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#1 (permalink) |
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Retrofitter
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Jstewart92's Custom Retrofitted Headlights (pic heavy)
If you've been following me on facebook you've already seen many of these pictures, but here's my official build thread. I assume that the opinions on them will be somewhat polarizing, but I like it. Also, my car is dirty as heck, deal with it.
Parts: FXR 2.0 Morimoto 35w ballasts (not newest gen) HD harness Philips 85122+ bulbs MCR shrouds X-pel headlight film I didn't want to go crazy with the mods so I kept it nice and simple Mods: CCFL to shine through shroud Aqua colored demon eye Color matched housing Color matched 'Daytime' demon eye I spent about a good 2 weeks (on and off) doing everything up to finish it, finally. Don't plan to do the FX-R again, at least not the way that I did it this time (with brackets) so we'll see if I produce any others of these. I do however still plan to do retrofits with the mini D2S or H1. Here's my story, with some of the pictures I snapped along the way (some are crappy cell pictures) My car is T19, steel blue pearl, I did the daytime demon eye to match the car. I also used the JNC method to mount the projectors. What I started with: ![]() What was on my car (H1 6k HIDs in Halogen projectors - CCFL halos) ![]() I had some confusion in finding my proper alignment on the reflector, red indicates what I marked off of the reference lines, I was worried I didn't have straight forward, but I wound up sticking with my original markings and will use the headlight aiming to fix the forward aiming. ![]() After I had the projector mounted in the reflector it looked like this: ![]() This is my "professional" paint booth. Lay down something to keep paint from getting on the lid, paint your part, then place the rest of the container over top. ![]() Paint: I went back and forth on the color combination I wanted on the lights, I think my final decision will be somewhat polarizing. As you can see I already painted my reflector gloss black. That left the headlight shroud and the projector shroud to be painted. For the headlight shroud I was picking between Gloss black, flat black, or color matched. For the shroud I was trying to decide between chrome or a smoked chrome appearance. Headlight stripped of chrome (gloss black plastic) and the chrome shroud ![]() I then decided to color match the headlight shroud. ![]() I really liked how the shroud stuck forward just enough to get past the headlight shroud and be able to shine straight out of the headlights. After seeing this I wanted to tie in my grille/fake vents and turn signals a little better, so I went with a smoked chrome shroud. I used Duplicolor metalcast smoke on the shroud, and decided to keep the inner ring of the MC-Rs chrome. After initial painting and before adding clear to the metalcast paint. ![]() I then took this picture to see what the headlight would look like with the shroud as is: ![]() I then decided I needed to add some clear coat to the shroud to bring out a more defined shine. Before and after clear coat: Clear coated shroud is on the right. ![]() Demon eye and CCFL ![]() Shrouds attached. ![]() On the 13th I wired up the demon eye and put the new harness in, made it as plug and play as possible. Here's some installed photos. I'm neglecting to take close up shots because I kinda flubbed the lens film up, mainly on the driver's side, just not used to having to use a heat gun to apply film, but I did much better with the second light. ![]() I've managed to get the demon eye pretty bright being that this shot was daytime, albeit in shade. ![]() CCFL + demon eye ![]() I'll get some output shots eventually, I've been really tied up with these, school, work, and the finishing details with timster's lights. I will say that they are very nice, even at 35w, if I decide I'll want brighter lights I'll go with 50w ballasts, as the OEM bulbs can take that added power. I will say, I believe the high beam can blind poor little birdies. Unfortunately I can tell that these projectors (while replicas) were originally designed for an SUV (because the high beam is indeed so far up). But even though these are the short-lived 2.0s and my first REAL retrofit, I'm quite pleased with the end result. UPDATE: I wanted to compare the Sonar output with these tonight, but I have a quiz tomorrow morning so sorry, but it's more important to study ![]() So these shots were the best I could do with my limited photography knowledge, I tried to get the mixture of brightness and color as accurate as possible, but I couldn't get it to be the exact same. F4.0, 1/6, ISO 800. ![]() Wall shots taken at about 30 feet from wall. The reason for the downfall of the short-lived 2.0s is rather evident, luckily for everyone but myself TRS has begun selling a hybrid 1.1 instead, which should have a straighter cutoff. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Looking back over these, the brightness is exaggerated, and the color is cooler than what it should be, the lights appear to be 5k, but they're 4.3k... maybe the white wall had something to do with that? Last edited by jstewart92; 11/16/2011 at 08:21 PM. |
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#6 (permalink) |
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Retrofitter
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And that was the idea!! I wanted to make these lights were different enough so that someone who knew nothing about the 3g would be able to tell that those were not stock, or aftermarket headlights.... per se
Thanks! I also did it a lot for the safety aspect as well, got tired of the Sonar output with HIDs in them, not to mention the crappy quality when compared to the stock (stanley) lights. |
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#12 (permalink) |
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R.I.P. silverside
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Yeah, we'll definitely be doing business in the future.
__________________
Building THE GREATEST 3G to date and possibly EVER built by PharmEcis. MIVEC 6G75 Turbo 5 Speed AWD.
This is what I'm about: The 3G, 1998 GSX, EVO IX GSR. |
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#16 (permalink) |
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Photoshopper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Land of the Ricing Son
Vehicle: 2001 Black Eclipse GT
Posts: 3,063
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I love it!
Last edited by grfft3r; 11/15/2011 at 06:15 PM. |
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#17 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern IL/IN
Vehicle: '01 Spyder GT
Posts: 2,535
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i'm really not feeling the color-matched housings, or that shroud design-- though i like what you did with the shrouds-- just enough chrome to make 'em shine, but not enough to mirror the world..
and i doubt most here know the 'JNC method'... (psst-- check hidplanet ) any intentions for jnc's rainbow cutoff mod?edit--your hid planet account still has the old pic
__________________
The never-ending project, my '01 Spyder GT more projects then time! when 'bright' reverse lights don't cut it exterior led upgrades--75% (led tails, turns, third brake, plate light, reverse light) interior led upgrades--10% (gauges and hvac next, dome light completed) whats next? ford raptor(for the lightbar!!).. Last edited by soundman98; 11/15/2011 at 06:33 PM. |
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#23 (permalink) | ||
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Retrofitter
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Thanks for all the replies guys, for some reason I guess I wasn't expecting so many people replying and being so positive.
![]() Quote:
Don't intend to anything more to the projectors themselves. Mainly due to the plight of the 2.0s. Quote:
I will say I love the light output. It's still taking a little getting used to with seeing the cutoff on the ground in front of the car, but the output is great, I promise. I drove home tonight on the highway, not only did I notice that as I drove in the fast lane passing people I could see a line from my lights going through theirs and casting on the curb to the right of them as I passed. Also as I drove in the slow lane I saw my beam being cast on the curb on the far side of the street, across 4 lanes. We'll see when I get pictures of it my friends.
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#29 (permalink) |
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Retrofitter
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I might get some output pics tonight after class. Not sure if the wall I'm thinking about will be good for it, we'll see. If anyone is wanting a price quote or something feel free to leave me a visitor message on what you may want, or post what you want in my Custom Headlights thread, and I'll PM you a quote. My inbox stays at or above 90% so that's why I like to send the quotes myself.
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#35 (permalink) | |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern IL/IN
Vehicle: '01 Spyder GT
Posts: 2,535
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Quote:
as much as i dislike my d2s retro, it hits on the same points, and makes me happy when i can use it at night.. just like my reverse lights.. though the bixenon is just as much fun when i get to flash the people with 10000k pnp kits(i admit, i keep my finger on the stalk always looking for someone to flash)
__________________
The never-ending project, my '01 Spyder GT more projects then time! when 'bright' reverse lights don't cut it exterior led upgrades--75% (led tails, turns, third brake, plate light, reverse light) interior led upgrades--10% (gauges and hvac next, dome light completed) whats next? ford raptor(for the lightbar!!).. |
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#37 (permalink) |
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Senior Member
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not a bad setup they look great.
__________________
2000 Eclipse GS-TURBO GI CF hood KYB/Tein s-techs Custom Body Kit 18" HP evo lightning Custom skyline taillights Carbon Fiber interior http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/b.../bwracing2.png |
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