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  #46  
Old 06-06-2017, 07:45 AM
cowboybilly9mile cowboybilly9mile is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,897
Default Re: Hid headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by tiredretired View Post
That's the way I read into it as well, Cowboy. Seriously, unless one is into Ford Rangers, 99% of the people out there, including cops and possibly even the people doing inspections, will never know that 05 Rangers did not come with projector housing. Even if they gave it a thought they would not care. Indifference is a good thing here.

I will do it right with TRS Acme projectors (cannot afford the higher end Morimotos). These are made with HID in mind, good quality with a nice sharp cutoff so blinding oncoming drivers is not part of the equation.

For the cops, bigger fish to fry.
I'm curious to see what you come up with for projectors and if you build, how they perform. This since I've done a bit of homework and roughed in a few ideas myself. One of the concerns is the amount of space (depth) within the current light fixture for the projector assembly; if you measure then go shopping, you'll know what I'm talking about. I've seen people get around lack of depth by cutting the back of the fixture and using something to build back a larger cavity; if what I'm reading is correct somewhere along the way the distance between the back of the fixture and the radiator core support, or the location of the hole in the core support changed, and thus, less space for the build. There would also be the need for a good preliminary light aiming; IIRC one member here recently ran into this one. There are two people here who have installed headlights with projector assemblies in an 04 and an 07; hopefully they will add info to this and maybe post some pics.
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  #47  
Old 06-06-2017, 09:01 AM
tiredretired tiredretired is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 277
Default Re: Hid headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by cowboybilly9mile View Post
I'm curious to see what you come up with for projectors and if you build, how they perform. This since I've done a bit of homework and roughed in a few ideas myself. One of the concerns is the amount of space (depth) within the current light fixture for the projector assembly; if you measure then go shopping, you'll know what I'm talking about. I've seen people get around lack of depth by cutting the back of the fixture and using something to build back a larger cavity; if what I'm reading is correct somewhere along the way the distance between the back of the fixture and the radiator core support, or the location of the hole in the core support changed, and thus, less space for the build. There would also be the need for a good preliminary light aiming; IIRC one member here recently ran into this one. There are two people here who have installed headlights with projector assemblies in an 04 and an 07; hopefully they will add info to this and maybe post some pics.
I do not believe the TRS Acme projectors will fit inside the headlight housing without modification. My preliminary measurements indicate to me that the new projectors will need to be recessed back through the back of the housing about an inch, give or take. Preliminary measures at this point. I see the radiator core support to be a potential issue as well, so of course precise measures are a must. No surprises.

That should not be a big deal, but better measures will need to be taken.

I see the proper orientation of the projectors to the headlight housing to be the biggest challenge in all this. Getting the cutoff to be level and projectors oriented within the housing range of adjustment will be tricky, but not insurmountable. There will be a lot of temporary mounting and demounting to find the sweet spots. JB Quik gives 5 minutes and the die is cast, so to speak.

So far, I am using eBay headlight housings for $37 bucks, TRS Acme Standard projectors for $25 (The TRS CSR recommended the standards given the challenges I explained to him I was facing doing a first time retro) and Acme Quik start ballasts and bulbs for $80. I am making my own harness because I want 2 relays instead of the TRS harness that uses only one relay. I can also make up everything for less the $35 TRS is asking for their harness.

Unfortunetly, I cannot start this project right now as I have other financial obligations that preclude spending money for mods on my truck right now. I am just doing the free stuff right now and testing a mockup of the wiring harness and relays to insure the diodes work as planned and what I plan on doing is copasetic.

I am sure others have done this here a million times so what I am doing cannot be anything new. Just new to me. Maybe this belongs on a separate thread and will be in the future.
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2005 Ranger FX/4 4.0 Auto. 160K.

Ceramic Pads, Energy Suspension Polyurethane Sway links and bushings. OHC. Third Brake Light Directionals. KYB Shocks. Dipped and Blacked Out.

Acme Projectors with Morimoto XB35 Ballast and Morimoto XB35 5500K Bulbs.

Last edited by tiredretired; 06-06-2017 at 09:14 AM.
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  #48  
Old 06-07-2017, 08:15 AM
cowboybilly9mile cowboybilly9mile is offline
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Default Re: Hid headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by tiredretired View Post
I am sure others have done this here a million times ......
Actually, no; most of the time it's people who want brighter lights, don't read and think about (or care?) what they are doing and the consequences, they grab cheap lights online, and end up turning themselves and their car into "one of those", and then they try to justify it somehow. Here's a linky to a really great read that gets into details and the hows/whys of it all:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
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  #49  
Old 06-07-2017, 01:47 PM
tiredretired tiredretired is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 277
Default Re: Hid headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by cowboybilly9mile View Post
Actually, no; most of the time it's people who want brighter lights, don't read and think about (or care?) what they are doing and the consequences, they grab cheap lights online, and end up turning themselves and their car into "one of those", and then they try to justify it somehow. Here's a linky to a really great read that gets into details and the hows/whys of it all:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html
Good read. Do it right. I am really taking this project seriously and self admittedly a little nervous that I can pull it off and end up with a safe and effective product. That is why my first retro is going to be with good entry level products from an established company that will be there to answer any questions I may end up with in the process.

Still trying to decide on my components. I am taking my time and not rushing into anything.
__________________
2005 Ranger FX/4 4.0 Auto. 160K.

Ceramic Pads, Energy Suspension Polyurethane Sway links and bushings. OHC. Third Brake Light Directionals. KYB Shocks. Dipped and Blacked Out.

Acme Projectors with Morimoto XB35 Ballast and Morimoto XB35 5500K Bulbs.
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  #50  
Old 06-09-2017, 02:55 AM
NewShockerGuy NewShockerGuy is offline
2001 XLT
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,218
Arrow Re: Hid headlights

This is just food for thought on the previously mentioned comment about inspections.

Here in VA they are now enforcing DOT non/DOT bulbs during inspection. It's annoying AF. IE: I did a projector retrofit in 2012. Been fine with inspection up until a few weeks ago. The dude told me that I am going to fail because on the headlight it's stamped DOT, and then the HBA bulb or whatever bulb is stock in our housings. Because I now use D2S bulbs and ballasts it would fail because it does not match what is on the headlight... At first I thought he was fucking with me, but sure enough he pulled up the code that changed in VA and it clearly states all bulbs must be DOT, and that no modifications are to be done to headlights and if it, instant fail for inspection. The dude was cool and told me to come back.

I had to go on craigslist and buy stock OEM unmodified headlights for 20 bucks take mine out, but those in and then take it back to the inspection dude who passed it. Then I drove home and swapped back to my good headlights.

Anyone else doesn't even notice the headlights other than ranger owners but that's just an FYI to those that have inspections. Again no issues prior but it seems like in the area of VA that I am in they are actually checking to see what bulb is stamped on the headlight and then checking the bulb.

This actually is going to be some what comical when I bring our Mercedes in because it doesn't have DOT stamped on the lens of the headlight nor does it state the bulb...hmmm.

-Nigel
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Last edited by NewShockerGuy; 06-09-2017 at 02:58 AM.
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  #51  
Old 06-16-2017, 02:50 PM
tiredretired tiredretired is offline
29 Year Ranger Veteran
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 277
Default Re: Hid headlights

Quote:
Originally Posted by NewShockerGuy View Post
This is just food for thought on the previously mentioned comment about inspections.

Here in VA they are now enforcing DOT non/DOT bulbs during inspection. It's annoying AF. IE: I did a projector retrofit in 2012. Been fine with inspection up until a few weeks ago. The dude told me that I am going to fail because on the headlight it's stamped DOT, and then the HBA bulb or whatever bulb is stock in our housings. Because I now use D2S bulbs and ballasts it would fail because it does not match what is on the headlight... At first I thought he was fucking with me, but sure enough he pulled up the code that changed in VA and it clearly states all bulbs must be DOT, and that no modifications are to be done to headlights and if it, instant fail for inspection. The dude was cool and told me to come back.

I had to go on craigslist and buy stock OEM unmodified headlights for 20 bucks take mine out, but those in and then take it back to the inspection dude who passed it. Then I drove home and swapped back to my good headlights.

Anyone else doesn't even notice the headlights other than ranger owners but that's just an FYI to those that have inspections. Again no issues prior but it seems like in the area of VA that I am in they are actually checking to see what bulb is stamped on the headlight and then checking the bulb.

This actually is going to be some what comical when I bring our Mercedes in because it doesn't have DOT stamped on the lens of the headlight nor does it state the bulb...hmmm.

-Nigel
Same here. Inspections are a horror story here now. All computerized and the stickers even have a bar code that can be scanned and immediately bring up history, violations, etc. $60 for an inspection, $25 if you fail, non refundable. They even take pictures of the truck. Bottom line is the Nanny State is keeping a dossier on our vehicles. Don't even get me started there. Also meanwhile, the real threat to our safety, drunk drivers have no bar code tracking system. Go figure, right?

That is why I will swap housings before the inspection. That way it is not on the dossier. The way I see it, I am following all the DOT guidelines on adjusting the projectors and will likely have a better overall system and better aimed then the majority out there. Plus I can see better at night, which also makes me a safer driver. To hell with the beauracrats. Stupid people piss me off.

One more thing, if the vehicle does not have the bulb stamp on the housing but has halogen type projectors and someone puts a HID kit in it, how will they ever know? Who is smart enough just looking at the projector from the outside and tell if it is HID or Halogen? What a joke.
__________________
2005 Ranger FX/4 4.0 Auto. 160K.

Ceramic Pads, Energy Suspension Polyurethane Sway links and bushings. OHC. Third Brake Light Directionals. KYB Shocks. Dipped and Blacked Out.

Acme Projectors with Morimoto XB35 Ballast and Morimoto XB35 5500K Bulbs.

Last edited by tiredretired; 06-16-2017 at 02:53 PM.
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