OK, here is what I did, the pictures don't do it a lot of justice but when I had the lens on they looked stock enough to pass vehicle inspection in my very strict *** town. The inspection guy failed me for not having working reverse lights but thought these were factory.


The next 3 pictures show the "hard part" the telescopic arms, they looked like dogsh#@ but were strong and worked great. Plus you can't see them when they are installed anyway. The thing that made it so hard was I cut out the middle section of the factory lift arm (see the first picture) that goes to the motor and had to attach a rod to one side, and a tube to the other, then make then just long enough to expand without falling apart when the motor goes down, BUT short enough to collapse enough for a half-high pop-up when the motor drove them up. it was a closer margin than it seems. Take a look at the extended and retracted length differences, a 1mm arm difference can mean a lot more in headlight height.

To attach them I drilled holes all the way through the tube (that had been flatened in a vise) and riveted them on. For the rod side I drilled holes and used self tapping screws to hold them together, then to try and prevent any movement that would eventually work them apart I added a topcoat of some hot glue. These were the "prototypes" the final version had JB weld to solidify things a bit. Then to set the stop point I drilled a hole and inserted a cotter pin. If you look close you can see that there is a a second hole that would reset the rise to stock height if I desired later.




The easier way would be to make a pivoting piece like the one posted earlier but you would have to somehow add the ball joints and sockets, and that aint easy to fabricate from my point of view.

Finally for the lens I used plexglass that I heat shaped, then painted black from the inside to hide the brackets and side metal parts, I also blacked out all of the mechanical area behind the lights so you would'nt see red metal. The lens covers are what brought it from looking ghetto to looking OEM. Plus they protect the lights and are easier to clean than all the nooks and cranny's around round lights. ....and yes, they attach with the factory screws, see the little predrilled holes in the sides.


Before anyone makes negative comments they should try to make a set from scratch and invent their own system like I have.

 

Do you have pics of finished products.


Gil.

 

I fixed the link for the first picture, which shows the comparison of the original versus the new lights.

No comparison IMO.

Note: The plexiglas cover was not on yet.

 

nice welding job...

 

JOn E, nice work on the plexi, gave me some ideas, THANKS!

 

I can't weld.....yet. They were bonded by other means described in my post. If anyone gets inspired and comes up with improvements on my designs then it was all worth it to me. You enjoy a cool mod SOOOO much more when it was your own creation and not just a bolt on part.

 

Hey, did'nt you say that you had installed some APC seats in your daughters vert? If so what was your method of installing them at a stock height? I am looking at my new ones and they sit too high compared to stock.

 

true....after looking at ur modd...i been thinking...how bout replacing one side with a threaded bolt of the same diameter...then attach the other side with soemthing thats adjustable...

 

Seats are being recovered. Iw anted to keep the stock seats/speakers yet the phony leather was in shitty condition, so I found a guy to recover. I'll send some pics when I have them back. The Mustang wing did come out very nice. From most views it looks as if it belongs. now I need to find an alternative for the antenna as the wing lays over the hole, so thats being filled in.

 

That sounds like a good plan, the bolt would make it adjustable but you still have to attach it to some sort of ball joint end. The arm rotates 360 degrees at the motor and the headlight assy.

You are headed in the right direction grasshopper.

 

This in jaareds sig, haven't stopped in this thread for about a week, these things for sale now? details?

 

i been busy...

Iv been doing some thinking... let me work out my thoughts and ideas... then i just may have a complete kit for sale again. Thats why i have bee holding off the write up.

 

those lights are awsome i would pay 150 for them if they were an easy kit and they worked like normal

 

jaared, we're waiting for ur decision.....i cant wait

 

Meh, take your time. Needs to be an quality setup.

 

me want

 

using the plexiglass as a cover and as a way of mounting would solve my need for a surplus of FC headlight trim...

Should look very clean.. like he said. Like it came with the car.

 

i would buy the kit if you could find a way to produce them quickly....and cheaply...

 

id like to have sex with 4 women at the same time as long as it was free and they didnt have any std's.

 

me too

 

I want a kit, but only if it takes you 5 years and costs over $8000.00 US

 

not trying to be a cheap ***, but i wouldn't pay 200 - 400 for a light kit like most that i have seen for sale...

 

Then you should make one yourself, or love the pop-ups, because who is going to design a kit from scratch, ( I did one and it was a pain ), then gather all the parts and somehow be able to sell them for under $200 in a form that can be installed by the average Joe?

That would be impossible without making them by the thousands, which won't happen with our old cars, that is why I know any lights I put on my car will be unique. Since few will pay and even fewer can do it themselves.

 

JonEQuest is right, IMO.

 

rock on JonE