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Topic: Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88? (Read 3803 times) previous topic - next topic

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

I was told a few guys on here have done it before. I was looking to see how complicated and expensive it would be to convert my stock 87-88 to HIDs the right way. I cant see anything at night lol.
88 Turbo Coupe 5 Speed..Full exhaust, K and N, Boost Controller

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #1 –
Did you use the search function?

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;441447
Did you use the search function?

Darren


Yes searching HID had no results I think it's too short.
88 Turbo Coupe 5 Speed..Full exhaust, K and N, Boost Controller

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: ianb;441449
Yes searching HID had no results I think it's too short.
Yeah, the search doesn't do 3 letter words. This'll help: site:foxtbirdcougarforums.com hid conversion

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #4 –
Thought I would bump this up and see if anybody has done one of these conversions lately
I've seen the threads on hids and it's gave me a lot of ideas
I'm currently doing an hid conversion with projectors and formed clear lenses
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #5 –
I have my old retrofit still from 2007. Is there anything you need or want to know? We simply don't have much room behind our headlights, and I found the best install required moving the projector backward and cutting up the header panel.

I will be redoing my entire front light assembly to build a single piece front-light assembly. I have a few other projects lined up before I get to that point though. I assume I'll be moved into a new house and larger garage/shop before I actually complete some new headlights.

Prices for parts are pretty cheap now days. What used to be $1k just in parts can be had for under $200 today. Getting the projectors aligned is the hardest part. Thankfully I won't have that issue when I made my next lights - it will all be drawn up in cad and cutout with a cnc.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #6 –
What did you do for clear lenses?
I've seen a couple of custom methods of making them without a vacuum and that's the way I'm probably going
I'm probably going to make the outer flat portion on the lens and joint it with the horizontal portion of the lens like a frame
I would prefer to make the whole lens clear but I'm trying to accomplish this on a budget while still looking good
Any tips
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #7 –
This is the method I'm using
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-400-300/569155-as-promised-diy-plexiglass-headlight-clear-lenses.html

I've also thought about this method but it seems much more involved but I might try it since I have 2 headlight pairs apart of the ones on my car
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?18780-The-Clear-Lens-Forming-Thread
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #8 –
Still a work in progress but you get the idea



1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #9 –
Any updates on your headlights? I plan on doing the same thing. The only thing I plan to do different is mold plastic to the rear light assembly and the projector light, then cut that plastic out to fit and trim around the lens. probably win paint it black to match my car? any thoughts?

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #10 –
Oops, I didn't realize that I disappeared on a thread. Yeah, new lenses need to be vacuum formed from polycarbonate.The old lenses were used as a mold for forming over, but if I were to do it again, since I have all the time in the world as the car isn't a daily driver like it used to be, I would make a custom mold and form over that. Either way, you just need to build a small enclosure to head up a plate of polycarbonate, lay it down over the mold, and turn on the suction. Using a shopvac would work, using a large tank that has been pulled to a deep vacuum would be better. Afterward, just trim to size and glue to the headlight housings/reflectors.

My next headlight project has been delayed until I move to a new house. I want at least 200sqft of work space for creating a set of single-piece headlight assemblies. Right now I squeeze projects into two areas to the sides of the car, about 50ft on each side and too close to the car for comfort. I've out-grown the garage for years now.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Seek;447869
Oops, I didn't realize that I disappeared on a thread. Yeah, new lenses need to be vacuum formed from polycarbonate.The old lenses were used as a mold for forming over, but if I were to do it again, since I have all the time in the world as the car isn't a daily driver like it used to be, I would make a custom mold and form over that. Either way, you just need to build a small enclosure to head up a plate of polycarbonate, lay it down over the mold, and turn on the suction. Using a shopvac would work, using a large tank that has been pulled to a deep vacuum would be better. Afterward, just trim to size and glue to the headlight housings/reflectors.

My next headlight project has been delayed until I move to a new house. I want at least 200sqft of work space for creating a set of single-piece headlight assemblies. Right now I squeeze projects into two areas to the sides of the car, about 50ft on each side and too close to the car for comfort. I've out-grown the garage for years now.


I've heard if your making your own lenses acrylic is the way to go since polycarbonate needs a bunch more work but I forget what exactly it is
Do you ever plan on making extras?  I would buy some in a heartbeat, the lens is overall the most time consuming part

Quote from: CJl252;447855
Any updates on your headlights? I plan on doing the same thing. The only thing I plan to do different is mold plastic to the rear light assembly and the projector light, then cut that plastic out to fit and trim around the lens. probably win paint it black to match my car? any thoughts?


I've got one almost done but with going to school,  work, and moving I haven't had any time to work on these let alone anything on my car but the concept is pretty solid,  I can't wait to finish them and get them on my car
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Ramos617;447882
I've heard if your making your own lenses acrylic is the way to go since polycarbonate needs a bunch more work but I forget what exactly it is
Do you ever plan on making extras?  I would buy some in a heartbeat, the lens is overall the most time consuming part

Polycarb can take impacts from rocks better. I think I put 40-50k miles on mine and they still look good. It was outside for those ~5 years, in the sun and elements. Garaged since then.

I have some spares in the garage. I have a couple sets that were made before coming to a set that appeared perfect. I also have the original smoothed lenses that were used as a mold. I may pull them out and see what they looked like - I think I have another set that is usable, and a second set that is close, but could use some heat and massaging to get the rolled-over edge straighter. I'll get back to you on them.

They were made with a much more crude setup (like the second link you posted earlier). I'd really like to build a vacuum forming chamber to make tighter pulls, but I'm already using about as much space in the garage as possible, including all walls and shelving up near the ceiling of the entire garage perimeter. I can't store anything more! I'd love to build a proper vacuum chamber though and make some good molds. If I can sort out my transmission converter fluid pressure issue, I'll have much more motivation to continue with other projects.

The difficult part is that these lenses turn more than 90-degrees on two sides, but top/bottom and side/side are around 180 degrees total. A modified mold needs to be made to get a proper pull - either propped up so all sides are about 90 degrees to the vacuum plate, or the mold is modified to pull vacuum from a central point, allowing the pull to wrap around an axis, giving it the capability of pulling more than to 90-degree angles. The latter is preferable, but more difficult. The former is easier, but not as easy as simply laying a mold-lens down flat and making a pull.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #13 –
Thanks for the tips. I think I have the means to get this project going. I have a friend with an awesome fabrication shop. Water jets, cnc machines plus a ton of other tools and machines. I will keep updating once i have started. If i need to pick your brains a little i hope you dont mind. Thanks alot guys
 

Anyone here done any HID projector conversions on 87-88?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: CJl252;448001
Thanks for the tips. I think I have the means to get this project going. I have a friend with an awesome fabrication shop. Water jets, cnc machines plus a ton of other tools and machines. I will keep updating once i have started. If i need to pick your brains a little i hope you dont mind. Thanks alot guys

Having the fabrication tools is only a very small part of the process ;) It's a money part of the project, but the time aspect is still needed. So much time!
1988 Thunderbird Sport