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Acura TSX projector retro

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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 05:35 AM
  #1  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Acura TSX projector retro

my friend is doing most of the work putting these together, i supplied the parts and stuff.

when i get them back i will do the necessary mods on the car

www.theretrofitsource.com: parts

projectors: $200
ebay h4 housings: $10 (thats why those are crap lol. only used as a mounting surface)
bulbs, ballasts, wiring etc brings total of parts to about 400

paying him 85 for labor of vacuuforming and mounting, etc

my motivation:

- stock sealed beams: horrible imo, very dim and horrible beam pattern
-silverstar sealed beams: better than stock with brightness, but still not a very even beam pattern
-ebay h4 conversions (with halogens): PURE garbage, horrible beam pattern and poor construction (where else can you buy headlamps for 5-10 bucks lol)
-ebay h4 conversions (with plain hids): waste of light and money, blind everyone with glareand still horrible beam pattern
-ebay h4 conversions (with bi-xenon hids): decent improvement on glare, but still not good enough beam spread
-hella e-code h4 conversions (with silverstar ULTRA h4 bulbs): best setup besides a retrofit imo. What I am running in the car now. beam pattern has "flare ups" on the side which are great for lighting up road signs and obstacles far down the road. cutoff is sharp and imo comparable to late model halogen reflector output. not dot though, tuned for european specs. light beam spreads out wider further down the road, rather than starting to spread out right next to the car.
-hella e-code h4 conversions (with bi-xenon hids: same kit I used in the ebay housings): hid light completely changed the beam pattern and made it useless and blinding. further proof that hid light is not made for and should not be used in halogen designed housings.

I have run ALL these setups in my car, that is all my observations and opinions.


this is a very intense project. not a one day thing, i joined www.hidplanet.com to learn about retrofitting and it wasnt until a year later that i was ready to start this.

slim ballasts:

custom bracketing:

custom bracketing:

vacuum-forming a shroud:

"chrome" bezel:

Shroud painted silver:


will update when on the car.

Last edited by CaliChevyLover; Dec 27, 2009 at 09:43 AM. Reason: subscribing
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 09:19 AM
  #2  
montesscamaro's Avatar
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From: Champion PA
Car: 84 monte carlo ss 85 camaro z28
Engine: 350/350vortec
Transmission: turbo 350/700r4
Axle/Gears: stock posi
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

this is gonna be sweet i need to see what this is going to look like!!!!!
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 09:30 AM
  #3  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by montesscamaro
this is gonna be sweet i need to see what this is going to look like!!!!!
thank you!
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Old Dec 27, 2009 | 09:46 AM
  #4  
RED_DRAGON_85's Avatar
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From: Norfolk VA
Car: 85 Camaro IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: open rear, 3.42 gears
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

awesome
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Old Dec 28, 2009 | 05:18 PM
  #5  
iansane's Avatar
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From: Tacoma, Wa
Car: '91 TA vert
Engine: turboLSx
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

That vacuum forming looks homemade? How is that done? I love HID retros.
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Old Dec 28, 2009 | 07:50 PM
  #6  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by iansane
That vacuum forming looks homemade? How is that done? I love HID retros.
my friend made a vacuum form table.

he made a how to:

http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=43649
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Old Dec 28, 2009 | 10:49 PM
  #7  
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From: Mississauga,Ont,Canada
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: LSX 6.0 370, TU2 Cam, Fast intake
Transmission: T56 w/ lots of goodies
Axle/Gears: 8.8, Posi, 4.10, 31 Spline
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

thanks for the info as i friend of mine had an extra set of stealth projector lenses kickin around and hes determinded to put them in my car over the winter. I really want to see the final look for sure as id like to do the same as the stock lights are just garbage
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 12:18 AM
  #8  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by 6SIX6
thanks for the info as i friend of mine had an extra set of stealth projector lenses kickin around and hes determinded to put them in my car over the winter. I really want to see the final look for sure as id like to do the same as the stock lights are just garbage
are they hid or halogen projectors?
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Old Dec 29, 2009 | 12:25 AM
  #9  
6SIX6's Avatar
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From: Mississauga,Ont,Canada
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: LSX 6.0 370, TU2 Cam, Fast intake
Transmission: T56 w/ lots of goodies
Axle/Gears: 8.8, Posi, 4.10, 31 Spline
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by CaliChevyLover
are they hid or halogen projectors?
they are projector lense's im sure of it. Hes gonna do the same thing as you did with the custom housing. Hes go it in his head and i just said to him go ahead so he took my extra headlight valance and is doing it when he gets a chance. Hes a tool and die guy so hes always up for a challenge in making something custom. I just like what you are doing so i can help him out with ideas on how to do it if he asks.
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Old Jan 29, 2010 | 07:08 PM
  #10  
86IROCcloner's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 55
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From: North Idaho
Car: 1986 Chevy Camaro Sport Coupe/IROC
Engine: 4.6
Transmission: T-5 Borg-Warner
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

WOW!!! Man you have to get those on your car! That's such a good idea
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 01:09 AM
  #11  
rybread11's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 134
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From: Twin Cities, MN
Car: 83 camaro berlinetta
Engine: 40 over 350
Transmission: 86 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Yeah, that does look like it will be really cool. I've looked around the web at things people have written about all the halogen and ebay lights and everything else and there just doesn't seem to be a perfect answer to upgrading your lights with absloutly no hassles/problems except for silverstars of course. When your finished you should make a kit and sell it. I'm curiouse if anyone knows what lights the guy with the blue camaro who widend his rear fenders and put the lsx in his car used. I remember them looking like some sort of aftermarket projecter but I never looked into it or asked. He built a really nice car though.
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 10:12 PM
  #12  
smokefan's Avatar
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Connecticut
Car: 86 IROC w/Danko bodykit, 1988 iroc vert, 1989 k1500 pickup 6" lift and 35" tires, 2002 chevy tahoe z71
Engine: 383 stealth ram, 305 tpi, 350 tbi, 5.3l
Transmission: T56, 700r4, 700r4, 4l460
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

deff sweet looking. i want a set
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Old Feb 18, 2010 | 11:30 PM
  #13  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

this is def. a do it yourself type project, can't really make kits for it
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Old Feb 22, 2010 | 08:18 PM
  #14  
Spike-Z's Avatar
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From: Beloeil, Quebec
Car: IROC-Z
Engine: LSx
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Fabbed 9"
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Any finished pics?
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Old Mar 1, 2010 | 12:21 PM
  #15  
thenjoshsays's Avatar
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Car: 92 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen/3.23/Posi
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Pics of a finished product?? You aren't planning on making any more, are you?
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Old Mar 24, 2010 | 02:41 PM
  #16  
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From: Olathe, KS
Car: 1984 Camaro Z28
Engine: 357 SBC
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

I will take 4? Give me a price.
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Old Apr 30, 2010 | 09:16 AM
  #17  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

wow, neither my friend or I have touched these in a long time.shooting for saturday. sorry, not reproducing these.
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Old May 23, 2010 | 10:58 PM
  #18  
91camarosRS's Avatar
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From: oklahoma
Car: 02wrx/88 rs
Engine: 2.0L turbo/nothing yet!
Transmission: 4eat/waiting on a t56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

please dont say you will not make more lol find someone who will?
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Old May 24, 2010 | 12:06 AM
  #19  
thenjoshsays's Avatar
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From: Lynchburg, VA
Car: 92 RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen/3.23/Posi
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by 91camarosRS
please dont say you will not make more lol find someone who will?
Not to hi-jack the thread, but I actually am planning on making a kit for these. Still a while out, but you can PM me if interested.
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Old May 25, 2010 | 09:57 PM
  #20  
BleachStang's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: May 2010
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Likes: 0
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Originally Posted by CaliChevyLover
my friend is doing most of the work putting these together, i supplied the parts and stuff. when i get them back i will do the necessary mods on the car

projectors: $200
ebay h4 housings: $10 (thats why those are crap lol. only used as a mounting surface)
bulbs, ballasts, wiring etc brings total of parts to about 400

paying him 85 for labor of vacuuforming and mounting, etc

my motivation:

- stock sealed beams: horrible imo, very dim and horrible beam pattern
-silverstar sealed beams: better than stock with brightness, but still not a very even beam pattern
-ebay h4 conversions (with halogens): PURE garbage, horrible beam pattern and poor construction (where else can you buy headlamps for 5-10 bucks lol)
-ebay h4 conversions (with plain hids): waste of light and money, blind everyone with glareand still horrible beam pattern
-ebay h4 conversions (with bi-xenon hids): decent improvement on glare, but still not good enough beam spread
-hella e-code h4 conversions (with silverstar ULTRA h4 bulbs): best setup besides a retrofit imo. What I am running in the car purple headlights now. beam pattern has "flare ups" on the side which are great for lighting up road signs and obstacles far down the road. cutoff is sharp and imo comparable to late model halogen reflector output. not dot though, tuned for european specs. light beam spreads out wider further down the road, rather than starting to spread out right next to the car.
-hella e-code h4 conversions (with bi-xenon purple hid headlights: same kit I used in the ebay housings): hid light completely changed the beam pattern and made it useless and blinding. further proof that hid light is not made for and should not be used in halogen designed housings.

I have run ALL these setups in my car, that is all my observations and opinions.this is a very intense project. not a one day thing, i joined to learn about retrofitting and it wasnt until a year later that i was ready to start this.
slim ballasts:
custom bracketing:
custom bracketing:
vacuum-forming a shroud:
"chrome" bezel:
Shroud painted silver:

will update when on the car.
wow looks nice bro.
Reply
Old May 25, 2010 | 10:58 PM
  #21  
CaliChevyLover's Avatar
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From: annapolis MD
Car: 1986 IROC-Z28
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

ugh. haven't had time to mess with these alot...doing other maitenance/mods to the car. need to reseal the lenses...gonna try epoxy this time..and do alot more cutting on the headlight buckets
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Old Oct 27, 2010 | 06:27 AM
  #22  
DBLTKE's Avatar
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From: Aloha, Oregon
Car: '91 Camaro Z28, '85 Camaro Z28
Engine: LB9, LB9
Transmission: T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: Eaton 3.73 Posi, 3.23 Posi
Re: Acura TSX projector retro

Any updates?
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