[FlamingTaco]

Hi everyone! I don't post here much, I'm mostly on Delphi and SuperHighOutput.com, but I'm working on a conversion kit that will be available to Gen2 SHO and Sable drivers, and so it is relevant to you as well. I'm posting here because I need some feedback before making a decision on the final design.

The issue is what to do about the front park/turn signal. I have several options to add turn signals to the covers. I am looking for opinions so I can decide what to produce.

The first option is to convert one's fishtank assemblies (SHO only) into turn signals. I have already done this with mine, and they work great, and would probably come pretty close to passing DOT lighting requirements. However, although they are very visible (more so than the oem lamps IMO due to their position being well away from the low beam headlamp), they are not stamped as being a DOT approved park/turn signal. Here's a link to my page on the conversion:

http://www.angelfire.com/home/SH0ckforce/P...gnal/index.html

For those of you that have not yet seen my work, here's a link to my write up on the first design:

http://www.angelfire.com/home/SH0ckforce/Projects/index.html

The second option would be to use other turn signal lamp assemblies. Here's a link to the options I'm considering:

http://www.angelfire.com/home/SH0ckforce/P...cts/Index3.html

If you are interested in the kits, let me know what your preference would be. I need to decide what lamps to use and order them so I can incoporate them into the design.

Thanks,

David

 

[Makousa]

Your links didn't work for me.... Anyone else have the same problem???

 

[FlamingTaco]

The links are good. Apparently the large images I uploaded today have sent me over my badwidth limit. Looks like it's time to move. I'll get everything squared away and post here again.

 

[Guest]

Damn, that's some pretty nice work!

As a suggestion for the turn signals, would it be possible to use the reflectors of the gen3 turn signals and slip those behind the fish tanks?

Too bad, I own a 96 taurus, otherwise I would be all over the final product.

 

[kjw86ca]

Nice...but I have a question...and not trying to flame anybody.

Why is it that SHO guys always come here and say "Well, it applies to you guys, too?" This is "TAURUS car club of America." Not "Non-SHO Taurus Car Club of America." There are TONS of SHO members that post here...in fact, when I had my SHO...I always posted MORE here than on SHO Forum.

Anyway...just had to say that...

-Kyle

 

[Mikeys_Taurus]

Regardless of what this site is open to, people consider SHO Forum the SHO Forum and TCCA the regular Taurus forum.

He's not trying to be rude.

 

[agmattocks]

THE 3RD SET IS TIGHT. BUT MAKE SUNTIN FOR MY 2000 BULL.

 

[kjw86ca]

Originally posted by Mikeys_Taurus@Jan 18 2004, 10:41 PM
Regardless of what this site is open to, people consider SHO Forum the SHO Forum and TCCA the regular Taurus forum.

He's not trying to be rude.

I know he's not. <_< I just am saying...it seems like that's usually how everyone posts here. I'm really, really not singling you out (FlamingTaco) it was just a generalization. I'd like to see but I still can't get the page to load.

 

[qwertz9586]

I think that's awesome! I like that fishtank turn signal. And the SHO headlights are an awesome idea since it also affects Sable enthusiasts (which are often neglected). Althought I think HIDs would be going too far for me, I would be in favor of seeing headlight assemblies similar to the Taurus' "disco-ball" headlights.

 

[FlamingTaco]

XLSuruaT - I don't think so. The "fishtanks" are tall and thin while the Gen3 assemblies are, well, not. Besides, the fishtanks already have a reflector surface inside. All you need to do is add your source of light to convert them.

kjw86ca - No offense taken. SHOforum and this forum are new forums from my perspective. Delphi SHOtimes forum and the Topica SHOtimes and TechSHO mailing lists were the ONLY sources of information for SHO owners when I joined the SHO ranks. When I owned my 93 Sable. there were NO organized forums or lists of any size. Since the others are SHO sites created by SHO owners for SHO owners, and with mainly SHO content, it seems you shouldn't get many SHO posters here except when they have common issues. Of course, I disregarded the non-SHO Taurii owners as I am only working on the SHO/Sable headlamps for now. Or do the Mercury owners have a separate section?


AGMATTOCKS - That would not necessarily be out of the question. When the gen4 lamps start to look like crap and people start replacing them, let me know.

I'll get the new pages up soon, everyone. I never would have guessed I'd go from 200MB transfer per month two 2 gigs minimum with these covers.

Thanks for the feedback!

David

 

[FlamingTaco]

Qwertz9586 - The prices I've quoted do not include HID. The low-beam 90mm Hellas with H9 bulbs are about $50 each. To get the D2S units, you have to either get the non DOT approved Hella D2S 90mm units imported at around $1000 a set, or slightly modify the H9 units to insert the $350 Hella HID D2S kits. From what I've read, seen and heard, you'll want to try just the 90mm lamps without HID with new relays first. The output gets close to the D2S systems when the bulbs see low charging voltage (13.6-13.8v). An advantage of the halogens is that you can run them overvoltage by purchasing readily available equipment, whereas the HID's require circuit design knowledge and modification. I'll be making a 15V regulator for my headlamps, which will drive the H9's to the same level of lumens as the HID's. Durability will be similar regular use. Add the expected additional lumens when Phillips gets around to making Silverstars in H9 and the output with this setup should be greater than D2S. Change to a pulsing regulator at around 17V, and output could be tremendous, but would probably oversaturate the 90mm system.

Some points of interest:


The oem 9007 bulb puts out 1000 lumens on low beam and 1350 on high. The H9 bulb used in the Hellas puts out 1870 lumens at the same voltage. Approximately 30% of the light coming from the oem housings is wasted, mostly upwards. The hellas waste maybe 3%. Just installing the 90mm housings will result in 87% more light, and 2.6 TIMES better lighting! Now, say your old wiring is dropping voltage, and your lens is old, but you're only crippled with 30% additional loss of light, you now will be seeing a 370% improvement! That's almost 4 TIMES better lighting!

Number crunching aside, compared to my great condition 9007 headlamps at the same voltage, the hellas are "hella" better

. I've got a set of Catz MSP projector driving lamps that are of similar quality to the hella's, and I must say the combination is better than anything I've seen out there, including real H.I.D. Now, I must be fair; when I did the fitment check of the hellas, coupled with my driving lights, I was putting out 3800 lumens per side, so it should have been noticeably better than the 3200 rated D2S. Too bad I must consume 3X the power! 18 amps total power comsumption for all four lamps. I put the 130A alternator to good use.

Please ignore any comments that don't relate to this conversation. I copied this post from a thread I made on a different forum several months back.

Thanks,
David

 

[FlamingTaco]

P.S. - I just checked my original site and it's allowing access. I need to get p-shop back on the PC and resize those new monster images. Hopefully it will stay up enough to allow everyone to view the images. If not, I hope to have them moved this week some time.

Thanks again,
David

 

[FlamingTaco]

Why I didn't do this already...

 

[FlamingTaco]

What the...?

I am seeing an image of my website controls, not the image that I uploaded from my PC. Any idea what would cause this?

 

[qwertz9586]

That pics not working for me.

Those headlights are hella expensive. hear:

Sable headlights are exactly the same as the SHOs. Only the fishtanks and grille are replaced with a lightbar on the Sable (see my sig).

 

[FlamingTaco]

I know. I owned a 93 Sable one.

I've figured out what to do. I will be incorporating a recess into the covers for a turn-signal. For SHO owners that want to use their tanks as turn signals, they can add a kit to allow hook up to a hose for the recesses, which they can then run to their brakes or intake, or whatever.

Yeah, the conversion is not cheap, but for those needing new headlamps, they offset about $200. There will be group buys on the Hellas, too. Considering you get a guaranteed at least 3x better lighting, the price is about on target. Also, those taking their lamps to Maaco or the like will pay a lot less for that. Some will have their entire front end touched up or repainted, offsetting more cost. For those llike myself that do a lot of night driving, the cost is very reasonable.

 

[qwertz9586]

$200+

I don't do much night driving though.

 

[Guest]

Taco, have you looked at some of the lights on a saturn. IIRC, the drl lights on some of the saturn cars look to be a similar shape as the fishtanks.

 

[ffvulcanpowah]

those fish tanks are hella bright!! Any thoughts as to a Gen4 projector setup?? C'mon...u know you want to. j.k sweet setup though. Cant wait to see some of the finished products.

 

[93taurusSX]

I would go with the gen3 taurus lamps as turn signals...would they be able to fit into the space however? Any thoughts of producing someing for the regular taurus as well? I know the mold for the casing will be different, but there's a lot more regular taurii here than SHO and/or sable members...