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how about this type of headlight mod?

Started by MrNisVia · around Sep 2004 · 62postsvBulletin 2004–05

This thread was saved without dates. "Around Sep 2004" is estimated from neighbouring threads.

MrNisViadate not saved · #1

i'm sure that this has been talked about before on the old forum, if i remember correctly but here goes again.

take a look at the projectors on this miata.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/Thrillz/Roadster%20Plus/Miata_Cool.jpg

now don't you guys think that it would be possible to just take out the old flip ups off of our S12's and then make a wedged shaped piece of metal to put in that flip up location. after putting a wedge in their, cut out holes to put in projectors or some other headlight?

kinda like this drawing that i did. let me know what you guys think.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/mrnisvia/S12/s12lightcomparo1.bmp

MrNisViadate not saved · #2

here's a bigger version of the drawing attached.

Jmac279date not saved · #3

That has to be the ugliest Miata I've seen in my life ...

MrNisViadate not saved · #4

yeah well i hate all Miata's but that's not what i'm talking about. i like the projector example for our flip-ups.

project200sxdate not saved · #5

im not shure we would have enough room would we? ya know what i mean.. i dont think the angle is big enough to create enough room.. or is it?

project200sxdate not saved · #6

if it would though we could even leave a cutout for a space to mount an air intake or somthing... :dontknow:

SHEPPO3930date not saved · #7

you would have to remove the parker lights as well as it wont be as nice to look at...IMO... but it would be an interesting mod to try none the less.

GL with it

Indecisivedate not saved · #8

the problem with that type of setup is that the beams will only shoot straight out.

you'll get no light shining outward...so basically only the road ahead of you would be illuminated. for it to be more effective, the projectors must be moved forward to where the parking lights are.

project200sxdate not saved · #9

the problem with that type of setup is that the beams will only shoot straight out.

you'll get no light shining outward...so basically only the road ahead of you would be illuminated. for it to be more effective, the projectors must be moved forward to where the parking lights are.

thats why you would mount fog / driving lights under your car... :p

SanDiegoS12date not saved · #10

I think that would look bad ass with like the 300zx look with the glass covering the lights http://www.300zx.org.uk/head_us.jpg ....

nissanmandate not saved · #11

I think that would look bad ass with like the 300zx look with the glass covering the lights http://www.300zx.org.uk/head_us.jpg ....
Agreed...

But i dont know if the parker lights would go properly with the non pop up look,

Joel07date not saved · #12

You could get the corners from the MkII's (or is it the V6's, I'm not sure), since they don't have the parking lights right under the headlights. Not sure, just throwing out some ideas... :laugh:

My personal opinion, is I don't really like it, but that's just me. If you like it, then do it! It definetly seems doable. I still like Mr. 200's headlight conversion the most out of any S12 I've seen yet... If I can ever get my hands on a set of S13 Silvia headlights and corners I might try that...

Nemisisdate not saved · #13

I was thinkin' about doing that awhile ago and thought it too much work for no gain in speed or power...

Mr.200date not saved · #14

heh, c'mon ... those pop ups probably weigh 60lbs

weight savings = speed

:p

Joel07date not saved · #15

Yeah, that's for sure all the freakin motors and crap can get PRETTY heavy...

Plus you're lucky if they stay working. Of all the pop-up cars I've had, I've always had some kind of problems. And it's really freakin annoying when one headlight won't come up. No, I won't ride around with it up all the time, that's even worse... :laugh:

Alex Frostdate not saved · #16

Ok it has been done....how effective it was is still TBA. I did a prototype a little while ago.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/594000-594999/594993_57_full.jpg

I got the idea from the Silvia that was a NISMO race car...I post those pics tonight when I get home....

Alex Frostdate not saved · #17

Ok, here is the other pic...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/teamfrost/25.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/teamfrost/26.jpg

MrNisViadate not saved · #18

well those are good pics of that NISMO race car but i don't really like the square lights under that plastic. now that i'm thinking about it....projectors wouldn't go too well w/ our squarish cars. right?

project200sxdate not saved · #19

well those are good pics of that NISMO race car but i don't really like the square lights under that plastic. now that i'm thinking about it....projectors wouldn't go too well w/ our squarish cars. right?

i think with the right amount of time put into them and the right person as the artist they would look good...

Joel07date not saved · #20

Good god, that thing is an indycar with part of an S12 body... :rofl:

cls12vg30date not saved · #21

Anybody remember joart's popup projector conversion? That was my favorite S12 headlight conversion.

Alex Frostdate not saved · #22

Anybody remember joart's popup projector conversion? That was my favorite S12 headlight conversion.
Yes I do remember that, and it looked really good...8)

nissanmandate not saved · #23

That S12 Race car looks nuts!
I rekon that if done properly it would look good,
i dont like the square lights though that both the red and race s12'z have, i think round would go better,,,,

Philipn126date not saved · #24

those lights on the nismo silvia are badass, but i dont think that they would work on our cars as daily drivers. it might work if you cut the grill under the popups, or (for the earlier cars) mod the marker/corner lights.

joartdate not saved · #25

naaaah. you don't gotta cut nothin,works just fine with the fog lights i got. i've even been pulled over already and asked about the where about of my high beem.well the other set of lights i had put in was pointed highr than the other an sold it to the cop as good enough

Arrodate not saved · #26

I saw a picture once on here loooong ago of a silver S12 turbo hatch, it had an SE Engineering-style front end, and was lowered on larger rims, he had four square lights recessed, camaro style, into the front, under the stock headlight flap. It was called "Dragon S12" or something, and the car was pictured with a few other roadrace cars on the course. Does anyone remember this? If someone has the pic, I want it.

Indecisivedate not saved · #27

yea yea...I remember

I think if you scour the old board you can find it

Arrodate not saved · #28

Tried that. No such luck.

iliRandyilidate not saved · #29

http://www.club-s12.org/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=165&stc=1
this one

Arrodate not saved · #30

yes that one, only the pic I had was higher res... but yes that's the piccie... i like the lights on THAT. Looks very doable.

Mr.200date not saved · #31

yeah, those headlights are probably a much simpler solution.

I can't tell, but I think he just cut the front grille to fit (also easier)

But come on man ... how hard is it to weld the frigging eyebrows to the hood?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/mr200/200sx/hooddone.jpg

Lazy phuckers ;)

Joel07date not saved · #32

Yeah, it would look a lot cleaner if you welded them to the hood and smoothed them out, then some people might not even know the car came with pop-ups... :mrgreen:

IronCrossdate not saved · #33

Actually I think the lights are a little too big to weld the covers to the hood. They look like they're popped up a little bit. Just an observation. Can't we use the 82-83 200sx lights in the same fashion?

MrNisViadate not saved · #34

some one said that those year lights work perfectly on our car.

Alex Frostdate not saved · #35

Actually I think the lights are a little too big to weld the covers to the hood. They look like they're popped up a little bit. Just an observation. Can't we use the 82-83 200sx lights in the same fashion?
They will look better once the cheese is put on, and the scoop made around the grill on the drivers side...8)

Alex Frostdate not saved · #36

Originally Posted by IronCross
Actually I think the lights are a little too big to weld the covers to the hood. They look like they're popped up a little bit. Just an observation. Can't we use the 82-83 200sx lights in the same fashion?

some one said that those year lights work perfectly on our car.
well here is what that looks like. It will take some modification, but is possible. Now another option you have are the lights off of the 78-82 Celica...

First the 1981 Datsun 200SX
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/459000-459999/459857_5_full.jpg

Now the 1980 Celica...
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/594000-594999/594993_88_full.jpg

In fact the Celica units may even be better, because each light is individual, and custom mountable...8)

YankeeDrifterdate not saved · #37

Well, for the weight, it would be worth it. I read that for every 5lbs you remove from your car, it's like adding a horsepower or two.

geoffdonkdate not saved · #38

Well, for the weight, it would be worth it. I read that for every 5lbs you remove from your car, it's like adding a horsepower or two.

lol, so removing a/c is like adding 10-20 hp? i doubt that strongly...

Joel07date not saved · #39

I'm not sure of the exact spec, but in dragstrip time, removing weight is definetly equivalent to adding horsepower.

But, back to the subject at hand... Aren't all those lights just standard sealed beam 4x6" lights? You can pick them up at the parts store for about $6-$7 a piece... :laugh: But I'm not sure about the mounting buckets and such. And I'm not sure about the weight advantage either, because sealed beams are actually kinda heavy with all the glass. The halogens like Mr.200 has are probably about the lightest option...

Magnumdate not saved · #40

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_img_a/480845_78_full.jpg
here is one with a little shorter lights that fit better.

Indecisivedate not saved · #41

the lens should always be glass anyways.

plastic or lexan a prone to warping(ie melting lol) in high heat.

oh yea...I think EVERYBODY NEEDS to change to H4 conversions. you can pick up a decent set from ebay for $15 or so and the difference is huge

I just put in my Bosch H4 conversions(paid $120 for them) and it's a HUGE improvement. the light output is insane compared to the stock sealed beams and you can use the same plug and stuff too.

Radracer_Sdate not saved · #42

I've made some measurements and concluded that the late 90's camaro lites would work with some mods. I wont do this though cuz I'm making a dual projectors next year. Some food for though for u guys.

Joel07date not saved · #43

Be careful with the H4 conversions, I got a set for my Trans Am, and the lenses are so crappy that the beam dispersion is terrible. I think if you get the good stuff (plus I got cheap bulbs) it should work good, but the little ricer wannabe stuff doesn't work worth a crap.

Now as far as the 3rd gen camaro lights, I know for a fact that those are standard size lights that anyone can pick up at the parts store.

I saw a mid 90's Olds cutlass yesterday, and it's got REAL thin headlights, need to find one in a junkyard and take a couple measurments...

Mr.200date not saved · #44

10 lbs ~ 1 hp

It's very true ... and your A/C would be worth more, especially if you drop the belt.

You don't actually make more power, but because what your motor is trying to move is lighter, it's like having more horsepower.

I looked into doing this conversion. Where it would be way easier (fitting two small squares in a big rectangle) your lights won't be any better. So then you still have crappy lights.

I chose the 'bird ones because a) I had them b) bright white bulbs are $6 c) I wanted to modernize the look, not retro it.

But yeah, there's tons of GM products that came with those lights too. The only differences I've found are the stagger. Some of the setups have the low beams further forward, others the high.

this is an 86 Boooo-ack Century

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/441000-441999/441423_33.jpg

Because the S12 has a pretty pronounced beak, you might have to do some trickery to get the line right.

bartc_jdate not saved · #45

basically ever ~100lbs you gut it get you .1sec faster in the 1/4

bartc_jdate not saved · #46

oh and to go a .1 faster you need ~10hp more then before

these are rough mathematical approximations

Arrodate not saved · #47

Here are a couple more pics of the same type thing...8)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/teamfrost/311516_22_full.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/teamfrost/311516_21_full.jpg
Ha! the one on the left is MY car! And the one on the right is noneother than Joart's. Musta took that right off my cardomain page lol.

Nemisisdate not saved · #48

Instead of square lights, do you think using round lights would look cool? I mean, instead of the stock ones. I'm not talking about projectors or anything. Granted, a bracket might have to be fabbed up, but i think it would be different/ kinda cool.

Mr.200date not saved · #49

One of my original designs was using dual rounds out of a Geo something or other. Storm? Whichever ones came with "handling by Lotus"

Isuzu something ... anyway, here's my chops. I really liked it, I just couldn't find one in a wrecker that didn't want $100 a side for them.

Of course last time I was in the yard I saw one ... too little too late.

these were my 3 original ideas

Sunbird

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/mr200/200sx/bird.jpg

S110 or similar

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/mr200/200sx/dual.jpg

Isuzu/Geo thing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v228/mr200/200sx/round.jpg

Joel07date not saved · #50

Oooooooo... I like the last one! I think you're thinking of the Isuzu Impulse, it looks kinda like a beefed up Geo Storm... :laugh: But I do like the headlights!!!