The unwanted headlight, taking the road less traveled...

[koiracer]

Hey everyone, we did a fun DIY project this weekend and ended up with awesome results. Basically took off my clear two piece and replaced them with some older one piece diffused headlights. From what I've read, the opposite of what most do. Then we did some custom work and JDMafied them. So not sure if I'm the first to do this, but if so, please enjoy!!

 

I have a 98 GT wagon and not so recently took the stock headlight and signal lights and painted the housings in both black. Came out pretty cool, very aggressive looking. Unfortunately, masking the chrome reflector led to some of the chrome paint coming off with the painters tape. But still happy with them non the less. (And yes, that's a 95 grill. Don't ask)

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight001.jpg

 

So more recently I've had an itch to get some JDM headlights, but I cannot scratch that itch due to lack of monies. So I took a more eco-friendly approach to my problem. I got a couple of one piece headlights (and harnesses) from my local pick-a-part. They came off a 95 brighton wagon and were not the prettiest, but were the only ones that were not broken in any way.

 

First things first, clean 'em!! We used a product called "Blue Magic" headlight restorer. Did it work? You be the judge: (1st, bottom cleaned. 2nd left cleaned. The last one is obvious)

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight027.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight028.jpg

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight029.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight030.jpg

 

Next, wiring. We noted that there were blanks were city lights would normally go on the JDM and other country legacys. So why not make them what they should have been in the first place?

1: Swap the plug from the stock headlight bulb to the new. Simple and straight forward.

2: Get plugs from autozone and tap in the signal light's ground and re-route the signal light's constant wire (parking light) to new plugs.

3: Drill out and notch blank according to your plug.

4: Assemble and test. There is no "amber" parking light now, just the city. There is only the amber when the signal or hazards are on.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight035.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight034.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight036.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight038.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight037.jpg

 

The final result!! The car looks less aggressive with the diffused headlights, but looks wicked in the evening or overcast with the city/parking lights on.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m305/specialkenny/rearbump-1pcheadlight039.jpg

 

So don't be bummed that you don't have the clear two-piece headlights of the later second gen legacy gt or outbacks. Or (like me) you can't afford a set of JDM projector ones. Make what you have something more than what it is. A little engineering and go to may be all you need.

 

Special thanks to Mark. He did all the wiring for me. Any questions or comments are welcome. I will post more pics of day shots, city only and night headlight shots as soon as I take them.

[ehsnils]

Just make sure that you consider the headlight issue I mentioned here before buying JDM headlights: http://legacygt.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2421326&postcount=86

 

They are designed for left hand traffic while you shall have headlights for right hand traffic. Failed inspection or getting ticketed by the cops are two alternatives you have to risk using JDM headlights.

[koiracer]

The beauty of this mod is these are a USDM product. So no problems there. Heck, they even have the pesky amber side reflectors.