The header panel doesn't weigh that much. I left it since the bumper cover also attaches under the headlights and without it attached there the buckets 'warp' a little and don't keep the flat smooth look. By the time you made a panel it would prol weigh the same. If that panel weighs 2 lbs I bet thats alot, esp after you cut out a bunch of it around the stock headlight buckets.

I finally found the camera and should be able to upload the pics for you guys to go by with what I cut out and where- should help you make progress a lot faster. I spend many many hours measuring, cutting, remeasuring, cutting with taking the bumper on and off about 15 times making sure it was going to work.

 

I think I can see in your pics here that you used that stock plastic bracket that came with the lights, cut down and modified of course. My initial measurements show that those attachment screws (through-bolts) will stick high enough over the top of the light assembly to hit the hood. Mine are appx 1" higher than the headlight assembly. Rather than use that plastic bracket, I may fab up a couple of brackets on each headlight, using the 2 attachment points to the L/R of each headlight where the headlight panel attaches to the front metal support. Using 3/16"x1' flat stock should be sufficiently rigid enough for those lightweight lights. Probably only 3-4 bends and a bit of welding to the "U" shaped piece necessary for the bucket attachment points on the new lights, with a 1/4-20 nut welded on the bottom of the u-shaped pieces for a new through-bolt.

A couple of ?'s:
If you used the stock plastic brackets like I think I see, how did you attach them to the vehicle? To the metal support at the back?

Did you consider something similar to my idea for the individual brackets, and if so why did you choose not to do it that way? Were there any problems with that route that I'm not seeing yet?

If you're posting up the write up in the next few days, I'll just check it out and get my answers that way. But, if it might be a while would you please reply back. I'm into this job right now, and any help is much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

I used the bracket that came with the lights and yes just cut it down to fit- almost across the top even with the headlight. As far as attaching it to the car I just used some 3/8"x1" course thread zip in screws thru the bracket into the metal radiator support. You can't see them with the headlight mounted and it is very secure.

This is interesting as you are going thru the exact steps and thought process I did last year. I choose not to do the fabbed brackets simply because I was unsure if I could make them exactly the same efficiently and I also wanted to keep the simple adjustability with having the bracket on there. I considered trying to incorporate the Camaro factory adjustments into it but I couldn't figure out how- if someone else can more power to them.

As far as the screws hitting- they didn't hit on my hood- they are extremely close though- but I don't know if you have a stock hood either. The lights will more than likely touch the inner edge of the hood- the front corner sits farther forward than the stock high beam housing did.

BTW- if you bought the projector style housing you are going to have to cut the radiator support to allow room for the back of the projector. I had to cut about an 1.5" half-moon shape to let them sit in there. I used my plasma cutter but I think if you drilled a pilot hole and a dremel with a carbide bit you could achieve the same- the metal is pretty thin, just hard to get a grinder back there.

My camera is charging as we speak so as long as the wife didn't delete all the pics should be good to go!

 

Yeah, as long as I retain the middle "adjustment" bracket the full adjustability will be retained. I just need to figure out if it will be simpler to use the plastic mounting bracket, or make some metal ones for attaching to the intermediate adjustment bracket.

You're saying the closest point to contact is on the high beam (inboard side)? I thought I was going to have more trouble on the outboard low beam side. My hood is not stock either, though, I wonder if my hood underside profile is different from yours.

I had not seen the potential interference for the projectors, but after you mentioned it I can see I will have to cut out a relief for the projector. I still have my other lights on there, but those are coming off tomorrow. Those aren't stock either, I'm using Piaa lamps, and while they are better than stock, these with the projector housing seem a better choice. Are you using HID's for your low beams? I have heard the projector lenses are different for HID bulbs Vs. regular Halogens. I tested the projectors using the H1 halogen bulbs these lights came with, and am happy with the nice, sharp light cut-off line they give. I'll have to try the HID's when my kit gets here to see if it's any different. I was also worried about light reflection off of the bottom of the headlight bucket being thrown up above the cut-off line, but that is minimal...I tested using the same shape and appx reflectivity of a black semi-gloss plastic to try to emulate the stock location. As long as the HID's provide the same results, that should not be a problem.

Thanks for the inspiration, and I (along with several others, I'm sure) will LOVE to see those pics when you get 'em up!

 

When I did this I didn't really look for HID bulbs since my only experience was when they first started becoming readily avail and I didn't know that the kits are as cheap as they are now.

I will hopefully be upgrading my headlights to HID soon- they are only $40 a set from DDM Tuning. I bought some for my truck and couldn't be happier with them. I wish I would have known that when I bought bulbs since I spent that on getting a set of silverstars.

The high beam in my housing isn't as good as I had hoped it would be..doesn't seem to be all that well focused, but low beams are considerably better- heck even 6 midgets holding candles in front of the car would be brighter than the stock headlights..

 

any more updates on this?

 

i agree. those look killer!

 

What did you want to know? I haven't messed with them much..this summer I plan on throwing in some HID's, thats about it.

 

Anybody planning to do this mod I'll be posting my headlights (the same as used by the OP) and the HID kit for the lowbeams in the "for sale" section. I never got around to doing the mod, but got all the cool parts. Look for the thread, or shoot me a PM

PS - Please excuse the thread highjack, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled thread

 

just wondering if you had any pics during the install....maybe some pics of the way they look with the lights on to see the output....i have the piaa swap and was thinking about switching to this in my new new project car

 

There is a thread on how to install them- I don't however have any pictures of the light output, sorry. Due to WNY winter I won't have pictures for a couple months either.

Link to other thread-
https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=754516

 

Really like they way they look. Make your car look pretty damn mean as well

 

Hey bro you beat me to it, I have a 96 Z28 code project name (RED ALERT) that is in a early restoration stage. I purchased the same halo projector light assembly from eBay over a year and a half ago, do the same thing. They have been put in storage with other items until I get a few mechanical things done first. You did a excellent job with the conversion, and I would love to see more pictures at distance with the hood closed and open. I cant wait to do mine, Thanks!

 

http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/Win...002_16/748955/

Are these the lights? and why kind of high beams did you use?

 

Yes- they look pretty close to what I used.

I will probably be swapping them out soon, I have grown to not like them as much as when I first put them in. Just have to find a set of headlights I like all around. The halo's don't fit the look I am going for, and just looking for a cleaner looking headlight that will retain a projector.

As far as the bulbs, all I used were Silverstars- but for the cost you might as well go with a HID's since they are so cheap anymore.