BlackMagnum2000
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- Jan 9, 2014
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- Locust Grove, GA
- Ram Year
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- 5.9 Magnum
Alright, as pointed out, some of this information may prove to be useful to others looking to do a similar mod. However I'm making this plain: this is not a how to do a retrofit thread. There are plenty of those all over the internet. But no, this is more based on the specifics of my build, and of course me getting any help on it, and any information that may apply to people doing a similar build.
Alright to start, I currently have Spec D projector eBay headlights. I friggin hate them. The projectors themselves aren't bad. And my HIDs (DDM Tuning 6000k for low beam and for high beam) are awesome. But I hate everything else about them. I hate the headlights high beams, I hate the cheap quality. I hate that everyone and their mother has them. So I'm moving on past that.
My idea for a long time has been projector low beams with my current HIDs and LED pods for high beams. Because like I said, I love the projectors, and LED pods are absolutely awesome. So much light. And one issue I've found with having HID high beams (unless you have bi xenon bulbs/projectors) is when you go to flash someone, it makes no difference, because the bulb has to warm up first. LEDs don't have that issue.
Now there are people that have put LED pods in 2nd gen headlights before. Such as
Or the crew cab second gen from diesel power gear .
And there are tons of people that have put projectors in their second gen:
But I've never seen someone that has done both.
So to start with, I went to pick my projectors. My first though, of course, was Morimoto. But I decided to do more research. I found comparisons of a few projectors on the market, and the Nilight 2.5" minis are comparable, and in some instances better, than the Morimotos. And for a much cheaper price. And they accept H1 bulbs, which my current HIDs are. So it's a no brainer. Here's a good comparison: https://youtu.be/9WW5tpOWMxw
And here's the projectors I'm getting http://www.amazon.com/Nilight®-Mini-Bixenon-Projector-Lens/dp/B00B21R0TA
Then, I went to select my pods. Initially, I wanted driving pattern pods, like Rigid sells. But only Rigid sells those from what I've seen, and frankly, I don't need to spend that kind of money. Of course some will disagree, but, especially inside a weather tight headlight, it's not worth the extra money. So I'm just going with a generic 2x2 spot beam from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dually-Drivin...102963&sr=8-1&keywords=led+cube+spot+16w+cree
Turn signals, I will carry my switchback LEDs from superbrightleds over, as I absolutely love them.
I decided I want to add in some RGB color changing demon eyes as well, since I'm doing custom projectors. If I was going for Morimotos, there are plenty of different sets made specifically for their projectors. Nothing for the Nilights, so I'll be doing a simple Amazon special universal kit with remote. Here's what I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-3-SMD...&qid=1453104411&sr=8-1&keywords=rgb+demon+eye
One other thing Ive addressed so far has been wiring. Stock, when you activate the high beams, as many know, the low beams cut out. I plan on utilizing the LED pod as well as the projectors bi xenon capabilities. For those that don't know what I mean by bi xenon, on the projector, there is a small shutter near the top of the projector, that cuts off some light when the low beams are on. When you activate the high beam, the shutter opens, and let's all of the light out. Some bi xenon HID kits work the same way, however the bulb may move if it is not specifically made for a projector. Now it's simple to wire the shutter to the high beams, but the problem would be, the bulb itself would cut out, because it's wired to the low beam. That presents a problem. Thankfully, I have a little experience with this, as I wired a bi xenon kit on my dads 06. The wiring to keep the lights on and make the bulb or shutter move is on a different harness. So sure enough I checked DDM Tunings site, and they offer a harness that will plug right into the projector shutter plug and into my HID ballasts that will keep it on. Exactly what I need. Then I'll run a relay off of the high beam and wire that to the LED pod. Here's a link to the harness: http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/High-Low-Harness
So my last issue, is simply fitment. I'm worried about fitting a projector and pod into the same headlight. Currently the headlights I'm considering using for this are these here
But there are more I'm considering, including
I'm having serious doubts on some of these. The only set I'm fairly sure will work are the first ones that I'm mainly considering. My only issue is I want to use the mini gatling shroud that comes with the projector, and I'm not sure how that will work with the way that headlight has what seems like a built in shroud. Still need to make a decision on what I'm doing exactly. But that's where I'm at now. Any more updates will be in here
Alright to start, I currently have Spec D projector eBay headlights. I friggin hate them. The projectors themselves aren't bad. And my HIDs (DDM Tuning 6000k for low beam and for high beam) are awesome. But I hate everything else about them. I hate the headlights high beams, I hate the cheap quality. I hate that everyone and their mother has them. So I'm moving on past that.
My idea for a long time has been projector low beams with my current HIDs and LED pods for high beams. Because like I said, I love the projectors, and LED pods are absolutely awesome. So much light. And one issue I've found with having HID high beams (unless you have bi xenon bulbs/projectors) is when you go to flash someone, it makes no difference, because the bulb has to warm up first. LEDs don't have that issue.
Now there are people that have put LED pods in 2nd gen headlights before. Such as
Or the crew cab second gen from diesel power gear .
And there are tons of people that have put projectors in their second gen:
But I've never seen someone that has done both.
So to start with, I went to pick my projectors. My first though, of course, was Morimoto. But I decided to do more research. I found comparisons of a few projectors on the market, and the Nilight 2.5" minis are comparable, and in some instances better, than the Morimotos. And for a much cheaper price. And they accept H1 bulbs, which my current HIDs are. So it's a no brainer. Here's a good comparison: https://youtu.be/9WW5tpOWMxw
And here's the projectors I'm getting http://www.amazon.com/Nilight®-Mini-Bixenon-Projector-Lens/dp/B00B21R0TA
Then, I went to select my pods. Initially, I wanted driving pattern pods, like Rigid sells. But only Rigid sells those from what I've seen, and frankly, I don't need to spend that kind of money. Of course some will disagree, but, especially inside a weather tight headlight, it's not worth the extra money. So I'm just going with a generic 2x2 spot beam from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dually-Drivin...102963&sr=8-1&keywords=led+cube+spot+16w+cree
Turn signals, I will carry my switchback LEDs from superbrightleds over, as I absolutely love them.
I decided I want to add in some RGB color changing demon eyes as well, since I'm doing custom projectors. If I was going for Morimotos, there are plenty of different sets made specifically for their projectors. Nothing for the Nilights, so I'll be doing a simple Amazon special universal kit with remote. Here's what I'm looking at: http://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-3-SMD...&qid=1453104411&sr=8-1&keywords=rgb+demon+eye
One other thing Ive addressed so far has been wiring. Stock, when you activate the high beams, as many know, the low beams cut out. I plan on utilizing the LED pod as well as the projectors bi xenon capabilities. For those that don't know what I mean by bi xenon, on the projector, there is a small shutter near the top of the projector, that cuts off some light when the low beams are on. When you activate the high beam, the shutter opens, and let's all of the light out. Some bi xenon HID kits work the same way, however the bulb may move if it is not specifically made for a projector. Now it's simple to wire the shutter to the high beams, but the problem would be, the bulb itself would cut out, because it's wired to the low beam. That presents a problem. Thankfully, I have a little experience with this, as I wired a bi xenon kit on my dads 06. The wiring to keep the lights on and make the bulb or shutter move is on a different harness. So sure enough I checked DDM Tunings site, and they offer a harness that will plug right into the projector shutter plug and into my HID ballasts that will keep it on. Exactly what I need. Then I'll run a relay off of the high beam and wire that to the LED pod. Here's a link to the harness: http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/High-Low-Harness
So my last issue, is simply fitment. I'm worried about fitting a projector and pod into the same headlight. Currently the headlights I'm considering using for this are these here
But there are more I'm considering, including
I'm having serious doubts on some of these. The only set I'm fairly sure will work are the first ones that I'm mainly considering. My only issue is I want to use the mini gatling shroud that comes with the projector, and I'm not sure how that will work with the way that headlight has what seems like a built in shroud. Still need to make a decision on what I'm doing exactly. But that's where I'm at now. Any more updates will be in here
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