Headlight upgrade to HEI
Posted: 16 Dec 2008 6:26Has anyone tried, or found any info on, upgrading the OEM headlights to HED or Xenon?
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Posted: 16 Dec 2008 6:26Posted: 16 Dec 2008 8:50Yes. There are lots of kits out there that have everything you need to do the job. It is as simple as fitting headlight relays.
Re: Headlight upgrade to HEI
Posted: 16 Dec 2008 12:38HID (Xenon) lightbulbs operate at a high voltage, and they use a ballast transformer (one for each bulb).
In some countries, the use of automated headlight aiming systems and/or headlight wipers is mandatory when uisng HID lamps.
Whatever you choose, do not use HID lamps in the H4 form factor.
If you want to install HID lamps in a Challenger, you'll have to buy 5 3/4 conversion lenses first, and then buy a HID kit.
If you really want to do that, get a pair of H1 or H7 conversions for the high-beams, H1/H7 or H4 for the low beams, and get a corresponding HID kit for the high beams only.
H4 lamps are a dual-filament bulb, HID lamps are always single filament. the H4 HID lamps produce a lot of glare, or not enough light, and usually do only low-beam (or they have moving parts to simulate dual filaments, whch plain simply does not work - a nightmare for oncomers).
If it were me, I'd go for a good set of dual high/low conversions (with H4 lamps), use relays, and wire them so that I can have 4-bulb high beams at the flick of a switch. (In fact, that's what I did, it's not installed yet - lens depth needs to be adressed).
No need for HID lamps, which are either well designed and very espensive, or worse than halogens and eBay bargain-priced.
Check this page for conversins :
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
In some countries, the use of automated headlight aiming systems and/or headlight wipers is mandatory when uisng HID lamps.
Whatever you choose, do not use HID lamps in the H4 form factor.
If you want to install HID lamps in a Challenger, you'll have to buy 5 3/4 conversion lenses first, and then buy a HID kit.
If you really want to do that, get a pair of H1 or H7 conversions for the high-beams, H1/H7 or H4 for the low beams, and get a corresponding HID kit for the high beams only.
H4 lamps are a dual-filament bulb, HID lamps are always single filament. the H4 HID lamps produce a lot of glare, or not enough light, and usually do only low-beam (or they have moving parts to simulate dual filaments, whch plain simply does not work - a nightmare for oncomers).
If it were me, I'd go for a good set of dual high/low conversions (with H4 lamps), use relays, and wire them so that I can have 4-bulb high beams at the flick of a switch. (In fact, that's what I did, it's not installed yet - lens depth needs to be adressed).
No need for HID lamps, which are either well designed and very espensive, or worse than halogens and eBay bargain-priced.
Check this page for conversins :
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/
Posted: 16 Dec 2008 15:36Thanks for the info and web site address for Stern Lighting. I saw some lights on e-bay that seemed to be what I thought I wanted until I read your post. I'll give Stern a call. 
Posted: 16 Dec 2008 16:32Dan Stern used to be a Mopar guy years ago on the old RAMM mailing list (before such things as message boards). He had a slant six Dart if I remember right.