HID Headlight conversion

[golferjohn]

Has anyone converted their headlights to HID's?  They make it look simple, and they draw much less current after they're lit.  The sealed beam looks like it is manufactured for a simple replacement of a headlight w/a ballast added.
Thx, J

[DartKnight]

I did an H4 conversion on my Dart with plans to convert THAT to HID; I know there are ready-to-go kits available, but they are very expensive. I was planning on picking up a used setup off of ebay or getting universal aftermarket ballasts and bulbs.

[Bakaruda]

I saw at the Good guys show a converion kit. I will do some internet searching to see if I can find it agin.

[demon340v]

i just have the H4's  HID woudl be cool but eh 2 much stuff to just have it going.

[rjsjea]

 ....

[golferjohn]

I have no idea what H4's are...a halogen perhaps?

[Capt Jack]

Ive been contemplating this change myself. 
Im trying to focus on some power saving mods for the car now and was wondering if this (either Halogen or HID bulbs) would be a wise choice.

I'll be  this topic myself.

any and all advice greatly appreciated

[demon340v]

the h4 is a Halogen bulb from Sylvania, you may know this as Silverstars, They are really great lights and they just relaased some SIlverstr Ultra's where they are a bit brighter.

I went from having yellow ugly lights to have a nice clean white bulb along with people nwo flick their brights ta me from time to time due to some people think they are my brights

[golferjohn]

good to know, thank you

[Duster Five-O]

the h4 is a Halogen bulb from Sylvania, you may know this as Silverstars, They are really great lights and they just relaased some SIlverstr Ultra's where they are a bit brighter.

I went from having yellow ugly lights to have a nice clean white bulb along with people nwo flick their brights ta me from time to time due to some people think they are my brights

Great lights. My son has them on his car

[MyCreation68]

Painless makes a conversion wiring harness(you'll burn up the stock one with the 120-180 something watt-I think thats what they pull not to sure right now kinda tired-that they pull through the harness. Year one sells the lenses you need. Cost goes up expontentially if you want high and low beams. last time i checked just lows was around 250 and low and highs was around 600 not to sure anymore. very nice lights. I wish they were mandatory.

[demon340v]

the h4 is a Halogen bulb from Sylvania, you may know this as Silverstars, They are really great lights and they just relaased some SIlverstr Ultra's where they are a bit brighter.

I went from having yellow ugly lights to have a nice clean white bulb along with people nwo flick their brights ta me from time to time due to some people think they are my brights

Great lights. My son has them on his car

Next to my disc brakes i think it's one of the greatest upgrades i have done to my car.

[DartKnight]

By the way, 9003's will work in place of an H4 if that's all you can find. IIRC, 9003 is the North American standard whereas H4's are euro and motorcycle spec; I think the beam cutoff is different. Compare them side by side, look at the filaments and you can see the slight difference in the shroud. 

[demon340v]

By the way, 9003's will work in place of an H4 if that's all you can find. IIRC, 9003 is the North American standard whereas H4's are euro and motorcycle spec; I think the beam cutoff is different. Compare them side by side, look at the filaments and you can see the slight difference in the shroud. 

Would they not be brighter for a bike?

and yeah i knwo the 9003's will fit as well learned that not to long ago.

[DartKnight]

By the way, 9003's will work in place of an H4 if that's all you can find. IIRC, 9003 is the North American standard whereas H4's are euro and motorcycle spec; I think the beam cutoff is different. Compare them side by side, look at the filaments and you can see the slight difference in the shroud. 

Would they not be brighter for a bike?

and yeah i knwo the 9003's will fit as well learned that not to long ago.

The motorcycle bulbs I've seen (newer bikes, anyway) have all been H4's. I think the last time I bought the Silverstar H4's, it said that they were for off-road and motorcycle use only on the package. I'm just assuming, but I think that the beam cutoff is the main reason...

[GTS225]

FWIW....there was a recent discussion about vehicle lighting over on slantsix.org.  It might be appropriate for a fair number of you.

http://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26254&highlight=lighting

Roger

[golferjohn]

I read Daniel Stern's entire article on the HID retrofit...that is one passionate man!  Talk about knowing your shizzznit!  The lamps I was refering to were the sealed beam HID's that usually run @ $500-$600 and look like they havebeen designed as an HID from the start, rather than an HID filament replacing an original halogen.  I'm no Stern, but I think the sealed beams may be okay.

[68_Val_Sedan]

you would be AMAZED at the difference that using relays fo the headlights makes, especially if you remove the stock ampmeter gauge/wiring and install a volt meter.  ALL of the charging/use current for your car has to go through a spade conenctor @the firewall and then through the ampmeter and then to the fuse block, then back to the battery to recharge it from starting.  I do the mod on all of my old mopars and the lights never dim at a stop sign anymore...

[karfixer]

Harbor Freight has a DOT HID conversion http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96637 For our old cars we will need to get lenses too. I'm going to get the Hella lens/bulbs and down the line go HID. I have done the relays and it does help the light a lot.

[Cpt Panzer]

 I am lost . what are HID conversions and H4s ?

[Think3205]

 

[DartKnight]

FWIW....there was a recent discussion about vehicle lighting over on slantsix.org.  It might be appropriate for a fair number of you.

http://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26254&highlight=lighting

Roger

Dan knows his stuff and I respect his qualified opinion, but he has a tendency to make mountains out of molehills when it comes to this kind of stuff. He's always going on about how North American lighting standards are horrible and everyone needs these exotic and expensive over-engineered lights on their cars, otherwise we'll all blind each other and cause accidents, etc.    The way I see it, if it helps you see better and doesn't produce dangerous amounts of glare, it works for me.

[jjr426]

how have you guys gone to the h4s did you have to buy a housing as well as the bulb i assume where did you get them and where did you get the wiring did you have to just cut and splice the wiring or run all new wiring to the bulkhead thanks.

[rjsjea]

demon340v- u got a pic of them??   

Rob

[MyCreation68]

Harbor Freight has a DOT HID conversion http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96637 For our old cars we will need to get lenses too. I'm going to get the Hella lens/bulbs and down the line go HID. I have done the relays and it does help the light a lot.

technically to be highway legal you need this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96643
the one you linked to is just low beams this one above is high and low.

[golferjohn]

Since I have basic sealed beam halogens, how could I retrofit these into them?  Wouldn't I need the complete housing and lens along with this kit?  What am I missing? 

[MyCreation68]

Since I have basic sealed beam halogens, how could I retrofit these into them?  Wouldn't I need the complete housing and lens along with this kit?  What am I missing? 

I was planning on using these ones from yearone for my 68 but apparently their not on the website anymore? oh well I don't really know where else to find them I'm sure someone makes them seeing as yearone is basically just a reseller.

[golferjohn]

That's what I've been searching for!!  Any idea how much?

[demon340v]

I thought i had a picture of the headlights on my car but i can't find them.


The old setup as you all know is your headlamp is your "bulb"

With the converison i did i replaced the "Bulb" with another headlamp that had a opening in the back of it for the new bulb to go in it's place.

That's where the H4 bulb comes into play the Siverstar



It has the same spacing as the old MoPar lamp did so it plugs right into your wiring harness.

You have to be carefull though because if you touch the bulb at all  the grease from your hands will burn the bulb as soon as it powers on.

I will keep looking for a picture of my car i know i have it on there. But the lighting was a HUGE improvement. Like i said i went from orange crap to a nice clear white.

I do plan on getting the Ultra Silverstars why? well to be simple i want to SEE.

[68_Val_Sedan]

$28 bucks complete with shipping ....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNIVERSAL-7-INCH-ROUND-H6024-PROJECTOR-HEADLIGHTS-H4_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33717QQihZ005QQitemZ150197667833QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


PS I highly reccomend using a relay with these headlights ... use the old wires for the relay coil and a new run with circuit breaker to the battery