Projector Build Guide?

Hey guys, still a little new to Tacomaworld, so I haven't figured out how to find everything just yet. Just starting to research building my own projector headlights. I see quite a few threads on here about how to remove the headlights and do the actual build, but I couldn't find much regarding a complete list or guide of what parts to get. That seems to be overwhelming! I tend to just jump in to things, but figured I better do my due diligence. Does anyone have any tips? There are a lot options when searching for the parts.

- bi-xenon projectors- what's everyone recommend? I hear morimoto is good but they have a dozen options so I didn't know where to start
- recommended bulb? Seems that 4500k will get brighter than stock performance, don't care as much about the color as I do the performance.
- shrouds? They all seem to be chrome, is that the only option? Are these just for aesthetics, or does it change how the lights look or how LEDs reflect off of the inside of the housing?
- ballast igniters? Do you just go with the manufacturer's recommended ones?
- ballasts? 35w or 50w
- harness? Assuming I go with what they recommend?
- LED Halo- the options go from 70mm-140mm... How do people change the colors in them?
- am I missing anything?

I'm not looking for a busy look. Blacked out reflectors, matching shrouds, and I don't want strips of LED visible in the light do but like the options of having color changing lights cuz everyone needs headlights dancing to the music while you're off-roading. Kidding, but I would change the color every now and again if I had the capability to.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Welcome to TW.

theretrofitsource.com and TW have all the information you'll ever need to build your own headlights.

- I personally recommend The Retrofit Source for their quality products. I'm working on a pair of projectors myself right now from them, I'd suggest the Morimoto FX-R 3.0. If you want to spend more money you can buy the Lexux RS350's for example.

- You nailed it with the bulb color choice. I'd go either 4500k or 5500k.

- Yes I believe they are all chrome, you can paint them yourself which is what I did, they are for aesthetics. Depending on the type of projector you get and halos/demon eyes they will change how the led light shines through. If you get a shroud that doesn't have holes then light won't get through there.

- What do you mean by you want the option of having color changing lights? There are two common ways which are demon eyes and halos. Demon eyes go basically inside your projector and when your headlights are off, you can change them to whatever color you want. Halos on the other hand go outside of your projectors, generally on top of the shroud and you can buy halos that change colors as well. Or you can do a combination of the two.

- If you want your headlights to basically have a completely blacked out look without being able to see the halo (which is white when turned off) then you could get a shroud which lets light through (like the G37-R shroud). They have recommended halo sizes when you click on the shrouds.

- People change the colors of the halos by buying ones which can change colors. Typically you buy either white or amber halos. But with their Morimoto XC LED Angel Eye Kit you get the RGB capability and can change the colors then. Similarly with the Morimoto XC LED Demon Eyes.

- As far as ballast 35W or 55W; 35W less power to your bulb and therefore less light but longer bulb lifetime. 55W will be brighter but less lifetime. If you install them cleanly and keep moisture out of your housing then it shouldn't really burn out.

- Just go with the recommended wiring kit/harness for the bulb.

- Go to accessories and you'll see morimoto retrorubber butyl glue (it works very well) and jb weld epoxy. I recommend both of those. a 3" hole saw can be helpful for drilling out the back of your headlights as well as a dremel tool.

 

Thanks, that was really helpful! You answered all of my questions.

Regarding my question on color changing lights- I was curious about the changing the color of the demon eyes and the halo as well, and now that all makes sense. How do you change your demon eye color? Is there a remote?

Side note- I was checking out your page. How is the light output from your light bar behind the front liscense plate? I was all set to put one down there but then moved to Minnesota where you have to have a front plate on.

 

You'd need the morimoto XC LED Color control kit. Its a remote that can control up to three sets of halos/demon eyes. I don't know much more about it then that. Haven't ordered halos or demon eyes and that remote for myself yet.

As far as my light bars, I originally put the 20" on and was happy with it but I wanted more light shining out to the sides of the roads, living in Alaska with moose, so I installed two 6" in my lower valence on either side of my license plate (we unfortunately have to have a front plate here as well) and angled them outwards at like 10 degrees. And I love them, work great.

 

Here's the kit guide you're after: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-retrofit-source-ongoing-gb-via-andrew-trs.262802/

 

Thanks!