Protector retrofit in progress

[gshadow325]

You crazy 5th Gen peeps need some of my love. Lol, got dropped off a retrofit to do for someone on here. I will not say who it is. So documenting the progress

Since its a snow day I mean slow day at the shop. ...

Opened the box today

Then one light became 2 pieces

Then it became four!

 

[gshadow325]

Now it becomes 6 pieces

 

[gshadow325]

 

[gshadow325]

Morimoto fxr

Headlight getting a black housing done.

Thats all for today. Waiting on paint in blizzard white to come in.

 

[MadeInMaine]

Good work, I did the same on my last vehicle and loved it. I may be purchasing a '14 soon, and thinking about added a 2nd projector in the stock headlights also.

Keep up the postings!!!!

 

[eddiebx]

Steve, if this is going to be anything like your own retrofit thread, it's going to turn out epic! Can't wait to see how you're planning to trick this one out op2:

 

[gshadow325]

 

[philsey]

[MENTION=93434]gshadow325[/MENTION]

Nice work Steve.

Nice Volvo. Have you seen the new Estate Shooting Brake concept? Just wow!

 

[gshadow325]

No I have not, but I did see two projector shrouds in black and one bezel in black, just waiting on the blizzard white spray paint.

Looking good, that's all I have for today. Tomorrow I have 3 remote starters to do and one Kenwood dnx890hd radio install to do. So maybe I can get it painted and get it ready to put back together tomorrow. Still have to wire up the two halos.

I am surprised that this thread didn't get much responses from you 5th Gen guys. Considering how vocal most of you guys are

Enjoy what I have posted for now I promise to update this thread when I can.

 

[kaloman]

Have any of you with retrofits experienced condensation or moisture? I have in mine, in fact I just got them back from the retrofitter and he mentioned that our lights don't seem to have as many vent ports as other headlight housings. I sent them back to get resealed and he didn't notice anything unusual. I started to develop fogging around 8 months after the retrofit. The sucker would dry overnight, but once it rained, usually the fogging returned. Both the retrofitter and I even considered drilling additional vent ports behind the units.

 

[TEQ.FZJ]

Have any of you with retrofits experienced condensation or moisture? I have in mine, in fact I just got them back from the retrofitter and he mentioned that our lights don't seem to have as many vent ports as other headlight housings. I sent them back to get resealed and he didn't notice anything unusual. I started to develop fogging around 8 months after the retrofit. The sucker would dry overnight, but once it rained, usually the fogging returned. Both the retrofitter and I even considered drilling additional vent ports behind the units.

I've opened up several headlights over the years. They always developed moisture inside until I started adding extra sealant. Now I run bead of black outdoor silicone sealant before closing them up. The headlights on my Frontier haven't had a drop of condensation in almost 4 years now.

 

[gshadow325]

Have any of you with retrofits experienced condensation or moisture? I have in mine, in fact I just got them back from the retrofitter and he mentioned that our lights don't seem to have as many vent ports as other headlight housings. I sent them back to get resealed and he didn't notice anything unusual. I started to develop fogging around 8 months after the retrofit. The sucker would dry overnight, but once it rained, usually the fogging returned. Both the retrofitter and I even considered drilling additional vent ports behind the units.

NO DO NOT DRILL MORE HOLES!! just wanted to make it clear.

i will admit, yes i got condensation in my headlamps. AFTER i took my first retrofit apart for the 3rd time!! and did not add more sealant

have them reseal it properly. its called opening it up AGAIN. it cost money to use alot of butyl. many retrofitters want to make as much money as possible and skimp on materials, i use 3m butyl vs trs's stuff. i also only use a heat gun to do my retrofits. no oven
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/accessories/oci-butyl-rubber-glue.html#.UxUoPONdU_c

click on this picture if you want a idea on how its done LOL

 

[kaloman]

NO DO NOT DRILL MORE HOLES!! just wanted to make it clear.

i will admit, yes i got condensation in my headlamps. AFTER i took my first retrofit apart for the 3rd time!! and did not add more sealant

have them reseal it properly. its called opening it up AGAIN. it cost money to use alot of butyl. many retrofitters want to make as much money as possible and skimp on materials, i use 3m butyl vs trs's stuff. i also only use a heat gun to do my retrofits. no oven
OCI Butyl Rubber Glue - Accessories

click on this picture if you want a idea on how its done LOL

Don't worry, calmer minds prevailed and no holes were drilled. My retrofitter did not charge me to redo the seal and it looked like he put in more than what you showed in your video. I'm not sure what method he used to heat the sealant, but in the case of a heat gun, wouldn't the butyl get cooler on the opposite end?

Nice job by the way! I wish I had the time, patience, and workspace to do my own retrofit.

 

[gshadow325]

Just a quick video, I put more time into that. I use a stool that spins so I can just move the material than the tool. I heat the butyl then I put it together and clamp them down. I also prepare the original sealant by heating that up and pushing it in to make a channel so when I put my newly rolled up buytl in it sits in there. Kinda like how the hot dog will sit in the bun. The old buytl is the bun, then I split it open and the new buytl is rolled long and thin like the hot dog. Hope that gives you a idea of what I am trying to explain

 

[Jesse1983]

I am surprised that this thread didn't get much responses from you 5th Gen guys. Considering how vocal most of you guys are

you do know that there have been many 5th gen retros already, right? Your comment makes me think that you think this is uncharted territory.

your retro is looking great though. Looks like you're doing a dual projector setup? very nice if so. and your reflector bowl looks just like mine:

 

[gshadow325]

I was not referring to me thinking it's uncharted territory. I was referring to the many that have done it and would come in and offer their advice or just comment on the progress.

Yes, it's going to be a quad retro with dual halos.

 

[gshadow325]

Got the blizzard white paint in

prepped the shrouds to be painted white and black





mounted up the halo's on the high beam projector shroud

 

[gshadow325]

low beam bucket projector testing 123...





test fitting....why is the halo only lit up on one side?


click on the picture below to load the video of it in action...

 

[blizz86]

i know who wanted the alternating shroud colors! He'll be happy

Looks good. What do you mean it only lights up half?

 

[Jono.ful]

awww I hope you have better luck with your amber LED halos than I did. I mounted mine the exact same way - inside gatling gun shrouds - they lasted about a month before individual LED's started burning out. It was about 3 months before more than half no longer worked. Its a good look while they work for sure.
before

after