2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Make headlight kit operate right

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 10:18 PM
  #1  
gergrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
Boosting Again
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, FL
Make 2 small headlights per side move up and down

ok well after seeing Jareeds thread about makeing new headlights with 2 small lights, i decided to attempt it my self and i did. i got everything working, except how to get them to move up and down. i dont want to use a pivot controll switch becuase it will be hard to set it to the same spot everytime so the lights wont be aligned. and i dont want to cut the arm from the motor becuase if i do the motors will burn up becuase its goign to try to move farther than it really is. has anyone sucessfully done this and got the lights to move up bythem selvs so they will allways be aligned.

heres a pic of the lights, i want them to raise to this height adn close to stock.

Last edited by gergrx7; Aug 11, 2004 at 10:43 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 11:04 PM
  #2  
91mazdarx7's Avatar
Rotary Freak
Tenured Member: 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 0
From: pennsylvania
i cant help you with the motors moving and all but those look real good nice job on them
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2004 | 11:56 PM
  #3  
ilike2eatricers's Avatar
I R SAD PANDA W/O BAW
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 1
From: bay area
Right now I replaced my headlight motors but dont have the arms set correctly so when I turn on the headlights they flip up all the way and then halfway down. The thing that sucks is the FSM says you need to remove the front bumper cover to adjust them. I am referring to the big nut holding the large arm.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 12:58 AM
  #4  
bcty's Avatar
Boost This!
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 0
From: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada
just cut and reweld the arm
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 03:23 AM
  #5  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
That will not work. The headlight retractors work exactly like a piston/conrod/crank arrangement in a piston engine. Half a turn of the motor raises them, half a turn in the same direction lowers them. If you simply shorten the arm (the "conrod") the headlight will bottom out before the motor completes its half-turn. The only way to shorten the stroke and still have the headlights lower to the correct position would be to shorten the arm and raise the motor mounting position upwards. I've never looked to see if this is actually possible...
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 04:11 AM
  #6  
MakoRacing[S13]'s Avatar
RX7!!!
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
any way to make it do a quarter turn? how does it know when to stop?
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 05:01 AM
  #7  
1SxyRXy's Avatar
my fc broke
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 0
From: rohnert park,CA/ bay area
i know 1fastt2 did it
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 05:50 AM
  #8  
Kenteth's Avatar
Like Ghandi with a gun
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City, SD
If you cut the arms, you could move the switch to have the motor shut off when they reach the appropriate height.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2004 | 12:28 PM
  #9  
Trav's Avatar
Rotary Enthusiast
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
I can't remember who did it, but someone mentioned actually changing the 'stroke' of the arm by welding on an extra bit of metal and moving the pivot point. The point here is that the bottom end has to be the same place, but to not extend as far as it did before.

Have to see if I can find that link. I have no idea if it would actually work or not, but when I read over it, the concept seemed solid. Never had the desire to do it myself, so just speaking from memory.

If it would work, I'd have to think it would be a whole lot easier (and cleaner) than trying to rig some sort of electronics solution to it by either mounting secondary *****, switches, etc. or by modifying stock elec. components to behave differently.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2004 | 02:14 AM
  #10  
NZConvertible's Avatar
I'm a boost creep...
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 8
From: Auckland, New Zealand
Originally Posted by Kenteth
If you cut the arms, you could move the switch to have the motor shut off when they reach the appropriate height.
That still won't work. Apart from the fact that the limit switches are integral with the motor and not adjustable, the motor only turns one way and must make a comple revolution for each up/down cycle.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2004 | 02:19 AM
  #11  
Kenteth's Avatar
Like Ghandi with a gun
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 0
From: Rapid City, SD
Originally Posted by NZConvertible
That still won't work. Apart from the fact that the limit switches are integral with the motor and not adjustable, the motor only turns one way and must make a comple revolution for each up/down cycle.
I understand now, I thought it went both ways.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
astrum
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
24
Nov 15, 2017 08:44 AM
CaptainKRM
2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992)
14
Aug 26, 2015 09:52 PM
82streetracer
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
7
Aug 23, 2015 09:28 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:29 PM.