To look after the legality issue, let's assume that this would be for offroad use only. I'm posting this here because the JDM trucks have the one piece molded headlight housings and a glass front lens which appears to be different from the US spec'd headlights. Has anyone done a retrofit like this? I'm just curious if anyone has done this. Is there a link to somone who has done this somewhere? I've done some searching but not had much luck so far. And yes, I know it's not DOT approved etc. That's not what I'm asking.
HID retrofit into HDJ81 housings
- Thread starter Martin White
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Have not done this, but I think it would be easy.
I had to replace the h4 bulb the other day.
The JMD lights use a neat system.
I am sure a h4 HID would go right in.
As for the lights.
I am looking to see if we can just order the glass, and not the whole lens.
Then we remove the old glass (would bot matter if it broke) and epoxy the new one in.
Cheers,
Nick
I had to replace the h4 bulb the other day.
The JMD lights use a neat system.
I am sure a h4 HID would go right in.
As for the lights.
I am looking to see if we can just order the glass, and not the whole lens.
Then we remove the old glass (would bot matter if it broke) and epoxy the new one in.
Cheers,
Nick
- Thread starter
- #4
Nick, I follow your suggestion. But, I'm talking more about putting a true projector in the housing, not just putting HID bulbs in the current bulb's position. Otherwise you run the problem of a lens not designed for the HID bulb. But for example, a pair of IPF X51's runs about $170 or so, and although they are really good, they are not a patch on HID. To make this work, the front glass would have to be ground smooth so the projector would work.
Martin White said:
But with this you will still have DOT issues.
Remember, the headlights are probably the first thing they will look at.
Headlights are the one thing that needs changing the 81.
(DRL is an addition, not a change).
Cheers,
Nick
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
Yes, I realize that. It's hypothetical at this point. There are ways to deal with that sort of issue which creative imaginations can come up with, and that would still be legal.
I haven't done it, but it has been done.
I think few older burners/bulbs had some issues with their length being too long to fit in there, but it's possible.
A couple of guys that were at my place a couple of weeks ago have them and they didn't mention having any problems.
I think the lowbeam is good (as far as light output goes, not necessarily the light pattern), but the high is not as good as one would expect. But I've head people say that the lowbeam is so bright and reaches far (not a good thing in this case for on-coming traffic though) they don't feel the need to turn on the highs.
Another issue I've head is that when you turn the highbeams on the highbeam indicator light on the instrumental panel does not light up w/o modification.
FWIW here are a couple of the pages with HID installation (in Japanese):
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~lc80/diy-hid.htm
http://www.geocities.jp/simba01jp/hid1.htm
I think few older burners/bulbs had some issues with their length being too long to fit in there, but it's possible.
A couple of guys that were at my place a couple of weeks ago have them and they didn't mention having any problems.
I think the lowbeam is good (as far as light output goes, not necessarily the light pattern), but the high is not as good as one would expect. But I've head people say that the lowbeam is so bright and reaches far (not a good thing in this case for on-coming traffic though) they don't feel the need to turn on the highs.
Another issue I've head is that when you turn the highbeams on the highbeam indicator light on the instrumental panel does not light up w/o modification.
FWIW here are a couple of the pages with HID installation (in Japanese):
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~lc80/diy-hid.htm
http://www.geocities.jp/simba01jp/hid1.htm
Well eventually one finds what one is looking for! Been looking for that kind of info for such a long time!
Nick, did you find out if it was indeed possible to replace the front lens for a DOT version and what work it implied? I've been looking for a long time for an answer to this, what have you found out?
As for HID lamps - how do they perform? Have you tried?
I'd love to know your findings, please keep me posted!
Chris