Driving Light Conversion
#16
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Well, I picked up a stock chevy(MY 92-98) headlamp assy from the auto boneyard ($10). Removed to all the adjustment/trim components, which was required as none of it would fit. I had to dremel trim 2 of the 3 mounting posts to allow clearance of the bumper-shock assy; very little trimming required and all 3 posts are intact... which is good because 3 are required for mounting and trimming (1 for pivot, 1 left/right, 1 up/down).
The fit is very good! Almost identicle to stock.
Picture this: If you were to remove, from the black plastic trim piece, the section btw the foglamp and aux lamp, this new lamp will fit it there very well. Something like 12 1/2" x 3 3/4".
So, three major items remain:
1) How to mount them to the aluminum bumper (as in stock), AND make them adjustable?
I know I could mount them fixed just by fabbing a U-bracket, but the trick is to make them adjustable (even if they could only be adjusted from the back).
2)How to install mounting posts for the foglamp trim to the right/left side of the lamp assy? Small metal brackets and JB Weld?
Man, I still wish I had my oldl job because I could design the brackets and have them laser-cut, for free.
3) How to make the high-beam aux lamp (the inside lamps) work when the foglamp are ON. Right now they only work when the high-beam are on, and I don't like that. Checking the wiring diagram (which thoroughly confused me) it seems possible, but I don't want to hack up the wiring/relays or fry anything. So this may just me a wishlist item... has anyone done this?
I know it is hard to suggest something without pics, and I would have taken pics, but my digicam is far away in Detroit.
Note, the assy I'm modifying is generally the same as the carbon fibre one I posted about earlier.
Thanks!
The fit is very good! Almost identicle to stock.
Picture this: If you were to remove, from the black plastic trim piece, the section btw the foglamp and aux lamp, this new lamp will fit it there very well. Something like 12 1/2" x 3 3/4".
So, three major items remain:
1) How to mount them to the aluminum bumper (as in stock), AND make them adjustable?
I know I could mount them fixed just by fabbing a U-bracket, but the trick is to make them adjustable (even if they could only be adjusted from the back).
2)How to install mounting posts for the foglamp trim to the right/left side of the lamp assy? Small metal brackets and JB Weld?
Man, I still wish I had my oldl job because I could design the brackets and have them laser-cut, for free.
3) How to make the high-beam aux lamp (the inside lamps) work when the foglamp are ON. Right now they only work when the high-beam are on, and I don't like that. Checking the wiring diagram (which thoroughly confused me) it seems possible, but I don't want to hack up the wiring/relays or fry anything. So this may just me a wishlist item... has anyone done this?
I know it is hard to suggest something without pics, and I would have taken pics, but my digicam is far away in Detroit.
Note, the assy I'm modifying is generally the same as the carbon fibre one I posted about earlier.
Thanks!
#18
I just came back from the junkyard looking for headlights also. An '89 to '92 (maybe others) GM truck or van has 2 separate headlights (hi-lo) side by side. The glass is 3.5" x 6", and fits nicely where the driving light is (center most of the 2 white lights in front). The low beam headlight, bucket, spring, adjusting screws and plastic adjuster clips are all that I need, but they wouldn't sell them separately. They wanted $75 per side, so I left them there. I'm trying another junkyard. This is the approach used on Tom F.'s 'Big Bird'.
Last edited by bshaw; 04-09-2004 at 11:50 PM.
#20
How is the project going, Jim? I'd be interested in buying a couple brackets from you if you were able to find a solution that worked. If I understand you correctly, the trimming you had to do was mostly to the chevy headlight and not to the car?
Im interested because buying new lenses, etc for the stock driving/fog lights will probably end up costing more than this mod... and I really like that clean look of the single housing.
Im interested because buying new lenses, etc for the stock driving/fog lights will probably end up costing more than this mod... and I really like that clean look of the single housing.
#21
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Chris,
You like a clean look? Don't try to save a few dollars. Just get a set of euro lamps. They are remarkablely narrow focused pencil beams that will extend your vision hundreds of feet. They are ~$200 apiece or less, are beautiful, and fit perfectly without any screwing around with bracketry. Whatever you get, get www.stongard.com covers for everything so your investment doesn't get busted.
The setup on both my cars...
<image deleted... only 2MB allowed on Rennlist server>
You like a clean look? Don't try to save a few dollars. Just get a set of euro lamps. They are remarkablely narrow focused pencil beams that will extend your vision hundreds of feet. They are ~$200 apiece or less, are beautiful, and fit perfectly without any screwing around with bracketry. Whatever you get, get www.stongard.com covers for everything so your investment doesn't get busted.
The setup on both my cars...
<image deleted... only 2MB allowed on Rennlist server>
Last edited by Old & New; 08-06-2004 at 01:32 PM.
#22
Owns the Streets
Needs Camber
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Needs Camber
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About those hood intakes, wouldn't airflow over the hood suck air
out of the hood? Wouldn't NACA duct work better for intake.
Anyone had fog/high beam lens crack issues with Stonguard?
Not knocking their fine products but another 928'er at SITM had a
cracked lens issue. Just like mine. Both after Stonguard.
Both with no signs of impact/scratch on the Stonguard material.
Hope I don't get in trouble with Stonguard lawyers for this.
Ernest (NYC)
Tempted to slot in H3 HID bulbs in the fog lights for DRL.
out of the hood? Wouldn't NACA duct work better for intake.
Anyone had fog/high beam lens crack issues with Stonguard?
Not knocking their fine products but another 928'er at SITM had a
cracked lens issue. Just like mine. Both after Stonguard.
Both with no signs of impact/scratch on the Stonguard material.
Hope I don't get in trouble with Stonguard lawyers for this.
Ernest (NYC)
Tempted to slot in H3 HID bulbs in the fog lights for DRL.
#23
Drifting
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The euro lights may look slick and all, but I am not impressed with the fog lights, or the driving lights. That is why I was saying it would be cool to be able to add some lights from a more modern source... When I come up with a better option, you all will be the first to know that my euro lights are for sale...
#24
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Gosh, bc, a pencil beam is a pencil beam. Not much technology needed there. Designed by the German scientists to illuminate the road far ahead while traveling at a high rate of speed at night...
#25
Drifting
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Maybe so...
All I know is that the high beams on most other cars far exceed the illumination I get from my driving lights...
I tried higher wattage bulbs, but they still seem dim compared to newer cars.
Maybe the age of the lenses, or oxidation on the reflectors...
All I know is that the high beams on most other cars far exceed the illumination I get from my driving lights...
I tried higher wattage bulbs, but they still seem dim compared to newer cars.
Maybe the age of the lenses, or oxidation on the reflectors...
#26
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Check to see that the original euro lenses are in place. Often the glass gets broken and replaced with the US part, which does not focus properly with the euro reflector. The original euro driving lamps exceed the illumination distance / intensity of any US DOT spec lamp to date! That's why they are "illegal"
#27
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Euro Fog and driving lenses
Not surprisingly you don't find secondhand ones fro sale in Europe - They are all cracked !
New lenses are around the $150US mark.
Jon
Black SE
Silver 91 GT
New lenses are around the $150US mark.
Jon
Black SE
Silver 91 GT
#28
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Originally posted by Old & New
Check to see that the original euro lenses are in place. Often the glass gets broken and replaced with the US part, which does not focus properly with the euro reflector. The original euro driving lamps exceed the illumination distance / intensity of any US DOT spec lamp to date! That's why they are "illegal"
Check to see that the original euro lenses are in place. Often the glass gets broken and replaced with the US part, which does not focus properly with the euro reflector. The original euro driving lamps exceed the illumination distance / intensity of any US DOT spec lamp to date! That's why they are "illegal"
Either that, or the age of the lenses and reflectors...
#29
Burning Brakes
I saw this yesterday at a Auto Show, the owner was not sure what lights these are he only told me that they are Hela units that he bought from some spares shop.