'twas corrogated cardboard sheeting, I thought. The secret lay in how long it takes the corrugations to crush vs. a sheet of steel. Either way, neat stuff.

Your point about mass is a bit misleading, though. You state "How much mass there is to absorb the shock affects how the collision is managed". Mass does not absorb shock, deformation does (as proved in your own cardboard example). 50's cars were tanks by comparison, yet transferred the shock to the occupants. Unibody cars manage impacts through carefully engineered crumple zones, which rely on certain shaped pieces of metal attached to other certain shaped pieces of metal. Cut away some of the metal or greatly alter its shape and it won't perform as intended.

 

I did'nt hit anything tonight so I can't say how they are in a crash as of yet. hope never to find out.
I did notice they seem brighter than the popups I replaced, which may of been old as I've never replaced them.
They will need some adjustment on the passanger side, the drivers side seems ok.
More testing will be done before results posted....

 

After spending that much money, and having that nice of a car...would you really want to live to see the aftermath of a hardcore accident?

(/end sarcasm)

 

Ah, but if there's less mass, or the mass is in a different spot, that will alter how the structure crushes, yes?

 

All of my accidents have been rear or side impact, so I'm ok

Anyone got a website with good notes on how to align headlights?

 

I think in any Haynes manual they have a generic section dealing with that.

 

I think it's great that people are concerned about safety being altered by modifications. I wish more people would think about these sorts of things -- like my neighbor who keeps his umbrella on the rear deck of his car (where does he think that thing's going in a frontal impact) -- or my other neighbor with the fluffy steering wheel cover that "keeps slipping when she's steering".

That said, this kind of modification and most of the others people are likely to do will have a negligible effect on frontal impact performance, in my opinion. The frame rails, the upper load path beams, and the suspension cradle (in those cars that have a full perimeter one -- FBs don't) are the significant parts in managing front impact loads. Most of the other parts can be added or subracted without affecting the results much.

The FB was designed before most manufacturers got serious about crash performance, but it does have the basic building blocks of a good crash performer -- namely it has small uncrushable zones (the engine), the uncrushable engine/trans combo can probably slide down the fairly large tunnel, it has fairly straight frame rails, it has fairly straight upper load path beams, and it has a long nose -- all good.

And I like the way the lights look. Waiting for the beam pattern shot.

 

they look nice




pedro

 

Ayup.

Frontal collision doesn't really concern me, although I do worry about sliding underneath the other vehicle.

What worries me is sliding sideways into a pole... this is what recently killed two prominent WRC drivers in a US rally... all the safety equipment in the world won't help you when you hit a tree sideways at 85mph.

 

I wasn't sure at first but I'm starting to come around. The car as a whole looks nice.

 

Well, they are hella nice for sure. I have been waiting 3 months now for mine........... My car is being painted a Gun Metal Grey, so the kit should look awesome.......

 

IIRC the reason so many people on this forum were bitching about the price when CP first released this product was because they used real DOT approved hella headlamps (read $$$), not some cheap fog or driving lamps like most of these type of conversions use. As long as the the sides and bottom of the "pocket" that they sit in don't occlude the beam they should have very good beam patterns.

 

I have to give and update......

soon......... but right now, not happy.

 

Not happy? Crap!!!! Fill me in please.

 

i think it looks great but 2 questions...

are you able to tell cp what color you want your headlights to be when you order? and if not is the plastic easily removeable so you could paint it if you wanted it, i might get some soon when i get my car back, but i would want to paint the thing that holds the light to be the same color as the car

<l><l>

 

It's being discussed, I will fill everyone in when it is resolved.
If anyone is thinkin about buying, please wait a week for results.
Chris is on the phone as I type, so they are checking into this

 

Max7, they are supposed to be on the way. Can you send me and email at ckrall3@comcast.net with your concerns? If they are not woth waiting for, then no scense in keeping my project on hold for these, 3 months on hold now.
Thanks,
Chris

 

Update - I'm not trying to talk anyone out of buying the kit, Its a nice kit. I just wanted to let those who are thinking to wait until I give my full report. I still need to adjust the lights and get some beam pattern shots. I don't want anyone to think I'm bashing CP, Chris called me to check up on the kit after I had been slow to respond to him in and email. Which I know everyone says CP is bad about it, but I've had good comunication with CP
I have a cracked light lens after installing them and Chris was ready to send me a replacement even before I sent him the bad one, I found a local supplier for the light and CP is going to reiumburse me for the light. Chris has even called the manufacturer to see if they are having defects from the factory. So there are no worries with the kit just little things.
I just don't want you guys/gals to get 1/2 the story and base your choices from that.
I'll show you everything I know and you can make the call.
If your wondering if I would put flush lights on my other 7? Yes, I would, I like them, they get alot of compliments.
Heck a guy in his 50's asked me if it was a new car

Hope this clears things up.

Mark , now back to work...... Midwest Rotary Rally in 2 weeks, must clean more.......

 

wow....all the other flush mount kits i've ever seen...i've hated.....even when i read the title of the thread i was liek "oh no not to a 1st Gen, Please!?!?!"

then i saw it and my mouth almost dropped........flabergasted of course....because it looks good......damn good haha........i guess it might be because i like the 7 so much that anything can look good on it.....except for lime green paint and a 1 foot aluminum wing on the back and air bags all around...well maybe air bags....i like the switches

 

Well, even if a person didn't care for the look of flush lights on a 1rst gen, the job you did installing them looks great. Nice work, at least from what I can see. I assume you finished off the under the hood modifications as nicely? Like the jagged edges where you cut the metal? Maybe a rubber wrap of some type?

Anyway, very clean looking car. Those lights look great.

 

Thank you Max7, I am really looking forward to getting them.
Chris

 

Ya, its because the car is very clean and hoos afternarket wheels, if you put the kit in a pos it wouldnt look good. I hate most stock FB's they are usually really gay looking. But when they are done right with neat little panasports, or other wheels and are very clean, they can look good. I just drive one because i like the engines and the cars are super cheap.

 

Looking very good-what broke on yours, the light or the cover?

So the kit doesn't come with the DOT approved Hella lights, just spotlights?

 

Max, update on the lights please?

 

uhh, they work Going to work on a better, thicker frame and removeable cover for them.
they work for now, but coming out when she goes away for winter......