Mart Matin

Anyone done a write up on this? Got the car parked for the overhaul over the winter and I am gonna put these in too while its down! Help PLEASE!!

Mart Matin

Anybody???

supersupereight

The depot instructions are useless.
It tells you to pull the front bumper off..There was no way I was doing that.

Step 1.
Get the car up on good ramps and get yourself under the front

Step 2.
Remove the front airdam sides and small traingle shape access panel right in back of the airdam.. socket wrench is all that needed

Step 3.
Manually raise the haedlight assemblies
Remove the headlight covers and the plastic shroud for the headlights
You should be able to see the 4 bolts that hold the entire assembly in place. 2 different sizes..socket wrenches
Disconnect the headlight plugs and set aside.
From underneath you can twist thebrack duct air feeder and remove it or just push it aside..If your nimble you may not have to move it at all.

Step 4
Remove the 4 bolts carefully from under the car and up throught that access panel.
Be careful to protect the paint around the bumper with towels and rags so when you pull the last bolt it doesnt scratch you paint.

Step 5
Remove the entire haedlight assembly by pulling up forward a little and up away from the car. It comes out real easily.. Now you can see everything in there very well.. Those OEM bolt holes are your new mounting points for the depot lights

Step 6
Clean the area or when you underneath looking up and installing the new lights sh*ts going to be falling in your face(I cleaned and wore glasses)

Step 7
Install the depot brackets on the lights carefully..dont over torque them
Then its get tricky
Install the lights by placing them down in the hole..you have to wiggle it to make it fit..careful not to damage your paint(rags,towel)
Once you have the 3 bolts in(2 back ones 1 side one - loosely ONLY just enuf to hold the sucker) From the top try to manually align the light bezel so the revel is even around the hood/bumper

Step 8
Bezel aligned..I took a good sharpie and made a mark where the front
light bracket meets the steel bumper..Colr in the entire opening(its oval to give yourself some aligning room)

Step 9
remove the light..It sucks
Drill the center of the oval mark you made on that front steel bumper with a drill bit and have a self tapping screw that will work.

Step 10
Reinstall light
Install bolts almost tight
Align the bezel again...Looks good!
tighten the bolts
I tightened the back and side bolts and ensured the bezel reveal on those sides was perfect and then worked to get the self tapping screw in place
If the light falls a little and you need to prop it up I used an adjustable painters poll to hold tension up while I screwed in self tapping screw for front bolt.

Step 11
Connect electric to stock connector

Step 12
repeat for next side

It seems like a paint in the ****..
But taking off the bumper is too!
And then you dont have the bumper on to ensure your alignment/reveal is good..
So take the good with the bad..

When you put on the brackets notice the screw on back of the light..
That is what you turn to align/aim the lighting when you done..

Good luck
Total time for me 1st time...3-4 hours
Its not hard...just takes time to do slowly and correctly

Let me know if you need any other help
Oh yea..Passenger side has electrical connection that I just disconnected and zipped tied too body..

Marty
BLACKKNIGHTVETTE

Mart Matin

Thanks for the help Marty. I really appreciate it. I am going to tackle this in a couple weeks. Lets see how it goes!

supersupereight

After your done...
Your next challenge will be aiming the lights..
Because you only have access from underneath it will be a series of..
putting the car on the ramps...screw to raise the height...bring it down of ramps...park it distance from garage door...OK to low...Do it again


Once you get the light dialed in..its much better than the stock lights...more focused and directional..

Keep me posted if you have any additional questions..

Marty

Mart Matin

Cool man. I will. Doing the clutch swap and parts swap this next week then onto the lights! Thanks again.

jrc27

removing the front bumper is the easiest way to do the install

supersupereight

I have the GM service manual and it doesnt seem all that hard if your handy...
But it does seem a little scary to start taking big parts off..
I took the harder road but the one I felt would lead to a more sucessful outcome..

Maybe you can post a thread on removal of front bumper in 3 easy steps!!

jcb5565

Go here for a article with photos on how to install Depo projector headlights.

www.fast-corvette.com

Vegas Vette

I will be installing a set tomorrow on my 03 Z06 I removed the lens and painted the shroud EB to match the car. They came out great pics comming soon.

jrc27

yeah right

supersupereight

Is that "yeah right" ....sarcasm

or "yeah right" ....I agree

supersupereight

Would love to see results..

maybe a "how to" post for all us

Thanks
M
BKVETTE

Mart Matin

Well I am finally getting around to the install. Got one in tonight. I am seriously wondering why in the hell anyone would take the front bumper off!!! It is so easy doing it with the bumper on! Thanks for the help. It gonna look good!!!!

jrc27

it's even easier with the front bumper off

supersupereight

Until you start giving clinics with pictures and detailed instructions of the bumper coming off and going on, alignment, etc it..

It wont be easier for the average joe..
Its easy for you since you've done it before.

supersupereight

Glad to help!!
And it does look good..
And the BONUS!! the light output is much better than the stock lights..
Eureka!!...You can see at night!!!


BKV

2000BSME

I'm glad for this thread.

That "fast vette" link makes it look like you don't even need to get under the car for the install... ?

Spoon83

You do need to go under the car. Remove the cover panels in front of the wheels so you can tighten the mounting points and have access to the adjustment screw...

2000BSME

Yeah, I just started one, and I found this out. These are going to look awesome with the cf hood that I'm sporting.