Old lights at night.

[lloyd3]

Does anyone know if there a plug and play replacement for the stock headlight and dash systems on these cars? I don't normally drive this car much at night, but last night was an exception. My son had a 7PM music lesson and it was a spectacular mid-September evening so we took the old car.  It gets dark now much earlier, so the ride home was in the dark.  My high beams are like everybody else's low beams and my dash lights are so dim I can barely make out the gauges.  Clearly, my low-beams could stand some alignment (not exactly sure how to do that anymore either) but....wow, they are so weak by comparison to the modern stuff.  In a perfect world, I'd get the "newer" and "better" versions of the headlights and dash lights and just plug them in, right?  I'm guessing that's not the case or I would of heard about it by now.

[Eldovert]

You could get better headlights..they would draw more current so you  should install a relay for the headlight circuit. Check ebay for a harness with a relay.
Cheers,Pat

[c00nhunterjoe]

Depends on how much cash you want to lay out. There is everything from halogens up to led. Add relays regardless of what you use to save the switch.

[lloyd3]

There's the rub...I don't want to really change much in the original wiring of this car.  In a more-rural area, my present lights wouldn't be so-much of a problem.  In pitch darkness they would be adequate for the rare occasion of me driving it at night.  It's all the hard-driving 6-lane, suburban traffic (with much-better lights) and then all the peripheral lighting (street and business) that overwhelms my stock systems. I was hoping to improve them without having to go to the next step of relays and other wiring modifications.  Even slightly better would be a significant improvement.  I suppose even replacing the dash lights with newer bulbs would help (I'm guessing that one or two aren't all there).

[TexasStroker]

I'd go with LEDs in the Cluster and up front.

LEDs in the Cluster will go in just like the incandescents you pull out.  Might take note that the factory bulb covers are blue...so having a bulb that puts out light will showcase that...probably for the first time ever, lol.  That said, I think it would work well with your car and interior in particular.  Some love it, some hate it and want a more traditional warm glow.  Imo the visibility and white/blue light would be better.

LED headlights would require a new housing, and that is where most of your money would go.  The more simplistic and cost effective way about it would be to swap in some halogen bulbs and do the relays.  The sealed beam headlights are ridiculous and pretty much useless when combating modern traffic.  You can get standard halogen housings and H1/H4 or similar for around $25 a piece.  Keep in mind, to do it proper you would need 4, but could get by with just your low beams.  These bulbs would be more on par with our 2nd Gen Rams.  Not great by modern standards, but a huge upgrade over sealed beams.

[lloyd3]

If you happen to know, what will the LED housings likely cost and how challenging are they to install?  I'm assuming that would be the least invasive solution?  I was hoping that somebody made a sealed beam replacement with LED-type internals as some of the more-modern cars (90s) can get now.

Did a little looking. Is anyone familiar with these folks? https://vintagecarleds.com/  

They do not mention needing to install additional components or relays.  They do, however, indicate that high-beams might not be an exact replacement. The low-beams appear to be fine (round, 5.75-inch) and fit all of the early Mopar (specifically Charger!) years are mentioned in their replacement sizing charts. Not cheap at $329/pair, but....not out of the question either.   There are even three light colors that you can get, in a lumins range from a warm yellow, to brite white, to a bright blue (if I'm reading it right).  I'd be tempted by the warm yellow but would likely go with the bright white.

[lloyd3]

Just found this....

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/04/29/simple-led-headlight-upgrade-for-classic-cars

Just went through the ordering process, $209 total for a set of low beams that should just be a direct replacement for the original sealed beams.  Is this too good to be true?

[c00nhunterjoe]

You can make the relay harness plug and play. Dont have the cut anything. Brighter lights are going to melt your factory harness. Pick your poison.

[krops cars]

I went with led headlights. Awesome. My dash I redid it and used factory bulbs. I cleaned everything and put a new plastic lens over the gauges. Led dash bulbs do not dime. The way I did mine turned out nice.

[lloyd3]

c00nhunterjoe:  where might I find such a relay harness?  I know just enough to be dangerous and I don't want to wreck my original lightswitch.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Just found this....

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/04/29/simple-led-headlight-upgrade-for-classic-cars

Just went through the ordering process, $209 total for a set of low beams that should just be a direct replacement for the original sealed beams.  Is this too good to be true?

Be careful with the LED headlights that have the built in fan as they stick out too far and will hit the headlight door actuator bar. I had to get a 90 degree bulb to get mine to fit.

[tan top]

been thinking about converting the headlamps for years  to more modern search light type    via relays  to stop melting the OEM wiring & switches  as CHJ  mentioned below .   as for the instrument cluster gauge bulbs rather than fitting leds , all I done was remove the blue shades inside, made a lot of difference &  was good enough for me , think ive got a picture somewhere , sure I posted it for another thread on here years ago . one thing if upgrading lights & any electrical none OEM stuff , its advisable to up grade the alternator & charging circuit  also  imo .
 stock alternators don't charge very well at idle even with OEM electrical stuff  

You can make the relay harness plug and play. Dont have the cut anything. Brighter lights are going to melt your factory harness. Pick your poison.

[krops cars]

Mine fit perfect. You do not need heavier wiring. The ones I got have glass lens not plastic. I will do this and recommend these to every one that has old school cars. They are the s--t. No cutting fit perfect.

[TexasStroker]

Just found this....

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/04/29/simple-led-headlight-upgrade-for-classic-cars

Just went through the ordering process, $209 total for a set of low beams that should just be a direct replacement for the original sealed beams.  Is this too good to be true?

I couldn't find anywhere that mentioned the country of origin, but that is a fair price if higher end parts are used.  You can do the same thing for way less though...kind of just depends which route you are more comfortable with and with whom you feel you'd have the best follow up post sale should parts fail.  I have Hella lenses on the Duster and didn't pay much for them.  Similarly, they look to be using standard lenses, no special projectors etc.  Their stand alone bulbs are pretty pricey...without knowing more it is hard to advise.  With that said, I buy LEDs really cheap and have never had an issue.

I would pay attention to the bulb design and heat sink.  Like WR69 mentioned, there can be clearance issues (buckets and headlight doors likely). 

You could easily source the new lenses and some H4s...if they suffice just upgrade with relays.  If you still want more, swap in an LED.  The money you would save over some packaged kits would let you buy an awful lot of bulbs.

[lloyd3]

krops cars:  So....these are the lights you installed in your car?  Like some others here, this is something I've been considering for a very long time.  The perceived complications were always what kept me from doing it. Frankly...$200 for the ease of installation and the piece of mind is cheap IMHO.  I want to be sure that I don't need to worry about causing any problems in the rest of this what...51-year old wiring and charging system.  Another question...did you install both low and high beams?

If you read the above-mentioned Hagerty article, my old sealed beams are ~1700 Lumens, these are 4000 Lumens(!) and have a 30,000 hour run life.  Technology does indeed march on.

[c00nhunterjoe]

c00nhunterjoe:  where might I find such a relay harness?  I know just enough to be dangerous and I don't want to wreck my original lightswitch.

You will build it yourself. Buy the relays and connectors for the lights and make a harness. Not hard.  I bought my leds from amazon. 25 bucks each. Had to cut the stock buckets to get them to fit. 3 times as bright as stock style bulbs.

https://youtu.be/ZRKjt_Xj6w4
https://youtu.be/ggVCxK-xZTU

[b5blue]

Did you adjust the thumb wheel up and down a bunch to work the contacts? It helps the dash lights get brighter. Many do recall old school headlights dim as they age, a fresh set of low beam bulbs can really help. Checking/cleaning contacts/grounds helps. Tan Top is right our cars can suffer from low alternator output @ idle. (I installed a Denso kit from Mancini Racing.)   

[alfaitalia]

You can make the relay harness plug and play. Dont have the cut anything. Brighter lights are going to melt your factory harness. Pick your poison.

No need if you go LED of course....they will be pulling way LESS power than the factory tungsten bulbs even though they are far brighter.

[will]

T I'm running theshttps://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Headlight-Relay-Wire-Harness-H4-9003-Lamp-Bulb-Ceramic-Socket-Plugs-68-Charger/232455305061?epid=1641260516&hash=item361f6a7765:g:SCcAAOSw9mFWJXSce:

[GreenMachine]

c00nhunterjoe:  where might I find such a relay harness?  I know just enough to be dangerous and I don't want to wreck my original lightswitch.

This guys harness seems pretty good:

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/plug-and-play-headlight-relay-kits.166762/

[krops cars]

I put in both hi and low. The guy wanted me just to put in only the hi low bulb. I had to put in both. I know on a Charger you don't ever see them, but I know. I had to file a new locating hole in the high beam bucket. It was real simple. I used a small die grinder. Then on the plug in for the head light I took a wire cutter. There is a dimple on the plug. Sniped it off. That was it. If you ever want to back original no one would ever know. Like I said real simple. Nice glass bulbs with replaceable led bulbs. They draw reel low amps. I got them from Vintage carleds.com. The guy can tell you about the amps. Very helpful. He owns the company.

[lloyd3]

After a couple of days of digging and getting a minor in automotive lighting, here's where I'm at...I'm still not going to really drive my car much at night. My own abilities at night are probably not what they used to be, I'm still using factory drum brakes and... nighttime traffic can be very different than daytime traffic for a number of reasons (any you can probably guess most of them). I would, however, like to have the option to do so without being at a disadvantage because of inadequate lighting (certainly by modern standards). Clearly...halogen systems require much higher voltage and amperage than the systems being used in the 60s and 70s.  To venture there requires major modifications to the wiring and charging systems of these cars. Since I really don't want to change very much (or anything!) on my car, the halogens are out for me. The LED option is what I was hoping had been developed and....lo and behold, that does indeed seem to be the case. Vintage Car LEDs appears to have created a product with somebody like me in mind.  Haven't bought anything yet but I'm liking what I'm reading and hearing so-far.  The low-beams are a direct swap for the standard 5.75-inch sealed beams, the high-beams require a minor modification of the bucket to fit, but nothing that would affect re-using stock sealed-beams. There is, evidently, no need to alter the OEM wiring or charging systems to use their products (will work down to approximately 7 volts at the bucket).  I know of at least one car here that is running this system and he seems to have nothing but positive things to say about it.  This clearly isn't the cheap solution, you'd have something like $100/light to make the change from roughly 1700 Lumens per light to 4000 plus (the high-beams may be more). I'll likely go that route in the near future, certainly before next Spring gets here. Oops..I see krops cars has responded while I was writing this.  

[bakerhillpins]

You can make the relay harness plug and play. Dont have the cut anything. Brighter lights are going to melt your factory harness. Pick your poison.

No need if you go LED of course....they will be pulling way LESS power than the factory tungsten bulbs even though they are far brighter.

While many direct LED replacement options do indeed draw less power we must be careful about blanket statements. You MUST compare power consumption ratings for substituted components when making any electrical system change before you can effectively evaluate any required electrical/wiring modifications. Cooling is also a concern for these type of replacements as many LED components are not designed for operation in enclosed fixtures.

[73chgrSE]

Just bought a replacement low beam bulb yesterday.
Wagner. $13 for 1 bulb.

[Back N Black]

This is what I used for less than $100. They are much better than stock. Easy install.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-3-4-Halogen-Semi-Sealed-Beam-Headlight-Conversion-Headlamp-60-55W-H4-Bulbs-/232524986465