My headlight conversion
So I've had a Midtenn miata headlight conversion in my car for about 5 years now, and just this summer, one of the covers blew off on the highway and was smashed to several pieces by the traffic. The added air coming into the engine bay was nice, but it looked really really bad, and I was never very happy with the light that the flush mount lights gave out. I decided then I should take a crack at making my own. Here's what I came up with:
I used the small square headlights found in Geo Storms / Chevy Camaro cars, had some plates cut, and then figured out a way to mount it all. It's surprisingly very simple, and the light they give out are awesome. I've designed them so there are no holes to drill, and no wires to cut. The downsides are that the lights are in a fixed position, and there are no high beams (I'll be playing with a bit larger 4x6 two stage headlamp out of Firebirds in a few weeks). Anyways, I just finished putting them in, and figured I should throw a few pics up here. They're bare aluminum right now, and I think a nice black powdercoat would make them fit in really well. Although, the bare aluminum does look pretty good. I'm not entirely sure the side plates I've put on are the best thing, but I'll leave them on for now. http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4880.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4881.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4887.JPG As I said, the lighting difference between these and the midtenn's are incredible! I took a comparison shot, because I had done the conversion on the passenger side, and left the midtenn's on the drivers side. Here's me blocking the light of the conversion, and using only the midtenn light: http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4876.JPG And this is with my headlight conversion uncovered: http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4875.JPG Anyways, just wanted to share :) |
Cool. There's a write up about a similar mod in DIYmiata.com using talon/eclipse's assembly instead
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Nice job, but definitely want to coat that aluminum trim somehow. And why don't your wheels match, looks like you have off-road tires on the front?
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Originally Posted by zoomin
(Post 456267)
Nice job, but definitely want to coat that aluminum trim somehow. And why don't your wheels match, looks like you have off-road tires on the front?
The front trim is actually two pieces sandwiched together that holds the light in place. The back plate bolts into the old housing, and has spacers on the bottom to push it forward. Then the front plate is held on with three bolts. It works really well. |
damn looks really good... what did it cost you?
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Originally Posted by LagunabluMX5
(Post 456318)
damn looks really good... what did it cost you?
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kind of looks like shit in my opinion. paint it black perhaps?
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honestly i would get rid of the surrounds and get some square lights from vatozone that fit the gap. It sort of looks like a crazy frog with glasses.
http://thumb9.shutterstock.com.edges...43833996,2.jpghttp://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4881.JPG |
:rofl:
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Quickly evolving. I took the side plates off, and painted the front plate black. I think I'll remove the entire headlight assembly and paint the whole thing black (except tops), and just leave the sides open.
http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4891.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4892.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4893.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4894.JPG And here is a basic look of how I've assembled them: http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4888.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4889.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4890.JPG And hey, what's wrong with frogs wearing glasses? :p Actually, I think i'll do the other one in mariner blue and see how that turns out. |
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I really like the look of how these look. Too lazy to photobucket.
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That's cool, I wonder what lights those are... I could easily retrofit them into my plate.
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i like that better man however i'd paint the sides black also and put them back on there, otherwise it just looks gheto. Something else is cut the top of the thing very small and move the lights up as far as possible so you dont have the huge 3/4" gap on top of the lights and the covers. Also i personally dont like how it looks like with the square, they are just too small for that box. in my opinion, rounds would be better looking.
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Well, here's version 3. The original plastic surround just needs to be cut in a few areas, and then it fits perfectly, and flush with the plates I made:
http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4918.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4919.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4925.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4926.JPG http://www.dbmiata.com/miata/lights/IMG_4930.JPG |
works great.. looks like ass. shoulda just gotten some ecodes and called it a day
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Originally Posted by albumleaf
(Post 459807)
works great.. looks like ass. shoulda just gotten some ecodes and called it a day
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Originally Posted by dustinb
(Post 459822)
Well to each their own. What are ecodes?
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Originally Posted by paNX2K&SE-R
(Post 459899)
They are a replacement headlight which uses european code lenses and allows you to use standard H4 bulbs. They are like 1000x better than h6024 sealed beams. I just installed them on my car and the difference was truly amazing.
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Originally Posted by paNX2K&SE-R
(Post 459899)
They are a replacement headlight which uses european code lenses and allows you to use standard H4 bulbs. They are like 1000x better than h6024 sealed beams. I just installed them on my car and the difference was truly amazing.
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What makes E-Code headlights better is the fact that you use a 9004 IIRC, and the rest of it is just a reflector. The light -is- better. Don't worry, they aren't patented/manufactured by Lucas.
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Originally Posted by mazda/nissan
(Post 459904)
Wasn't the Titanic made in Europe as well?
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point is, stop raining on his parade!
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you dont like rain?
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Originally Posted by mazda/nissan
(Post 459904)
wow European code huh? That must be truly spectacular stuff then. Wasn't the Titanic made in Europe as well?
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I understand they could be awesome, but wtf does European spec have to do with any of it? And I believe we all know that the Titanic sunk. And we all get a bit "irregular", to keep yourself in check, eat Dannon Activia!
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Originally Posted by mazda/nissan
(Post 459957)
point is, stop raining on his parade!
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Originally Posted by albumleaf
(Post 460169)
I suppose you're right, we should blindly jerk off over everything else does on this forum and not offer our opinions or reasonable alternatives.
I like your version 3's the best so far. I think it looks damn good. |
Originally Posted by albumleaf
(Post 460169)
I suppose you're right, we should blindly jerk off over everything else does on this forum and not offer our opinions or reasonable alternatives.
Lights look cool dude, don't stop trying new things. |
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I like it. One thing I particularly like about it is when looking at it's profile, the headlight cover doesn't hang over, rather it is flush w/ the black surrounding.
Headlight cover not flush/hanging over w/ surrounding example: |
shit, thought I was on cr.net there for a second - you guys are slipping.
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Originally Posted by mazda/nissan
(Post 460109)
I understand they could be awesome, but wtf does European spec have to do with any of it? And I believe we all know that the Titanic sunk. And we all get a bit "irregular", to keep yourself in check, eat Dannon Activia!
Here is the beam pattern of a 7" round e-code: Attachment 203526 Here is a side by side of DOT vs e-code on the same vehicle. http://www.joeshmo.net/crap/comparison.PNG |
Originally Posted by paNX2K&SE-R
(Post 460207)
The European spec lenses are designed differently and offer much more usable light light focused on the road when compared to DOT standard lights.
Here is the beam pattern of a 7" round e-code: http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z...aH4lowbeam.jpg Here is a side by side of DOT vs e-code on the same vehicle. http://www.joeshmo.net/crap/comparison.PNG |
Originally Posted by NA6C-Guy
(Post 460219)
And again, what does that have to do with the OP's custom headlights?
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Attachment 13563
I bought some 180sx twin headlights and made them fit onto the stock eyelid. I did this as i needed the space underneath. They look o.k, especially compared to those rectangle lights. |
Originally Posted by lightyear
(Post 460275)
Attachment 13563
I bought some 180sx twin headlights and made them fit onto the stock eyelid. I did this as i needed the space underneath. They look o.k, especially compared to those rectangle lights. |
I like the idea. I wanted to do the same thing to mine after seeing one in the HyperRev magazine. I think a company called Active makes them. Don't know how to get them though. They're Japanese. In your case you might think about taking the stock headlight surrounds and modifying them a bit. You could probably use fiberglass to reshape them to a tighter fit. Then it would look factory. All in all, cool mod.
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