HIDs FINALLY!

[Mark42]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

Last night I had a chance to chill after a nasty day at work and read through the posts on this forum.

OMG.... I was so surprised at what I wrote to 1997Canadian3.8 regarding his choice of HID bulbs.

It bothered me quite a bit, because that is not the way I prefer to behave or present myself on forums. I try hard to hold myself to a higher standard.

Therefore, I believe I owe 1997Canadian3.8 a public apology for making those posts earlier that were quite unnecessary, and causing him unjust aggravation.

Conversely, I actually give 1997Canadian3.8 accolades for his ingenuity and craftsmanship in converting the camaro headlight to HID. Not an easy task.

So, allow me to retract those unnecessary statements made earlier and apologize to Canadian and the members of this forum in general for exhibiting poor posting behavior. I make no excuse, and will refrain from such practices in the future.

Regarding 1997Canadian3.8 project: It is obviously a job well done. You deserve a big high five for your work.

Regards,

Mark42.

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

LOL

Sarcasm or not - I send the same back to you.

Appreciate the apology and it is my fault just as much. So having said that - sorry.

Hopefully things settle down at work for you, Mark!

[Mark42]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

LOL

Sarcasm or not - I send the same back to you.

Appreciate the apology and it is my fault just as much. So having said that - sorry.

Hopefully things settle down at work for you, Mark!

Thank you for your consideration of my apology.

I must have missed something, did you take any pics of the conversion work? Would like to see them.

BTW, I installed the 880 kit (finally, its been in the work shop for about 3 months) in the fog lights. I ran into a problem with two items:

1) How to mount the ballast. The fogs need the ballast mounted within about 14" from the fog light housing. Making an aluminum mount was not the issue, the issue was getting in there to drill holes and attach it. So I gave up and used the suggestion I read somewhere to use the 3M double sided sticky tape used to attach house numbers. Its an OUTSIDE grade product so it should hold up through the little water it will see hidden down below the head light assembly. The 3M stuff works great. Two strips on the bottom of the ballast sticks it rock solid to the bumper framework. Just use a paper towel to clean the surface very, very well. Mine were just coated with some dust, no oils, so windex did the job. The 3M tape works great, and I have to pull VERY hard before it feels like the foam center of the tape is starting to rip free.

2) One of the 880 bulbs would not rotate to lock in the lamp housing. So I tried the second bulb, and it fit fine. So I tried the first bulb in the other housing, and it did not work there either. Looking closely at the base, it looked like the base was warped. So I tried shaving with a razor blade, then re-install. I pressed and twisted, and pressed and twisted. Added some dilectric grease and pushed and twisted some more. Then POP and off broke one of the three tits that hold on the bulb. Darn tit fell into the lamp housing and there it resides....

Called DDMtuning and the want some photos of the lamp before sending a new one under warrantee. Will keep you posted.

In the mean while, the bulb is installed and working, but because it is missing one tit, it is off center making a funny light pattern. Oh well.

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

Not-a-problem.

I DID have pictures but I had to wipe my phone and I lost them all; however, we did the same thing on my buddies' '95 3.4 T-top and he has the pictures on his camera, I'll try and post them.

[ACiFiC]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

DO NOT ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE!!!!:mad:

Sorry :(

[Mark42]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

just a quick update.... Have had the HID's in for many weeks, and no one is complaining about the so called "glare" caused by using HID bulbs in a Halogen headlight.

In every technology there will always be the purists, the snobs, etc. The bottom line with this conversion is that the light pattern is exactly the same as the halogen bulb, its just a heck of a lot brighter. And there is a change to the "star" refraction caused by the surface of your eye. Halogen causes a thick, simple star, HID causes a thin, crystal like star pattern, sometimes with rainbow patterns. I don't see a problem of one over the other.

BTW, if you compare the drivers view of projector lenses with cut off to halogen housings with HID bulbs, it is very obvious that the full light effect of the conversion is much more appealing to the eye, and (if you don't use an obviously blue color bulb) easier to see. The problem with factory projectors is that they block a full 50% of the light output with a thin metal shield. That is what gives the hard cut off line. Unfortunately, it also prevents the light from reaching higher up to illuminate street signs, highway overhead signs, etc. I know because I have been in cars with factory projector lights at night. In the rural area I live in, projectors are actually a major drawback to your ability to see well in the dark (and most still use a halogen for high beam anyway). The road is lit up, but nothing else. My halogen conversions light up everything the halogen lights did, and are NOT offensive or cause "glare" to on coming motorists. How do I know? Easy: 1) I get no flashes from other motorists. 2) I have had someone else drive my car past me while I drive my wife's car. The headlights are not an issue AT ALL!!!! What are all the complaints about? Are they staring directly into the headlights as they drive by?

Well that is my take on the subject. Go ahead and convert your lights. If they look bad to you from another vehicle, do something, but my guess is they will look just fine.

BTW, the HID in the high beam housing is just fricking crazy bright, especially if the low beam stays on (like in Firebirds). With the high beams, I can easily illuminate reflector road markers a full mile away. Try that with your projector housings.

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

just a quick update.... Have had the HID's in for many weeks, and no one is complaining about the so called "glare" caused by using HID bulbs in a Halogen headlight.

In every technology there will always be the purists, the snobs, etc. The bottom line with this conversion is that the light pattern is exactly the same as the halogen bulb, its just a heck of a lot brighter. And there is a change to the "star" refraction caused by the surface of your eye. Halogen causes a thick, simple star, HID causes a thin, crystal like star pattern, sometimes with rainbow patterns. I don't see a problem of one over the other.

BTW, if you compare the drivers view of projector lenses with cut off to halogen housings with HID bulbs, it is very obvious that the full light effect of the conversion is much more appealing to the eye, and (if you don't use an obviously blue color bulb) easier to see. The problem with factory projectors is that they block a full 50% of the light output with a thin metal shield. That is what gives the hard cut off line. Unfortunately, it also prevents the light from reaching higher up to illuminate street signs, highway overhead signs, etc. I know because I have been in cars with factory projector lights at night. In the rural area I live in, projectors are actually a major drawback to your ability to see well in the dark (and most still use a halogen for high beam anyway). The road is lit up, but nothing else. My halogen conversions light up everything the halogen lights did, and are NOT offensive or cause "glare" to on coming motorists. How do I know? Easy: 1) I get no flashes from other motorists. 2) I have had someone else drive my car past me while I drive my wife's car. The headlights are not an issue AT ALL!!!! What are all the complaints about? Are they staring directly into the headlights as they drive by?

Well that is my take on the subject. Go ahead and convert your lights. If they look bad to you from another vehicle, do something, but my guess is they will look just fine.

BTW, the HID in the high beam housing is just fricking crazy bright, especially if the low beam stays on (like in Firebirds). With the high beams, I can easily illuminate reflector road markers a full mile away. Try that with your projector housings.

Full circle??? only kidding!

100% agreed. I've had no problems with mine; they give me incredible light compared to what I had. My street doesn't have street lights and it is wooded, so it is very hard to see while driving at night. HIDs make a world of difference.

[ssms5411]

Re: HIDs FINALLY!

I agree HIDS are the best, I run both of mine hi/low with 6000K HID's and I have no problems with people flashing me and the road is so much brighter.