Working on Another Version of Kev's Headlights

I use my TC for many long distance trips (generally 600+ miles round trip)and alot of that is night driving in places that I am not familiar with. Obviously dim lights become a problem. I bought a NOS headlight hoping it would fix the issue, while it helped, it still leaves a lot to be desired. Apparently the design on the 9004 bulb and its housing isn't going to provide very good illumination due to its inferior design.

I seen Kev's headlight creation and really liked it.

Here is his first version.
http://natomessageboard.com/ultimatebb.p...805#000003

And here is his second version.
http://natomessageboard.com/ultimatebb.p...p=1#000013

But instead of cutting up a Malibu reflector, I wanted to install a pre-made rectangular 4x6 headlight that uses the H4 bulb.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...560610.jpg
http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...559055.jpg
^This one is actually a 200mm and is just a tad to large to fit into the headlight bucket. Therefore I will end up dropping back to the 4x6, it should fit nicely.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...434010.jpg
^On the right is NOS OEM, the left is a reconditioned OEM headlight bucket. Definite improvement but it is obvious that the "pancake" pattern created by the 9004 is rather limited.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...433497.jpg
^Same NOS OEM on the right (only brighter because it is getting darker and making the camera pick up light better), but the left is the new rectangular bucket with the H4 bulb. The difference is impressive against the wall but is even more impressive on the road. Both of the above pictures are the low beams.

http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...757707.jpg
http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...758241.jpg
Right now the H4 is just mocked in there to see if it was worth while and so far I love it!


The H4 is a huge improvement on its own, but while I'm at it if there is a next step up that's just as easy to do now as to later.

In the pics that show the light on the wall, is the OE tbird lens in front of the H4, or is the H4 just sitting in the 'hole' like in the later pic of the bird fascia? If the OE lens is NOT in front of the H4 in your pic, then you can expect the light to be severely scattered from the scattering properties of the OE lens. This was the reason that I invested all the time making the clear lenses for the ones I did.

I do really like your idea though, and it should be much easier to make it all happen since you don't have to design how the light is output from the housing. You really just have to worry about controlling that light output.

If you go with HID, keep in mind that 4300k is the closest to real white light and has the greatest light output. 5000 is almost the same as the 4300 with the slightest hint of blue giving it that HID look, and 6000 and up goes more blue turning to purple at the higher levels, but at the same time, you get less light output the further you go away from 4300k.

I love that you are doing something along the lines of what I did, and I'm glad that you are already on a path that is better than mine. Good luck to you, and keep us updated. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Kev

How will you integrate that into the front of the car? As it is, the light's illumination is great, but looks like those wrecked cars that somebody wires in a replacement "it'll do" light into. No offense, but that new light just doesn't "fit".

Originally posted by Kev:
In the pics that show the light on the wall, is the OE tbird lens in front of the H4

No, I will make a set of your clear lenses as the cover. I basically want to do exactly what you did but replace the Malibu reflectors with the rectangular unit. I believe it will work extremely well.


If you go with HID, keep in mind that 4300k is the closest to real white light and has the greatest light output. 5000 is almost the same as the 4300 with the slightest hint of blue giving it that HID look, and 6000 and up goes more blue turning to purple at the higher levels, but at the same time, you get less light output the further you go away from 4300k.


I love that you are doing something along the lines of what I did, and I'm glad that you are already on a path that is better than mine. Good luck to you, and keep us updated. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Kev

Thanks! I've been trying to learn as much as possible any extra information is greatly appreciated!

Originally posted by vinnietbird:
How will you integrate that into the front of the car? As it is, the light's illumination is great, but looks like those wrecked cars that somebody wires in a replacement "it'll do" light into. No offense, but that new light just doesn't "fit".

Come on vinny, you don't like my style!? Lol!

The unit is just sitting in there so that I could try them out to see if they would be an improvement over the OEM.

I am planning on them fitting inside the stock housing with the clear lenses in front of them. It might not be as great looking as the OEM but I believe it will look nice.

This is a worthwhile project. I just bought Kev's Bird the other day and the lights he built are awesome. It is a night and day difference from my other Bird.

LOL. I got it now. Took it a while to sink in to my head.LOL.

I wish Kev would make me some lenses.

This is a worthwhile project. I just bought Kev's Bird the other day and the lights he built are awesome. It is a night and day difference from my other Bird.

Ok, I'm jumping on this bandwagon. Sign me up for 1 pair!

Originally posted by Chicken:
This is a worthwhile project. I just bought Kev's Bird the other day and the lights he built are awesome. It is a night and day difference from my other Bird.

I agree 100%! When Kev first posted these it looked like a lot of potential!

Originally posted by Thor Power:
Ok, I'm jumping on this bandwagon. Sign me up for 1 pair!

lol Thanks for the enthusiasm! So far there isn't a band wagon, just one wheel that has flat spots!


I now know why Kev wasn't interested in making anymore of these, there is a lot of trial an error involved! lol But progress is still be made!

I am hoping to get them to come out with the DOT# still in tact!
http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/ee36...705134.jpg