Looken good! I too have considered the idea. Have you looked at Miata's flush mounted head lights I think the size is the same if not dang close I'm sure?
Thanks for the overall positive responses. I have looked at the miata lights and several others, but even as close as some of them might be, they are not the same shape as the fiero headlight openings. If they were used, you'd have to hack them up, or hack up your hood. Overall goal here is bolt on. The driver side mould should be done by the end of the week I was told.
The otherside has now been complete and the both moulds are ready for pick up. I'll have them by the end of next week. They're going to need some further work (some kind of epoxy coating or something) and then I will need to build a vacuum forming machine. Should be a fun experience!
Thanks for the link! I saw that in another thread on here.. unfortunately its too small. I will be making my own and hopefully it doesn't amount to that much anyways. We'll see how it goes!
[This message has been edited by doublec4 (edited 01-07-2012).]
Hopefully everyone isn't tired of seeing updates on the moulds, but I'm excited to have them in my possession now. They look great and will only require minimal work to have them ready for vacuum forming. I will need to coat them in some kind of epoxy wood hardener and do some light sanding. I have a test piece that I'm going to use.
It was kind of funny when I got the box that he put them in. The box was just some random thing he had in his garage that originally held a home light fixture. The product was called "Flush Mount Fixture" .... strange coincidence!
I was thinking about how everyone said don't mount it to the hood. Not all hoods are aligned the same and don't always line up when re installed to the same car. This would cause many problems if it was mounted to the frame or body of the car and if you hood slips out of alignment you run the risk of breaking the formed cover.
I was thinking about how everyone said don't mount it to the hood. Not all hoods are aligned the same and don't always line up when re installed to the same car. This would cause many problems if it was mounted to the frame or body of the car and if you hood slips out of alignment you run the risk of breaking the formed cover.
Just found this thread, and this is the first thing I thought when mounting it as such, was mentioned. Someone did mention alignment issues, but didn't explain any further. Would be cool to be able to do it that way, but doesn't seem feasible. I'm sure there are some good ways to hide the wires or just make them look nice.
Great work so far. Thanks for showing the details of the process, very interesting. Should make for the best Fiero specific headlight manufactured to date. In terms of looks, performance, quality fit AND finish. Never really cared for any other flush mount methods (or the gator things...) because they all seemed to lack a true "modern" or updated look. I guess the best way to explain it, is that they all definitely look added on to the car. So far it looks like these are going to fit very nicely and be very well done, so should look so "tacked on" I guess you could call it. Then with the correct complimenting body mods, these things would look like they belonged.
Its a valid concern that all of the hoods fit/align different. However, I will design the buckets with slotted holes I suppose. Some level of adjustibility will be incorporated, not to worry!
Right now the plan is to have two bi-xenon projectors side by side in each headlight module.
The other option I can make available is to use a projector fog light beside the single bi-xenon. This would lower the cost, and you could potentially wire up the bulb to work as a turn signal as well as being a fog light. Before I go and buy these fog lights, would any body want that option? Or does everyone pretty much want dual bi-xenons?
I would prefer dual bi xenon's, the f1f buckets with power run to the low and hi beams is comparable to aircraft landing lights. A pair of bi-xenon would be equal or better.
[This message has been edited by Macs86GT (edited 01-15-2012).]
Anyone else want to chime in? I'm currently finding a supplier for the lights in bulk.
I'm also trying to find someone who can form polycarbonate or an alternative that I can form myself... I know polycarbonate is ideal, but its not the easiest stuff to form. It would need several hours of drying time in an oven prior to forming in order to eliminate the moisture.
can you put the molds in the hood and take a few pics at different angles, for a visual
Right now the moulds would need some trimming before I could fit them in the hood (because of the extra flashing you see in the pictures). Plus my car is in another city, stacked under another car (lift) and you wouldn't really be able to take a picture. This is one of the obstacles I'm trying to overcome while I develop these headlights during the winter months. I really wish I could though, I'm dying to see them on the car.
I'm in the process of trying to get a prototype lens done soon. Also, I hate to say it, but I think it will actually be more viable to mount the units to the hood. It will save money (which gets passed onto whoever buys them), will be much easier to mount/install, you will be able to revert back to stock if you wanted, and lastly it will eliminate the problem of people's hoods being aligned differently. The big thing that I overlooked is that the hood has a little "ledge" at the front for the stock headlight doors to rest on while they are closed. It keeps them sitting flush with the hood while the door springs pull down on them. If you have a headlight bucket that isn't attached to the hood, this ledge will strike the cover when the hood is closed. It's basically in the way. And as far as I know/remember, this ledge is not removable unless you cut it off...which means you wouldn't be able to go back to stock. That is something I want to avoid: cutting. So, I will likely be designing the entire bucket to remain attached to the hood. I hope that isn't a deal breaker for some, but quite honestly, I see it as the better choice now.
Also, since nobody has mentioned they want the fog light option, I'll stick to dual bixenons in each bucket.
Originally posted by doublec4: I'm in the process of trying to get a prototype lens done soon. Also, I hate to say it, but I think it will actually be more viable to mount the units to the hood. It will save money (which gets passed onto whoever buys them), will be much easier to mount/install, you will be able to revert back to stock if you wanted, and lastly it will eliminate the problem of people's hoods being aligned differently. The big thing that I overlooked is that the hood has a little "ledge" at the front for the stock headlight doors to rest on while they are closed. It keeps them sitting flush with the hood while the door springs pull down on them. If you have a headlight bucket that isn't attached to the hood, this ledge will strike the cover when the hood is closed. It's basically in the way. And as far as I know/remember, this ledge is not removable unless you cut it off...which means you wouldn't be able to go back to stock. That is something I want to avoid: cutting. So, I will likely be designing the entire bucket to remain attached to the hood. I hope that isn't a deal breaker for some, but quite honestly, I see it as the better choice now.
From a person who is not afraid to chop, cut, weld, or fabricate, I completely agree with your decision. If you can get a look at Kmunson's flushmount's and look at how he mounted designed them to mount it is very well done.
Sanding is done and they turned out nice and smooth! Also sourced out a supplier for lens material. I arranged to make an attempt at prototyping the lenses next friday. I'm excited! The lenses are the biggest hurdle and everything else has been on hold until I know I can make them successfully. Otherwise its not worth investing money into the other bits and pieces. I'm really keeping my fingers crossed. One week to find out if this thing is feasible!
The F1F Buckets are still available. In fact, I have a package of them that I need to get shipped out to Timo (Fiero1Fan) in Germany. I've been meaning to do it for the last couple of weeks now that I am settled into my new place, but have not made it to the Post Office yet.
We still have 30+ sets available.
As stated by skuzzbomer, the harnesses are unavailable now, due to my health issues with Carpal Tunnel. I am still attempting to source them and have them made for a reasonable price.
Since you are in the Netherlands, you would have to source the lights themselves from your area due to requiring E-Code lights.
Looken good! I too have considered the idea. Have you looked at Miata's flush mounted head lights I think the size is the same if not dang close I'm sure?
Terry
I actually like the fact that the Miata flushmounts use Hella 90mm modules. That could be attractive for people that already converted to low-rise conversions in the past...
I actually like the fact that the Miata flushmounts use Hella 90mm modules. That could be attractive for people that already converted to low-rise conversions in the past...
I'm not sure if I'll have enough space to shove 90mm lights in there, but maybe after Im done developing the ones I'm doing now, then I can look into it. If I can fit them, I could offer brackets for those lights if people already have them. We'll see, its not a bad idea
I gave this project some thought but I think that I'll stick with my Hella 90mm HID modules and F1F slim pop-ups until more LED headlights are available in the aftermarket in a few years. Then it should be much easier to produce non-popup headlight alternatives for the Fiero.
