Upgrade to H4 Headlamps & LED Bulbs

[MoparCarGuy]

I upgraded to Hella H4 headlamps and LED bulbs last year and thought this info would assist anyone considering the same.
The Hella kit comes with bulbs but I swapped them for the 6500K LED bulbs plus the ceramic harness extensions to handle the heat. EDIT: Heat may not be problem but the extension harnesses do help with connecting the bulb/lamp assembly to the factory harness.
The parking lamps and side markers are also LED bulbs and the turn signal flasher is the LED-compatible electronic flasher.

[Jay Bee]

Since you swapped out the halogens for LEDs is that ceramic extension harness really necessary. I didn't think LEDs generated much heat.

[cudaragtop]

Some LED Headlight bulbs have fans on them, some have heat sinks because of the heat they produce... I've seen/used both.

[MoparCarGuy]

Since you swapped out the halogens for LEDs is that ceramic extension harness really necessary. I didn't think LEDs generated much heat.

The LED bulbs (6,000 Lumens per bulb) do make a lot of heat and the ones I purchased have fans with heat sinks built into them. Link to the bulbs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TQLK6SH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I would rather put on the $8 extension harnesses than take a chance of melting the factory female harness sockets.
Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NV4521/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Jay Bee]

Thanks guys for the added info.

[jimynick]

Do they make a 4 bulb kit for Challengers? 

[moparroy]

Since you swapped out the halogens for LEDs is that ceramic extension harness really necessary. I didn't think LEDs generated much heat.

Agree.
What did you do for the dust / rain boots on the back? I have the same kit to be installed but not sure how to best seal the back.

The fans on the LEDs are to cool the elements on the far front side - the connectors don't heat up like on a halogen H4 - even less than the factory sealed beam. Even if you took the full power of the LED in heat its a fraction of what the factory sealed beams generated. But if you are worried about it $8 is cheap insurance

[MoparCarGuy]

The rubber boots that came with the Hella kit needed to be trimmed to get them installed over the LED bulbs. It was not easy to fit the rubber boot over the LED bulb base even after trimming.

Yes, I am sure the LED bulbs run much cooler than a halogen. They pull 26W each and eliminate the need for adding headlight relays.
The ceramic extension harnesses simplified plugging the harness socket onto the bulb assembly before positioning it in the headlamp "bucket".
And they were $8 for the pair.

The much pricier Holley RetroBright LED headlights come with an extension harness on their bulb assembly. You can see this in the Holley how-to video for a 70 Cuda.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF8_AJEoJ4o

[MoparCarGuy]

Do they make a 4 bulb kit for Challengers? 

I am sure the quad-headlamp Challengers and `71 Barracuda/Cuda can use Hella H4 headlamps and LED bulbs as well. Those lamps are 5.75" Round versus 7" Round.
I did not research the Hella offerings for 5.75" Round.

The easiest way is to pay the big bucks and purchase the Holley RetroBright headlights with LEDs for a quad headlight setup. They are sold individually and are made of UV-treated polycarbonate.
They are $179.99 each x 4 on Holley's website right now.
5700K Low Beam https://www.holley.com/products/electrical/led_lighting/retrobright/parts/LFRB145
5700K Hi Beam https://www.holley.com/products/electrical/led_lighting/retrobright/parts/LFRB146
$640 plus shipping is a lot of money for polycarbonate headlights but the time to research a comparable setup from Hella or others must be factored into any cost difference.

[FSHTAIL]

Those retrobrights failed about 3 months in, some of the LED's stopped working and 1 or 2 of them would flicker.

I would recommend a relay harness with Hella 80 watt halogen bulbs.
I wouldn't recommend using ANYTHING led in place of a halogen designed housing.   
That light output is terrible...      So much glare for oncoming drivers.        Keep the light on the road. 

4300k is the most accurate reproduction of daylight.     
5000k is decent, but once you get to 6000k or more, your lighting becomes more blue and your lighting distance is diminished and pretty useless, even worse if raining.

[Jay Bee]

Thanks for links for the bulbs and harness.
Can you post a link for the HELLA H4 headlights you bought too, or would me Googling "Hella H4" be good enough.

Thanks again
John

[FSHTAIL]

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-002395031-Vision-Conversion-Headlamp/dp/B001G76Q2W/ref=asc_df_B001G76Q2W/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312069113203&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=675588367280874445&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019557&hvtargid=pla-536529535646&psc=1

Then find a ceramic H4 relay harness.   

Hella h4 80 watt bulbs are super cheap on rockauto