Alrighty - 98 Sunfire. Pretty stock exterior. I HATE my factory headlight housings. I have a few bucks, but not enough to get one of the projector conversions that are out there ($450ish) and I am not taking these headlights apart again to stuff projectors and lenses myself... did it once to put the "Audi" LED strips in... looks stupid, really regret it, never use em.
So enough rant and rave - What headlights out of a different J (the 03+ cavalier look like they could fit it the housing got modded a bit... like lose the signal) or even a different vehicle totally do you guys think would look decent in the Sunfire's headlight hole. Its kinda square, so I was thinking maybe
3000GT headlights would be interesting. I have plenty of time (laid off from work...) and I know enough about bodywork where I am not terrified of this mod. I would like to keep 9007 bulbs whatever route I go however, as I already have bixenon HIDs in the car, and not sure how or where I would get the new base for the bulbs.
Ideas are all welcome - PLEASE ONE REQUEST - I have heard it too many times, I am
NOT doing a cavalier front end conversion with Mazda 6 lights. I think they look awesome, but for some reason, I have grown attached to my Sunfire front bumper. lol
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Forgot to subscribe to my own thread... durrrrp
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for less than $450 your options are pretty limited, but i think 3rd gen Eclipse headlights might look good on a sunfire.
That's a pretty nifty idea too. Like I said - not looking to spend a ton, but I could get a used set from my local UPull pretty cheap and if I don't like em, take em back or sell em on ebay. lol
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Hell if I had an 03+ the 4th Gen Eclipse headlights look like they would fit nicely too... wonder if this was a conspiracy between Mitsubishi and GM?
GM - "Lets make our Sunfire Headlights (95 - 02) realllly similar to a gen3 eclipse and our 03+ reallly similar to the 4th gen!"
Mitsubishi - "That way, we can sell you guys headlights as an aftermarket accessory and everyone will be really happy!"
GM & Mitsubishi at the same time - "SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!"
Sorry for my crazy thought process - not enough sleep today as you can tell by me thinking this through at 4:18 AM (Eastern time)
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cannon fodder wrote:for less than $450 your options are pretty limited, but i think 3rd gen Eclipse headlights might look good on a sunfire.
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those look like eclipse lights in there, if you look close. the lens is way different than my OEM sunfire and those reflectors look way different. They remind me more of the eclipse or maybe even the 03+ Cavy.
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I like the Eclipse light idea....if that pic is them then they would look good.....On my old sunfire I was gonna do projectors but was also going to put the turn signal in the headlight housing...either in the lower- inner corner or the upper outer...using a round super bright LED cluster ( maybe 3 or 4 ).....Just an dea...and I'm sure that would be under 450 for both
2003 Cavalier
Stock 2.2 Liter, 5 speed
" Leave the rice to Uncle Ben's and the wings to KFC..
Go clean or go home. "
Road To Change wrote:Forgot to subscribe to my own thread... durrrrp
Noob question, but how to I subscribe? Lol
Daniel Thissen wrote:Road To Change wrote:Forgot to subscribe to my own thread... durrrrp
Noob question, but how to I subscribe? Lol
Check the "email me replies to this thread" box at the bottom of your reply. haha. YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO IT ONCE.
Marc S. wrote: I like the Eclipse light idea....if that pic is them then they would look good.....On my old sunfire I was gonna do projectors but was also going to put the turn signal in the headlight housing...either in the lower- inner corner or the upper outer...using a round super bright LED cluster ( maybe 3 or 4 ).....Just an dea...and I'm sure that would be under 450 for both
I know for a fact I can get a set of Eclipse lights off ebay dirt cheap and I just found a set on my local Craigslist for $60 left and right. =) I am waiting to see what others think, but I really like the idea and with being laid off, have plenty of free time... (and my tax return to spend on the lights). As far as your idea with the LED inside the housing, that would be really interesting looking. I have seen it done a few times on different cars and it looks cool. I think I would need to get clear lenses and projectors for my HIDs at that point, and in all reality, by the time I am done buying that stuff, I am over budget. Benham (on the org) said the clear lenses are approx $75, the projector retrofits on ebay are $250 - $300 for a good set (there is one brand I trust and thats it as far as ebay HIDs go) and then I have to get LED clusters in there and wired somehow, so if there is ever a problem it doesn't require me taking my lenses off to fix. I already have LED strips inside my lights that are functional turn signals and parking lights, but the diffused lenses from the factory ruin the look. I seriously think I spent more time on my factory headlights (without ever changing lenses) to ever want to look at them again.
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Road To Change wrote:I know for a fact I can get a set of Eclipse lights off ebay dirt cheap and I just found a set on my local Craigslist for $60 left and right. =) I am waiting to see what others think, but I really like the idea and with being laid off, have plenty of free time... (and my tax return to spend on the lights). As far as your idea with the LED inside the housing, that would be really interesting looking. I have seen it done a few times on different cars and it looks cool. I think I would need to get clear lenses and projectors for my HIDs at that point, and in all reality, by the time I am done buying that stuff, I am over budget. Benham (on the org) said the clear lenses are approx $75, the projector retrofits on ebay are $250 - $300 for a good set (there is one brand I trust and thats it as far as ebay HIDs go) and then I have to get LED clusters in there and wired somehow, so if there is ever a problem it doesn't require me taking my lenses off to fix. I already have LED strips inside my lights that are functional turn signals and parking lights, but the diffused lenses from the factory ruin the look. I seriously think I spent more time on my factory headlights (without ever changing lenses) to ever want to look at them again.
I think the eclipse lights are going to require more body modification than you think, they are much longer than stock, and the curves are different as well. I do like the sunfire in the pic, dont know what headlights they are.... If you like the turn signal idea, I would use some turn signal housings from something and put them into the headlight housing, dont just throw bulbs in. Do you have pics of your current setup? and what you like/dont like about them?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Tuesday, February 01, 2011 7:08 AM
Go for it. I mean I'd personally say your best bet is to get clear lenses and make a nice set of sunfire headlights, but it'd be really cool to see ya make something else work. I think to make it look good, whether eclipse or other similar shaped lights, it's going to take ALOT of work.. but It'd be pretty neat to see something new! I say do it & keep us posted on your progress.
A Fetter put the non-popup RX-7 headlights in his old fire. They were sexy.
its an old concept. time for something new to take the reigns. - Z yaaaa
Road To Change wrote:\
those look like eclipse lights in there, if you look close. the lens is way different than my OEM sunfire and those reflectors look way different. They remind me more of the eclipse or maybe even the 03+ Cavy.
Those definitely aren't eclipse lights (I have a 3rd gen eclipse sitting in my driveway for comparison, lol). Those look like sunfire lights with clear lenses and maybe modded internals, and evil eyes welded to the hood.
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I think the eclipse lights are going to require more body modification than you think, they are much longer than stock, and the curves are different as well. I do like the sunfire in the pic, dont know what headlights they are
THIS. The eclipse lights are not only much longer, but the housings are much larger, so the whole rear assembly of the light is deeper/taller...it's going to pass right through rad support. Basically the whole area where the back of your light clips to will need a giant whole cut through. It's going to severely compromise the structural integrity there and will need some major fab work to reinforce it. It unfortunately won't be a simple cut and drop in new light.
Now on the other hand, I do think 3rd gen eclipse lights would look tits on a sunfire with the right front bumper. If you have the skils to the fab work to the rad support and front engine bay, I say go for it. If not I think it's going to be a tough project. I know if I had a sunfire I would definitely think about something like this
Tinkles wrote:A Fetter put the non-popup RX-7 headlights in his old fire. They were sexy.
Pics?
Also - my current setup is stock lenses with a projector set out of some Chrysler (perhaps a 300m?) mounted and sealed in the unit.
There are several things I hate about them.
1. They look stock...
2. The light output even with HIDs and a projector is only a 7 out of 10 at best
3. Aftermarket kinda forgot about us fire owners. I see tons of aftermarket lights for pretty much any other kind of car.
4. I am realllly bored with the stock front end, but I only want to make subtle changes.
Fab work really doesn't scare me at all. When I got the car, it was totaled from being rammed by a semi. I did almost all of the body work / sub frame rebuild myself. It took me 9 months to get it done, but I did it on weekends and late nights when I wasn't working. I now work less crazy hours, so I have a little more time to play.
I am getting a set of eclipse lights from a guy on craigslist for a couple of XBox 360 games (yep... that awesome. lol) so I will do some mock up stuff and see how much cutting, welding and possibly fiberglass work will need to be done. If I decide not to go with those, I can always sell the lights on ebay.
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id be interested in seeing how this goes. keep us updated if you end up doing it
