planning to retrofit my headlights and just wanna get some ideas of what people have done with them (particularly if you didn't paint the housing black, and kept it chrome for a more oem+ look)
planning to retrofit my headlights and just wanna get some ideas of what people have done with them (particularly if you didn't paint the housing black, and kept it chrome for a more oem+ look)
Funny you should mention this. I posted a write up of my budget retrofit build. Personally I’m a big fan of blacking out the housings and using black shrouds, and blacking out the corner markers with Purple Power as well. Really updates the look of the truck, especially with a Satoshi grill. Retaining the chrome on these massive headlights just ages these trucks so much in my eyes.
Have you considered checking out Robb235's budget retrofit build for ideas, especially since you're interested in a more OEM+ look without blacking out the housing?
I opted to DIY my OEM+ retrofit... it was not exactly 'budget' but considerably cheaper than other kits for sale with what I think are the highest quality components. I, like you, wanted to keep the vintage OEM look but with the benefit of the modern lighting. I really don't like the blacked out look, personally.
There was also a ton of soldering and custom harness building involved so it's not for the faint of heart, especially if you make it totally plug and play like I did. It was by far the most tedious mod I've done but its so worth it.
Last edited by StangRunner; 01-29-2024 at 03:13 PM.
I opted to DIY my OEM+ retrofit... it was not exactly 'budget' but considerably cheaper than other kits for sale with what I think are the highest quality components. I, like you, wanted to keep the vintage OEM look but with the benefit of the modern lighting. I really don't like the blacked out look, personally.
There was also a ton of soldering and custom harness building involved so it's not for the faint of heart, especially if you make it totally plug and play like I did. It was by far the most tedious mod I've done but its so worth it.
do you happen to have a guide that you followed for it? i dont really understand how all the connections are supposed to be set up.. i understand the process of installing the projectors etc, but how do you actually provide power to them? im interested in just running a projector with low/high functionality, don't really care for rgb or halos or anything like that
I ran blacked-out housings/shrouds/projector cutoff shields (doesn't affect light output) and corners. Dechroming shrouds and corners are easy; soak them in Purple Power or purple Zep degreaser, it takes about 10-15 mins of soaking to strip the shrouds and a few hours to do OEM corners, but aftermarket corners took about the same time to strip as the shrouds. Zep is a stronger formulation, I've seen videos of people dechroming OEM corners/signals after minutes of soaking.
E46 style shroud, cutoff shields painted black (AKA passive demon eye) on a G5-R projector
MH1 7.0 projectors with the same shrouds and black passive demon eyes. Scuffed the housings and painted with either Krylon or Rustoleum satin black
I have another retrofit in the works but in chrome, the shrouds I've selected (haven't seen anyone use them on a 3rd-gen) won't make it look too "bug eyed"
I have another retrofit in the works but in chrome, the shrouds I've selected (haven't seen anyone use them on a 3rd-gen) won't make it look too "bug eyed"
which shrouds are you planning on using? i was also looking for something that is less bug eyed, was thinking of the panasquare shroud maybe..
for those that have done the retrofit, does it matter if i use a 99+ housing on a 98? i looked it up and apparently they have different mechanisms of spraying the light out (one reflects, one doesnt). would it matter in my case? also, does it matter if the lens is plastic vs glass?
for those that have done the retrofit, does it matter if i use a 99+ housing on a 98? i looked it up and apparently they have different mechanisms of spraying the light out (one reflects, one doesnt). would it matter in my case? also, does it matter if the lens is plastic vs glass?
All US housings are glass front. They are mechanically compatible where they bolt to the chassis and line up to the body between the clear and fluted lenses. Use the later housing if you are doing a projector retrofit.
-Charlie
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for those that have done the retrofit, does it matter if i use a 99+ housing on a 98? i looked it up and apparently they have different mechanisms of spraying the light out (one reflects, one doesnt). would it matter in my case? also, does it matter if the lens is plastic vs glass?
You'll want to use 99 and up headlight housing for the clear lens. 96-98 have a grid pattern etched into the lens. I don't think it would work out too good.
for those that have done the retrofit, does it matter if i use a 99+ housing on a 98? i looked it up and apparently they have different mechanisms of spraying the light out (one reflects, one doesnt). would it matter in my case? also, does it matter if the lens is plastic vs glass?
Use the 99-02; you want clear lenses, not fluted like the older ones.
If you still have the OEM lights I suggest reusing the mounting frames. I've used a few aftermarket OEM replacements and the fitment for the corner lights and the filler panels between the headlights and bumper are never as good as OEM
thanks for the replies guys, i ordered some 99+ headlights and was about to order the rest of the supplies needed, but am a little confused on how everything gets wired up.
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