Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: c_bass16 on June 13, 2010, 10:24:47 AM
Post by: c_bass16 on June 13, 2010, 10:24:47 AM
Has anyone built a set of custom headamps? 87 XR7 is what they will be for.
I have been just disgusted lately with the inside of my lights. They are down to a flat matte grey instead of
I've looked into getting them re-coated in a mirror finish "stuff" but they place wants like 50-60 for EACH light. thats $300 bones and is a bit much for my pocket book considering the lenses are still going to be less than crystal clear even after being refinished.
My thought was to fabricate my own series of headlamps using the current housing as a frame so the attachment points will be reusable. As long as the light bulb position is in the same place...they should line up good.
i guess i'm just wondering if anyone has tried something like this. I have a few spare parts laying around I could try it on and I'm going to take some pics and photoshop what I mean to see how they would look.
Also, i'm considering abandoning the lenses all together and using ONLY the black out lens covers.
ANYONE BUILT THEIR OWN? or have feed back on my thoughts/plans. Suggestions? Ideas?
I have been just disgusted lately with the inside of my lights. They are down to a flat matte grey instead of
I've looked into getting them re-coated in a mirror finish "stuff" but they place wants like 50-60 for EACH light. thats $300 bones and is a bit much for my pocket book considering the lenses are still going to be less than crystal clear even after being refinished.
My thought was to fabricate my own series of headlamps using the current housing as a frame so the attachment points will be reusable. As long as the light bulb position is in the same place...they should line up good.
i guess i'm just wondering if anyone has tried something like this. I have a few spare parts laying around I could try it on and I'm going to take some pics and photoshop what I mean to see how they would look.
Also, i'm considering abandoning the lenses all together and using ONLY the black out lens covers.
ANYONE BUILT THEIR OWN? or have feed back on my thoughts/plans. Suggestions? Ideas?
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: Thunder Chicken on June 13, 2010, 11:39:49 AM
Post by: Thunder Chicken on June 13, 2010, 11:39:49 AM
Look up Cougars 2 Go's car...
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: c_bass16 on June 13, 2010, 12:41:01 PM
Post by: c_bass16 on June 13, 2010, 12:41:01 PM
i checked out all his threads and posts but didnt find much for pictures. I will have to shoot him a PM i suppose.
Thanks for the suggestion
Thanks for the suggestion
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: c_bass16 on June 17, 2010, 07:23:20 PM
Post by: c_bass16 on June 17, 2010, 07:23:20 PM
no dice...hes not taking PMs and i never found any threads or pics about his ride or lights
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: jpc647 on June 18, 2010, 08:50:25 AM
Post by: jpc647 on June 18, 2010, 08:50:25 AM
He was making lights only for his car, there weren't a lot of pictures just photo-shopped ideas. If I remember correctly, the lights he has now, he liked but they weren't the greatest, but hell, none of us can see at night with the headlights we have.
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: Thunder Chicken on June 18, 2010, 10:47:00 AM
Post by: Thunder Chicken on June 18, 2010, 10:47:00 AM
I believe you'll find a pic of his car's custom lights in his signature. Think "BMW".
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: baxo on June 18, 2010, 12:31:32 PM
Post by: baxo on June 18, 2010, 12:31:32 PM
Here's a few from COOL CATS (http://"http://www.coolcats.net/photos/index.php?ID=105")
(http://www.coolcats.net/photos/cars/1988/Karl_1106552732/Viewer%20photo%202.jpg)
(http://www.coolcats.net/photos/cars/1988/Karl_1106552732/CoolCats%20After.jpg)
(http://www.coolcats.net/photos/cars/1988/Karl_1106552732/Viewer%20photo%202.jpg)
(http://www.coolcats.net/photos/cars/1988/Karl_1106552732/CoolCats%20After.jpg)
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: thesoldan on June 18, 2010, 12:40:37 PM
Post by: thesoldan on June 18, 2010, 12:40:37 PM
I had a thread a couple years ago about custom headlights, but all of the pic links are now dead.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=6889
I might be able to find some of the originals on my hard drive at home. I had some ideas but never pursued it much past the concept stage. The most promising lead at the time was to gut Lincoln LS lights and most likely vacuum form a new lens to fit the shape of the car.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=6889
I might be able to find some of the originals on my hard drive at home. I had some ideas but never pursued it much past the concept stage. The most promising lead at the time was to gut Lincoln LS lights and most likely vacuum form a new lens to fit the shape of the car.
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: c_bass16 on June 18, 2010, 07:45:01 PM
Post by: c_bass16 on June 18, 2010, 07:45:01 PM
Quote from: thesoldan;325893
I had a thread a couple years ago about custom headlights, but all of the pic links are now dead.
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=6889
I might be able to find some of the originals on my hard drive at home. I had some ideas but never pursued it much past the concept stage. The most promising lead at the time was to gut Lincoln LS lights and most likely vacuum form a new lens to fit the shape of the car.
thanks...it would be GREAT if you could rustle up the pics. i'd love ot see them.
I will be doing some photoshop work to visualize myself shortly.
I checked on a place to re-do all six light housings with the vacuum chrome application, (The side markers would be $30.00 each, the signal pieces would be $35.00 and the main head lamps $45.00 each so each 3 piece set would be $110.00.) and that seemed a bit high..but its better than not being safe at night. 10+ years for $220 might be worth it since I'd really like to completely ditch the stock lenses and just use the GTS lens covers fitted into place.
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: jkirchman on June 19, 2010, 04:23:09 PM
Post by: jkirchman on June 19, 2010, 04:23:09 PM
Quote from: c_bass16
I'd really like to completely ditch the stock lenses and just use the GTS lens covers fitted into place.
I don't see how that would work, at least not very well. The stock lenses have a pattern built into them that shapes the light pattern as it shines from the headlights. If you remove the lens and replace it with a GTS cover which has no light shaping pattern, wouldn't it just allow the light to scatter sooner and, thus, reduce its effectiveness?
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: 5.0Rrrougar on June 19, 2010, 08:49:23 PM
Post by: 5.0Rrrougar on June 19, 2010, 08:49:23 PM
Dayuumm! I REALLLLLLY want cougars2go's headlights.However,they look like alot of work...too much for me anyway
im gonna have to settle for driving at night with my highbeams on.:D
i've thought about just blacking out the lights and just leaving the main ones clear..thats probably the route i'll take
im gonna have to settle for driving at night with my highbeams on.:D
i've thought about just blacking out the lights and just leaving the main ones clear..thats probably the route i'll take
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: Cougars 2 go on June 20, 2010, 10:59:17 AM
Post by: Cougars 2 go on June 20, 2010, 10:59:17 AM
Quote from: jpc647;325882
He was making lights only for his car, there weren't a lot of pictures just photo-shopped ideas. If I remember correctly, the lights he has now, he liked but they weren't the greatest, but hell, none of us can see at night with the headlights we have.
Actually, they are bright. I just have to adapt the wiring from the two-light version to the four-light version so the low beams are bright enough. The high beams are bright but the wiring is messing up the low beam brightness.
I haven't updated my cardomain but here are more pictures:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/383878
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: thesoldan on June 21, 2010, 08:41:06 PM
Post by: thesoldan on June 21, 2010, 08:41:06 PM
Quote from: c_bass16;325917
thanks...it would be GREAT if you could rustle up the pics. i'd love ot see them.
I will be doing some photoshop work to visualize myself shortly.
Here's what I could dig up. It's not everything, but it's a decent amount. Some concepts look a little sillier than others.
Ford Escape Lights, Fiberglass b/w lights and grill
Jeep Cherokee Lights with Mustang GT500 Style grill (lacked turn signals - needed to be custom added)
Lincoln LS Lights (grill was photoshopped wider, but the lights are actually larger than shown)
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: thesoldan on June 21, 2010, 08:44:58 PM
Post by: thesoldan on June 21, 2010, 08:44:58 PM
Here's the actual LS lights against the Cougar. I think it looks pretty good from the front. But the second and third pics show that the angle of the lens just would not work with the car. The internals of the light would need to be used in a custom formed enclosure. If you want to pursue this further PM me b/c I think I still have the LS light.
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: sarjxxx on June 22, 2010, 06:13:19 PM
Post by: sarjxxx on June 22, 2010, 06:13:19 PM
Good lord man, After is a beautiful car!:bowdown:
Those LS lights look promising. I would like to see what may come of that. Are those seperate H/L beam lights in them?
Those LS lights look promising. I would like to see what may come of that. Are those seperate H/L beam lights in them?
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: c_bass16 on June 23, 2010, 12:23:26 AM
Post by: c_bass16 on June 23, 2010, 12:23:26 AM
these are kinda what I'm thinking about chopping up. They might be a bit small, but I think i could find some way to make them (or another version) work as long as i can get the lens to fit right and of course the wires working right.
Plan, is to mold a once pice replacement for the 3 lens cluster and have them spaced accordingly with the black out lens covers only. No more py yellow or kinda clear lenses.
(someone had suggested the OEM lens helps to focus the light...i personally feel that it assists in scattering the light in all directions rather than focusing it...anyone know for sure)
(http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/23000025/Images/14/2LHP-ACD94JM-TM.gif)
Plan, is to mold a once pice replacement for the 3 lens cluster and have them spaced accordingly with the black out lens covers only. No more py yellow or kinda clear lenses.
(someone had suggested the OEM lens helps to focus the light...i personally feel that it assists in scattering the light in all directions rather than focusing it...anyone know for sure)
(http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/23000025/Images/14/2LHP-ACD94JM-TM.gif)
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: sarjxxx on June 24, 2010, 07:42:34 PM
Post by: sarjxxx on June 24, 2010, 07:42:34 PM
Quote from: c_bass16;326255
(someone had suggested the OEM lens helps to focus the light...i personally feel that it assists in scattering the light in all directions rather than focusing it...anyone know for sure)
dude, just pull the lens of the front of the casing and see if it works as well without it!
BTW, I noticed the front end of a grand mark this morning, and seemed to think it would probably fit real nice, except you'd hafta cut into the fender though...
...or...
you might be able to leave the stock corner light and just put the headlight module in there... and it looks like the grill might be close in style to make up the empty space it would leave on your car...
(http://handz.hardbraking.com/Detailing/1999GrandMarques/IMG_2046Small.jpg)
Title: Custom Built Headlight Cluster
Post by: Watchdevil on June 25, 2010, 12:20:50 AM
Post by: Watchdevil on June 25, 2010, 12:20:50 AM
Fox Cougars deserve the round headlamp look like the 71-76 models had! I can totally see it, but coming up with a workable design is the challenge. If you could find a set of clear headlamp covers made for the 87-88 Cougar then may be easier to install a set of round lamps behind them. You could even do smoked covers if you had to and cut round holes in them to pass light through. Retain the outer corner lamp, remover the inner parking lamp which will give you room to play with round lamp space. I suppose to you could modify some plexiglass cut to size and plce it as a cover over a set of round lamps.
I swear though it would work best with some smoked headlamp covers made for the car. You can do something interesting like repeat the grille pattern with vertical lines out of chrome tape or paint while allowing a full circle reveal of the round headlamps.
I swear though it would work best with some smoked headlamp covers made for the car. You can do something interesting like repeat the grille pattern with vertical lines out of chrome tape or paint while allowing a full circle reveal of the round headlamps.