1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Headlight conversion kit

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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 03:38 PM
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Headlight conversion kit

I'm looking for a headlight conversion kit, I've been searching the net but i came up with nothing so far. Can someone point me in the right direction into getting this done. I want to take out the movable headlights and put in a new type of headlight. thank you.
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 03:55 PM
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one comepany made these but from what i herd, they riped alot of people off and are no longer around. so what i think most people do is fab up there own flush headlights
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 08:00 PM
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There are no kits anymore at this time.
Few companies feel the need to make custom parts for a 25-30 year old sportscar that is dwindling in numbers.Rotary specific companies make more money on engine and real performance parts sales, than cosmetics,especially with the FC-FD's.
1st gen enthusiasts are the only ones that are really likley to come out with 1st gen specific parts like that.In the case of CP,they had good intentions,but bad buisness practices/parts execution, and their company suffered the consequences......either that,or they were crooks all along.I kinda doubt that, considering how they seemed promising at first,with lots of "1st of its kind" stuff and not half bad service.
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 08:31 PM
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Are you looking for an H4 conversion? Easily done at home...some H4 replacement housings (hella, bosch, ebay)...H4 bulbs, and a relay/or fused link (at least 30 amps). Not to difficult.
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 10:43 PM
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Does anyone still have one of these kits? If so could you possibly take it off and shoot up a parts list so that other people could possibly locate the items themselves and put one together.

That would be awesome.
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 11:31 PM
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its just plexi glass, hella/or some other projection light, and wiring.
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Old Aug 11, 2007 | 11:35 PM
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What about the HID electrical and bulb system taken off "other cars" that are in a bone yard?
much better light and power requirements are significantly lower

what are good swaps for a first gen?
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Old Aug 16, 2007 | 12:00 PM
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alright thxs I'll add that to my to do list once i get some extra money.
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Old Aug 16, 2007 | 01:22 PM
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Originally Posted by two79rx7's
What about the HID electrical and bulb system taken off "other cars" that are in a bone yard?
much better light and power requirements are significantly lower

what are good swaps for a first gen?
I don't know if this is entirely correct, but I don't think our cars could handle HID with the electrical power they possess right now. What do we have, a 50/55 watt alternator?
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Old Aug 16, 2007 | 02:06 PM
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its my understanding that the HID systems only use about 35W each side!!!
They require a "power module" in the circuit to step up voltage, ie the bulb does not run on 12V
the HID bulbs Type D2R and D2S require about 6 - 20,000 volts to start and their operating voltage, between about 75 to 100 volts.

considerations are
1. a housing for the bulb to withstand greater heat if that is an issue ( probably not since conservation of energy says you dont get more energy out that the energy you put in...shucks
or maybe a different reflector type.

2. wiring designed for this different voltage and a place to put the power module(s)

Power requirement is less not more. Im pinched for time to verify more right now.

in the end it all comes down to putting in a bulb in the car and driving.

regards
two79rx7's
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Old Aug 16, 2007 | 11:02 PM
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Yep,
HID draws considerably less amperage than incandecent lights.The transformer uses high voltage to strike the HID arc,but minimal power is needed to maintain it.Its totally and completely compatible with any 12V vehicle,including motorcycles.

Where most people get into trouble is with the reflector.You cant just slap an HID bulb into any housing.It will be too bright for everyone on the road and youll likely get pulled over.Using a housing from a factory HID vehicle is a good route to take,or buy HID specific aftermarket housings.
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 02:12 AM
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steve84GS TII good points about the reflector

anybody with suggestions on actual parts that will convert and work on first gens with pop ups? I am leaning heavily to bone yard sources for low cost. I dont mind the fab work.

even though there is less power needed are there still focal hot spots,, I have no experience working with these

Still as a driving light secondary to regular headlights these would also be great full out with an incandecent reflector,,just turn them off when someone is coming.
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 02:15 AM
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Man, I really lucked out, I guess. I'm going to take my HID setup from my FC and purchase H4 housings and then I will be golden.

The HIDs I purchased have the reflectors on the bulb, so the H4 housings don't really require anything fantastic for them to work.
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 03:13 PM
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Thats good that HID bulbs take less energy since i'm running 2 amps in my car right now but, could some body that has done this post a topic about doing different conversions? I can take out the head light assembly but i dont have much expirence fabing stuff... I'll appreciate it.
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Old Aug 17, 2007 | 11:04 PM
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No choice,your gonna have to get good at fabbing,or expect to pay a lot for someone else's fab work.
Nobody is selling flushlight kits right now,and the ones they used to sell were iffy anyways.I tried to fab a low profile popup kit years ago from a Miata Brainstorm light kit.I failed,and wasted 400 bucks on the kit.....and Im a pretty good "fab it to work" kind of person.
The articulating light kits are too complicated to redesign,so the next attempt was with a MidTenn Miata flushlight kit.It ONLY took some minor trimming of the buckets,a re-cut of the plexi covers,redesign the lid mountings and completely replacing the cheap *** driving lights they provide, with DOT legal Hella 90MM projectors......again,about 400 bucks,but this time its a decent result.Still not a superb job,but hey FD guys pay over 1000 bucks for the pro flushlight kits.And no,the MidTenn Miata kit isnt availible anymore either.The Hella light come in HID too,but its about 500+ bucks a pair......I went with regular H9.

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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 02:26 AM
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no body else with any ideas?
esp. on HID
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 09:23 AM
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Those headlights are really slick steve.
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 09:33 AM
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Steve, what about lending your light kit to some one on the forum to make a fiberglass mold of it?, even if someone just sold the mold and plexiglass, i wouldnt mind painting and installing the lights myself, just a thought...
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 12:23 PM
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those look sic steve. I'll just grab one of my friends that good at stuff like that and find a miata or old nissan headlight kit and try to fit it in.
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 10:44 PM
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There isnt really anything to make a mold of........

The tray the lights are in is minimal,it doenst run all the way to the front,and it doest go anywhere on the outer edges.Since its made for a Miata,I had to trim and cut away the excess material just to get it in there.Other than being a mount for the lid holder posts,and keeping the ground from being visible from above,it really serves no purpose.The lights are affixed to the factory steel,the rear wall of the headlight bucket.The 3D,multi-curved lids are the only,truely difficult to reproduce item.I had to cut them from the Miata shape to the RX-7 shape,had a shop take care of that.

Seriously,one could make a similar flush light kit with a set of nibblers,some light gauge sheetmetal,some aluminum rod,a little weatherstrip and whatever lights you wanted......The MidTenn Miata kit was nothing special,they were charging 400 bucks for less than 100 bucks worth of crap.........the plexi lids are the only catch.
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Old Aug 21, 2007 | 11:44 PM
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I found this in an old thred from 05'. I really like the idea of the flush lights.
https://www.rx7club.com/group-buy-center-69/gb-evo-r-rx-7-sleek-headlight-kit-back-again-481791/
The kit that they show got my imagination going for my sa22 79 model. I think i should be able to model a pair from fiberglass and resin.(and a bit of car putty hehe) And these things go for $500 to 1G?? THAT'S CRAZY!! I think i should be able to do the light buckets up for about $50 worth of material.
+lights +plexi-glass +8 hours each to knock em together. I've got a bloke down the road here that will coat plastic/ fiberglass/ steel ,allmost any surface with what ever you want. Chrome, carbon fiber...that sort of thing. I'll have a go at building some and post some pics later. Thanks for the idea!!
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Old Aug 22, 2007 | 12:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Old Skool
I found this in an old thred from 05'. I really like the idea of the flush lights.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=481791
The kit that they show got my imagination going for my sa22 79 model. I think i should be able to model a pair from fiberglass and resin.(and a bit of car putty hehe) And these things go for $500 to 1G?? THAT'S CRAZY!! I think i should be able to do the light buckets up for about $50 worth of material.
+lights +plexi-glass +8 hours each to knock em together. I've got a bloke down the road here that will coat plastic/ fiberglass/ steel ,allmost any surface with what ever you want. Chrome, carbon fiber...that sort of thing. I'll have a go at building some and post some pics later. Thanks for the idea!!
+1. If you made them I'd definetley buy them. I think jfachner72 was doing something like this but haven't heard about that in awhile. So post more cuz im ready to spend some money on something other than
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Old Aug 22, 2007 | 01:49 AM
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I've always wanted some LED tailights for the first gen. Anyone wanna make these? Stock look outside but super bright led's inside!
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Old Aug 22, 2007 | 09:57 AM
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steve, would you be willing to remove a headlight and post pics for the people that want to make there own flushmount?
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Old Aug 22, 2007 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by RotaryRevn
I've always wanted some LED tailights for the first gen. Anyone wanna make these? Stock look outside but super bright led's inside!
+1 i never realy liked the look of fb tail lights tho. I no some guy whos father owns a crazy lookin first gen it has a granite/marble looking paint job targa band its kitted out has ford foucus head lights and rsx tail lights. Wish i had pics of it. i realy like the way the rsx tails look on a first gen. people from Ct might know of it its in the east side of bpt. ive also seen projector tails form an integra on a first gen i think they were from a 92 also looked real nice better than stock imo. but i would like to see some led tail lights if it looked nice i would buy.
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