ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

Im thinking about putting Projectors in my TA but dont want to go with an aftermarket setup. Id like to use OEM lights from a BMW or Escalade or ??? Does anyone know what makes will fit or has anyone actually done it? If so, Id like to know what make you used. My plan is to find the appropriate light and make a mounting plate that will fit behind our trim ring. Any help? Ive seen several writeups but all Ive seen are using aftermarket kits. It seems I can pick up an OEM set cheaper than the aftermarket anyways.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

This is Tram's car. I want the same setup but want to use lights from Bimmer, Escalade or some other car/truck...

VIP1

Any more info / pics on Tram's setup?

OEM projectors are not sealed (neither are many aftermarket projectors). You need to build a housing to contain them.

That being said, OEM projectors are better than most aftermarket projectors. A good OEM projector that is fairly easy to get is the FX (and the aftermarket FX-R). However, its a little large to fit in the Firebird to be able to retain the trim ring.

Check out the Lighting FAQ for some info.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...hting-faq.html

Also check out the forums at HID Planet.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the info.. here is a link to Trams Thread.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...d-install.html

VIP1

Thanks for the link.
I've added it to the Lighting FAQ.

VIP1

The Morimoto Mini H1 projector is an aftermarket projector with output close to the FX, but its smaller. It may be a better fit.

The Retrofit Source has them. Just make sure you don't use 55watt or cheap ebay HID bulbs. Those have been known to damage the Mini H1 projector. Stick with good 35watt HID bulbs. The Retrofit Source has some.

If you decide to go with the Morimoto Mini H1, buy it from The Retrofit Source. They are more concerned with Quality Control than your typical ebay seller. They make sure the units they sell are good.

The Morimoto Mini H1 is more "open" than the FX, so its even more important to have it protected inside a housing.

dabest09

iTrader: (1)

Seems like a lot of people want to try this lately. Nobody has yet though, I'm waiting for someone to do it then I might try it lol

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

Well, a buddy and I are doing it... He did his camaro and navigator tonight, we will be doing mine either this weekend or next. Id really like to do a writeup on making the mounting plate and how to seal them up... Maybe if we can show people that its not that difficult, more will be willing to do it...

dabest09

iTrader: (1)

The thing that makes them hard for the birds is the limited space and lack of a housing to fit them in. You're in for a treat for sure

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

Yea, Thats why I wanted to know what would even fit. I dont want to buy something thats just physically too big to fit. Ill figure something out... I may just have to find an aftermarket universal kit but I get mixed feelings about their quality.

VIP1

I've seen plenty of projectors and can direct you to some comparison threads on HID Planet.

Which projectors are you looking at?

Just be warned that most of the "universal" or "retrofit" stuff on ebay is crap.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

I really have no intention of using ebay crap.. thats why I want an OEM light and design my own housing... Im not pick on the light itself but Id like to have the look of Trams install.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

Ok, so tell me if I can make this work and what cars use them.

5500k D2R bulb, BiXenon Projector housing...

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

so the bixenon bulbs are for hi beams/low beams... I dont have that kind of setup but say I wanted to basically eliminate the dual bulbs and use a single bixenon projector, could I use the high beam switch to activate the shield solenoid?

VIP1

R = Reflector
S = Projector

If you are using projectors, you want S bulbs. So looking at your list above, you want D2S bulbs. The same number bulb ("2" in this case: D2S / D2R) will fit the same socket, but the R version (D2R) has a black stripe on it to block some light for use in a HID Reflector (these will still be wrong in a Halogen Reflector).

Why 5500K? Are you looking for a blue tint or better output? 4100K - 4300K is the OEM color and all OEM bulbs are that color (however there are some bluer bulbs made by the same manufactures but they are not installed in an cars from the factory).

The K number is the color. Higher K means bluer and eventually purple. Also, the higher K bulbs emit less light due to tint and the salts and gas in their chambers. Also, the bluer light is less useful for our vision at night.

Therefore 4300K will be brighter and produce more useful light than 5500K, but 5500k may look whiter with a bluish tint.


You can use the existing high beam wires to activate the solenoid in a bi-xenon projector. You don't have to remove the high beam bulbs. In the 1998-2002 Firebird, the low beams stay on with the high beams, so you don't need to alter any wiring. IF you had a 1998-2002 Camaro, you would have to alter the wiring to keep the high beams on with the low beams.

You could also use a single-xenon (low beam only) for the low beam position and keep the Halogen high beam.

You could also use a bi-xenon projector and still keep the Halogen high beams.

If you had a Camaro, I'd say to definitely keep the Halogen high beam so that you can use the flash-to-pass during the day. However, on the 1998-2002 Firebird the headlights are down and covered so it doesn't matter.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

well, Id like a blue tint but not at the cost of brightness so 41-4300k it will be.. I read the bulbs could be modified but that the R bulbs gave less glare inside the housing.. ((i think)) anyway, Im getting a good idea of the style I want. I was thinking of using a Bixenon and possibly making it in to a single housing light instead of having two bulbs in each housing like it has now... just trying to think of something different....

VIP1

Since you are using projectors, stick with "S" bulbs. I'd still keep separate a low/high setup, using either a single or bi xenon for the low beam and a Halogen high beam, but that layout depends on the design you are going with.

coolmanvette75

iTrader: (2)

If you want the best, go check out BLSoulutions. BLS makes some of the best projector HID kits around...

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

BLS kit for dual housings, $900??? Ill pass...

VIP1

They are good, but they aren't the best lighting you can get. However they are the best drop-in setups available for the 1993-1997 & 1998-2002 Firebird.

I do recommend their products to people that don't want to go custom, but if you are willing to go custom, you can get better.

Their 1993-1997 setup is better than their 1998-2002 setup because it uses FX-R projectors which are real HID projectors and use a D2S bulb instead of their 1998-2002 setup which uses Hella 60mm projectors which technically are Halogen projectors that use 9006/9005 bulbs. However, the FX-R is larger than the Hella 60mm and won't fit as neatly (unless you want to go custom).