Headlight Question
The relay conversion should be the first thing on your agenda. It makes a dramatic difference even when using OE non-halogen bulbs. The OE wiring was barely up to the task, and now it's all 50 years old. You may not feel like you need upgraded headlamps after doing the relay conversion.
I bought conversion kits from
@slantsixdan, which are Koito. I have not yet installed any of 'em since I've had bigger fish to fry. The only dislike I have for them, aesthetically, is that the bulb inserts are colored (tan) on the high-beam housings for my Challenger (obviously not an issue on A-bodies) and the 7" rounds have a largish bulb shield (directly affects A-bodies). All have flatter lenses than OE, too. If the stock look is important, stick with good halogen sealed beams and a relay setup.
Dan is not a fan of the Hella stuff, which also has a flat lens. I bought those prior to consuting with Dan, but ended up buying the Koitos. Dan's main concern isn't necessarily how bright they are, but that the light is dispersed where it needs to be. He's not particularly impressed with the Hellas' pattern. I live in town, but there's a lot of dark 2-lane blacktop, and whitetail deer outnumber humans about 10:1 up here--no joke. I want a lot of light in the distance, so I can see their beady little eyes while I still have time to react.
The best way to get in touch with Dan regarding lighting is to contact him through his
website. He'll gladly explain to you why certain lighting options aren't very good (
especially LED capsules--the "bulbs" that use existing housings), and why others are excellent. Excellent lighting is really an all-consuming passion of his, and it shows. It's not a sales pitch. He may correct me if he pops in here, but I believe he's address Congress committees regarding it. I may not have used my conversion parts yet, but I'm convinced I bought the best because Dan really, truly believes in what he sells.