Planning my Projector retrofit

[K092084]

yeah i hope so, ive been watching videos and looking at pictures forever and it looks good on camera but real life could be totally different. But yeah i have these HIDs in my stock housing now and i really dont like it. I aimed them down and now i cant see anything ahead of me. I STILL get flashed every once in while. (very rarely)

thats crazy about the difference between your projectors, is the color band the same thing as the color mod these guys are doing?

I think my only hang up with the biggger projectors was having to cut the housing and then have to glue it in there. All the allighning and reaiming and everything errr... sounds like a big project! I may try this my 2nd attempt but as for now i dont want to risk it

They will look better real life. At least the pictures I have don't do them justice.

The color mod is the color band, gives it a thicker blue/purple color at the cutoff.

That's the problem I had with the aiming. Drilling holes running screws with washer and all that stuff. Then had to have the back fiberglassed since there was so much cutting and couldn't think of another way to close it up. Like I said I was it was a rush retro so is not the best

Pics: Taken with my phone so not best quaility and about 20-25 ft from the wall.
The driver side doesn't look quite as bad anymore.

High Beam:

 

[GottaBeTRD]

i didn't see your post K09, thanks for those pics. so you cut your housing up then? it looks good, dangit i cant wait any longer!

So guys here is an update. my order has been back ordered hahaa freaking fabulous! still waiting...

but i do have a question for those that have done this, im STILL trying to decide if i actually need extra housings and so far it looks like i wont but... as some of you know ive built a sweet set up for additional light inside the housing now my concern will be drilling a hole in to get the wires through. but i found this pic

is that hose in the back an accessible point from the front maybe making it so i wont have to drill??

 

[SQ.MD]

don't the back of the headlights have relieve holes (with 90 degree rubber bends)? maybe you could wire your additional lighting through there?

update for me: I just ordered the FX-R PNP upgrade! lets hope its not backordered....unlike my DDM hid kit...which is taking frekin foreverrrrrr

 

[GottaBeTRD]

thats what i was thinking.. i went out and looked at mine and that tube pictured above is indeed a drain tube, so things are looking promising for that. that will save me $100 woohoo :banana:

The FX-R are pretty cool i didn't know there was a PnP kit where did you see that? or are these the ones you still gotta cut the housings? My buddy got the regular FX-R for his mustang and they are huge! but once you cut the hole it loos so clean, I bet they put out a dang good amount of light too. Are you getting new headlight (housing) too?

If yours were back ordered you would have gotten an email. I got my angry message the day i ordered it. so bummed! and yeah DDM is always slammed, i think mine took a couple weeks to come in.

 

[SQ.MD]

thats what i was thinking.. i went out and looked at mine and that tube pictured above is indeed a drain tube, so things are looking promising for that. that will save me $100 woohoo :banana:

The FX-R are pretty cool i didn't know there was a PnP kit where did you see that? or are these the ones you still gotta cut the housings? My buddy got the regular FX-R for his mustang and they are huge! but once you cut the hole it loos so clean, I bet they put out a dang good amount of light too. Are you getting new headlight (housing) too?

If yours were back ordered you would have gotten an email. I got my angry message the day i ordered it. so bummed! and yeah DDM is always slammed, i think mine took a couple weeks to come in.

what is this additional lighting which is going to save you $100 ? I am intrigued.

Yes, there is a PnP kit with FX-R[under projectors, there is an option for FX-R (morimoto are $25 cheaper)]. PNP Upgrade: Bi-xenon - Complete Retrofit Kits from The Retrofit Source Inc

And yes, I will definitely have to cut into my housing. I bought used 99 headlights from carparts.com. I am sure this retrofit will not take me a day to do (paint, epoxi, etc.), so I am glad i'll have my hazy/cloudy headlights to use in the mean time. Also, DDM has some pretty crappy customer service, I've called them several times over 2-3 days asking them to change my order but no one has yet answered my call. I've called both locations and nothing. It better not take them "weeks" to send me my kit otherwise I'm gonna be pissed.:gun4:

 

[GottaBeTRD]

oh ok i see what your talking about now, i was thinking the FX-R projectors were PnP (no modification needed) but yeah i think the only thing that scared me away from that is the epoxy part of course and the aiming. I have no patience or skill for that kind of stuff.

Since i dont have to buy an extra set of lights thats whats gonna save me $100. the additional lighting is a gonna be a surprise if it works right. I've built a piece thats gonna stick on the insides of the headlight and then i have some Amber LED's that fit in the piece. its gonna be sick!! if my freaking projectors ever get here geez!

 

[rickashay]

Awesome! Im stoked to see how your headlights turn out. I have done a lot of retrofits in my time but havent seen any 4Runner ones that particularly appeal to me. The gatling shrouds look best though from what I have seen so far. You will like the Mini D2S, they are way easier to mount and setup vs. the FX-R's or TL's etc.

Here is a pic of my Mini D2S setup I did for my 95 Toyota Pickup:

I just bought a 3rd gen T4R yesterday, going to pick it up on Tuesday. I will start my retrofit hopefully in the next week. I will be using this thread for ideas!

A question regarding painting.... Has anyone ever seen the housing completely blacked out? I mean the reflector area as well as the rounded corners that are blacked out on the JDM lights...the WHOLE assembly? I think this may look really good it you color matched your shroud (whatever one you chose) to the body of the truck.

Oh, If you need help with your retro or have any Q's, I can probably help....

Cheers

 

[GottaBeTRD]

hey Richashay thanks for posting that pic it makes me feel better about the fit of the shroud. i am reassured now. and i do have may questions but before that...

Brown Santa came to see me today and left me my present!!!

and then this is the LED setup that i put together

my question so far is i thought you could screw the shoud into the projector but i dont see anyway to do it. how do you get the shroud to stay?

last question for all of you. i didn't buy extra headlights so im taking a chance using my OEMs you guys think i should tackle it this weekend?

 

[GottaBeTRD]

BTW yeah there is a member who did the blacj housing thing you were talking about
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/67737-black-housing-projectors-hids.html

 

[GottaBeTRD]

freak! I ran in to a bind. im trying to take the black thing off of the back of the headlight anyone know where that thread is? i cant find it (lights are already off the runner) trying to get them ready to cook

 

[Clemsonfan15]

It might be too late, but is this what you need?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/40425-need-help-replacing-headlight-assembly.html

 

[GottaBeTRD]

no taking them out was so easy! haha i was on a roill till i ran into this.

im trying to figure out how to take these clips out any ideas?
i used this thread but i know there is a better one out there
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/61409-diy-cheap-easy-hid-projector-retrofit.html

 

[Rock Slide]

You just press in both sides of the clip and then push the clip out.

 

[chad99]

yea its kind of a pain but once you know how to do it its easy, I can't remember what I used, think it was adjustable pliers to squeeze the clip then just pushed it out; i think the diy says to use two people but you can do it by your self

 

[GottaBeTRD]

yeah thats what threw me off, needing some extra hands so i push in on the clip when i squeeze the tabs? so it it goes inside? or do i pull it out? sorry im confused

 

[Rock Slide]

Just squeeze in the sides and push it away from you (push inside). I used a small flat head screwdriver and did each one at a time. It will make more sense when you get the clip out as to the purpose of this clip...

 

[GottaBeTRD]

ah i get it now! should i have unscrewed the udjuster bolts first? this thing feels solid! its not budging at all lol

i appreciate your guys help in this by the way

 

[Rock Slide]

ah i get it now! should i have unscrewed the udjuster bolts first?

LOL, yeah, probably would have helped...but you're learning, so no worries.

You do it enough times, you'll know the right steps to take next time.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

dang im gonna have to realign these things... that sucks! so i just keep turning until they come off?

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

the mini d2s are ok but i dont like them in a 3rd gen housing. i prefer using a FX projector and even the tl one if i ever fine a nice enought shroud to use with it. nice to see my old headlight pictures help inspire some of the work on here.