Interior / Exterior / Audio Talk about interior and exterior mods including audio.

Screw pop ups! headlight conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 12, 2002 | 09:45 PM
  #26  
black99's Avatar
Lurking..................
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 0
From: PA
Originally posted by dclin


Are you sure dood? I was really looking forward to gluing my light kit on.

LOL you too? I'm planning on using white elmer's glue but it takes forever to dry..
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 03:03 AM
  #27  
tinfan82's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Ca
sounds kool

Man, if the kit turns out to look like the East Bear, just throw it away cuz its sooo ugly. From what I hear so far sounds pretty dam good for a light kit less than $1,000. Hopefully you can finish it cuz i really want one. I cannot see anything at night even with my manufacture pop-ups(with piaa bulbs), piaa 1000X fog lights, and 99 j-spec fog lights. Hurry up and finish the light conversion. I really really want to see it. Give us an update on it okay.

Thank you soo much,
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 10:01 AM
  #28  
jdhuegel1's Avatar
Glug Glug Glug Burp
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,819
Likes: 0
From: Scott AFB, IL
I didn't mean to throw any flames when this thread popped up. I just know how it gets in here when someone starts making projects. I know that completing something like this is difficult and time consuming...

Some people think that "is there any interest in a HID kit for 3rd gens?"

Means... "I am offering a 3rd gen HID kit, what should I charge?"

That's all. People get their hopes up when a new project starts... Thinking they will save a few bucks. But many times they have been let down.

Good luck, though. And keep us posted.

Oh, and yeah.... that's jimlabs FD. One bad **** if you ask me.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 08:55 PM
  #29  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
hey I know how you can be let down by some dork saying he will make a wonder product. a guy on the dsmforum started saying he was selling carbon fiber wings and he kept blabbin on and on about how he had sold 24 and all kinds of crap .....so people blew the pic up of his "cf wing" and you could easily tell it was photoshopped and all a fake. so I understand you guys can be skeptical. I am skeptical too to people saying they are makign a new product. I think that untill I see a product I am not gonna **** my pants from excitment. lol but anyhoo. the clay is finaly dried but it also cracked so I gotta fill the crack in. I will post pics of its current phase very soon
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 08:58 PM
  #30  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
btw... I despise the eastbear kit and my kit is designed to look almost identical to the kit I pasted in my first post
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 09:10 PM
  #31  
Full Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: AZ
If people can afford a fd they can afford a non ghetto light setup, gluing some fog lights in some carbon fiber doesnt make a good set of lights.
Reply
Old Nov 13, 2002 | 11:46 PM
  #32  
dclin's Avatar
Perpetual Project
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,667
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Originally posted by vaseline
If people can afford a fd they can afford a non ghetto light setup, gluing some fog lights in some carbon fiber doesnt make a good set of lights.
But he said we would not have to glue our lights.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 06:51 AM
  #33  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
well I worked on it sanding, trimming, and smooooving last night for a while and here is how it is at this point. the pic looks a little squashed for some wierd reason??? anyhoo...the metal brackets were just cheap scraps I had lying around. I will order STrONG metal sometime in the week hopefully
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 10:00 AM
  #34  
jdhuegel1's Avatar
Glug Glug Glug Burp
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,819
Likes: 0
From: Scott AFB, IL
Looks like it may be a nice turnout coming... Keep us posted. I do have several friends with 1G DSM's that would most likely be interested.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 10:03 AM
  #35  
jdhuegel1's Avatar
Glug Glug Glug Burp
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,819
Likes: 0
From: Scott AFB, IL
http://www.rothbuilt.com/GatewayDSM/MBoard/default.asp


Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 12:30 PM
  #36  
slimps55's Avatar
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: los angeles
I am interested in non pop up lights for my 94.
What are the cheapest ones right now?
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 12:51 PM
  #37  
the_glass_man's Avatar
Will u do me a kindness?
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 5,030
Likes: 4
From: Parlor City, NY
I'd be willing to help you out, you could use my car as a test bed. I'm not really all that close, but this does strike some interest for me.
I wouldn't let the other guys get to you, the must not know that you have to glue on the RE-A and the Rotary Extreme head light lenses.
If you can create a better mouse trap I'm all for it!!!
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 01:03 PM
  #38  
tookwik's Avatar
VIP - Very Irish Person
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 0
From: NC State
concentrate on the lighting man, and people will buy. I promise.
Reply
Old Nov 14, 2002 | 05:26 PM
  #39  
Makenzie71's Avatar
...94% correct.
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 2
From: High Texas
Originally posted by vaseline
If people can afford a fd they can afford a non ghetto light setup, gluing some fog lights in some carbon fiber doesnt make a good set of lights.

But what about those of us who don't have rich nannies to support us or kick *** jobs? You know...those of us who can only afford a lowly first or second gen? I think this setup looks cool...and beings I can't see worth a damn with my stock lights I'm gonna opt for something that looks interesting. Good job eagletsi!
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2002 | 04:36 PM
  #40  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
Project Update

After further testing of the lights I decided I want some lights that will be BETTER than stock instead of equal to them And I was calling stores all around and finaly found a Hella lights distibutor!!! it was an hour aaway but I made the drive and picked up some lights to test.

well its dark out now so I am gonna test the hella lights. I will give a report later tonight or tomorrow
Reply
Old Nov 17, 2002 | 05:40 PM
  #41  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
ok I tested the hella lights and all I can say is WOW! they completely smacked the stock headlights on a minvan I conpared them too!! they were a little more expensive than the previous lights I was gonna use but hella's are worth the extra $$
Reply
Old Nov 19, 2002 | 02:28 PM
  #42  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
project update

I tested a different light for the low beam and found a better light. so it will be smaller than the original one but this is all good. my flat metal bars came in today (I had to reorder them cause teh stuff I got b4 felt a little flimzy) so I will be making the mounting brackets next
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2002 | 01:19 PM
  #43  
tinfan82's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Ca
sounds good so far....

Wow, seems like you're really gonna finish it. It sounds really good so far. Just remember to keep us updated and remember to post some pics. Hey if they're HID, I think the violent HID (or really deep blue) lighting is better. I mean I'm down for lighting but I'm also down for looks too...great job so far
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2002 | 11:07 PM
  #44  
Makenzie71's Avatar
...94% correct.
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 2
From: High Texas
Maybe you could post a couple of pics of your current progress...and maybe some good profile shots so maybe we with weak imaginations might better see how this would look on our cars...we would really like to see how far above the hoodline this may extend....we need to try to avoid the froggy look of East-Bear syndrome!
Reply
Old Nov 20, 2002 | 11:29 PM
  #45  
1FooknTiteFD's Avatar
Ghost Ride the Whip
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 1
From: Foster City, CA
I agree with everyone else, make the conversion and let the product speak for itself. If it's good then people will buy it
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2002 | 03:58 AM
  #46  
jimlab's Avatar
Super Snuggles
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 10,091
Likes: 34
From: Redmond, WA
The problem with the Hella 90mm lights, although they are DOT legal, is that they're so damn big that they have to be mounted far to the rear of the headlight area in order to keep them from "bulging" above the hoodline of the car like the East Bear kit. Unfortunately, that means that you have to cut a significant piece of sheet metal out of the car on either side for clearance for the lights (RE Amemiya, Rotary Extreme).

My kit is still in the works, but I can tell you that we're working towards a single projector design (Bi-Xenon, handles both low and high beam from a single projector) which should be compact enough to eliminate cutting and a bulged profile. To balance out the appearance, we've discussed including a small Hella projector fog light for aesthetic reasons (Ferrari F360-style) as well as for filling in the area immediately in front of the car.

I've got some prototype pods made that I haven't seen yet, unfortunately, and I'm still trying to source the Bi-Xenon projectors at a reasonable price, but it's coming along. Still, there's no guarantees that the only set anyone will ever see will be on my car.

The benefits of this setup are many, but here's a summary:

1. No cutting involved (RE Amemiya, Rotary Extreme)
2. No bulging pod (C-West, East Bear)
3. Only single HID ballast required (2 for all the others)

Cost should be lower and quality higher than anything available from Japan, and wiring should be a piece of cake, but things are moving a lot slower than I would have liked. Good luck with your own project.
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2002 | 10:42 AM
  #47  
wptrx7's Avatar
Newb Photog
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 0
From: new jersey
c'mon someone speed this up. i want to see different designs than what is currently offered. hey jim if it is a one off project and works out to be the best, would you help someone else with it, to make thier own.

luigi
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2002 | 01:59 PM
  #48  
ptrhahn's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,281
Likes: 703
From: Arlington, VA
Originally posted by jimlab
The problem with the Hella 90mm lights, although they are DOT legal, is that they're so damn big that they have to be mounted far to the rear of the headlight area in order to keep them from "bulging" above the hoodline of the car like the East Bear kit. Unfortunately, that means that you have to cut a significant piece of sheet metal out of the car on either side for clearance for the lights (RE Amemiya, Rotary Extreme).

My kit is still in the works, but I can tell you that we're working towards a single projector design (Bi-Xenon, handles both low and high beam from a single projector) which should be compact enough to eliminate cutting and a bulged profile. To balance out the appearance, we've discussed including a small Hella projector fog light for aesthetic reasons (Ferrari F360-style) as well as for filling in the area immediately in front of the car.

I've got some prototype pods made that I haven't seen yet, unfortunately, and I'm still trying to source the Bi-Xenon projectors at a reasonable price, but it's coming along. Still, there's no guarantees that the only set anyone will ever see will be on my car.

The benefits of this setup are many, but here's a summary:

1. No cutting involved (RE Amemiya, Rotary Extreme)
2. No bulging pod (C-West, East Bear)
3. Only single HID ballast required (2 for all the others)

Cost should be lower and quality higher than anything available from Japan, and wiring should be a piece of cake, but things are moving a lot slower than I would have liked. Good luck with your own project.



Say Jim, that extra light you're adding for asthetics could also become a turn signal/parking light combo. I'm sure i can think of someplace to route the air if i could turn my turn signal holes into intakes :-)
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2002 | 06:39 PM
  #49  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
project update

ok I havesome genuine brackets done!! in the pics you can see the lights I have chosen. I was beating myself over the head wondering if I should put the smaller oval lights on the outside or the inside edge and finaly decided to put them on the inside. this makes it appear a little more slanted inward (like evil eyes ) you cant realy see what I am talking about but you will see what I mean when its finished. sorry the pics are blurry my dig cam batteries crapped out so I had to use my vid cam to get pics. when I get batteries for the dig cam I will get some close ups of the lights (they are tough!) the brackets went in smooth. I decided to drill a hole in the bracket(for the oval light) and through the sheet metal. I originaly wanted teh kit to be a "no drill holes needed" but I want the extra hole for extra support.

clay or foam for the prototype mold?:
I have been wanting to try some foam but havent had a chance to pick any up. I dont have my license at the moment and my parents r too busy to get me anywhere most of the time. but I am taking my drivers test on monday!! WOOHOO!! thats right... I dont have my license...untill monday. anyhoo if the foam thing doesnt work out I found a store that sells "self hardening clay" so it doesnt need a kiln to harden as solid as a rock, and it wont crack while drying.

here are the pics
Reply
Old Nov 21, 2002 | 06:46 PM
  #50  
eagletsi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: rochester NY
as you can see in the pics teh lights are almost 100% flush with the hood line. and from what I have seen I think the rx7's have a steeper hood angle so those lights would probaly be 100% flush on an rx-7

the only changes I made to the car was drilling 2 holes!!
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:40 PM.