Hella 90mm H9 projectors Installed in a 2001 Firebird (plenty of pics)
This is a bit of a re-post and an update. I wanted to update my install post, but I didn't want to clutter up the Lighting FAQ, so I started a new thread. For those that have seen my install, the first few posts you will recognize, but there is a new post about custom curved cut-off shields that I made which improved output.
My install was slightly different and involved plenty of fitting, adjustment, and manually raising and lowering the headlights (to facilitate said fitting and adjustment). I tried to avoid removing the headlight lids, but in the end, I had to to gain access the back of the housings. I used 4 #8 1.5" stainless machine screws/bolts and three nuts stacked to space the Hella adapter in front of the headlight frame for each projector. So, in total: 8 bolts, 24 regular nuts (for spacing), 4 nylock nuts to attach the Hella adapter to the bolts that were sticking out like studs. I'm probably not explaining to well and a picture is worth a thousands words. I'll try to take pics later in the day. The head light frame is cast aluminum. It cuts (and cracks) easily. A drill and dremel (I used a Black & Decker RTX) will cut through it fine. I cut mine pretty much like in the pictures, but after all the adjustment, I realized that I didn't need to cut quite so much. I'd say, mount the adapter ring, then the projector in the ring and see where it makes contact and needs to be clearanced before cutting or drilling extra holes. Pull the headlight motor fuse and manually raise and lower the headlights to check for clearance in front and behind the projectors to make sure the glass doesn't hit the bumper and that the bulb connector doesn't hit the frame behind the headlights. Make adjustments to the new mounting assembly and projector adjuster screws as necessary. Its a tight fit, but they do fit.
My brother and I modified the cut-off.
It still needs adjustment though.
The driver-side is square-stepped and the passenger side is straight.
Low Beam Only
(The white stuff on the ground is snow ) 640x480 1024x768
This picture didn't come out that well and doesn't show how good the output was. The passenger-side can be made sharper (I could have sworn I had it sharper than that before I installed it on the car). I'll have to disassemble it again to adjust. I did test before closing it up, but I guess it moved before I tightened it all down or maybe I hit it. Oh well. Maybe I'll tackle it tomorrow.
Sorry I didn't take pics of the shield itself. Its a moot point now since I've made new curved shields since then (check out post #4).
BTW, the black bit on the wall appears to be a scorch mark.
I installed a 4300K H9 HID kit that I bought from LED Gauges. Low Beam Only
(The white stuff on the ground is snow ) 640x480 800x600 2592x1944
The picture came out a bit blurry because the camera focused on the roof instead of the wall and I didn't realize until I downloaded the pics onto my pc.
Tonight, I just made new curved shields and also adjusted them to sit a little higher than stock (the bulb is covered a little more). This widened the beam a little, sharpened the cut-off, and made them more uniform.
For some reason I couldn't get the driver side as sharp as the passenger side, but that projector was always a little fuzzier even stock.
Sorry, I didn't take pics of the process. I'll take pics of the new beam pattern when I get a chance. I still need to do some final aiming.
Basically I made the new shields similar to the stock ones but with a shorter square step to more resemble a HID projector. I also used flashing and cut it using a utility knife and several overlapping cuts (instead of trying to cut through all at once). I also cut the bottom mounting hole as a slot instead of just a hole and didn't cut the side mounting holes.
The overall shape is still a triangle with tabs just like the stock shields, but they are now curved. The center curves towards the bulb and the sides curve away. Its a fairly uniform curve (I think I bet the sides a little more though). The final shape puts the side tabs about a quarter inch or so away from their stock mount. As a result, the side screws are no longer used to secure the sides of the shield. Only the bottom screw is used to secure the shields. Hopefully this is enough. Time will tell. So as not to lose any of the screws, I still installed the side screws in their original location (they just aren't being used to secure anything).
The new flashing shield is thinner than the stock shield so to make up the depth difference for the retaining screw to sit at the proper depth in the hole, I used a washer. So its , screw, washer, shield, housing. The washer went between the screw and shield. The shield still sits directly in contact with the housing.
It was a lot of trial-and-error with cutting and adjusting to get them right. I had to make sure the curve and tilt of the new shield (towards or away from the lens) was just right to produce the best cut-off. I also tried a few different height positions to get the best beam. I also made sure that the resulting cut-off was still parallel in the housing (in other words, not crooked). The step is a smaller square step that starts in the center of the slope of the stock shield. The step is half (probably less) than the height of the original. I didn't measure (its tough to measure that small). I just eye-balled it and used a straight-edge when cutting.
It took me a few hours (including removing them from the car, re-installing them, and doing a quick height aim).
I tested using the stock H9 bulbs (which are in there right now on the vehicle) and a battery pack aimed at a projector screen (about 19ft away) and a (unfortunately) narrower area of wall over 20ft away.
To make sure the shield produced a level line, I used masking tape and a level to make a level line on the wall. Then I sat the projector on a level surface with the front housing attached. Since it doesn't quite sit flat, I made sure I held it with the lower mounting tabs the same height off the level surface. This meant that the housing was level and if the cut-off was also level, then the shield is properly mounted producing a line that parallel to the housing.
Sorry I didn't take pictures while I was working.... I tend to work right through and not think of it.
Hopefully I was descriptive enough. If not, please ask.
If you want more info on curved shields and HID in general (including retrofits), check out http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/. I'm on there with the same screen name.
Here are the pics of the finished product
At 20ft in a Garage with a low angled ceiling:
(The ceiling was about 6" taller than my car where I parked it and a fair bit shorter at the front where the lights are aimed.)
Here are some pics of the opened projector
(I went back and opened the projector)
The shield was an unpainted aluminum when it was installed. Somehow it painted itself to match the projector housing.... odd. Its not melted or damaged. I think the halogen bulb caused the projector body to heat up and the paint to out-gas and redistribute onto the shield. Its a far fetched theory, but that's what it looks like. Its a fairly uniform curve with the edges curved more than the middle. The curve is shallower in the middle. It's not an exact science. There was plenty of trial-and-error involved. The pics above were taken with the 4300K HID kit re-installed. I am also considering high-temp chrome paint for the side of the shield that faces the bulb. It might improve output and protect the shield.
Will the Hella 60mm low beam projectors work? What's the advantage of the 90mm over the 60mm?
I don't know. What kind of bulb does it use? Looking at the pics, I'm not sure if they are fully sealed/encased like the 90mm. They may be sealed, but the projector lens is unprotected. The 90mm has a glass case in front of the lens. I don't know about the output. I haven't seen any pics. I think they use a 9005 bulb which has a lower output than H9. I'd like to see the output with the original Halogen bulb and a HID kit.
__________________ - 2001 Black Formula --- 75th Anniversary Package --- www.fadingarrow.com - Performance Mods: Bilstein HD, Lid & Holly Powershot, Brembo Blanks & Hawk HPS Pads, ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid Appearance Mods: Black Z06 Motorsports (17x9.5), F1 GS-D3 (275/40/17), Silver Door Panel & Arm Rest Fabric, Silver Vent Rings, A4 Leather Shift Boot, Hella H9 Projector Headlights, Pioneer AVIC-D3 --- Lighting FAQ -- Sig Rules -- General Suspension Issues/Questions FAQ ---
I recently got a set of 90mm D2S housings but they are missing the bulb mounting part in the rear which is not available separately. After the detailed pictures showing the various configurations I'll probably end up with a set of the H9 modules and a 4300k kit as well.
I recently got a set of 90mm D2S housings but they are missing the bulb mounting part in the rear which is not available separately. After the detailed pictures showing the various configurations I'll probably end up with a set of the H9 modules and a 4300k kit as well.
The D2S version should have better output and OEM HID setups are higher quality than aftermarket kits. Can you post any output shots? Maybe you can fabricate a bulb holder? Can you take pics of the housing indicating what's missing. If you call Rally Lights and talk to them you might be able to work something out. They may have a broken housing that they can scavenge. If you can make the D2S version work I'd suggest sticking with it.
__________________ - 2001 Black Formula --- 75th Anniversary Package --- www.fadingarrow.com - Performance Mods: Bilstein HD, Lid & Holly Powershot, Brembo Blanks & Hawk HPS Pads, ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid Appearance Mods: Black Z06 Motorsports (17x9.5), F1 GS-D3 (275/40/17), Silver Door Panel & Arm Rest Fabric, Silver Vent Rings, A4 Leather Shift Boot, Hella H9 Projector Headlights, Pioneer AVIC-D3 --- Lighting FAQ -- Sig Rules -- General Suspension Issues/Questions FAQ ---
how much did that kit run and were can you get them
My setup is not a kit. Its components from various places that I've assembled and installed.
I bought the...
* Projectors, connectors, mounting plate from Rally Lights (not a sponsor)
* HID from LED Gauges (no longer a sponsor and there are cheaper places now)
* screws, brackets, misc from Home Depot
* additional wires, connectors, etc from Pepboys, AutoZone, etc
I don't remember the full cost, but its something like this
$165 for Projectors, connectors, mounting plate
$50 for additional connectors, wire, loom, etc (still have some left over)
$20 for screws, etc
$250 for HID (you can get sets now for $80 - $140)
------
$485 Total (I probably forgetting something)
If I got a newer cheaper HID kit, the price would drop to roughly $375. If I could get the connectors I wanted instead of breaking bulbs to make them, the cost would drop to roughly $350.
I've spent more than that over the course of the project since I've made some changes, but that's roughly what it would cost to reproduce it as it stands now.
That also doesn't include the cost of rivets, flashing, epoxy, silicon, bondo, etc used in modifying the shrouds. I don't remember how much that cost.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phantomzer0
Make a kit!!!!! I'll buy 2!
This isn't the first time I've been asked. Actually LED Gauges and I were contemplating it when I started. That didn't go anywhere. Besides, I'm not really looking into going into business doing these, sorry.
__________________ - 2001 Black Formula --- 75th Anniversary Package --- www.fadingarrow.com - Performance Mods: Bilstein HD, Lid & Holly Powershot, Brembo Blanks & Hawk HPS Pads, ATE Super Blue Brake Fluid Appearance Mods: Black Z06 Motorsports (17x9.5), F1 GS-D3 (275/40/17), Silver Door Panel & Arm Rest Fabric, Silver Vent Rings, A4 Leather Shift Boot, Hella H9 Projector Headlights, Pioneer AVIC-D3 --- Lighting FAQ -- Sig Rules -- General Suspension Issues/Questions FAQ ---
Hella 90mm H9 projectors Installed in a 2001 Firebird (plenty of pics) 
- 2001 Black Formula --- 75th Anniversary Package --- 
)
I did test before closing it up, but I guess it moved before I tightened it all down or maybe I hit it. Oh well. Maybe I'll tackle it tomorrow.
