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Two Morimoto projectors one cup...uh...I mean headlight...headlight

So you used aftermarket headlights and put in quality projectors. That's correct right?

Yeah. My first set up was a set of OEM used headlights off of ebay and this current set is an aftermarket rip-off of OEM headlights. The main difference that I've noticed between OEM and the aftermarket OEM rip-offs is the adhesive. OEM uses an adhesive that is flaky and kind of peels off and the aftermarket ones uses a stickier, roofing tar-like adhesive.
 


Yeah. My first set up was a set of OEM used headlights off of ebay and this current set is an aftermarket rip-off of OEM headlights. The main difference that I've noticed between OEM and the aftermarket OEM rip-offs is the adhesive. OEM uses an adhesive that is flaky and kind of peels off and the aftermarket ones uses a stickier, roofing tar-like adhesive.

Really the black oem style housings I've been using were of the flaky type adhesive you talk about. I had no problems peeling the lenses at 185* for 10 minutes in the oven. Not messy at all, I use windshield adheasive to reseal to make sure there's no condensation getting into the housings I do for people.
 
Really the black oem style housings I've been using were of the flaky type adhesive you talk about. I had no problems peeling the lenses at 185* for 10 minutes in the oven. Not messy at all, I use windshield adheasive to reseal to make sure there's no condensation getting into the housings I do for people.

Yeah OEM has the flaky adhesive, aftermarkets are the gooey adhesive.

I personally use a heat gun and do top to bottom. Just a personal preference, oven works great too though.
 
So do you plan on manufacturing the linked 97-03 Morimoto equipped housing cause that would be sweet! I'd love to do Projectors but I dislike all the issues and the single piece design that the company's that did all our projectors have.
 
So do you plan on manufacturing the linked 97-03 Morimoto equipped housing cause that would be sweet! I'd love to do Projectors but I dislike all the issues and the single piece design that the company's that did all our projectors have.

Don't know about mfg them but I know how to do them,

DSC00405.jpg
 
say i was to replace the projectors in my spyders with quality projectors...probably morimotos...i wouldnt have to worry about melting stuff if i used 55Watt bulbs would I?
 


So I'm gonna paint the reflectors black but what color should I rock with the shrouds? I could rip off Drunkie and paint em red (which would match the car), paint them black or leave em silver. What do you guys think?

You can do red...I no longer have red :th_laugh-lol2:
 


That looks freakin nice, how did you manage to keep the lense so freakin clean :th_laugh-lol2:

Must be nice to have that much room to work with and not have to trim your shrouds to get the projectors into the housing. (97-03) housings suck for retrofits!
 
That looks freakin nice, how did you manage to keep the lense so freakin clean :th_laugh-lol2:

Must be nice to have that much room to work with and not have to trim your shrouds to get the projectors into the housing. (97-03) housings suck for retrofits!

Thanks. I used latex gloves. No glove no love...err...clean lens. I learned my lesson from my last retro lol.

I did have to trim the shroud in the highbeam side a bit but nothing like on a 97-03 retro.
 
I love the looks of the Dual projector housings. The one's that dz sells are crap but i think they look great. I would love to build my own set simmilar to the ones shown above with good projectors. Is there any way to get a detailed list of parts needed and what was done to make them correct. I would like to do the halo eyes along with led's but do not have to. Just love the look. If there is another thread with this info just tell me where.
 
Thanks. I used latex gloves. No glove no love...err...clean lens. I learned my lesson from my last retro lol.

I did have to trim the shroud in the highbeam side a bit but nothing like on a 97-03 retro.

I use gloves also but still managed to pick them up a few times without them on :th_laugh-lol2:

The threads on the back of projector still don't protrude long enough to get the lock washer down far enough to have the bulb holder flush. Is it this way on the retro you have? It takes some major dremel work to get these projectors not to have cross beam, then you have problems locking them down squarely. I think the 04-08's are much easier to retro and adjust. After looking at your retro you're making me want to throw mine in the trash. :th_biggrin2:
 
I use gloves also but still managed to pick them up a few times without them on :th_laugh-lol2:

I was REAL careful LOL.

The threads on the back of projector still don't protrude long enough to get the lock washer down far enough to have the bulb holder flush. Is it this way on the retro you have? It takes some major dremel work to get these projectors not to have cross beam, then you have problems locking them down squarely. I think the 04-08's are much easier to retro and adjust. After looking at your retro you're making me want to throw mine in the trash. :th_biggrin2:

There isn't enough room in these headlights to mount them to the reflector with the threads and locknuts because they hit the lens so I had to do plenty of Dremmeling.

back2.jpg


back1.jpg


I put the rubber boots on the back but I need to seal them with some Permatex a la:

2010-11-28_21-31-24_685.jpg


There is a drip edge on the frame of the car that drains right on to the back of the lowbeam:

100_0188.jpg


You can see the channel above the cut out plastic on the left. It literally drains right on top of the headlight.
 


I love the looks of the Dual projector housings. The one's that dz sells are crap but i think they look great. I would love to build my own set simmilar to the ones shown above with good projectors. Is there any way to get a detailed list of parts needed and what was done to make them correct. I would like to do the halo eyes along with led's but do not have to. Just love the look. If there is another thread with this info just tell me where.

I'll try to do a quick list of parts of the top of my head:

1) Spare set of headlights
2) Morimoto H1's, 1 pair for a single set up, 2 pairs for a quad set up
3) 3/4" or 1" machine screws and lock nuts, I think I used a 10/32
4) Gatling shrouds, I believe they are "mini" Gatlings
5) 2 or 4 HID ballasts depending on single or quad set up
6) 1 or 2 relay harness(es) depending on single or quad
7) Silicone sealant for back of headlights (I recommend Permatex black silicone adhesive/sealant)
8) High heat black paint for reflector (If you wish to paint it)
9) Dremmel with diamond tip cutting bits. (You don't need the diamond tip but it sure makes things go quicker. Thanks to Drunkie for the recommendation)
10) Latex gloves for smear reduction.
11) I personally use a heat gun, makes it easier in my opinion since I can control the heat and it helps stop the lens adhesive from "spider-webbing" and making a huge mess. If you don't have a heat gun a good old fashioned convection oven does the trick.
12) Silicone adhesive or JB Weld to attach shrouds to the projectors. I personally use silicone adhesive because it doesn't become brittle and it isn't impossible to remove should I wish to change shrouds.
13) Time.
14) Patience. Don't rush anything and keep in mind you may find yourself chasing your tail having to touch up paint here and there and adjust the projectors until you get them right.

I'm sure I am forgetting something. I'll eventually do a full write up and request (and require:th_nanana:) that cleangtp and Drunkie chime in.
 
I know one part that makes it a ton easier on resealing the lenses. No more using silicone sealant for me.

OCI Butyl Rubber Glue - Accessories from The Retrofit Source Inc

Put this in your channel/grove before putting lense on. Push lens on, stick in oven at 275* for 7 minutes. Take out of oven and clamp down or keep constant pressure on lense til it cools. Cut excess off with razor blade.:th_thumbsup-wink:

Damn, wish I woulda gotten some of that for my last retro. OEM headlight adhesive sucks lol. These aftermarket ones have the adhesive like the link that you sent me and they very liberally applied it LOL. After all is said and done and I am confident that I don't need to tear em apart I always lay a bead of sealent along the top of the lens anyway. It isn't all that necessary with these headlights but it doesn't hurt.
 
Damn, wish I woulda gotten some of that for my last retro. OEM headlight adhesive sucks lol. These aftermarket ones have the adhesive like the link that you sent me and they very liberally applied it LOL. After all is said and done and I am confident that I don't need to tear em apart I always lay a bead of sealent along the top of the lens anyway. It isn't all that necessary with these headlights but it doesn't hurt.


Yes after I seal them up I also go around the complete headlight with a silicone bead. I press it down into the gap until I see no gap then wipe clean. Go thru a lot of paper towels but it guarantees no water. I haven't gotten any moisture in mine to this date.
 
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