Butters944

Was inspired by Deutsch Nine's headlight kit to make something similar without breaking the bank, as their kit is quite pricey.

Theirs looks like this:


Mine should look similar to this (simple mock up, right side of the photo obviously):


I really like the look of a simple rectangular headlight with a sleepy pop up look. It's mean looking, but not ricey like the dual-circle lights in my opinion. I think it matches the shapes of the car's side markers/ fogs and looks clean.

It will involve headlight assemblies out of a 94-97 Chevy S10. They are simple and 6x4, good dimensions for my application. I can't decide what headlights I'm gonna use but am leaning towards Sylvania XtraVision, or standard Silvania halogens. Note that the light I used in the mock up was taken off my dad's Buick t-type and is slightly larger than what I plan to use.

The task:
-modding the pop up bar to give it a shorter throw. This will be tricky and involve some geometry to get the height just right.
-building brackets to mount up the s10 headlight assembly correctly
-making a cover panel so it looks pretty
-upgrading all my wiring to make sure the lighting is much improved over stock

The entire budget for this mod will hopefully be around $100, I'll try not to exceed $200. We'll see what happens, haha.

Wish me luck. I'll post a detailed write up as I go along with the project. I wanted to get a thread started even though it will be a long process. I'm having trouble sourcing headlight assemblies so that might take a while... Worst case I buy entire new assemblies off rock auto for $40ea. Hopefully you won't ever see an update stating that I've given up

Have a good night Rennlist.
Keith

fred27

Good luck Keith

Shawn Stanford

Did you paint your chin yet?

Gawernator

Good luck, mine is happy just to be almost done with bodywork (again?) and ready for paint

V2Rocket

tread carefully my son.

by far and away, the headlights are the most complex part of the 944.

Butters944

See picture.

Actually, when I examined the system further I realized its actually quite simple. I found it neat how the motor is continuously turning in one direction like a locomotive wheel when it goes up and down. After taking calculus this year I think this project will be a breeze the hardest part was figuring out a car that has the right size headlight assembly that will work.



Here's a photoshop...

Arominus

Neat look, but it doesn't fix the weak output of stock lights. Give me 90/130w hellas or hids

Butters944

It'll definately be brighter. Halogens are a good upgrade from stock. I would go xenon but I hate the blue look, or hid but that's expensive

V2Rocket

not the motor operation, but the adjustment...youve got to set it right in 4800000 different directions. youre not messing with alignment or anything so thats better.

Butters944

I'm not sure what you're saying... i have to do a simple calculated measurement to shorten the bar points.

MooreBoost

Kinda looks like Nissan headlights. How are you going to "aim" the lights?

Headlight projects are fun!!

Butters944

I'm going to use the whole assembly out of the s10 so itll be adjustable for aim.

Butters944

Leaving a couple things here for reference...

Guide for making my wiring harness:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...g-harness.html
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...e-another.html

Pics of the s10 light assembly. I did some measurements off these pictures and determined it should just BARELY fit in the light bucket... Picking up a set of the lights tomorrow morning at the pick-a-part, if they're too big I'm out 50 bucks haha.

odurandina

not too many of these early cars still around.

so do something like the D9 style from your pic....

do it with some lights from a modern wreck.

be selective. take your time. think it out and make it happen.

I think those lights are a mistake.

or do nothing.

Butters944

Sorry, Od. Already went through with it and scored a pair of s10 assemblies at the junk yard yesterday.

Spent $40 on electrical connectors/relays/circuit breaker etc.
$35 on the s10 headlight assemblies.
$30 on new Sylvania 4666xv halogen sealed beam headlights.

Going to use wires I have around the garage.

So far I'm roughly $100 into the project, by the time I make headlight brackets and mod my pop up bar I should be in around $150 for the whole thing including the upgraded wire harness.