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Headlights, again #: 2147

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 02:18 pm

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JAMMAN

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For my project I do want to upgrade the headlights.

I know that LED's in regular lenses is irresponsible. I don't have a lot of off the self options for the 98/00 style.

The options I do see has those "halos" which I don't hate but for petes sake I'm almost 60 and I don't want anyone to say "look at the old man trying to be cool". This is the only thing close I found and it says nothing about using LED's in it's projectors:

Ebay Headlight

I have not been able to find an off the shelf 98/00 headlight housing with just the projector needed for intense LED or HID, I really just want LED but would like to see beyond the range of a normal headlight.

There was one thread here (or was it) where someone grafted an aftermarket projector in a housing and it looked pretty cool while at the same time not being flashy or show off looking.

I'm not knocking showing off I jut like to do it differently. I will do a grill mesh, light bar behind grill used only when really needed, I intend on having backup camera and auxiliary reverse lights but none under the fenders or along the bottom of the tailgate.

Does anyone make projectors for these years that I haven't been able to find or is there an aftermarket reflector I can graft to the inside of a stock lens and use a really bright LED legally/safely/without looking like I want to be 16 again?

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 02:26 pm

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Tsquare
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JAMMAN wrote:
"look at the old man trying to be cool"
When people ask me how old I am my standard reply is, "I have been 19 for 39 years." I am an eternal 19 year old trapped in a 58 year old body.

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 02:42 pm

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JAMMAN

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I just want it to be a little less obvious to anyone that doesn't know me.

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 06:37 pm

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Mike69

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I just do not care what other people think about me.

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 09:06 pm

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JAMMAN

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I had that red lowered a little ranger for a few weeks before I sold it, I wouldn't turn on the headlights till I started driving. I turned them on once in the driveway and it was like a spotlight on the house in front of me. I felt a little embarrassed driving it around.

But for some reason I'm not going to be embarrassed driving a V8 ranger that rumbles a little. That's my kind of cool.

In high school I had a friend that was so in to Dukes of Hazard he re created the general lee, accurate to the horn. I rode in it once and when he passed the school (kids in that town would park at the high school and party) he blew that horn. I didn't know he had put the horn in and I instantly sunk to a level where nobody could see me in the confederate pumpkin mobile.

I never rode in it again and Gary was my best friend at the time.

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Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2020 11:34 pm

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410customs

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Ive never been happy with halo projector style ebay headlights, at least not with their light output.

If you want good led projectors you have to pay to have them built or DIY

what about 3d printing a headlight housing for the 98-99 ranger that can hold a couple of led cube lights? or something else led
does not have to be a cube they come in all shapes and sizes.......would it look out of place on an old ranger?

http://assaultledlighting.com/image/cache/catalog/Polaris%20RZR/RZR-HL-07-500x500.PNG

(Inspired by this for Polaris Rzr, I see it alot on more and more cars these days...diy retrofit led headlights without any factory housings )
I don't know any 16 year old's that can pull that off so it might look pretty neat?

I had some serious reservations about putting round led headlights on my bronco...but as soon as I did I was in love with the look and ran with it. Who cares what others think, it either looks good to you or it doesn't.

How about the 08+ front clip conversion? Are there more headlight options for those?
Or just add some cool aux lights to help the anemic factory headlights?

thinking outside the box

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Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2020 05:44 am

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chris

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Want to see where you are going? Bolt a couple of 7" Cibie spotlights on the front bumper!

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Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2020 09:19 am

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Those ebay projectors have a rep for lousy beam definition. And yes, you can put LEDs in, but if they are not in a projector, again, beam definition. Unless the source is in the the exact same spot as where halogen bulb would put it, you will have a beam, dispersed down low, maybe up in the face of oncoming traffic. To be able to see farther, to see better, you need to control where the light goes that you generate. Halogens do this by the shape of the reflector, which is penitently dependent on the source being in the right spot. Proper HID and LED retrofits do this with projectors. Anthony did a set for his truck, I have HIDs in my main headlights and in the fogs with projectors, as my '07 was way under my standards for projected light when I bought it. One trap to avoid in HIDs is don't get too high of a color temp. 4300K is actually the best for light that the human eye can see, but most people tend to go higher for whiter light.

If you don't like halos, don't put them in. It's that easy as they are not required. Personally I put halos that are switchbacks, and an LED signal bulb. All flash yellow on that side as the turn indicator. Like Mike, I don't give the furry crack of a rats ass what someone thinks about me. I have some picture I can post them if you want. Oh yeah, even a Ring video that shows how much they project!

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Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2020 10:40 am

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3D Printed housing now there's an idea.

Theretrofitsource.com would be your best bet. Diy or there's guys that can do it for you. You can make it as flashy as you want. A silver projector bezel in a stock housing with no halo ring is pretty discreet

Last edited on Sat May 23rd, 2020 10:42 am by Arthur

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Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2020 11:02 am

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X2 on http://www.theretrofitsource.com . That is who I have used, they are outstanding. Great products, great customer service and support. And I used a guy for my main headlights, I can send you his email if you want. It is do-able on your own, can be time consuming, and it does have it's challenges.

Last edited on Sat May 23rd, 2020 11:03 am by Ordinary Biker

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Posted: Sat May 23rd, 2020 01:38 pm

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I didn't read ALL of the postings BUT... I've read that these eBay/Amazon Projector Headlights are what they claim to be... not good !
Haent heard anything good about these headlights other than most like the look.

I went the conversion route, had a new set of housings converted to HID Projectors.

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Posted: Sun May 24th, 2020 09:51 pm

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You could buy these and add your halos, or look for some Brazilian 4dr ranger headlights. I heard those are pricey and need some modification

https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-01-11-Ranger-Crystal-Clear-Projector-Headlights-LED-Strip-Corner-Signal-Pair-/352897039752

Last edited on Sun May 24th, 2020 09:54 pm by Eddie Money

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Posted: Sun May 24th, 2020 11:50 pm

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Scrambler82
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Scrambler82 wrote:
I didn't read ALL of the postings BUT... I've read that these eBay/Amazon Projector Headlights are what they claim to be... not good !
Haent heard anything good about these headlights other than most like the look.

I went the conversion route, had a new set of housings converted to HID Projectors.
Should have read, " eBay/Amazon Projector Headlights are not what they claim to be... not good " !

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Posted: Sun Aug 1st, 2021 06:15 pm

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Scrambler82
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Jim, where do you stand on the Headlight Conversion.

Also, The Retrofit Source said they could convert the Housings you have to new D2 Projectors.
Might be a consideration IF you don't like the light pattern or output.

Ltr

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Posted: Sun Aug 1st, 2021 06:56 pm

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Scrambler82 wrote:
Jim, where do you stand on the Headlight Conversion.

Also, The Retrofit Source said they could convert the Housings you have to new D2 Projectors.
Might be a consideration IF you don't like the light pattern or output.

Ltr
The D2 conversion is pretty easy. I went with 3" FX-R projectors as they are bigger, put out more light. You can choose between 35W and 50W. 50W is brighter, but lifespan is lower. I went 35W. Again, beware of the K. I went 5000K I think, nice and white. Too high, you get that purple, less actual light.

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Posted: Mon Aug 2nd, 2021 01:12 pm

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Scrambler82
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The 5000K are white, anything between 4500K and 5400K will give you white light, any higher and you will start to see blue.

LED Projectors are starting to gain a following too, something to look into.

Mine, I think are 35 watts, hopefully will be installed this week, had them for a while but haven't had time to install.

Had them converted by a guy on another Ranger Web, had problems at first but we will see how they work out before tearing them apart to do it myself.

Jim should try out the eBay Projectors if they don't work, he might consider the LED Projector, Retro to those housings; who know they might work out, me I like the HID idea.

Ltr

Last edited on Mon Aug 2nd, 2021 01:14 pm by Scrambler82

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Posted: Tue Aug 3rd, 2021 06:41 am

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Scrambler82 wrote:
The 5000K are white, anything between 4500K and 5400K will give you white light, any higher and you will start to see blue.

LED Projectors are starting to gain a following too, something to look into.

Mine, I think are 35 watts, hopefully will be installed this week, had them for a while but haven't had time to install.

Had them converted by a guy on another Ranger Web, had problems at first but we will see how they work out before tearing them apart to do it myself.

Jim should try out the eBay Projectors if they don't work, he might consider the LED Projector, Retro to those housings; who know they might work out, me I like the HID idea.

Ltr
Yes, I had my mains done by a guy on the other forum. Did a great job. After a couple of years I ended up replacing the halos as one went out. Not a big deal. This summer I replaced the bulbs and balasts because I was getting paranoid about the lifespan. The purplish lights are dumb, the most visible light for the human eye is at 4300. Which is basically where the halogens land.

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Posted: Tue Aug 17th, 2021 06:59 am

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Scrambler82
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When I remodeled my house I used all LED Lighting, 4500K, they are white and I use a dimmer, but i wanted 5000K.
I had my Patio Installed by local pros, when getting the quote I asked for LED 5000K Can Lights, they agreed and put it on the quote.
When they installed the lighting and had left for the day I turned them on and they weren't 5000K, you can tell by the color... it was towards the yellow/warmer side, I found the box in my trash bin and the were 3200K.
I called them and asked them to bring the 5000K LEDs as quoted and was told they were the correct LEDs... BS all the way.
When I refused to pay them until they changed the lights they threatened a Lawsuit, then I showed them the box... they are now 5000K Unit.

BUTT, I digress, I don't know if I can actually tell the different between 4200 and 5000K LEDs but I like my lighting bright with a dimmer.
My Kitchen has six 6" 4500K LED Can Lights, a lot of light but sometime when I need that light I have it and getting older extra light is a good thing.

I need to get my sh!t together and get mine projector installed. Seems the Honey Do List and my procrastination always get in the way.

Last edited on Tue Aug 17th, 2021 07:02 am by Scrambler82

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