HID upgrade...the right way!

[SLakin]

Originally Posted by neevnav

Well now I've gone and done it. Ordered my TSX projectors last night.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=008

Now I just need to keep an eye out for ballasts, probably get the bulbs from HIDplanet. You've converted another!

Sweet!
An FSC Revolution has begun, but only if it could carry over to GMFS

[D-BoB'91]

Originally Posted by neevnav

Well now I've gone and done it. Ordered my TSX projectors last night.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWN:IT&ih=008

Now I just need to keep an eye out for ballasts, probably get the bulbs from HIDplanet. You've converted another!

Congrats man
Be sure to start a thread once you get started on the project, I wanna see results! The more retro threads we start, the more people will see that it's the only way to go for better lighting!

[hoseman44]

if i already have an hid kit do i just need projectors and bulbs or can i use the bulbs it comes with

[D-BoB'91]

Originally Posted by hoseman44

if i already have an hid kit do i just need projectors and bulbs or can i use the bulbs it comes with

Depends on the bulbs...most bulbs that come with the kits are re-based so they fit your stock wiring. If that's the case then no you can't reuse them with projectors.

Basically you need ballasts that will fit the bulbs and bulbs that will fit the projectors

That's why we typically stick with OE parts, they are interchangable as long as they are within the same system, and they are of superior quality. I have a pair of D2S ballasts from a Toyota, a pair of D2S projectors from an Acura, and D2S bulbs that are used on a variety of cars.




Hope that helps

[neevnav]

I'm still a long ways off, as I have to budget for school as well, but this is a start!

[hoseman44]

well i bought the kit actually with the intentions of getting h3 bulbs and putting them in my driving lights my buddy did his and they work great but he dont use them much since he lifted the truck now but they are bright and i think you have better aiming capabilites with them you can see the lights im refering to in my avatar

[jayr0422]

Well, I would like to get some TSX projectors and retrofit my OBS but definitely can't do it myself... I am looking for people on hidplanet but it seems they don't have alot of experience with these specific lights, they usually do cars but just curious if you all have any advice who I can get to do the labor for me and would I have to do more to mount them so they don't stick out?? damn I wish a company came out with this sh!t as a package so it would be easier...

[neevnav]

I would really consider tackling it yourself. I was iffy about it as well, but after reading the great posts on here, I think I can tackle it. There are some great people on here and on hidplanet that can help you through any problems.

On a side note, my ballasts, bulbs and projector housings should be here this week, so expect lot's of updates/questions!

[Tennessee_22s]

D-Bob great write up. I have also been a member to HIDPlanet for years actually before when it was called HIDForum.

Anywho... Since there is a problem with the aftermarket housing sticking out of the grill, could you not use the stock housing as long as the fluted lense was sanded down to make it clear? That aluminum angle looks like it took a lot of work and tools I don't have .

I know members on HIDPlanet that have used the fluted lenses with their projector upgrades (some actually did not like the look of the projectors but wanted the performance), even though the cutoff is not sharp and crisp as it should be (FYI the fluting blurs the cutoff - for the people who wanted to know).

So what do you think?

[D-BoB'91]

Originally Posted by jayr0422

just curious if you all have any advice who I can get to do the labor for me...damn I wish a company came out with this sh!t as a package so it would be easier...

To be honest, it's gonna cost alot of money to find someone to retrofit for you...plus there's no fun in buying a "package" with all the work done!
It's like neevnav said, there's plenty of info on here and HIDplanet to do this yourself....btw neevnav, on the new components coming in.

Originally Posted by Tennessee_22's

Anywho... Since there is a problem with the aftermarket housing sticking out of the grill, could you not use the stock housing as long as the fluted lense was sanded down to make it clear? That aluminum angle looks like it took a lot of work and tools I don't have .

The aluminum angle took a while to fab up, but it wasn't that hard and the pics are there for you to just copy the idea. I honestly hate sanding and feel that it would take longer to do it that way...but to each his own.
I'm sure if someone wasn't worried about cutoff, they could forgo sanding and just use fluted lens'.
As far as tools go, you could just use a jigsaw to cut the angle. You'll need a drill for the holes, and a dremel tool or cut-off wheel only make the process quicker and easier.

[neevnav]

Would it be possible to take the lense off of a clear housing and put it on the stock one that is being retro-ed?

And I'm incredibly stoked to get started on mine.

[D-BoB'91]

Originally Posted by neevnav

Would it be possible to take the lense off of a clear housing and put it on the stock one that is being retro-ed?

And I'm incredibly stoked to get started on mine.

Yeah, but where can you buy clear lenses without the whole housing? If you spent the money on the housings, might as well use them. I also just thought about how ugly the inside of the stock housing is...flat gray. So if you use a clear lens or clear the fluted lens, you would have to do something about the inside of the housing.


I am also incredibly stoked for you to get started on yours

[neevnav]

Very true. Nevermind.

[jayr0422]

Sure, it might not be any "fun" but with the cost of purchasing tools, trial and error, the bracket issue, all of that is pretty frustrating... Would wind up spending around $600-$700 on a truck that's not even worth much... might just get HIR bulbs for now. I have alot of respect for you guys customizing your lights tho...

[neevnav]

Tool wise you don't need much, just some hand tools and a dremmel or something like that. Cost wise, I've managed to keep mine under $400 by buying some parts used.

[Tennessee_22s]

That's a good way to keep cost down. But always trust the source, sometimes you get what you pay for

[D-BoB'91]

Originally Posted by neevnav

Tool wise you don't need much, just some hand tools and a dremmel or something like that. Cost wise, I've managed to keep mine under $400 by buying some parts used.

You should have most of the tools needed for this project, like I said...the dremel would only make things easier. And those dremels are going down in price all the time, you could probably get one for < $50

[neevnav]

I got a Mastercraft version of a dremmel with a 500 piece bit kit for $60 CDN in the spring.

[atv_freak]

Yea, I would definitely recommend doing it yourself... it really wasn't that hard and it just takes time. All I used was a grinder for the firewall and a dremel for everything else.

And the results more than make up for time spent and any headaches involved in getting everything going!!!!

[BLOWN91350SS]

O.K, I read thru all 5 pages and have some questions for you.

1) Why did you mount the projectors so far forward in the housing? Could you have just cut a smaller hole in the housing and then popped the projector housing in there and hold it with some sort of plastic ABS mount base glued to the OEM headlight housing? Or would the light hit the edges of the OEM headlight and cause poor lighting?

2) How do you adjust these? With the OEM adjusment screws or the other screws you added to hold the projector housing to the plastic headlight?

3) Can you use OEM headlights or do you need the aftermarket ones with the clear lenses to make them work? Or in other words - will the facets on the OEM lens screw up the lighting and the pattern? If smooth lenses are rquired, do they all stick out past the front of the grille like that?? The OEM ones don't. Is it the actual headlight housing or the bracket that causes this?

4) Finally, are there other models that could be used for this type of retofit in this application? I have searched around and found a bunch of other possible options but I'm not sure of their size and thus don't know for sure if they will fit.

Other possibilites are:
- '06 Infinity FX35
- '06 RX330
- Lancer Evo 8
- '05/06 Cervette C6
- '07 GM Acadia

Do you know if these could also be retrofitted without a lot of difficulty? Any help and input would be appreciated. Thanks

P.S - the HID retrofit lighting pattern looks good!