MLM7447

It’s an Idea. I know it’s been done probably a bagillion times over the years, but I wanted to bounce it off the collective before putting the brand new motorized headlight actuators up for sale.

Im going to seal the doors shut, and put a custom front end similar to a 70/72. There’ll be no chrome bumper, and a clean edge. I’m guessing that I’ll have to form a buck out of some kinda foam and seal it before I actually start laying fiberglass over it, as opposed to just being able to buy something already done. bottom line, I really like the shorter nose compared to the 80 style, and am looking for headlight alternatives. I’ve looked at putting something in the fenders like the C7 lights that have been done, but it still looks out of place to me. The top front of the car needs to stay “ unmolested” in my opinion.

There are numerous universal small LED hi/lo units that the lower valance could be made to accommodate. But obviously, they’ll be really low. The design objective will be to hide the damn things, rather than make them any part of the front end. They will obviously be exposed, but no more visible than what will be required of a 3.5” diameter circle cut into the lower grille material. The units that I have sitting in a cart are adjustable, hi/lo/combo, and are rated to 1500 meters in high beam mode, and they ain’t cheap.( 200.00).

Lastly Alabama doesn’t inspect. There isn’t any law regulating what I use, but the units I’m thinking about are DOT approved.

So that’s all the info I can provide, I just want to know what everyone thinks of the idea, and get feed back from somebody that has done something similar. Thanks.

oldgto

Even though your state doesn`t inspect cars, doesn`t mean they don`t have laws regulating what you can put on the road.
Florida doesn`t inspect either, but they`ll pull you over if you drive something that doesn`t have the minimum required equipment on it.
I`d contact the DMV, or search for minimum headlight height requirements. If there are none, you`re good to go.

vettebuyer6369

This is important. Every state has statute on automotive equipment regulations, include minimum design and placement of headlights. In Alabama:

https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-3...-32-5-240.html

Research this thoroughly before you start making radical design changes.

MLM7447

Alabama doesn’t care if the tires are bald, ( numerous hoopty’s are always in the ditch after a rain storm) the car smokes like a train, ( let alone smog/gas’s efficient) or if it’s been in a wreck and half of the busted out glass is covered in plastic and duct tape. ( and none of that is an exaggeration). The headlights are rated as replacements, and DOT approved, so as long as i can get them aimed where they’re not just glorified fog lights and can be used as intended, I think I’ll be ok.

MLM7447

I guess I stand corrected, at least in the state code book, they have a stated set of rules. There’s probably stuff in there about emissions compliance, minimum safety adherence, and driver visibility standards too. ( lack of enforcement is obviously where the “rubber meets the road”)
I appreciate your work via the lookup. It’s one thing to have a bald set of tires, ( that can obviously be easily remedied) relocating the headlights and sealing the old doors shut,…..different story.

But i still wonder though,….How these guy got away with it ( especially the rectangle headlight guy….the headlights are “ advertising” look at Me!)




Not that I intend to do the latter, it’s the top car that has me motivated to do something.
The top car is freakin beautiful….and whether is an optical illusion intended or not, the reflection of the other car next to it has created a shark “ eye” to add to the nose that is about as close to shark like as it could ever be.

Rescue Rogers

YOu should see what drives around in the small cities in Alaska.

Richard454

Here's some really slim headlights - that I think would work really well in the front grill area.

Look up "jewel headlights"-

Acura MDX





Retrofitted on a Honda....


And here it's done on a camaro

MLM7447

I’ve all but given up on the Idea.

I learned my lesson the l messed with the factory design.


My 1989 Fox coupe that I grafted 68 head, and tails into.
Needless to say, this took a lot of time to make work. Public approval usually clocked in at about 30%. For every 3 that really liked it, I’d have to wade through 7 “ Not my cup of teas” , or “While I can appreciate the work”, or just plain negative comments. There are those that think you build it for you, but what YOU might think is cool, doesn’t always float past the general consensus. And for me, (despite the fact that I want to make the C3 different), The face of that car is one that will never get any better than it already is.

If I can’t put the headlights under the nose in the grille area ( because of some future legality issue) where the mod doesn’t interfere with the factory look topside, I’ll bail on the idea.
I’ve looked at a lot of other build options. Guys have put Toyota Celica lights, and Even tried to keep it in the same brand by putting C7 headlights into the front fenders, and as soon as the car hits the eye of the public, it’s gets punched right in the face.

Im not that much of a Sadist. I don’t like getting beat on.

Rescue Rogers

I had the same comments from a guy sitting near me about my Hotwheels vette. He loud talking on his sell phone to a buddy of his saying how nice my 68 was and the paint was beautiful but I put these ugly hotwheels stickers on it. Then he was trying to figure out why I would do it. Never came and asked though.
LIke you said, we mod for ourselves, not for their approval

derekderek

what i would like to do is find legit modern headlights that are about 2 inches high. and mount them in the top of the headlight doors and set them to open until level with the ground with lights exposed instead of up like rabbit ears. would probably have to fab new inner buckets and do electric actuators as vacuun is designed to open until they lock in place.

Vibguy

kinda like this?

derekderek

something like them-if dot legit-only mounted in the headlight doors so they open about 1`1/2 inches to expose them.

MLM7447

Its that, and the brutal comments that show up on any given web forum once pictures of the finished project start floating around. Some people are standing w/I earshot making derogatory comments in the same space as you. That’s why I don’t take to the “ Build it for you” mentality. On this forum alone, they almost universally panned a shop built 74 roadster that had C7 headlights. Like I said, I like different, but not at the cost of having to argue why you did what you did to every 7/10 guys that come along.
I thought about that too, but think that’s like trying to reinvent a wheel that’s already round. If those headlight doors are still gonna pop up, I may as well just let them pop up like the nighttime air brakes they already are, as opposed to trying to retro in a set of lights that don’t fit, worry about trying to get them aimed, and then have to figure a way to limit how high the headlight doors raise.

Me personally, if I wasn’t worried about the one day in the far off future that will come when I decide to sell it, the headlight dilemma is solved. I’d stick the 3.5 diameter LED units that I’ve got sitting in a cart in the grille space, seal those doors shut, and roll with it. But….. As much money as I’ve already poured into this car ( now tipping 40k)….I’d rather not limit my future resale, and target market base to a single digit percentage…ultimately waiting on the one guy who don’t care that he may have to reverse something that would be a giant pain in the *** to restore.

Richard454

You mean something like this? Using Morimoto projectors-

derekderek

pre-effing-cisely

MLM7447

I actually like the green car better, but after looking on morimoto’s website, those lights are only rated as daytime running lights. The silver car also looks freakin cool,…I’d be inspired to try and copy a version for myself.

tonyk375

That green car is SEXXY!

walleyfisher

If I had the extra jing sitting in a jar some place, I would love my car to look like silver '69 with the modified headlight bezels, that thing rocks

tonyk375

Sure looks cleaner than stock!

Richard454

The silver car is actually a 68- If interested you can contact me - Richard454@comcast.net and I can get you in touch with the guy that made them.