BHLM and Retrofits Done

Well, I finished it up late last night. I don't have any good daytime shots yet since it's still early, but I'll post what I took last night. I am really pleased with how the lights turned out. I went with the D2S Mini Projectors from The Retrofit Source. I chose the mini projectors because they are easier to install. They don't require any cutting of the reflector bowl to make them fit. I used Apollo shrouds. They are replicas of the shroud used in the Porche Cayenne. I had picked out Gatlin Gun shrouds but changed my mind because I wanted something different. Cutoff is nice. My left projector needs to be rotated just a bit. I will correct that tonight. While I was working on it I also blacked out the lower valance using spray on bedliner (bled through the tape on the left side...I will fix this weekend) and blacked out the factory emblem using Duplicolor Shadow black chrome kit. I will post some better pictures ASAP. Pictures with the lights on are completely over-exposed.

 

A few notes on the install.....

I used window weld from NAPA to seal them up. It was 5/16 x 15ft. This stuff is a breeze to work with. Heated up the lights for about 8 minutes and stuck them back together. This stuff cures quickly. I had them back on the truck 15 minutes after I sealed them.

If you decide to clean the original reflector, BE CAREFUL. I had dust on mine from drilling the hole for the high beam wire to pass through. I used some non-ammonia based window cleaner to wipe them off before sealing them and it starting taking the chrome finish off. The finish is very easy to take off.

If you mess up in the painting process, just get some Acetone and wipe the paint off. Dip a q-tip in Acetone to get to the small cracks. I put 2 coats of fusion on mine and it looked great. Then I decided to use a satin clear on them and didn't like the way it looked so I decided to put another coat of fusion on. BIG MISTAKE. The paint blistered up really bad. I had to strip them both back down and start all over. Now they have 2 coats of fusion on them and that's it.

If you have an older truck and want to polish the lenses, it's easier to do it when they are on the truck. I used the Meguiar's kit with the drill attachment and it turned out really well.

AND, if you install retrofits and you purchase CFL angel eyes to go with them......make sure you install the angel eye before you permanently bond the shroud to the projector. Ask me how I know this. I now have a pair of extra angel eyes laying around.

 

Nice job looks good

 

Nice job!

I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but I'm skeptical since I'm not totally sure what to do. How hard is it? Had you done it before?

 

Looks good man! Nice work!

 

Great work and looks good with those Apollo shrouds!

 

It isn't hard at all. This was my first time to take apart headlights. The key is to be patient. Unless you have an extra pair of lights, expect your truck to be out of commission for a few days. I started this Sunday and finished up Tuesday. I could have finished Monday night if not for messing up the paint and having to start over.

 

8th Sin, I recently did mine also and like Bama Taco, it was my first time taking apart headlights. I bought a used set of headlights to pull apart while mine were still on the truck. I'm going to keep my stocks through the winter to make sure the painted ones are sealed up well, then hopefully sell them for what I bought the other set for. In the end it should even out, or at least within a few bucks.

 

Went outside and took a few shots in the daylight. Ignore the bug guts.

 

I'm not worried about taking apart the lights, since I did the BHLM on my old truck without any problems. I was going to procure a set of lights with broken lenses or tabs so I could scavenge the reflector to mount the projector and fit the bezels. Then just open my good headlights and swap the reflector assembly out. My concern is getting everything properly mounted and aligned.

I'm lost as to where to drill to mount the 4 projector bolts through the reflector. I know you can use the factory adjustment screws to tilt and pan the entire reflector assembly up/down and left/right, but it seems that part is most critical to having perfect alignment in the end.

 

That's why I got the Mini D2S projectors from TRS. They use the hole that is there for your current headlight bulb. The back of the projector is threaded. The only drilling I had to do was to make a current hole bigger so the high beam wires could pass through.

Check out this thread. Page 2 shows the details of the projector and how it mounts. It's on a 1st gen but the concept is the same.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/109523-hids-pnp-2.html

 

Looks pretty sweet, could you black out the entire reflector without effecting light output since its a projector?

Total build cost?

 

You could. It no longer serves a purpose. I just like the look of a little chrome in there though.

Total cost. Kit from TRS is $300 and comes with everything needed including projectors, shrouds, bulbs and the wiring kit. JB Quick Weld was about $7, paint ran about $15, Window weld kit from NAPA was $15 and the Meguiar's headlight polish kit was $24. So about $360 total.

 

I would have thought there'd be more cutting with a 2nd Gen. That piece that sticks out in the bezel (don't know what it's called, but the bulb slides in behind it), doesn't that have to be cut off? Do you just use a dremel and cut if off and screw in the new projectors?

Pardon my ignorance but I know nothing about retros which is the main reason I haven't attempted them yet.

 

Not sure what that piece is called either but there are 2 tabs on the back side of the light that you bend and it pops right out.

 

Check out this thread. This is the kit I have with good pictures.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/109997-hid-projector-retrofit.html

 

Good to know, I missed that when I had mine apart. Guess I'm not selling the spare set... they're going to be the retro project lights!! Damn you Bama Taco!! You see what you've done, why did yours have to come out looking so good?

 

Sorry. My previous car was a Civic Si Sedan and I bought some retrofits for it that were already done. When I got the Taco I knew it was the first thing I was going to do.