Headlight conversion

Well I wish that someone would make a molded headlight housing like was discussed in the other long thread. Until then however my hyperwhite bulbs are not satisfying me, I was wondering if anyone had purchased this conversion on ebay:
Headlight Conversion (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2430285079)
Let me know, I am thinking about getting it.

you might want to look thru that guys feedback first, before buying off him.
i see alot of complaints, and i have heard of a few ppl not liking that conversion he sells!

If you wanna pay 150+ so you can have fog lights for headlights
go for it :lol:

I read the ME section and would not buy form him because of his attitude after reading that... Good luck in what ever you do...

Originally posted by AW/whiteZ-28
If you wanna pay 150+ so you can have fog lights for headlights
go for it

I believe that is the same person who used a bunch of pictures off Brent's site, including a number of people's cars including mine, to sell that conversion. He went as far as to use my write-up instructions off the link from Brent's site word for word in this "kit."

You can just use information on install of this site http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/94Z/piaa.htm and buy some Hella driving lights to keep cost low.

Wraith, thank you for your assistance. I really like the PIAA lights that you and Brent used and I wanted to use the same ones. I know they cost like $500 for four of them. I saw the picture in the auction and it looked like a PIAA setup and for $150 that is a really good deal. Go figure it is too good to be true of course. I looked at the guys feedback and he is trying to pass of homemade junk as a quality "Vortex" made product, using other peoples pictures. I emailed him a while ago saying who is Vortex and why has no one heard of them, I also asked if he had any good feedback he could show me regarding the headlight conversion. I never got a reply, go figure. :rolleyes: Anyways I guess I will save up for the PIAAs, thanks.

Originally posted by AW/whiteZ-28
If you wanna pay 150+ so you can have fog lights for headlights
go for it :lol:

One last thing, WTF is that supposed to mean? Brent paid like $500 to use foglights as headlights and so did Wraith. $150 seemed like a damn good price to me. I guess maybe you just have something against PIAA conversions in general?

Originally posted by bigdreamZ
One last thing, WTF is that supposed to mean? Brent paid like $500 to use foglights as headlights and so did Wraith. $150 seemed like a damn good price to me. I guess maybe you just have something against PIAA conversions in general?

Even Brent said that the output of those lights is no better than stock. The PIAA conversion looks nice, but isn't really safe. (The bulbs cost like $15 each and are only something like 35w)

;)

I read no further when I read this

"to take the BLAH out of your ride and replace it with the BLING "

:no:

I would just like a better stock replacement....

Pitty no one makes them... Our lightining is not adewuate comapred to most cars on the road today..

Originally posted by former86camaro
I would just like a better stock replacement....

Pitty no one makes them... Our lightining is not adewuate comapred to most cars on the road today..

1. Two Heavy Duty Headlight wiring harnesses
2. 130w 9006 and 9005 bulbs
3. Clear high temp silicone

Enjoy ! !

Just out of cursoity where do you get a better harness... Discount? What is hte part number may I ask..

Originally posted by former86camaro
Just out of cursoity where do you get a better harness... Discount? What is hte part number may I ask..

You can make your own here is a diagram:

http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/images/90059006wireharness.jpg

Or you can buy them pre-made:

http://suvlights.tripod.com/suvlightscom/html/wire-harness.htm

Hey Pt I know you know a ton about headlights and stuff. I have a couple more questions. Isn't the reflection or beam pattern on the stock housings not that great? Second would you be able to replace the bulbs that Brent used with some higher wattage bulbs and heavy duty wires?

Originally posted by bigdreamZ
Hey Pt I know you know a ton about headlights and stuff. I have a couple more questions. Isn't the reflection or beam pattern on the stock housings not that great? Second would you be able to replace the bulbs that Brent used with some higher wattage bulbs and heavy duty wires?

The reflection is good, and the beam pattern has potential. The output just sucks. To really improve the beam pattern cutoff, you need something like the Hella 90mm conversion, which is 100x better than the PIAA setup.

So before I would do what you mention, I would consider the Hella 90mm setup. (it is used by Le Mans race cars by the way)

My lighting preferences would be this:

1. Hella 90mm H7 with HID
2. Audi or BMW HID retrofit
3. Hella 90mm H7 with 130w H7 bulbs w/ H.D. harness
4. Hella 90mm H7 w/ H.D. harness
5. Hella FF75 Driving Lights with 130w H7 bulbs w/H.D. harness
6. Stock housings with 130w 9005 / 9006 bulbs w/H.D. harness

Originally posted by bigdreamZ
One last thing, WTF is that supposed to mean? Brent paid like $500 to use foglights as headlights and so did Wraith. $150 seemed like a damn good price to me. I guess maybe you just have something against PIAA conversions in general?

This is the last time I post in this thread:
YOU posted a ebay auction with a guy selling foglights as headlights that was a rip off and now all of a sudden you pull that
I said something bad about PIAA conversions out of your ass
Yea I don't like the Idea of haveing those things for headlights I much rather pay the extra money and get a full HID kit from Tbryne with stock size housings. I did do the fog light headlight thing already and It didn't light up ****...(not to mention it's illegal)
Hell if 150 bucks for some foglights sounds good to you I got some I'll sell you

If they still made the PIAA conversion I would probably buy it
but they don't so

*End rant*

The thing that pisses me off is that I posted that to try to jokingly let you know that it was a rip off then you come up with a bs story to try and attack me, thanks :rolleyes:

Sorry I did not realize it was a joke, it sounded more like you were making fun of me for even posting this. Judging from your last post it sounds like you do have some experience in this matter. I do not have any, that is why I was asking for peoples opinions. Your first comment just seemed rude to me, thats all, sorry if I took it the wrong way. Anyways thank you for the advice, I checked on Tbyrnes website and could not find a link to their HID conversion. Do you have a direct link?

I know it a lot more money, but have you considered a HID conversion, like from HERE (http://www.hids4less.com/www/search/index.asp?page=search.asp) ?

http://www.tbyrnemotorsports.com/
bottom left hand corner click on "high intensity lights" link

Originally posted by snorkelface
I know it a lot more money, but have you considered a HID conversion, like from HERE (http://www.hids4less.com/www/search/index.asp?page=search.asp) ?

Hey whats up Ken, I thought I saw you on the 5 the other day but I couldn't get close enough to see if the plate said: "You only pulled me over because I let you" :lol: Anyways the HID for less are still expensive. I love the Stage II but cannot justify $850 for headlights. I think I am going to look more into the Hella 90mm conversion that Pt is talkin about. See ya round!

Originally posted by bigdreamZ
Hey whats up Ken, I thought I saw you on the 5 the other day but I couldn't get close enough to see if the plate said: "You only pulled me over because I let you" :lol: Anyways the HID for less are still expensive. I love the Stage II but cannot justify $850 for headlights. I think I am going to look more into the Hella 90mm conversion that Pt is talkin about. See ya round!

I was on the 5 for a few miles on Friday night between 7:30-8, and Sunday morning between 7:50-8.:) You're right, they are costly. I want them badly also, but I know there a lot of things that need to be done before spending $ like that on headlights. Hmm maybe 5 years from now.;)

Originally posted by pu12en12g
Even Brent said that the output of those lights is no better than stock. The PIAA conversion looks nice, but isn't really safe. (The bulbs cost like $15 each and are only something like 35w)

;)

Ok, let's keep the rumors, "I think" and all around :bs: to the fitness threads in the Lounge please. First, the Piaa 1000x are not fog lights, they are a driving pattern ( http://www.piaa.com/driving_lamps.html ). They are substationally better than stock, they are not 35 watts but actually 55. They were available from Carparts.com at the time and they didn't cost me $500 for them.

Regardless of cost, wattage and look they are a big step over stock and a 9005/9006 bulb upgrade (not counting cost factor). They are plenty safe as a primary lamp as I used them for almost 3.5 years now in my daily driver in snow, rain, and doing 100mph.

Are there more cost effective conversions now? Sure there is. Better performing? Yup, barring all the knock off HID conversions using anything resembling the stock housing or in fact the actual stock housing itself.
;)

Thank you Wraith for your "educated" response. Much appreciated. :cool:

Originally posted by Wraith
Ok, let's keep the rumors, "I think" and all around :bs: to the fitness threads in the Lounge please. First, the Piaa 1000x are not fog lights, they are a driving pattern ( http://www.piaa.com/driving_lamps.html ). They are substationally better than stock, they are not 35 watts but actually 55. They were available from Carparts.com at the time and they didn't cost me $500 for them.

Regardless of cost, wattage and look they are a big step over stock and a 9005/9006 bulb upgrade (not counting cost factor). They are plenty safe as a primary lamp as I used them for almost 3.5 years now in my daily driver in snow, rain, and doing 100mph.

Are there more cost effective conversions now? Sure there is. Better performing? Yup, barring all the knock off HID conversions using anything resembling the stock housing or in fact the actual stock housing itself.
;)

Wraith,

No offense, but Brent actually said that the illumination was like stock, if not worse than stock. So this is not BS. I will try and find his post. Keep in mind:

- 55w is no better than stock, although the beam pattern may be more concentrated (better than the stock unmodified bulbs).

- The PIAA kit uses a foglight (H3) bulb

- PIAA sells replacement bulbs for $30-$50 each (because they
sell it as a complete housing)

Wraith,

What bulb upgrade did you actually do on the stock housings ?

I have tried over 15 lighting combinations (with the stock housings alone), and I highly doubt that your PIAA could equal the output of 130w 9006 bulbs in the stock housings and a heavy duty headlight harness.

Originally posted by pu12en12g
Wraith,

No offense, but Brent actually said that the illumination was like stock, if not worse than stock. So this is not BS. I will try and find his post.

Perhaps that was his impression/experience, I have yet to see him post this type of responce in the nearly 4 years he has had the conversion. If so, so be it. Last time I looked he still had the Piaa's as well as the DG set-up, must not be that bad.


Keep in mind:

- 55w is no better than stock, although the beam pattern may be more concentrated (better than the stock unmodified bulbs).

- The PIAA kit uses a foglight (H3) bulb

- PIAA sells replacement bulbs for $30-$50 each (because they
sell it as a complete housing)

Piaa's or any other lamp manufacturer's is better when it is focused correctly, such as having a housing dedicated to the light designed for it.

Regardless of what style bulb the Piaa lamp uses, it's housing and beam pattern in the 1000x used for our conversions are that of a driving pattern. The angles are set for that of a driving beam. That would be like saying I have ballast and xenon charged capsule, so I have HID, even though it is jammed in my Camaro housings.

So Piaa charges $30 for a replacement bulb (of which I have only replaced 1 in the last 3.5 years). It is not because they sell the Piaa 1000x as a complete housing for replacement. You can buy just the bulb in itself. You can buy just a replacement lens by itself for that matter.



Wraith,

What bulb upgrade did you actually do on the stock housings ?

I have tried over 15 lighting combinations (with the stock housings alone), and I highly doubt that your PIAA could equal the output of 130w 9006 bulbs in the stock housings and a heavy duty headlight harness.

I tried numerous combinations in the stock housings prior to committing to the Piaa back when Rytek only did it. I went as far as to cut/mold, etc. to the factory housings in an attempt to make a functional conversion that was worth its time in effort ( I wanted to sell it at the time). Soon realizing the biggest limiting factor is that of the housing itself, I looked elsewhere. It's size combined with the recess it is placed in from the factory alone makes it not worth doing a bulb upgrade (aside from saving money of buying a new sealed beam). I also wanted something other than stock in appearance.

I have no doubt a 130 watt bulb would produce more light than a 55, but given you would have a significant amount of wasted light too (partially do to the reasons listed above). I bet if I used a pair of Piaa 910's ( http://www.piaa.com/displayLamp.php3?inc=910.html ) your 130w 9006 upgrade would hardly equal the output all the while being 20 watts less and a lowly H3 bulb. If I was doing the upgrade soley for output, then I would have gone a differnt direction with my choice. I wanted easy to adjust, great total lighting, easy to replace bulbs and something not very many others had.

If it was soley for pissing purposes " my output is bigger than yours"mentality, I would have yanked the factory fogs and put in some 500,000 candle power KC Daylighters in there for damn cheap.

Here is the post, just so that bigdreamZ has both perspectives:

Originally posted by Brent94Z
I'm running the stock supplied 55 watt bulbs. However, all over the packaging there is 85 watt mentioned. Basically, it's a 55 watt bulb with a "seems like" 85 watt output :rolleyes: Why can't they just advertise what it really is? :)

I presume you've seen the pictures here...
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/94Z/piaa.htm

There are some pics here as well...
http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/fbody/quadfogs.htm

Those were taken with an older digital camera and not my newer better one :) I can take more if needed. Just let me know.

How do they compare to stock? Hmm? Well, another member here (Wraith) has them and thinks they are WAY better than stock. Mine don't seem to be. In fact, I'd say they might be as good or equal to the stock lighting but I don't think they could be considered better than the stockers... at least not on my car. Keep in mind we have different mounting schemes and it could be that the way mine are mounted doesn't allow for lighting up the road as good as his. Another thing I've considered doing is installing the white higher wattage halogen bulbs as opposed to the "hyper white" bulbs which are in there now. I think, looking through my notes, these are the 13385 bulbs but not sure.

I personally would not do these particular lights for a lighting upgrade to provide for better lighting. The lighting for me is "acceptable" and mine are on there primarily for the looks :) On my page I mention how I think they are a little better than the stockers. I made that page soon after installing them and while they do probably put out more light than the stockers the beam isn't as concentrated and thus doesn't seem to light the road up (distance wise) much further than the stockers.

Let me know if you have any questions! [/B]

Didn't mean to start a war with this thread, but some good info seems to be coming from both sides. I think I am going to get the Hella 90mm with HIDs if I ever get the money. Thank you Wraith and pu12en12g, both of you were lots of help to me and hopefully others looking to do a conversion as well :D

I might try proxenon.com

$399...I think I have that to burn. I was going to go for a McCullogh (sp?) until they got banned.

:(

Originally posted by ImportKILLER
I might try proxenon.com

$399...I think I have that to burn. I was going to go for a McCullogh (sp?) until they got banned.

:(

Could you provide a direct link for the '93-'97 retro fit kits? I couldn't find anything for around that price.

Originally posted by snorkelface
Could you provide a direct link for the '93-'97 retro fit kits? I couldn't find anything for around that price.

Nah. It is for a 9006 kit. For our cars, if we do get a HID conversion kit, we'd have to remove the stock bulb and then put in the HID bulb. Sucks, we don't have a real retro kit.

McCullough had one with a improved housing (so they claim) for $80 but now they can't sell the aftermarket kits at all because of the ban on aftermarket HID kits.

I'm trying to get my relative in Canada to let me ship to him. :D If not, I may try this ProXenon kit. Haven't been able to find anyone with one yet to ask their experiance. I did find one with a misterjung kit and he said it sucked. Basically a rip off.

I'm hell-bent on getting a HID kit...sooner or later.

Originally posted by ImportKILLER

McCullough had one with a improved housing (so they claim) for $80 but now they can't sell the aftermarket kits at all because of the ban on aftermarket HID kits.



When did this ban occur? I never heard anything about this.

Try a search engine and just put in "aftermarket HID ban" and a bunch of pages should come up.

McCullough emailed me already saying they couldn't sell it. There are websites that still sell them but I'm not sure of quality.

If I can't get a McCullough, I may just do a projector/HID project.

I have also had a LOT of experience with different headlight setups in my 97 Camaro just like pu124eng12. No matter what you do to the stock H4351 housings the light output will SUCK. I have had 2 different HID kits using the stock housings. It was brighter but the beam pattern still sucked and may have also caused a little to much glare for uncomming drivers. Any HID kit that uses a 9006/7 based capsule is junk. They are cheap asian made bulbs and actually have a shorter lifespan than a normal halogen bulb. The best bulb out there is the stock spec Philips D2S rated at 3200 lumens and 4300K. After not getting the color and beam pattern I wanted from the cheapo HID kit in stock sealed beams I went all out and actually retrofitted a pair of Audi HID projectors. All I can say is holy Sh*t. It looks as if the sunlight is shining in front of your car. The beam pattern, color, and side illumination are VERY good. I have also heard the Hella 90mm's are very good if you dont have the cash to do HID. I spent a total of about $600 on everything which is not bad considering everything is brand new genuine Audi, Hella/Philips components.

I know some of you have seen my setup but for those that havent here are links to the pics. At the bottom there is an excellent shot of sweet purple cutoff that HID projectors give off:-)
http://community.webshots.com/album/73572838dAxOcQ

I have done a Hella 90mm conversion on my car. Still have the halogen H9's in there and they light up the road GREAT. Like JTS95TA confirms above, there's nothing better than projector headlights to light up the road. But if there's room for improvement, I have to do it and that's why I am thinking I might convert the low beam projectors to D2S HID. There are a lot of sites out there that have all the info you want on doing the conversion that's pretty easy btw.

To get an idea of what's involved with installing the housings on a Camaro, check out my install page linked in my sig.

HTH your decision!

Sam

I talked with JTS95TA before about his past HID kit and thank him for saving me some $$$ for avoiding misterjunk. pu124eng12 has helped numerous times helping me acheive my quest for HIDs. I took a look at Sam's site to see how it might be done.

I think I'll probably have to get some projectors put on my car...find someone to do it for me. Or maybe I'll get brave and do it. We'll see.

Damn you HIDs...with your color changing, cut-off, lights! :mad:

Yes...I'm obsessed. ;)

Lots of darn good info in this thread!

Some of the reasons why Wraith could be more than pleased and I'm just "so-so" with the light output is the way we did the installation. My installation is done a bit different than his. Both installations are described in detail on my web page link listed above. It could be that my choice of mounting somewhat restricts the light from pointing in a "good" manner? Not sure but that could be why we have differing opinions on the light output.

I have found, on my car, that if I raise them high enough to make them point FURTHER than the stockers then I get flashed all the time because they blind the people coming at me. Because of this, I have them pointed down a bit and this makes them, IMO, no better or maybe slightly worse (for overall light output) than the stockers. I have a good comparison too because I flip flop between my 94 (the PIAA for headlights) and the 96 (stock lights) regularly. Maybe one of the these nights I'll line up both on my road and just see how they compare :)