1st gen tacomas with HID lights! Pictures please!

guys I finally have enough money to get a retrofit kit. I have a few concerns though. how do I line up the projector so that its a straight cut off line and not jagged? and when im gluing the housing back on, do I put the glue in, then the housing, heat it, the clamp it?

 

I would be pending cost.

 

also when im at the starting checkout at TRS, when choosing the relay harness, do I choose the 9006? or the H4/9003?

 

H4/9003

 

If you're doing a mini H1 or D2S kit, they are almost straight after you install them. They only go in a certain way and it's mostly ok right off the bat. If it isn't, just loosen the nut and turn the projectors to make it level and tighten it back up. Obviously before you put the lense back together you'll want to do a test fit on the truck and aim them right.

as far as gluing it back together, I scraped the old stuff out, put the new stuff in, heated it with a heat gun, pressed lense on, and clamped it for a few hours. Some bake them again but a heat gun works great too. Just be careful because some get to 800 degrees like mine so don't overdo it or you'll melt the housing.

 

I really want to do this mod but I'm just super nervous considering I've never done anything this complicated before. I just wanna be sure I do it right the first time since I'll be paying a good but for it.

 

The h1 and d2s kits are extremely simple. Really, there's nothing to it. Once you have them in your hands you'll see how easy it is.

 

Roger that. Ordering the kit in the next few days

 

Are your headlights completely sealed? If so I think you need to buy aftermarket ones that you can open up if I'm not mistaken.

 

Not on his '97...

This.

Not on his '97...

You should!

However, be warned, it's not as simple as everybody is portraying since you have sealed beams. I have the same year and model truck as you.... With a couple of day's patience and some Dremel work, it can turn out great though.

Edit: I forgot I already posted all over this thread with info on what you need to do.

 

I don't have any pictures that will show it properly, but there is a ridge on the back side of the projector housing, right along the center line. It goes up each side to the bulb housing. When you're doing your Dremel / test fitting, make sure you have that ridge level. Tip the headlight housing up on your workbench so it's facing away from you (like if it was mounted in the truck) and looking at the back, make sure that ridge is level on the horizontal plane.

My passenger side is a little off and I've been fighting it ever since.

Here's what I did once the JB Weld was cured:

Once you've test fit your lights back in the truck, clean the entire inside of the headlight housing with isopropyl alcohol, including the inside of the clear headlight housing lens. Heat your oven to 200 degrees. Use the resealing glue from TRS (that you remember to order with your HID kit) to carefully go around the inside edge of the headlight housing. Press the clear lens on. Heat the whole assembly (WITHOUT the bulb & wires!) for 10 minutes. Then just use a pair of pliers to carefully go around the entire edge of the headlight, squeezing the clear lens down into the glue. Then just set aside lens down for 30 minutes or so while it cools.

 

D2s are not as easy in a 97.... did them in a 95 and you'll have to cut your housing, sounds terrible but once you get the concept its quite simple! if you need any help feel glad to pm me and ill assist you the best I can. But its not just bolt in like it was for my 00 so aligning them has to be done before you jb weld them permanently in place.

 

yes I plan on buying some $30 pilot housings. ive seen them recommended a bunch on here.

thanks! ill be posting pictures when the mod is complete. now im debating on to paint the housing and shroud black or not when I get them

 

my old taco..

 

I did lsc15's all black he should have some pics on his profile

 

one more question, do you need to get two of these? or just one? http://www.ebay.com/itm/290589078847?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649&afsrc=1

 

One. It goes in the unused (when you're done) passenger side socket.

The TRS harness plugs into the driver's side.

 

Old thread, good information. Sub!

 

Reviving an old thread because it gave me great information and inspiration for doing my own HID retrofit. I ordered all the parts last December, and finally finished the retrofit in August, along with doing a satoshi grill retrofit with raptor lights and a Toyota emblem I found on an 80's Corolla in the junk yard. I also replaced my rusty chrome front bumper with a new black one and replaced the faded and cracked valance with a new one. The Headlights have a switchback LED halo that I attached with Automotive Goop, and spliced into the DRL and turn signal wires. I got all of the parts off of Amazon, and can list them if anyone is interested. I ordered new headlights from Rock Auto since the lenses on the old ones were super cloudy and cracked, and this also allowed me to work on them while still being able to drive my truck at night.