[DeTomaso] Fw: Headlight Photos

Fri Dec 26 01:48:28 EST 2008

Thanks Michael,
     I was planning to have patterns of my finished product,  but after 
making numerous versions of the different parts,  I got tired of tracing 
parts that didn't work out.  So,  I really don't have much that would be of 
use.  If you and others are interested,  I might take one apart and make up 
some patterns that would at least give you some place to start.  I could 
then fax a copy.  Let me know if you are interested.  The sheet metal I used 
was 22 gauge.  I started with 26 gauge,  but it was too hard to work with 
because it was so flimsy.  The first versions I made had no adjustment other 
than the up/down factory stops at the limit switches.  Left/right and 
vertical adjusting of the individual lights would have to have been done by 
trimming sheet metal or using washers/spacers.  The early versions were 
basically a one piece design which would probably work,  but I wanted 
adjustment of the individual lights to be easier.  I eventually made a two 
piece frame to capture each bulb.  The frame was then secured to the 
original housing by three screws,  at least two of the three should be 
adjustable,  one for vertical and one for horizontal.  I drove the car 
around like this until I got the lights properly adjusted.  I then made a 
separate housing to cover the frame.  The housing has three main pieces, 
left side,  right side and bottom.  I had to experiment to get the correct 
wires on the correct terminals as the orientation of the three prongs on the 
old bulbs were different than the new.

Art


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <michael at michaelshortt.com>
To: "astephens" <artstephens at charter.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2008 4:21 AM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Fw: Headlight Photos


> Nice photo series.
>
> Did you keep measurements or keep paper patterns.
>
> Michael in Savannah
> Merry Christmas
>
> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 1:30 AM, astephens <artstephens at charter.net> 
> wrote:
>
>>         Having lived with the Frog Eye headlights for more than ten years
>> on 4268,  I finally decided to do something about them on 2556.  Part of
>> the
>> reason it took so long to get around to this was probably the thousand
>> dollar price tag for the Vader and Kirk Evans kits.  A couple of years 
>> ago,
>> Dave Rudderow of TPOC  told me that he and Bud Williams had converted 
>> their
>> cars to the rectangular bulbs many years prior.  Dave emphasized how easy
>> and inexpensive it was to do the conversion themselves,  probably before
>> there were conversion kits?  I always thought it sounded like a great 
>> idea
>> and I finally got around to doing it.  The project was definitely
>> inexpensive,  but easy,  not so much.  It took me the better part of 
>> three
>> weeks to do the job!  I don't recommend tackling it unless you have more
>> time than money (or good sense).  :-))  That being said,  I'm pretty 
>> happy
>> with the outcome,  though there were a number of times when I was asking
>> myself if I wasn't trying to re-invent the wheel.  I spent about fifty 
>> five
>> dollars on the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs #H4666ST and probably another
>> thirty bucks on hardware.  The 85 dollars I spent sounds pretty 
>> inexpensive
>> compared to the price of the kits,  but a thousand dollars sounded cheap 
>> by
>> the time I got done with this damn project!  So, unless you are a glutton
>> for punishment,  (or perhaps just more talented than myself),  sticking 
>> to
>> one of the kits is probably a better way to go.  The link below has a 
>> large
>> number of pictures of my project from start to finish.  The first three
>> pictures are of Dave's car,  the rest are from my project.  Much of the
>> hardware in the first 80% of the pictures wound up being trashed until I
>> came up with what I wanted.  The last pictures are of the finished 
>> product.
>>
>> Art
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > You're invited to view my online photos at the Gallery. Enjoy!
>> >
>> >
>> > You're invited to view these photos online at KODAK Gallery!
>> > Just click on View Photos to get started.
>> >
>> http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=j9zz6vq.3gfhgfja&x=0&y=7asy2f&localeid=en_US
>> > If you'd like to save this album, just sign in, or
>> > if you're new to the Gallery, create a free account. Once you've
>> > signed in, you'll be able to view this album whenever you want
>> > and order Kodak prints of your favorite photos.
>> >
>> > Enjoy!
>> > Instructions: Click view photos to begin. If you're
>> > an existing member you'll be asked to sign in. If not, you can
>> > join the Gallery for free.
>> > http://www.kodakgallery.com/Register.jsp
>> >
>> > Questions? Visit http://help.kodakgallery.com.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------
>> > The KODAK Gallery Customer Service Team
>> > Phone: 800-360-9098 / 512-651-9770 Outside of the US and Canada
>> >
>> > ------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > If you cannot see the links above, copy and paste the
>> > following URL directly into your browser:
>> >
>> http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=j9zz6vq.3gfhgfja&x=0&y=7asy2f&localeid=en_US
>> >
>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Michael L. Shortt
> Savannah, Georgia
> www.michaelshortt.com
> michael at michaelshortt.com
> 912-232-9390
>
>
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