..where does the sliver wire from the stock HID go? ((looks like a braided wire with a female connector)) also what does it do?

 

Are you talking about the one coming off the ignitor?
If i'm thinking the one you're talking about, there is a male connecting stub on the top of the backside on the projector it connects to. Pretty sure it just grounds the ballast or something.

refer to this pic:
http://i43.tinypic.com/1zx2p3p.jpg

 

Yep that would be the one . ..I figured it was prolly a ground but wanted to make sure ..Thanks