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UPDATED Budget Projector Retrofit (1st Gen)

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by FlyinHawaiian21, Mar 7, 2018.

  1. Mar 7, 2018 at 9:38 AM
    #1
    FlyinHawaiian21

    FlyinHawaiian21 [OP] Active Member

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    Mitchel
    Maui, HI
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    2003 Silver Tacoma TRD
    Toytec BK9504 Pair of ditch lights Sony AX-100 10 inch Sony Xplod 17 x 8.5 SCS Ray 10's 285/70/r17 Goodyear Duratracs Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers A.R.E Camper w/ yakima racks
    Howzit everybody!

    I recently built myself a pair of retrofits using my old housings. I am posting this because I spent hours and hours looking for the correct parts and couldn't find a post that was simply laid out. I hope that I can make this process a lot easier for you and save some time on research. This isn't exactly a build of the headlights, but just a general guideline of what you should buy and where you can get the parts from.

    Projectors: $29
    Nilight 2.5"
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B21R0TA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Adapter for Hi-Beam's:$13
    iJDMTOY Easy Relay Harness for H4 9003 Hi/Lo
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JJX1TA4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Halos: $9
    White 2 x 70mm Led Angel Eyes:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CJKFRKG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    HID's: $30
    Xentec 55w HID conversion Kit
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/XENTEC-55w-HID-Conversion-Kit-H4-H7-H11-H13-9003-9005-9006-6K-5K-Hi-Lo-Bi-Xenon/360991001606?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=630331849560&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

    (This exact kit came with wrong wiring for the three prong socket the first gen's have, thats why I included the adapter above)

    Black Paint: $4
    Krylon colormaster
    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krylon-C...5035&wl11=online&wl12=111184174&wl13=&veh=sem

    I know that I am going to get some folks asking why I didn't go with retrofit source and things related to that matter. Simply I am a college student on a budget but still wanting to use quality goods. I will try my best to get back to anyone that sends me questions. Let me know what you think!

    IMG_0999.jpg
     
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    #1
    TylerE, Poncate, Saiko and 5 others like this.
  2. Mar 7, 2018 at 9:40 AM
    #2
    tony2018

    tony2018 Well-Known Member

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    Ok, this is simply a list of parts you bought. Cool.
     
    TylerE and FlyinHawaiian21[OP] like this.
  3. Mar 7, 2018 at 10:44 AM
    #3
    MrBiggles

    MrBiggles Well-Known Member

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    fj40 front axle with Detroit locker Trail gear 5" springs Rear 4 link with fox air shocks and E locker Vw 1.9 turbo diesel engine swap with a holset he211w turbo and giles performance injection pump
    Looks like they turned out pretty good.

    For anyone considering this keep in mind those cheap projectors are pretty horrible. I've used them in the past and they arnt much brighter then traditional halogens. I quickly replaced them with some fxr 3.0 projectors from trs and they are significantly brighter. Feel free to cheap out on bulbs and hid kits but use a quality projector. The extra $100 in cost makes a huge difference.

    I'm actually in the process of swapping the fxr's from my old samurai's headlights into my new taco. Got them all cut up, just got to paint and assemble them
    [​IMG]
     
  4. Mar 7, 2018 at 12:30 PM
    #4
    TacoBunny

    TacoBunny Well-Known Member

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    Mind making a write up??
     
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  5. Mar 7, 2018 at 12:37 PM
    #5
    MrBiggles

    MrBiggles Well-Known Member

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    fj40 front axle with Detroit locker Trail gear 5" springs Rear 4 link with fox air shocks and E locker Vw 1.9 turbo diesel engine swap with a holset he211w turbo and giles performance injection pump
    Yeah i could do that. Im by no means a professional installer but its pretty basic. Bake the headlight to seperate the lense, trim the rear of the housing to fit the projector, paint if desired, jbweld the projector into the housing then put the lense back on, bake again and squish the lense back into the housing while its warm.

    The only hard part is aiming the projectors to sit horizontally.

    I painted mine with plasti dip but the nozzle got partially clogged on the 3rd coat and the finish is horrible. going to repaint them with real pant. here is a pic of them while drying. You can see the cuts I made to get the projector to fit. Some projectors are easier. The mini d2s projectors for example just have a round threaded shaft on the rear of them. all you really need to do is cut a hole the same diameter and then thread the lock nut onto the headlight housing. it also makes aiming them significantly easier because you can loosen the nut and rotate them with them already mounted.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2018
    TylerE and TacoBunny like this.
  6. Mar 7, 2018 at 12:45 PM
    #6
    TacoBunny

    TacoBunny Well-Known Member

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    anything is appreciated! Most of my mods were only done because someone showed me it was possible by showing me more than just the finished product.
     
    Saiko likes this.
  7. Mar 7, 2018 at 12:50 PM
    #7
    MrBiggles

    MrBiggles Well-Known Member

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    fj40 front axle with Detroit locker Trail gear 5" springs Rear 4 link with fox air shocks and E locker Vw 1.9 turbo diesel engine swap with a holset he211w turbo and giles performance injection pump
    visit https://www.hidplanet.com/forums/ there is thousands of write ups on people modifying their headlights. That should give you a pretty good idea of what's involved.

    As for parts list I'd get some new housings with clear lenses off ebay
    i'd suggest the mini d2s projectors from morimoto because they are easy to install/aim, whatever shrouds you like, halos if you want them (they don't last super long from what ive read) a 35w hid kit and 5000k or 5500k bulb. that will give you a really clean white light.
     
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    #7
    TacoBunny likes this.
  8. Mar 7, 2018 at 12:55 PM
    #8
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't recommend that IJDMTOY h4 relay, your lights momentarily turn off when going from hi beam back to low beam. That's a big no no for HIDs. You need to use a relay with battery leads.
     
    Saiko likes this.
  9. Mar 8, 2018 at 11:43 AM
    #9
    FlyinHawaiian21

    FlyinHawaiian21 [OP] Active Member

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    2003 Silver Tacoma TRD
    Toytec BK9504 Pair of ditch lights Sony AX-100 10 inch Sony Xplod 17 x 8.5 SCS Ray 10's 285/70/r17 Goodyear Duratracs Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers A.R.E Camper w/ yakima racks
    Thanks for the heads up, I surprisingly haven't had that issue. Could you possibly send me a link to a better relay?
     
  10. Mar 8, 2018 at 12:06 PM
    #10
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    interesting, maybe I got a bad set. The lights flick off for a millisecond. Any other relay that has a battery connection will suffice.
     
    FlyinHawaiian21[OP] likes this.
  11. Mar 9, 2018 at 1:14 PM
    #11
    ThatRedYota

    ThatRedYota Well-Known Member

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    Fox 2.5 IFP Coilovers, BTF uniball UCA's 295/75/r16 Toyo AT2s, front tube bumper (custom), rear tube bumper (custom), radiator guard, Assault light bar, Stereo, 3D printed Offroad switch panel/ mount
    What temp did you bake your headlights at to seperate?
     
  12. Mar 9, 2018 at 7:30 PM
    #12
    MrBiggles

    MrBiggles Well-Known Member

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    fj40 front axle with Detroit locker Trail gear 5" springs Rear 4 link with fox air shocks and E locker Vw 1.9 turbo diesel engine swap with a holset he211w turbo and giles performance injection pump
    I think i did 250f for like 7min or so. They came apart pretty easy. If yours are still hard at that point just put them in a bit longer.
     
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  13. Mar 10, 2018 at 8:29 PM
    #13
    FlyinHawaiian21

    FlyinHawaiian21 [OP] Active Member

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    Toytec BK9504 Pair of ditch lights Sony AX-100 10 inch Sony Xplod 17 x 8.5 SCS Ray 10's 285/70/r17 Goodyear Duratracs Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers A.R.E Camper w/ yakima racks
    I used a heat gun! It was very easy to do and that way I could take my time taking the lens off. I recommend using a flathead with a towel on the end of it. Doing this will make sure that you don't break the plastic if it gets brittle.
     
  14. Mar 11, 2018 at 12:24 PM
    #14
    tony2018

    tony2018 Well-Known Member

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    preheat 375, once preheated shutoff and stick headlight in for 5 minutes.
     
  15. Mar 12, 2018 at 6:37 AM
    #15
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

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  16. Mar 12, 2018 at 9:56 AM
    #16
    QMEDJoe

    QMEDJoe Proverbs 3:5-6

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    Fox 2.0 Coilovers in the front and Fox 2.0’s in the rear, Total Chaos UCA’s, Al-lpro expo leafs, K&N cold air intake, TRD headers,Magnaflow catback exhaust,URD short throw shifter, switched out my 60/40 bench seat for some Tacoma Limited seats, Replaced the vinyl shift boot for a leather one, completely soundproofed the cab w/ Frost King. Replaced stock radio with a Pioneer AVH series head unit. Focal component system w/a 10" sub powered by 2 Alpine amps. Weathertech floor mats. Line-X'd the bed. SCS Ray 10’s, Installed an A.R.E. MX series camper shell. All-Pro Apex front bumper w/ All-Pro skid plates all the way back to the Trans. Low Range fuel skid plate.
    This is on the “to do” list among many other things. I’ve been on the websites and the options in the drop down boxes for the retrofit lights mine as well be in mandarin. I have no clue on retrofits :confused:
     
  17. May 7, 2019 at 2:06 PM
    #17
    FlyinHawaiian21

    FlyinHawaiian21 [OP] Active Member

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    Toytec BK9504 Pair of ditch lights Sony AX-100 10 inch Sony Xplod 17 x 8.5 SCS Ray 10's 285/70/r17 Goodyear Duratracs Spidertrax 1.25" Spacers A.R.E Camper w/ yakima racks
  18. May 8, 2019 at 12:18 AM
    #18
    QMEDJoe

    QMEDJoe Proverbs 3:5-6

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    Fox 2.0 Coilovers in the front and Fox 2.0’s in the rear, Total Chaos UCA’s, Al-lpro expo leafs, K&N cold air intake, TRD headers,Magnaflow catback exhaust,URD short throw shifter, switched out my 60/40 bench seat for some Tacoma Limited seats, Replaced the vinyl shift boot for a leather one, completely soundproofed the cab w/ Frost King. Replaced stock radio with a Pioneer AVH series head unit. Focal component system w/a 10" sub powered by 2 Alpine amps. Weathertech floor mats. Line-X'd the bed. SCS Ray 10’s, Installed an A.R.E. MX series camper shell. All-Pro Apex front bumper w/ All-Pro skid plates all the way back to the Trans. Low Range fuel skid plate.
    All together what did it cost you? Sorry, Id click on all the links but Im at sea and our bandwidth is really slow right now. Looks great!
     
  19. May 8, 2019 at 12:21 AM
    #19
    Sebz13

    Sebz13 appy polly loggies

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    @FlyinHawaiian21

    What make me one set.

    Give you one gallon bag opihis.

    ;)

    looks good dude.
     
  20. May 8, 2019 at 8:29 AM
    #20
    Wulf

    Wulf no brain just damage

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    I've had these budget projectors on my Amazon wish list forever but haven't committed. How did they hold up?
     
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