NY Twin Turbo
All the good stuff.....Times 2.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2014
- Messages
- 2,877
So, this is how it started. A year ago or so I started messing around with lighting on the Buick. After trying multiple set ups, I came to finalize something I could live with last weekend.
I have been using using smoked headlight covers for a few years now. I never liked the way the aftermarket ones fit so I made my own. The ones I made looked good but they were too dark. Every time I drove at night I would have to take them off. Annoying.
Another thing. I can't ever use a true sealed beam headlight in my high beam location. My twin turbo set-up is configured to wrought the upper IC pipes from the turbos behind the header panel through that location. I don't have enough depth to accommodate the back of the housing.
I also was given (for free) a set of LED tail lights from a friend. I never really liked the kit much because I didn't like the way you could see the individual dots behind the red lenses. Also, the kit didn't look complete to me. I didn't like the use of the factory incandescent bulb in the center. So I never installed them.
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Skipping all the "do it twice" stuff, this is what I did.
HID kit's sold on E-Bay are complete Chinese garbage!!!! I ended up ordering 3 different kits and parts before I ended with a combination that was both bright and worked properly. I still don't know which pieces from which kit are specifically being used. However, my current installed set up is finally acceptable. It is relayed, 3500 K, 55 watt lamps and ballasts, with the internal high beam option. The internal high beam still doesn't work well but it's as good as it gets. I have no option for a separate high beam assembly.
I bought 4 halo sealed beam conversion housings . I figured that even though my high beam was going to be fake it would be cool to have a light source there to help with the illusion of a functional light. I installed the head light housings pretty much as is. But I cut the back off two of the housings for both the high beam locations. I bought that cheap reflective plastic used for generic side view mirror replacement. Cut it to shape, drew some lines on it with a silver sharpie and siliconed it to the back of the housings to make my high beams look functional. I even glued the lamps little internal reflector in there. The halo function remains operational because it's just LEDs around the perimeter on a separate low current circuit. See day time pics below.
This is the fake headlight above and this is the real one next to it below. Not bad.
Next I had to fix what I didn't like about the LED tail lights. I called Spaghetti Engineering and had them send me 2 additional panels for the tail light center compartments. Problem is, they don't fit. So out comes the Dremmel. I scooped away the edges of the chrome cups to allow for more depth. I knew if I could move the LED panels further back and apart then you would not be able to see the individual dots of the LEDs. Also I had to ignore the placement shown in the instructions in order to get all 3 panels to fit. This was slow and careful work. I cleaned and painted silver the internal cups for the reverse lights, and scooped out some room on the little license plate light housing as well and made a lens for it. I never liked the way you could see the bulb poke out from under the trunk's lower trim line.
I figured, why not do everything LED! So I did the 3rd brake light, tail light side markers, reverse lights, and license plate light as well.
This is how the rear lighting turned out. Night time pics are a pain in the ass because of the brightness. I had to turn down the bightness mode on the I-phone. In person, you can't see the dots at all!
Now it was time to do the front marker lights. I hated the fact that you could see the two panels in the housing. I also hated that it was clearly 2 separate panels. So I walked down the Ghetto Isle at Autozone and bought 4 LED 12" yellow strip lights and used them two tie the panels together down the center. This extra light helps blend the two panels together. Now I set them farther back. And off course, out comes the Dremmel again and I also had to carefully cut the housings way back to set the lights further from the lens. This time, I also slipped a piece of florescent ceiling light lens into the housing to help diffuse the light even further.
A few years back, I added some lights to my engine compartment for car shows. The kids love them! The good thing is, no one sees them if there not on. I did the same thing inside the GNX louvers. I turn them on every now and then at night sometimes just to get a little attention on the street. It's not that bad because it's quite subtle. I figure I should show you guys this stuff too.
GNX louver lights above. Engine lights below. This stuff looks much more dramatic in person!
It can be difficult updating your TR with modern type lighting without it getting too tacky. I'm actually quite conservative when it comes to Turbo Buick styling. But, I feel it didn't turn out that bad. I wouldn't bother with any of this stuff if my combination wasn't pretty much all done. Sure, I have to stay on top of performance work. But every now and then I like to get playful with some of the other stuff.
I have been using using smoked headlight covers for a few years now. I never liked the way the aftermarket ones fit so I made my own. The ones I made looked good but they were too dark. Every time I drove at night I would have to take them off. Annoying.
Another thing. I can't ever use a true sealed beam headlight in my high beam location. My twin turbo set-up is configured to wrought the upper IC pipes from the turbos behind the header panel through that location. I don't have enough depth to accommodate the back of the housing.
I also was given (for free) a set of LED tail lights from a friend. I never really liked the kit much because I didn't like the way you could see the individual dots behind the red lenses. Also, the kit didn't look complete to me. I didn't like the use of the factory incandescent bulb in the center. So I never installed them.
.............................................................................................................................................................................
Skipping all the "do it twice" stuff, this is what I did.
HID kit's sold on E-Bay are complete Chinese garbage!!!! I ended up ordering 3 different kits and parts before I ended with a combination that was both bright and worked properly. I still don't know which pieces from which kit are specifically being used. However, my current installed set up is finally acceptable. It is relayed, 3500 K, 55 watt lamps and ballasts, with the internal high beam option. The internal high beam still doesn't work well but it's as good as it gets. I have no option for a separate high beam assembly.
I bought 4 halo sealed beam conversion housings . I figured that even though my high beam was going to be fake it would be cool to have a light source there to help with the illusion of a functional light. I installed the head light housings pretty much as is. But I cut the back off two of the housings for both the high beam locations. I bought that cheap reflective plastic used for generic side view mirror replacement. Cut it to shape, drew some lines on it with a silver sharpie and siliconed it to the back of the housings to make my high beams look functional. I even glued the lamps little internal reflector in there. The halo function remains operational because it's just LEDs around the perimeter on a separate low current circuit. See day time pics below.
This is the fake headlight above and this is the real one next to it below. Not bad.
Next I had to fix what I didn't like about the LED tail lights. I called Spaghetti Engineering and had them send me 2 additional panels for the tail light center compartments. Problem is, they don't fit. So out comes the Dremmel. I scooped away the edges of the chrome cups to allow for more depth. I knew if I could move the LED panels further back and apart then you would not be able to see the individual dots of the LEDs. Also I had to ignore the placement shown in the instructions in order to get all 3 panels to fit. This was slow and careful work. I cleaned and painted silver the internal cups for the reverse lights, and scooped out some room on the little license plate light housing as well and made a lens for it. I never liked the way you could see the bulb poke out from under the trunk's lower trim line.
I figured, why not do everything LED! So I did the 3rd brake light, tail light side markers, reverse lights, and license plate light as well.
This is how the rear lighting turned out. Night time pics are a pain in the ass because of the brightness. I had to turn down the bightness mode on the I-phone. In person, you can't see the dots at all!
Now it was time to do the front marker lights. I hated the fact that you could see the two panels in the housing. I also hated that it was clearly 2 separate panels. So I walked down the Ghetto Isle at Autozone and bought 4 LED 12" yellow strip lights and used them two tie the panels together down the center. This extra light helps blend the two panels together. Now I set them farther back. And off course, out comes the Dremmel again and I also had to carefully cut the housings way back to set the lights further from the lens. This time, I also slipped a piece of florescent ceiling light lens into the housing to help diffuse the light even further.
A few years back, I added some lights to my engine compartment for car shows. The kids love them! The good thing is, no one sees them if there not on. I did the same thing inside the GNX louvers. I turn them on every now and then at night sometimes just to get a little attention on the street. It's not that bad because it's quite subtle. I figure I should show you guys this stuff too.
GNX louver lights above. Engine lights below. This stuff looks much more dramatic in person!
It can be difficult updating your TR with modern type lighting without it getting too tacky. I'm actually quite conservative when it comes to Turbo Buick styling. But, I feel it didn't turn out that bad. I wouldn't bother with any of this stuff if my combination wasn't pretty much all done. Sure, I have to stay on top of performance work. But every now and then I like to get playful with some of the other stuff.
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