Headlight conversion (homebrew sleepyeyes)
#1
completely wankelfied
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bloomington IN
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Headlight conversion (homebrew sleepyeyes)
I decided to make this post since I had the camera handy today, and there's not too many details as to how to do the "sleepy" headlight conversion.
I did this in my own garage with pretty basic tools (dremel with a cut-off wheel and a drill) in a matter of a few hours using mostly just scrap materials from around the garage.
Obviously you need to take the headlight assembly out of the car, remove the headlamp, cover and the headlight bucket.
I started by making a hole in the headlight bucket (driver side) this is where the pushrod was once attatched.
Then I made a "slide" bracket:
Then I trimmed the bracket, made a bend, drilled a couple of holes and screwed it in to the bucket. Remember you can adjust the length of the hole in the bracket to achieve different heights, but the bottom of the hole must remain near the stock location to keep them from flapping up at high speeds or burning the motor.
The ball joint stud form the pushrod has an unthreaded section that fits the bracket nicely and delivers a smooth action. I would recommend some loctite for the end of the nut.
Made some more brackets and fitted some lamps:
grabbed the cover and ran outside to check the fitment:
good first try, everything clears and operates as it should.
I read the headlight conversion section here on the forum and came across the modified motor switch but was dissapointed to read that it makes the headlight go all the way up before returning to the closed position, and I thought there must be another way, and did this. I know there are many laws concerning headlights, so I must say that I'm sure none of this would be street legal anywhere, I just wanted to merely post that it can be done relatively easy and cheap.
I did this in my own garage with pretty basic tools (dremel with a cut-off wheel and a drill) in a matter of a few hours using mostly just scrap materials from around the garage.
Obviously you need to take the headlight assembly out of the car, remove the headlamp, cover and the headlight bucket.
I started by making a hole in the headlight bucket (driver side) this is where the pushrod was once attatched.
Then I made a "slide" bracket:
Then I trimmed the bracket, made a bend, drilled a couple of holes and screwed it in to the bucket. Remember you can adjust the length of the hole in the bracket to achieve different heights, but the bottom of the hole must remain near the stock location to keep them from flapping up at high speeds or burning the motor.
The ball joint stud form the pushrod has an unthreaded section that fits the bracket nicely and delivers a smooth action. I would recommend some loctite for the end of the nut.
Made some more brackets and fitted some lamps:
grabbed the cover and ran outside to check the fitment:
good first try, everything clears and operates as it should.
I read the headlight conversion section here on the forum and came across the modified motor switch but was dissapointed to read that it makes the headlight go all the way up before returning to the closed position, and I thought there must be another way, and did this. I know there are many laws concerning headlights, so I must say that I'm sure none of this would be street legal anywhere, I just wanted to merely post that it can be done relatively easy and cheap.
#4
Sua Sponte
iTrader: (31)
Very cool man! I remember RotoryBrain and Garfinkle did something very similar to RotaryBrain's car a few years back and it looked great once they finished it. I wish I had some finished pictures, but here are a few when he was still working on them.
Don't worry about Don... he's too busy "looking good" he doesn't even realize I'm taking pictures(that's HDP)
Don't worry about Don... he's too busy "looking good" he doesn't even realize I'm taking pictures(that's HDP)
#6
completely wankelfied
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Like I said I did this with spare stuff sitting around my garage, I dont intend on using those lights on the street, they WILL blind any oncoming traffic (I used them for a short while on a 1st gen that I made a sleek headlight kit for - oopsy), and yes you can splice the lights into the factory harness with a quick trip to radio shack. I merely wanted to make the mechanics of the sleepy headlight available to all.
After I get a proper set of lamps, I will probably fab a fiberglass shroud so I may post a "how to" for that as well, but today is too cold....
After I get a proper set of lamps, I will probably fab a fiberglass shroud so I may post a "how to" for that as well, but today is too cold....
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