LX470 Projector - TSX-R Lens Swap

[Luke111]

Mine required adding two shims along with the OEM shim to get the cutoff and i had to use a rubber shim between the lens and the metal lens frame to secure the lens down tight. Without the rubber shim the lens moved around. Looks great!

 

[mkivtdi]

So The Retrofit Source just sent a new lens out my way. In the meantime, I was wondering if DERLIN is a suitable material for making a 2MM spacer. I didn't like the paper approach, and I've got a few days to mull this over, so I made these real quick.

Just not sure if the material is suitable for the heat? I don't even know how hot these bulbs and, more importantly, the surrounding area, gets. Thoughts?

 

[Luke111]

You might find your answer in this document on molding Delrin

http://www.dupont.com/content/dam/d...ics/documents/Delrin/Delrin Molding Guide.pdf

 

[mkivtdi]

Okay, so per that manual:

Wide useful temperature range (in air: –50 to 90°C [–58 to 194°F], with intermittent use up to 120°C [248°F]).

So next question -- what's the temp of the air/glass out by the lens? A quick google seems to point towards a MELTING POINT of Derlin at 347°F

 

[Luke111]

Use the paper shims

 

[mkivtdi]

For some reason, though, the bulb has to be "finetuned" as 2000UZJ describes at the top of this page in order to get the cutoff just right... you'll see what that means when you attempt your own retrofit!

Still having issues with the "perfect" alignment/spacing/shimming of the bulb.

For some reason, the tolerances are extremely tight -- at least it was for me. I've broken the ceramic return bar on one of my bulbs, and I've spent a few hours trying to get them locked into the housing where the cutoff is perfect. I've tried shimming, trimming, cut off the nubs which were poorly aligned to begin with... (quality control issue?)

Any other trick i'm not thinking about?

I'm going to ask a really stupid question -- but I'm installing the bulbs in the housing with the return bar facing straight down at 6:00, right?
Just been pretty frustrated knowing I'm so close... and the "easy part" (installing a simple bulb) is becoming a lengthy project.

But the bulb is so tight in the opening in the back of the bowl, that there's not much room for adjustment without the bar/bulb touching the sides.

Will grinding off the "squirrel finders" as mentioned earlier in the thread help? Is that a mandatory step creating such a headache for me?

 

[Luke111]

Still having issues with the "perfect" alignment/spacing/shimming of the bulb.

For some reason, the tolerances are extremely tight -- at least it was for me. I've broken the ceramic return bar on one of my bulbs, and I've spent a few hours trying to get them locked into the housing where the cutoff is perfect. I've tried shimming, trimming, cut off the nubs which were poorly aligned to begin with... (quality control issue?)

Any other trick i'm not thinking about?

I'm going to ask a really stupid question -- but I'm installing the bulbs in the housing with the return bar facing straight down at 6:00, right?
Just been pretty frustrated knowing I'm so close... and the "easy part" (installing a simple bulb) is becoming a lengthy project.

But the bulb is so tight in the opening in the back of the bowl, that there's not much room for adjustment without the bar/bulb touching the sides.

Will grinding off the "squirrel finders" as mentioned earlier in the thread help? Is that a mandatory step creating such a headache for me?

Sent you a PM Let's talk

 

[mkivtdi]

I've posted several times in this thread, so I thought I'd follow up since I've finished the install.

Since everyone likes pics, we'll start there:

Now, i'm not a Light Nerd, so for my expectations, this worked out pretty well. It's head and shoulders above the best Osram Nightbreaker H1 halogen bulbs I had been running in the meantime. If anything, I wish I never spent $70 bucks a few months ago upgrading my Low/High beams with better halogen bulbs, and went straight to this setup from the get-go.

The 'fine tuning' of the H1 xenons bulbs was far and above the biggest pain point in this whole install. To get the right offset and angle of the bulb within the housing is painfully annoying. I've gotten them to a point where they're good enough for me, and I can live with them for now.
But, I'm going to try and source a used set of headlights off of craigslist and do a proper retrofit, because now i'm sort of hooked with how much better the light is, and the potential for how much better it can be with a legit setup, and not a half assed attempt.


Thanks!

 

[silverbullitt]

Took these pics up in the mountains last weekend. Cellphone camera doesn't capture all the light but I lit up everything. Road, trees, mountains. Tried to take a pic when my light was spreading over & flashing in the trees. Phone wouldn't capture the extra light.

 

[mkivtdi]

silver, your output is insane. the light is just so much 'thicker'. I want to do a true retrofit like you did!

 

[Luke111]

I've posted several times in this thread, so I thought I'd follow up since I've finished the install.

Since everyone likes pics, we'll start there:

Now, i'm not a Light Nerd, so for my expectations, this worked out pretty well. It's head and shoulders above the best Osram Nightbreaker H1 halogen bulbs I had been running in the meantime. If anything, I wish I never spent $70 bucks a few months ago upgrading my Low/High beams with better halogen bulbs, and went straight to this setup from the get-go.

The 'fine tuning' of the H1 xenons bulbs was far and above the biggest pain point in this whole install. To get the right offset and angle of the bulb within the housing is painfully annoying. I've gotten them to a point where they're good enough for me, and I can live with them for now.
But, I'm going to try and source a used set of headlights off of craigslist and do a proper retrofit, because now i'm sort of hooked with how much better the light is, and the potential for how much better it can be with a legit setup, and not a half assed attempt.


Thanks!

Looks like you figured it out.. looks great

 

[silverbullitt]

I'm about to open up my lights again to drop the shield to get more light out.

 

[rjsimz]

@silverbullitt do you have your own step by step retrofit guide with all the materials you purchased? I'm a light newbie and have an extra pair of lights that I would like to have a hand on trying my own retrofit on my LX470. I'm a little weary of the cutting/dremeling part but I think once I have the lights apart, I'll be more comfortable. A person like me needs to know what EXACTLY I need to cut.

 

[DirtDawg]

@silverbullitt do you have your own step by step retrofit guide with all the materials you purchased? I'm a light newbie and have an extra pair of lights that I would like to have a hand on trying my own retrofit on my LX470. I'm a little weary of the cutting/dremeling part but I think once I have the lights apart, I'll be more comfortable. A person like me needs to know what EXACTLY I need to cut.

In the FAQ, everything you need to know about retrofitting LX lights and all associated threads: LX Headlight Upgrade Database

 

[rjsimz]

boom. @DirtDawg that's exactly what I was looking for. Sorry for overlooking that.

 

[silverbullitt]

It's a very easy retrofit. SC430 projectors mounting points is very very close to the LX470 projectors. As if the SC430 projectors were made for this truck

 

[silverbullitt]

pic #1 is the LX470 projectors with the SC430 bowl mounted. Pic #2 is the SC430 projectors put together. That's when I decided to cut the lx projector & just use the bracket.

 

[bamabrock]

To get this thread back on topic of just upgrading the OEM projector with upgraded lenses , I have a set of the TSX-R lenses and the spacers someone can have.

I bought them, but changed course and purchased TSX projectors instead (because the SC430 projectors are rare and twice the price if you find them).

The LX470 headlight database dirtdawg created has all the levels of upgrades broken out with links and refers back to this thread for a how to on the easiest upgrade. LX Headlight Upgrade Database

 

[prickly]

How much would an already retro-fitted headlight with TSX lens-swap cost? Does anyone here sell them already retrofit? I live in the middle east and have myself a US Spec LX470 07.

 

[Luke111]

I sell them with Morimoto D2S projectors... PM me for pricing