New Headlights
#31
I think I prefer LS1-style front ends, only because there's more you can do to them, there are more ways to make your car truly unique. There are countless headlights and grilles out there. For LT1-style cars, there really isn't much out there.
Also, at some angles the LT1 cars look a bit too wedge-shaped.
Also, at some angles the LT1 cars look a bit too wedge-shaped.
#33
Hopefully Massey comes back to tell us about the install.
#34
Yes they do, just look at Massey's pics! Lol. Very pretty. I love my halos, it's hard to think I had those nasty stock ones on there. They just weren't worth spending even more money on restoring stuff for them. None of it worked.
#35
I prefer the stock headlights over any after market headlight. I haven't seen a after-market headlight that looks good to me. The grilles for the '98-'02 Camaro look terrible to me, especially the stock grille. The only grille that I would buy for my car would be the after market SLP grille.
#36
I also think halos will wake up my kinda boring silver car. And I'll be able to see better... my stock lights are fogged but I've never bothered restoring them, haha.
I want the SLP grill too but it's kinda pricey and I have more important stuff to buy for the car first.
I want the SLP grill too but it's kinda pricey and I have more important stuff to buy for the car first.
#40
OK wow this thread went crazy!! I left work and it was still part of the pictures thread and now BAM!!
Ok here it is sorry I dont have any pics I did the conversion in the freezing cold and it was dark out. I did it by flashlight so if that says anything about how easy it is!
First off you need to remove the old lights. I found the best way to do this without damaging the car is to first lift the bumper cover up. Remove the 5 plastic push rivits and lift the center of the cover over the header support. This gives you enough room to manuver the headights out of the brackets.
Next remove the 10mm bolt that holds the headlight into the bracket.
Unplug the bulbs and slide the whole headlamp assembly to the inside (twords the bumper cover you just lifted out of the way)
You will prolly have to wiggle and jiggle the lights to get them fully out of the car.
Discard OEM headlamps in what ever manner you see fit. I gave mine to a friend who is converting his 95 to a catfish.
Next comes the new lights. Remove the protective wrap.
Unplug the polarity converter from the headlight.
Where you attach the halo is up to you. I wanted mine to be on with the parking lights, but not all the time and not blink with the blinker. The DRLs are the same element as the blinker so I went with the little 194/168 bulb that is on the side of the front marker light.
I used 2 suitcase quick taps to join the polarity converter to the side marker wires. Then I removed the 2 way tape from the converter and found a home for it on the lower headlamp brace. Rinse and repeat for the other side.
Adjust the side to side screw in so that about 1/2 the screw is sticking through the mounting bracket. Trust me on this, if you dont your headlamp will be too crosseyed to fit at the fender.
Test fit, once you are satisfied that all is good put the bolt back in and secure the lights. Plug the polarity converter into the halo plug.
You may have to push the light over while you tighten the bolt because the rubber trim is still nice and soft and has not been influenced by the fender yet. This is normal even with brand new OEM lenses.
Return the bumper cover to the proper location and reinstall the push rivits.
Last but not least aim the headlights, this can be done with a wall or a Hoppy headlight aming equipment. I used a wall that I knew where my OEM aim was and matched the new lights to that.
As for bulbs I went with Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. They are about $50 a pair and are worth every penny. They omit a white light and are the brightest you can buy and be legal. Let me tell you these things ar bright and I have been getting flashed because of it. Big suprise to them when I flash them back and nearly blind them in the process. The bulb #s are 9005 and 9006.
HID lights have not impressed me. At this point they are supposed to last over 3000 hours and be extremely bright. Well my silverstars are just as bright and I can get all 4 for less than 1 HUD bulb. The lights taking about 5 mins to warm up and get the full power and color is not ideal in my book. What I do like about HID is the different color beams that are available. Great and looks cool but most states have laws about what color you can have for your vehicles lighting. In WA here you can have blue or purpleish colored lights if it was OEM but not in the aftermarket. White is OK no matter if it is OEM or aftermarket.
I think that just about covers it, any questions feel free to ask.
Massey
Ok here it is sorry I dont have any pics I did the conversion in the freezing cold and it was dark out. I did it by flashlight so if that says anything about how easy it is!
First off you need to remove the old lights. I found the best way to do this without damaging the car is to first lift the bumper cover up. Remove the 5 plastic push rivits and lift the center of the cover over the header support. This gives you enough room to manuver the headights out of the brackets.
Next remove the 10mm bolt that holds the headlight into the bracket.
Unplug the bulbs and slide the whole headlamp assembly to the inside (twords the bumper cover you just lifted out of the way)
You will prolly have to wiggle and jiggle the lights to get them fully out of the car.
Discard OEM headlamps in what ever manner you see fit. I gave mine to a friend who is converting his 95 to a catfish.
Next comes the new lights. Remove the protective wrap.
Unplug the polarity converter from the headlight.
Where you attach the halo is up to you. I wanted mine to be on with the parking lights, but not all the time and not blink with the blinker. The DRLs are the same element as the blinker so I went with the little 194/168 bulb that is on the side of the front marker light.
I used 2 suitcase quick taps to join the polarity converter to the side marker wires. Then I removed the 2 way tape from the converter and found a home for it on the lower headlamp brace. Rinse and repeat for the other side.
Adjust the side to side screw in so that about 1/2 the screw is sticking through the mounting bracket. Trust me on this, if you dont your headlamp will be too crosseyed to fit at the fender.
Test fit, once you are satisfied that all is good put the bolt back in and secure the lights. Plug the polarity converter into the halo plug.
You may have to push the light over while you tighten the bolt because the rubber trim is still nice and soft and has not been influenced by the fender yet. This is normal even with brand new OEM lenses.
Return the bumper cover to the proper location and reinstall the push rivits.
Last but not least aim the headlights, this can be done with a wall or a Hoppy headlight aming equipment. I used a wall that I knew where my OEM aim was and matched the new lights to that.
As for bulbs I went with Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. They are about $50 a pair and are worth every penny. They omit a white light and are the brightest you can buy and be legal. Let me tell you these things ar bright and I have been getting flashed because of it. Big suprise to them when I flash them back and nearly blind them in the process. The bulb #s are 9005 and 9006.
HID lights have not impressed me. At this point they are supposed to last over 3000 hours and be extremely bright. Well my silverstars are just as bright and I can get all 4 for less than 1 HUD bulb. The lights taking about 5 mins to warm up and get the full power and color is not ideal in my book. What I do like about HID is the different color beams that are available. Great and looks cool but most states have laws about what color you can have for your vehicles lighting. In WA here you can have blue or purpleish colored lights if it was OEM but not in the aftermarket. White is OK no matter if it is OEM or aftermarket.
I think that just about covers it, any questions feel free to ask.
Massey
Last edited by Massey; 01-11-2011 at 11:52 PM.