM
11/20/10 01:09 AM

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Anyone install these new high tech headlights? Like PIAA or other brands who offer bright white or something like that?

If so, do they really work? I got cheapies in my car and they are terrible....

Re: Brighter headlights? #858378
11/20/10 01:34 AM
11/20/10 01:34 AM
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Colo Springs, Co
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dragaddict Offline
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What car are you changing? On a 69 B body we installed halogen bulbs but requires the use of a relay system or will burn up something [everything?] in the circuit. Not real hard to do and a possitive upgrade.

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: dragaddict] #858379
11/20/10 02:04 AM
11/20/10 02:04 AM
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1_WILD_RT Offline
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Cheap H4 light housings with poorly designed lenses are no better than stockers (if even as good) though higher wattage bulbs (along with relays) will at least make them brighter... I run Hella lights with PIAA Xtreme White bulbs with relays.. The difference is amazing...

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #858380
11/20/10 02:11 AM
11/20/10 02:11 AM
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Posts: 551
Colo Springs, Co
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dragaddict Offline
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Allow me to run this just slightly of topic just a bit. What about tailights also. I really like the idea of better headlights but a decent set of tailghts that still look like they belong in an old car would be a nice compliment the the fronts. Any luck on this and would you relay tailights?
Back to your normally schedualed post

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: dragaddict] #858381
11/20/10 02:53 AM
11/20/10 02:53 AM
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1_WILD_RT Offline
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Adding relays to the tail lights might offer slight improvement but actually adding headlight relays will help the tail lights almost as much by removing the major draw on the light circuit... It also helps the bulkhead connector.. I use relays for the headlights, high speed setting on the heater- A/C blower & on my power windows.. The lower draw circuits see less voltage drop so they also work better...

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #858382
11/20/10 03:12 AM
11/20/10 03:12 AM
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Posts: 606
Montana
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Yancy Derringer Offline
mopar
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Montana
I agree--headlight relays helps a bunch.



The big problem for all older Mopars is and has been the bulkhead connector, and marginally sized wire. So far as tail/ turn lamps, it really doesn't take that much effort to pull new wire from tail to front, and possibly eliminating or upgrading the connector in the kick panel

Last edited by Yancy Derringer; 11/20/10 03:13 AM.
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: Yancy Derringer] #858383
11/20/10 08:18 AM
11/20/10 08:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,445
Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
daniel_depetro Offline
pro stock
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Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
I have read that the old trick was to simply use larger wire from the switch directly to the headlights bypassing the bulkhead connector.
This along with some good quality sealed beam replacements should make quite a difference.

I've always installed new headlights in my old cars and they make quite a difference. I'm going to try upgrading the wire and see if that helps even more. It's cheap so I'll bite.


1969 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-speed, Dana 60 4.10)

1972 Plymouth Road Runner (400, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)

1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (360, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: dragaddict] #858384
11/20/10 10:39 AM
11/20/10 10:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,001
Coram, NY
Pool Fixer Offline
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Quote:

Allow me to run this just slightly of topic just a bit. What about tailights also. I really like the idea of better headlights but a decent set of tailghts that still look like they belong in an old car would be a nice compliment the the fronts. Any luck on this and would you relay tailights?
Back to your normally schedualed post




I did the Hella H4 upgrade to my 68 charger. For tails, I didn't like any of the pics that others posted of the bulb upgrades. I actually found a company that was selling 68 charger tailight lenses with LED's built in. I'll give you that when they are on, they don't even come come close to looking stock, but they are very bright. looking at them during non-lighting situations, can't tell the difference from stock.

You could definitely make something yourself by buying some sort of LED light assembly and fab it into your existing tailights. for a 68 charger, not that this helps a lot of people, go over to dodgecharger and look up a member norwaycharger. He has 68 LED's that look pretty stock when lit up, but they are very bright. they are about 400 bucks too so that's something to consider.

For the OP, listen to these guys. don't waste your time rigging projector headlight into your old car. The new car setups are engineered so the light source and the lens/housing work together. Unless you spent really cubic dollars, you will end up looking like a tool and not getting the most out of it. The Hella H4 housings will be "light" years ahead of stock and they will work properly without blinding other drivers.

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: daniel_depetro] #858385
11/20/10 12:08 PM
11/20/10 12:08 PM
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471Magnum Offline
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Quote:

I have read that the old trick was to simply use larger wire from the switch directly to the headlights bypassing the bulkhead connector.




This does nothing to remove the amp load from the HL switch which is another weak link. Switch failures are not uncommon. Adding amp load to 40 year old switch is asking for trouble. Relays are the way to go. Get the amp load off as much of that old wiring as possible.

Regarding tail lamps, LEDs are probably your best option for reducing the amp load.


-Jim

I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman.
He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.

Currently Mopar-less
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 471Magnum] #858386
11/20/10 12:30 PM
11/20/10 12:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Lincoln Nebraska
Clean ALL connections esp the bulkhead. Better bulbs/use relays (imo feed the head lights from the alt side)/dont do anything that will increase the draw thru the bulkhead


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: RapidRobert] #858387
11/20/10 12:52 PM
11/20/10 12:52 PM
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471Magnum Offline
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Quote:

feed the head lights from the alt side



good point


-Jim

I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman.
He's got the ultimate set of tools... I can fix it.

Currently Mopar-less
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 471Magnum] #858388
11/21/10 04:57 PM
11/21/10 04:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,235
san diego
JonsGottaDusta Offline
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san diego
I did the H4 upgrade with Xenon bulbs and its a world of a difference. You cannot even compare it to what was stock. I just built a wiring harness out of 12g wire with some relays and all is good. One of the best mods on my car.

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: JonsGottaDusta] #858389
11/21/10 08:21 PM
11/21/10 08:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,275
West Coast, USA
jbc426 Offline
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I just ordered a pair of the Bosch headlight lens reflectors, a pair of Phillips Vision Plus bulbs and a nicely made 14 gauge headlight wiring harnesses from Suvlights.com

http://suvlights.com/index.php

I could have saved about $25 if I built my own harness, but with tax and shipping, the total for everything came to just over $152 and it's plug and play with very nice quality components.


1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: dragaddict] #858390
11/21/10 10:37 PM
11/21/10 10:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2008
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Colorado
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denfireguy Offline
top fuel
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Quote:

What car are you changing? On a 69 B body we installed halogen bulbs but requires the use of a relay system or will burn up something [everything?] in the circuit. Not real hard to do and a possitive upgrade.


You should use relays to control headlights but current draw is not the reason. (Hella H4s on high beams draw 30% less current than the tungsten bulbs the car came with.)
The reason is to use relays to shorten the high current path to the shortest length possible. This preserves switches, connectors and wiring. The lamps actually draw less current than the car's lights were designed to use.
4002 headlamp draws 8 amps on high. Hella H4 draws 5 amps.
Craig


2014 Ram 1500 Laramie, 73 Cuda
Previous mopars: 62 Valiant, 65 Fury III, 68 Fury III, 72 Satellite, 74 Satellite, 89 Acclaim, 98 Caravan, 2003 Durango
Only previous Non-Mopar: Schwinn Tornado
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: jbc426] #858391
11/21/10 11:24 PM
11/21/10 11:24 PM
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Posts: 17,861
albany ny
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05dakota Offline
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albany ny
do that make a harness for use with stock bulbs?


Quote:

I just ordered a pair of the Bosch headlight lens reflectors, a pair of Phillips Vision Plus bulbs and a nicely made 14 gauge headlight wiring harnesses from Suvlights.com

http://suvlights.com/index.php

I could have saved about $25 if I built my own harness, but with tax and shipping, the total for everything came to just over $152 and it's plug and play with very nice quality components.



Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 05dakota] #858392
11/21/10 11:25 PM
11/21/10 11:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT Offline
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Quote:

do that make a harness for use with stock bulbs?


Quote:

I just ordered a pair of the Bosch headlight lens reflectors, a pair of Phillips Vision Plus bulbs and a nicely made 14 gauge headlight wiring harnesses from Suvlights.com

http://suvlights.com/index.php

I could have saved about $25 if I built my own harness, but with tax and shipping, the total for everything came to just over $152 and it's plug and play with very nice quality components.







It would be the same as the one for upgraded bulbs...


"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #858393
11/21/10 11:27 PM
11/21/10 11:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,861
albany ny
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05dakota Offline
I Live Here
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albany ny
i went to that site and cant see what harness would work on a old mopar

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 05dakota] #858394
11/21/10 11:34 PM
11/21/10 11:34 PM
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I went there too & wasn't very impressed... If I could find the female socket connectors that would plug into the original headlight plugs I'd be inclined to build & market a properly designed drop in kit....

Actually I just went to Ebay & there are some that look reasonable..
Four light system...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Relay-...3#ht_1213wt_691

Two light system
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Relay-..._Truck_Parts_Ac

Last edited by 1_WILD_RT; 11/21/10 11:51 PM.
Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #858395
11/22/10 12:09 AM
11/22/10 12:09 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,275
West Coast, USA
jbc426 Offline
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jbc426  Offline
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Quote:

I went there too & wasn't very impressed... If I could find the female socket connectors that would plug into the original headlight plugs I'd be inclined to build & market a properly designed drop in kit....

Actually I just went to Ebay & there are some that look reasonable..
Four light system...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Relay-...3#ht_1213wt_691

Two light system
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H4-Relay-..._Truck_Parts_Ac





You're kidding right? Those ebay set-ups don't even come close to these US made ones from Suvlights. For only $5 more than the Chinese ones, take a look at the features on the Suvlights harnesses and compare then to the picture of Chinese ones you've listed.

Suvlights harness:
2 OEM Bosch/Tyco AMP (Potter & Brumfield) or equivalent 50 amp relays (single & dual 87 outputs)
Heavy Duty interlocking relay sockets with mounting tab
Fusible link (slow reacting fuse protection) & separate fuses (fast reacting) with 12 gauge heavy duty automotive wiring
Black split loom matches OEM to protect against heat and elements
Male connector(s) to plug into existing headlight socket
(2 or 4) new heat resistant headlight sockets (depending on application)
The Heavy Duty models are 14 gauge (can power a pair of 130 Watt bulbs) while the Super Heavy Duty model is 12 gauge and uses 4 relays.

Here's a pic of the ebay ones complete with 30 amp Chinese relays and yellow wire looms? Are they even fused?

Re: Brighter headlights? [Re: 05dakota] #858396
11/22/10 12:16 AM
11/22/10 12:16 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,275
West Coast, USA
jbc426 Offline
master
jbc426  Offline
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West Coast, USA
Quote:

i went to that site and cant see what harness would work on a old mopar




I'm putting these parts on a 1970 Barracuda. Are you upgrading the headlights or just adding relays to the exsisting bulbs? Dual or quad headlights?


1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
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