Head Lights

[plumcrazzy]

Would like some opinions on this issue. '70 Challenger--440 six pack-everything original--restored car myself years ago. Had the car out a couple of weeks ago at a picnic--days are getting shorter and we ran a little late heading home. It was almost dark and I flipped on the head lights but it was still too light to tell any difference. Got home OK but noticed when I pulled into the garage that the lights were not very bright. Checked it out and all the lights work--front--rear--etc. Head lights looked kind of a dim yellow with only battery power. Head lamps were new when car was restored and I hardly ever have the car out at night. Did some checking today and here is what I found:
Battery is always kept on a battery maintainer.
Battery voltage at rest--------12.81v
Battery voltage at rest with all accessories turned on-----11.96v
Battery voltage with engine at idle------14.80v
Battery voltage with engine at idle and all accessories turned on-----low beam---13.31v
                                                                                                             high beam---12.64v
Do these numbers look good to you guys? I did notice that the lights brightened up considerably when the engine was revved and the brightness maxxed out at around 2100 rpm. I do realize that this is old school lighting technology and I don't expect this equipment to perform like systems do today so--am I concerned for no reason? Any suggestions on how to upgrade the head light system? Thanks in advance.

[1 Wild R/T]

The power for the headlights is fed through the fusible link, through the bulkhead connector, through the ammeter, through the headlight switch, through the floor dimmer switch, back through the bulkhead connector & out to the headlights, if you were to back probe the headlights I'll beat you come in around 9 volts..... The reason I added relays...  My headlights are standard 5.75 round halogen sealed beams, recently I took a friend for a ride at night... His biggest shock was the fact my headlights are brighter then the headlights in his 2007ish Magnum....

By adding relays the power goes from the battery to the relay then to the headlights....  The original headlight wires trigger the relays...

FWIW I know there are plenty of relays kits available but if your looking to buy one theres a guy thats been playing with Mopars for years that builds a kit, very high quality, plug & play deal... his email is      robule1@yahoo.com    He may be a member here, I honestly don't know, seems like I've seen him post but....

[dodj]

  with wild r/t

But, it's an original 440 six pack Challenger? If so, I would instead go through all my connections and clean them. Bulkhead connector especially, and not cut up the harness for relays. 

[1 Wild R/T]

Which is why I added Robs email, he builds a plug in harness that doesn't require a single wire be cut, it plugs into your original harness, that triggers the relays & feeds the headlights through an add on harness... Very clean, well made & since Rob owns a 440-6 Cuda he understands how things should look so it doesn't look out of place..

[dodj]

Which is why I added Robs email, he builds a plug in harness that doesn't require a single wire be cut, it plugs into your original harness,

Very cool! 

[Racer57]

Here's a link to Robs post in the For A Bodies forum that has pics of the setup.........       http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=216514


I contacted him and purchased the system. When you do get in touch with him, he will ask for the various measurement to fit the setup exactly to where you want it. It helped my headlights a lot, but not quite equal to a modern cars lighting since I'm still using the factory style 35amp alternator, but I did replace my old style voltage regulator with a new modern constant volt regulator. I placed the relays by my horns which is very close the alternator, but lots of people fasten them on the bottom of the battery tray to hide them.  You can't ask for any better quality.  Btw.......He lives in California.