Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: ianb on December 09, 2014, 09:34:39 AM
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: ianb on December 09, 2014, 09:34:39 AM
I was told a few guys on here have done it before. I was looking to see how complicated and expensive it would be to convert my stock 87-88 to HIDs the right way. I cant see anything at night lol.
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Aerocoupe on December 09, 2014, 06:54:22 PM
Did you use the search function?
Darren
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: ianb on December 09, 2014, 07:11:03 PM
Quote from: Aerocoupe;441447
Did you use the search function?
Darren
Yes searching HID had no results I think it's too short.
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: JeremyB on December 09, 2014, 08:02:24 PM
Quote from: ianb;441449
Yes searching HID had no results I think it's too short.
Yeah, the search doesn't do 3 letter words. This'll help: site:foxtbirdcougarforums.com hid conversion
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Ramos617 on January 27, 2015, 03:09:27 PM
Thought I would bump this up and see if anybody has done one of these conversions lately I've seen the threads on hids and it's gave me a lot of ideas I'm currently doing an hid conversion with projectors and formed clear lenses
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Masejoer on January 27, 2015, 10:31:13 PM
I have my old retrofit still from 2007. Is there anything you need or want to know? We simply don't have much room behind our headlights, and I found the best install required moving the projector backward and cutting up the header panel.
I will be redoing my entire front light assembly to build a single piece front-light assembly. I have a few other projects lined up before I get to that point though. I assume I'll be moved into a new house and larger garage/shop before I actually complete some new headlights.
Prices for parts are pretty cheap now days. What used to be $1k just in parts can be had for under $200 today. Getting the projectors aligned is the hardest part. Thankfully I won't have that issue when I made my next lights - it will all be drawn up in cad and cutout with a cnc.
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Ramos617 on January 28, 2015, 01:29:51 AM
What did you do for clear lenses? I've seen a couple of custom methods of making them without a vacuum and that's the way I'm probably going I'm probably going to make the outer flat portion on the lens and joint it with the horizontal portion of the lens like a frame I would prefer to make the whole lens clear but I'm trying to accomplish this on a budget while still looking good Any tips
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Ramos617 on January 28, 2015, 01:35:24 AM
This is the method I'm using http://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-400-300/569155-as-promised-diy-plexiglass-headlight-clear-lenses.html
I've also thought about this method but it seems much more involved but I might try it since I have 2 headlight pairs apart of the ones on my car http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?18780-The-Clear-Lens-Forming-Thread
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Ramos617 on January 30, 2015, 07:21:04 PM
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: CJl252 on May 08, 2015, 09:16:27 AM
Any updates on your headlights? I plan on doing the same thing. The only thing I plan to do different is mold plastic to the rear light assembly and the projector light, then cut that plastic out to fit and trim around the lens. probably win paint it black to match my car? any thoughts?
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Masejoer on May 08, 2015, 05:32:44 PM
Oops, I didn't realize that I disappeared on a thread. Yeah, new lenses need to be vacuum formed from polycarbonate.The old lenses were used as a mold for forming over, but if I were to do it again, since I have all the time in the world as the car isn't a daily driver like it used to be, I would make a custom mold and form over that. Either way, you just need to build a small enclosure to head up a plate of polycarbonate, lay it down over the mold, and turn on the suction. Using a shopvac would work, using a large tank that has been pulled to a deep vacuum would be better. Afterward, just trim to size and glue to the headlight housings/reflectors.
My next headlight project has been delayed until I move to a new house. I want at least 200sqft of work space for creating a set of single-piece headlight assemblies. Right now I squeeze projects into two areas to the sides of the car, about 50ft on each side and too close to the car for comfort. I've out-grown the garage for years now.
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Ramos617 on May 08, 2015, 09:52:58 PM
Quote from: Seek;447869
Oops, I didn't realize that I disappeared on a thread. Yeah, new lenses need to be vacuum formed from polycarbonate.The old lenses were used as a mold for forming over, but if I were to do it again, since I have all the time in the world as the car isn't a daily driver like it used to be, I would make a custom mold and form over that. Either way, you just need to build a small enclosure to head up a plate of polycarbonate, lay it down over the mold, and turn on the suction. Using a shopvac would work, using a large tank that has been pulled to a deep vacuum would be better. Afterward, just trim to size and glue to the headlight housings/reflectors.
My next headlight project has been delayed until I move to a new house. I want at least 200sqft of work space for creating a set of single-piece headlight assemblies. Right now I squeeze projects into two areas to the sides of the car, about 50ft on each side and too close to the car for comfort. I've out-grown the garage for years now.
I've heard if your making your own lenses acrylic is the way to go since polycarbonate needs a bunch more work but I forget what exactly it is Do you ever plan on making extras? I would buy some in a heartbeat, the lens is overall the most time consuming part
Quote from: CJl252;447855
Any updates on your headlights? I plan on doing the same thing. The only thing I plan to do different is mold plastic to the rear light assembly and the projector light, then cut that plastic out to fit and trim around the lens. probably win paint it black to match my car? any thoughts?
I've got one almost done but with going to school, work, and moving I haven't had any time to work on these let alone anything on my car but the concept is pretty solid, I can't wait to finish them and get them on my car
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Masejoer on May 09, 2015, 01:11:33 AM
Quote from: Ramos617;447882
I've heard if your making your own lenses acrylic is the way to go since polycarbonate needs a bunch more work but I forget what exactly it is Do you ever plan on making extras? I would buy some in a heartbeat, the lens is overall the most time consuming part
Polycarb can take impacts from rocks better. I think I put 40-50k miles on mine and they still look good. It was outside for those ~5 years, in the sun and elements. Garaged since then.
I have some spares in the garage. I have a couple sets that were made before coming to a set that appeared perfect. I also have the original smoothed lenses that were used as a mold. I may pull them out and see what they looked like - I think I have another set that is usable, and a second set that is close, but could use some heat and massaging to get the rolled-over edge straighter. I'll get back to you on them.
They were made with a much more crude setup (like the second link you posted earlier). I'd really like to build a vacuum forming chamber to make tighter pulls, but I'm already using about as much space in the garage as possible, including all walls and shelving up near the ceiling of the entire garage perimeter. I can't store anything more! I'd love to build a proper vacuum chamber though and make some good molds. If I can sort out my transmission converter fluid pressure issue, I'll have much more motivation to continue with other projects.
The difficult part is that these lenses turn more than 90-degrees on two sides, but top/bottom and side/side are around 180 degrees total. A modified mold needs to be made to get a proper pull - either propped up so all sides are about 90 degrees to the vacuum plate, or the mold is modified to pull vacuum from a central point, allowing the pull to wrap around an axis, giving it the capability of pulling more than to 90-degree angles. The latter is preferable, but more difficult. The former is easier, but not as easy as simply laying a mold-lens down flat and making a pull.
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: CJl252 on May 12, 2015, 06:29:31 PM
Thanks for the tips. I think I have the means to get this project going. I have a friend with an awesome fabrication shop. Water jets, cnc machines plus a ton of other tools and machines. I will keep updating once i have started. If i need to pick your brains a little i hope you dont mind. Thanks alot guys
Title: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?
Post by: Masejoer on May 13, 2015, 01:45:43 PM
Quote from: CJl252;448001
Thanks for the tips. I think I have the means to get this project going. I have a friend with an awesome fabrication shop. Water jets, cnc machines plus a ton of other tools and machines. I will keep updating once i have started. If i need to pick your brains a little i hope you dont mind. Thanks alot guys
Having the fabrication tools is only a very small part of the process ;) It's a money part of the project, but the time aspect is still needed. So much time!