jdm Headlights - Problem making them flush (pics) [Resolved]

[Kalamidad]

the pictures tell the story...

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_141_full.jpg http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_142_full.jpg


Qnzfinest1981 and i banged in as much as we could, i'm lucky to still have a radiator.

I think i remember reading something about using longer radiator supports to allow the headlight to go back further.


Any ideas? Suggestions? pictures?

thanks!

[icEbErg629]

well if you already banged part of your radiator, you will still need to trim some parts of your frame where it touches the your heads. you will also need to trim certain parts of your heads wherever it needs trimming. red arrows show exactly where you need to trim or cut. I actually cut the part where the screw is on and I put longer screws to the part where the grill is attached to. see pic
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/3166/dsc000081ed.th.jpg ('http://img466.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc000081ed.jpg')
edit: you will need to move your radiator back towards your engine by relocating the first screw that holds your radiator to the second hole...see behind the red arrows.. hope I didn't confuse you

[qnz]

did you trim the plastic yet? thats probably your problem

[Kalamidad]

thanks iceberg..


did you trim the plastic yet? thats probably your problem
i've trimmed no plastic.

[Reelax]

you have to cut the plastic and the radiator rails. you've got more work to do to get them in flush. i posted my pics and explanation on here somewhere for JAYDEE. lemme see if i can find the thread...

here it is:

https://www.thegalantcenter.org/viewt...pic.php?t=39366 ('https://www.thegalantcenter.org/viewtopic.php?t=39366')

[Kalamidad]

we did trim the radiator..that's why i said i'm lucky i still have one...i haven't done anything to the headlights though...i'll look into that.

thanks guys...


Reelax,
are you still hosting those pics? they are not coming up.

[SleekGTZ]

you have to cut the plastic and the radiator rails. you've got more work to do to get them in flush. i posted my pics and explanation on here somewhere for JAYDEE. lemme see if i can find the thread...

here it is:

https://www.thegalantcenter.org/viewtopic.php?t=39366


yeah, i second that. putting those jdm headlights was a real pain. but having a dremel tool really helps a lot! no complaints here...now that i got both jdm headlights and grill. https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif

[lonestar22]

doesnt cutting up the radiator support like that weaken it and make the chance of a car accident in the front more damaging? like wouldnt it not hold up as well and make the radiator hit the engine in a collision?

[pinoyesv6]

i've been in a head on collission before. if you are afraid of the radiator hitting the engine in a collission, you have other things to worry about than just the radiator.

[SkylineG1]

i've been in a head on collission before. if you are afraid of the radiator hitting the engine in a collission, you have other things to worry about than just the radiator.

Yep. Thats the way that I lost my Jetta. That friggin' airbag hurt like hell. But I was more pissed off at losing my Jetta.

[Reelax]

umm guys, the radiator is not a structural part of the bumper, it is just bolted to the subframe. i still have the crash bar fully intact. if the accident is bad enough to go though that then i won't b woried about my radiator rails... the whole radiator will have to b replaced at that point.

o and try to refresh the page, my hosting is up (think i had some server issues earlier) and the pics should still b up.

here lemme repost it here:


mine site pretty flush, but i cut EVERYTHING to get them that way. you will have to cut more out of the inner mounting tabs on the headlights themselves then drill a hole in them and use a longer bolt to go into the radiator/ ac condenser mounting holes. i took crappy pics w/ my phone last time i had my grill off... lemme find them.

OK found them and made them as big as possible since the quality is ass. hope this helps you bro.

http://www.raniworld.com/raaa/1725456898_3300_1.jpg
http://www.raniworld.com/raaa/1725495810_3300_1.jpg
http://www.raniworld.com/raaa/1725508098_3300_1.jpg

http://www.raniworld.com/RAAA/JDMclose.jpg
see... headlights and grill sit flush w/ the hood.

[Kalamidad]

oh wow..those pictures are great...thanks...this definately helps.




What happened here? Killed a dog?
http://www.raniworld.com/RAAA/JDMclose.jpg

[Reelax]

oh wow..those pictures are great...thanks...this definately helps.




What happened here? Killed a dog?
http://www.raniworld.com/RAAA/JDMclose.jpg

naw, it was red primer from when i had the lower grill taken out and flushed then the front bumper was bent when they towed the car after i broke an axle.

[qnz]

hmm. i bent (smashed) the fins on the side of my radiator when i installed mine

http://e.1asphost.com/qnzxaaron/galant/radiator.jpg

im still good tho right?

[ipaintu]

no your car will blow up right after xmas.. Unless you send me 39.95 to tell you how to fix it.. better hurry. My paypal is [email protected]

[Kalamidad]

Ok, So i cut the radiator support just like in the picture...thanks guys...the headlight moved back about a 1/4 of an inch....when i cut the headlight mount that goes behind the grill i should be set.


Reelax, you don't have any problems getting your grill to stay on after cutting the headlight like that?

[lonestar22]

yeah but the crashbar is attatched tot he radiator support right? and it may give more pushing more into the engine compartment is what im saying.

[Reelax]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Kalamidad)</div><div class='quotemain'>Ok, So i cut the radiator support just like in the picture...thanks guys...the headlight moved back about a 1/4 of an inch....when i cut the headlight mount that goes behind the grill i should be set.


Reelax, you don't have any problems getting your grill to stay on after cutting the headlight like that?</div>

my grill is clipped into the actual metal on the car, but the clip holes i trimmed on the headlights are attached w/ zip ties so my grill isn't going anywhere.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lonestar22)</div><div class='quotemain'>yeah but the crashbar is attatched tot he radiator support right? and it may give more pushing more into the engine compartment is what im saying.</div>

umm.. the crashbar should be completely unnaffected as it's on the bumper attached almost directly to the frame rails. you shouldn't even touch it to install the headlights.

[Kalamidad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lonestar22)</div><div class='quotemain'>yeah but the crashbar is attatched tot he radiator support right? and it may give more pushing more into the engine compartment is what im saying.</div>

you're not cutting enough where the integrity of the radiator support is being comprised to the point where a minor fender bender will put you radiator on your motor. Just like Peony said, A crash that would do that would be a lot more serious and you would have a lot more other things to worry about.

[Stewi]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lonestar22)</div><div class='quotemain'>yeah but the crashbar is attatched tot he radiator support right? and it may give more pushing more into the engine compartment is what im saying.</div>

the radiator support is welded to the upper and lower frame rails. the frame rails are the strongest part of the car, and in an accident they are meant to crush to protect you inside the car. in my old 8g, i got hit head on going 40mph, so it was like hitting a brick wall going 80mph, the frame looked like an accordian, the strut towers bent all the way back to the firewall, in that accideny i had the cyber 2 front, and a cut crash bar. trust me, its OK

[Kalamidad]

hmm..double post...sorry.

[Kalamidad]

OK...i got one headlight fairly Flush...i can live with it...I got the otherone pretty flush too but i'm gonna need to do some more cutting and banging...

I followed Reelax suggestions about cutting the frame...it would have been a lot easier if i'd followed Iceburg and cut the mount on the headlights, but i didn't wanna do that and didn't feel comfortable with having to loosen the AC radiator every time i wanna take of my headlights...i will post pictures tomorrow.

One thing though...Althought the headlights are in...i'm a little concerned that the Grill is not just gonna fall in place with the headlights in. How many have resorted to zip ties?


BTW, you guys where a great help.

[Kalamidad]

PICS!!! Thanks Guys..


I'll add the Grill Tomorrow.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_152_full.jpg

i may have to force the driver side in a little more.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_153_full.jpg

[Reelax]

looks MUCH better than b4! mine sit just a little flusher than that but the grill sits flush w/ them so the package looks like it came from the factory. my hood is maybe 1/8" back from the front of the grill so it's not "completely" flush but you don't notice unless you are looking for it. if you look at my pics again, you can notice it if you really really look, but that was good enough for me.

[Kalamidad]

Ha ha!!! the grill is in!!

REELAX you where instrumental...

Thanks to all of you.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_154_full.jpg

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/6/web/402000-402999/402847_155_full.jpg


I think my Driver side headlight is a couple of centimeters lower than the passager side...but that's easy to fix.

[Reelax]

no problem bro, just glad i could help!

[lonestar22]

why is there a large gap between ur headlights/grill and your bumper

[Kalamidad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lonestar22)</div><div class='quotemain'>why is there a large gap between ur headlights/grill and your bumper</div>

My bumper is attached with Zip Tides right now...i'm waiting for my upper bumper support, Should be in on 1/10/06. That's when all the other JDM Stuff in going on.

[Reelax]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lonestar22)</div><div class='quotemain'>why is there a large gap between ur headlights/grill and your bumper</div>

JDM headlights are both wider and less tall than USDM headlights. the only way to completely eliminate that gap is get a JDM bumper. the gap is actually only 0.5". the main gap is actually the JDM grill being less tall than the USDM version. the USDM grill is actually taller than the USDM headlights, and since the JDM grill is flush w/ the bottom of the JDM headlights, that's where the gap is w/ the USDM bumper.

http://www.raniworld.com/RAAA/010P0001382.jpg

http://www.raniworld.com/RAAA/118-1802_IMG.JPG

[qnz]

did u paint the metal that you cut from yet? it will start to rust after a month or so. i got a can of metallic silver rustoleum if u wanna come by and use.

[boarderguyjb]

I've got the cyber 2 body kit on and USDM headlights for now, I do have some JDM headlights on the way. Do u guys think the JDM's will eliminate the gaps that I have right now?? pics below

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/6033/p10001162sy.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3442/p10001150kt.jpg

[SinSere]

Yes. That bumper is made for JDM heads so your gap will be no more.

[Kalamidad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qnz)</div><div class='quotemain'>did u paint the metal that you cut from yet? it will start to rust after a month or so. i got a can of metallic silver rustoleum if u wanna come by and use.</div>

thanks alan, but it all got painted when i got the car painted.




boarderguyjb, you'll be fine when the JDM Heads come in.

[boarderguyjb]

Good!! Im glad to hear that. I figured it would at least make the gap smaller, but u guys are saying there shoul be no gap?

[mattalicslvr8g02]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(boarderguyjb)</div><div class='quotemain'>Good!! Â*Im glad to hear that. I figured it would at least make the gap smaller, but u guys are saying there shoul be no gap?</div>
NO GAP !!!!! https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show...194_35_full.jpg ('http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/show_image.pl?bg=FFFFFF&image=http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/672000-672999/672194_35_full.jpg')

[dassler]

kalamidad, who's car is that one u fixing? I thought u had a blue 8g.

[pinoyesv6]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dassler)</div><div class='quotemain'>kalamidad, who's car is that one u fixing? I thought u had a blue 8g.</div>

thats his car before it was blue.

[S-Line]

well i hope i can get my jdms to sit more flush to get the liberal grill to fit. if not i have to stick 2 a regualr jdm grill.

[GOOSEY2099]

Look its pretty simple.. If something doesn't fit -> check what its hitting -> bang/bend that obsticle in and continue installing.

I can't believe that after years and years of pics/talking/meets/phone calls we still have these bullshit threads about crap like headlights!!

WHats next ?? how to change a blown tire?

GET A HAMMER AND GET TO WORK, or get a plazma cutter and have some fun while you're at it. :)


i need a smoke.

[QnzMostWanted]

uhh Roman, this thread is from last year

[Dominicano]

yeah man its from 2005 be happy that someone actually searched :D

S-Line

The key making them site really flush is to remove the bolt holding the AC line, you really can live with out it being held by anything, once you remove that it will give you the space you need to have the lights more flush if not the top side of the headlights will touch and not more more back because of that aluminun bracket.