Need advice on TA fixed headlight conversion
#1
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OK, here's some prototypes made by SLP (I think) that were never put into production. Notice the hood is extended forward to cover part of the headlight area. I think I can make a similar design as far as the lens and overall shape, minus the hood modifications. Do you guys think this is a nice look?
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![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/Misc%203/PrototypeFirebirdLights.jpg)
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I will be using a projector for the main light. I can probably convert it to be both low beam as well as high beam while using either the H7 bulb or HID bulbs. So should I only mount a single projector in the middle of the light or should I move it a little to the outside and then mount some old rectangular sealed beams for high beam (like the prototypes) on the insides. I could mount a set of cool round foglights like the Breathless lights use. It would be just for looks, as I'll probably use the projectors for both high and low. I can also buy a second pair of projectors to mount as high beams using a regular H7 bulb. This would probably look the best, but is quite expensive adding about $190 to the total cost.
I've also found some nice, clear, moldable lens material to shape like the prototypes above.
Should I go with the above factory shape or design something more different looking? Like this:
![](http://images.vetteweb.com/features/vemp_0805_21_z+2001_corvette_z06+body_kit.jpg)
It's kind of a bulged design, but looks pretty good.
I could also forgo the clear lens altogether and leave the projectors out in the open with only the surrounding gaps filled in. Like this:
This is the Speckterwerks headlight. I like it but I'm afraid a rock might come along and crack one of the projector lenses. At least with the solid plastic cover it will be protected. If IT gets cracked, I'll have to make another one which seems a lot cheaper and easier to do than replace the projector.
So what advice do you guys have on what would look best?
BTW, this is going on a black 99 TA.
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![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/Misc%203/PrototypeFirebirdLights.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/JasonWW/Misc%203/PrototypeFirebirdLights3.jpg)
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I will be using a projector for the main light. I can probably convert it to be both low beam as well as high beam while using either the H7 bulb or HID bulbs. So should I only mount a single projector in the middle of the light or should I move it a little to the outside and then mount some old rectangular sealed beams for high beam (like the prototypes) on the insides. I could mount a set of cool round foglights like the Breathless lights use. It would be just for looks, as I'll probably use the projectors for both high and low. I can also buy a second pair of projectors to mount as high beams using a regular H7 bulb. This would probably look the best, but is quite expensive adding about $190 to the total cost.
I've also found some nice, clear, moldable lens material to shape like the prototypes above.
Should I go with the above factory shape or design something more different looking? Like this:
![](http://images.vetteweb.com/features/vemp_0805_21_z+2001_corvette_z06+body_kit.jpg)
It's kind of a bulged design, but looks pretty good.
I could also forgo the clear lens altogether and leave the projectors out in the open with only the surrounding gaps filled in. Like this:
![](http://www.spectergtr.com/images/exposed_sm.jpg)
This is the Speckterwerks headlight. I like it but I'm afraid a rock might come along and crack one of the projector lenses. At least with the solid plastic cover it will be protected. If IT gets cracked, I'll have to make another one which seems a lot cheaper and easier to do than replace the projector.
So what advice do you guys have on what would look best?
BTW, this is going on a black 99 TA.
Last edited by JasonWW; 05-04-2008 at 10:47 PM.
#2
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how are you going to get around the extended hood thing? if it could be done as a direct swap out for the pop ups i may be interested. looks clean. the c5 lights look like a afterthought. they kind of ruin the lines of the hood IMHO. and the projecters for both lights would look best. i can understand wanting to keep the hi beams sealed though as i, at least, rarely use my hi beams.
#3
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The hood thing is very simple. The headlight assembly will be the same size as the factory cover. The front will be clear and the top near the hood will be painted black.
I don't want to keep the sealed beams. I don't think I said that. I might be able to mount some cheap projector foglights into the highbeam position and then add matching shrouds around both lenses. That should make them look identical when turned off. I might convert the main projector to work as high as well as low beam and not use the cheap high beams except to make it look symetrical. Later when I add the HID bulbs to the main projector, it's high beam should be killer for high speed night driving out of town.
I'm just making them for me as I don't have any free time. They are also not going to be a direct swap out. It will be a lot of work. I'm going to try and make it reversable if possible and I will post the steps so others can build something similar, but I can't make them for other people.
I don't want to keep the sealed beams. I don't think I said that. I might be able to mount some cheap projector foglights into the highbeam position and then add matching shrouds around both lenses. That should make them look identical when turned off. I might convert the main projector to work as high as well as low beam and not use the cheap high beams except to make it look symetrical. Later when I add the HID bulbs to the main projector, it's high beam should be killer for high speed night driving out of town.
I'm just making them for me as I don't have any free time. They are also not going to be a direct swap out. It will be a lot of work. I'm going to try and make it reversable if possible and I will post the steps so others can build something similar, but I can't make them for other people.
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i def like the look of the narrower SLP prototypes, the idea of extending the hood slightly really makes them work well. i wouldnt do any kind of bump up like the vettes, like said before it seems to ruin the lines of the hood. the dual projector (round) lights is def the way to go, looks badass
#14
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Interesting project!
I think extending the covers forward would look good.
FYI, unfortunately direct use of Webshots images never works without copying/pasting the address into a new window... when it's seemed like it sometimes works for you, you're just seeing the cached copy of the image, saved on your computer from the last time you viewed it via pasting the address. Somebody who hasn't gone to it that way will never see it load here. The best way to link to stuff at Webshots is to link to the 'album page' instead of straight to the image file.
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Refresh on this pic or copy the URL into a new window, sometimes it doesn't show up the first time.
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#16
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looks alot like the gto in the front, dont likey sorry! breathless are ugly too !trans ams where made to pop up lights, if you dont like it then go buy a camaro.but on the other hand im all ways up for a change too so to that good luck at what ever you deciede
#18
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Originally Posted by LS1POWER98
trans ams where made to pop up lights, if you dont like it then go buy a camaro.
So you don't like any of the different fixed designs? That's all you have to say.
#19
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Originally Posted by JasonWW
So you don't like any of the different fixed designs? That's all you have to say.