FD3SNEWBIE

So over the weekend I visited a local shop that's been around for almost 20 years and now the owner is going for retirement. I go in there just to say whats up and he pulls out a box that says RE Sleek... obviously I jump all over it and this is what I get.

2 x Sleek headlight bases
4 x IPF lights
Brackets

Here's the problem:

1) No covers, so I thought okay I will make the lexan covers myself however, I make them, then what about the curvature and how do I paint them?

2) Realized with this kit the frame will for sure have to be cut, so I am trying to find an alternative to the IPF lights. Maybe a smaller projector retrofit? I figured that for me not to cut the frame I would need a projector / light less then 4 inches in depth and less then 3.5 inches in height due to the lexan cover over it. DILEMMA

WHO EVER SAID MODDING IS AN EASY JOB - PLUG AND PLAY MY A**

By the way, if people are interested, he's got 3 other sets left. He said they still have the IPF lights but if someone wanted to go with a cheaper application they can.

Keep you guys posted on the progress...

BTW - I know the bracket on the top is on the wrong way, it was on there light that when I took the pic and I've changed it already lol

phrost

iTrader: (14)

i planed on using the morimoto mini d2s kit from, http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...11fu7rb5rnm6m2

not really sure if itll fit the re buckets, but i was going to make them fit if needed.
i have a set of re-a replica buckets coming from vis racing. Also, if you want to sell 1 pair of those ipf lights to me for cheap pm me (i'm only buying 1 pair of the projectors because they do both low and high beam, think itll look retarded with only 1 lens in each bucket, lol)

FD3SNEWBIE

I've been looking at this kit on this company sells. As far as quality goes, people are saying its awesome. To make it work with our buckets, that's a mission and a half.

Today I will do some measurements with the specs of these HID projectors and then post up some pics. See I am trying to avoid cutting the frame. The problem that I / we will run into is that the projector has to be short enough and low enough (for the cover to fit)

What's your plan to put one projector in each bucket and then have the IPF or other light in as well?

Any ideas for what you are going to do with the cover?

phrost

iTrader: (14)

Well, I really want kick *** truely legit hid's. So, if I need to cut the frame I will. I was going to get some cheap fog light or something just to fill in the rest of the bucket, I probably won't even wire it up, just want something in there for looks.

Here are the specs for mini d2s morimoto projectors:
DIMENSIONS

Max Depth:
125mm (5.00" inches)
Max Height
80mm (3.14 inches)
Max Width
92mm (3.62 inches)
Lens Diameter
2.5 inches

pretty sure we can make this fit with minimal frame cutting for depth...

as far as lens cover, I got a pair of replica lenses off the for sale sub forum. However, they looks super easy to make outta 1/4 thick lexan. Just cut out the overall size in lexan, and either heat it up in an oven or with a heatgun and use an old headlight cover (off the flipups) or use ur bucket as a template for the curve. If you use ur bucket for the template for the curve, your going to have to use something to support the lens in the middle, i guess painters tape may work? Btw the replica lenses I got barely had any curve to em, I most likely will have to curve them more in the method I stated earlier.

Oh and for painting the lenses I would just use a black plastic spray paint, i think krylon fusion as long as it says itll work for lexan, just tape off what you dont want painted, and paint the INSIDE of the lense. should be simple enough on that front.

FD3SNEWBIE

Good search Phrost...

Alright this is what I've found out while I am at "work" lol

I contacted retrofit source. They suggested instead of the D2S we go with the H1. The link below is for all measurements of all sizes of projectors and all shrouds.

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/album.php?u=79799

Also, with the H1 or the D2S we have to account for the shrouds if you really want it to look clean. The H1 has a "mini gaitling" shroud that we can use and with that the maximum height is 3.54" which is not bad and the depth of the mini H1 is 4.44" so a little smaller then the D2S.

For the lens, i've been doing some searching, best thing is to use the heat gun to mold it because you can do sections at a time. (will test it out)

Secondly, for the paint, there's another company called Rustoleum
http://www.rustoleum.com/

They make the best paint from what I've heard and if you want to go one better take 300 grit sand paper and sand down what you want to paint and that paint should stick.

phrost

iTrader: (14)

Nice research ^ too!

I knew about the mini h1's but, supposedly d2s bulbs are the new standard for hid bulbs with the OEM manufactures. I figured I'd go with the d2s kit, I assumed I wasn't going to be able to use the shrouds that come with them with out a lot of modification. I was even thinking of taking a thin piece of stainless steel and fab that as more of a flat bezel to hide the gaps.

Definitely keep updating this thread as your progress proceeds. I'm currently working on finishing up my non seq build and replacement of pretty much everything lol. I should have my engine up and running hopefully this Sunday. Still have the brake system to flush out and redo. So I most likely won't be able to work on my custom hid projector re-a replica kit until the end of this month, early next. But I know I'll be keeping an eye on this to see what issues you run into

Oh check this out, I came across this thread while doing some searching on this subject.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...&pp=15&page=21 - post #305
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...&pp=15&page=23 - post #345
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...&pp=15&page=24 - post #354

I never really did get all the way thru that thread to see how it turned out lol

FD3SNEWBIE

Hey guys,

so for these headlights I've got the lexan cut out and its lining up pretty good, just an fyi, you have to use a really fine blade for the cutting otherwise you get these rough edges that you have to sand down with some 300 grit sand paper.

Anyways, i wanted peoples opinions on this.

Since I wanted to go with the projectors instead of the IPF fog lights, what do you guys think of the combination of the two? Check out the pic below and give me your opinions please.

Thanks.

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

personally, I would like the IPF on the outside towards the fender and the projector in the inside. That way it balances the look for the bucket and the lights itself. Ether way, it looks good!

-AzEKnightz

phrost

iTrader: (14)

+1 ^
also, can you center the projector housing, like get the center of the projector in line with the center of the ipf light.
also what projector did you end up going with? mini h1? any modifications need to be made depth wise to the car frame with the bulb installed in the housing?

on cutting lexan, I think using power wood working tools work the best, make sure the top face is facing down when cutting tho. (good bosch jig saws and rigid circular saws work pretty good, make sure its got a lot of teeth on the saw blades tho, course ones won't work.) Also, what thickness lexan did you go with? and did it conform to the "curved" shape with out having to heat it up?

great progress man, I'm going to order my buckets from vis racing 2nite!

FD3SNEWBIE

So I put the IPF fog light on the side near to the fender and the projector on the inside and it will be centered to the IPF light hopefully after I am done.

These projectors are some that I had kicking around from before. They are the same sizes as the D2S ones that we talked about earlier so I figured, let me know mess around with these and see if I can make it work.

I am going to definitely have to cut the headlight bracket behind the bucket. I figure regardless I have to cut it so might as well work on getting the bucket / lights all together into one piece and then cut the light frame and install it.

The lexan did not conform to the curved shape of the bucket. If you see in the pics above in the 3rd pic you can see the lexan and the distance with the bucket. I have to heat it up to make it fit.

I guess I am going through the steps slowly... I don't want to skip steps then I feel like I have too many different things going on..

Will keep you posted with the progress. If this works then I will still have a set of the IPF lights available for sale if you are still interested...

Check out the pics, I am going to make a plate so the only things you see are the front of the projector and the IPF fog light. That still comes later.

phrost

iTrader: (14)

"...If this works then I will still have a set of the IPF lights available for sale if you are still interested..."

I actually just got an amazing deal for re-a replica buckets and 4 lights, so I should be covered for the non hid portion of the lighting. But hey you never know I may still need them in the end, not sure what company made these replica's or what kind of lights are coming with them. They shipped out today. So I should be working on getting them in some time next week!

Anyways great work with ur set so far! Look forward to the outcome, you will most likely be done before me, I've still got a lot of other stuff to do on the 7 b4 I can really get into this custom hid projector setup. Oh quick question, since you projectors will most likely be bi-xenon, will you even bother hooking up the IPF lights for power, and if you did would you have them turn on when high beams are activated? (wiring in a relay to detect when the high beams are on)

FD3SNEWBIE

Sweet, I actually made a deal with the guy that I bought these from and hes got a few sets kicking around that he wants to get rid of so If you know anyone that is interested on here let me know.

Also, I am going to use the IPF light as daytime running light. In Canada we gotta have them ... so states the law. Besides, I think it would be kinda nice to have the drl on the car in that particular housing.

What do you think?

phrost

iTrader: (14)

ah, the IPF's as a drl light, not a bad idea, I wonder of we could fit a sweet super brite led in that housing. I was actually thinking of not hooking it up at all, buttttt, I'm loving your idea of using it for drl, I would just wire in some relays that would trip when you turn on the "parking lights".