After putting in the fuse box I switched gears and decided to go to work on the headlights.
This isn't the cheapest mod, but the stock lights sucked and I like being able to see where I'm going. Unlike a TJ, from what I found HID's in halogen housing are really hard to get to work well without blinding people. So I'm installing projectors.
If you go with a kit, the shopping list is pretty short. I decided a kit was easiest, I could have pieced things together, and used some cheaper brands for the ballasts and such - but this way is quick. I think I've spent three hours on the lights, and they just need to be put on the vehicle, which should only take 20 minutes or so.
Shopping List:
Bi-xenon Morimoto Mini Stage III Kit (H1)
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/comple ... z-GYGdOWUk
Cheapo Clear Ebay Housings
http://www.ebay.com/itm/350947348056?it ... 60&vxp=mtr
Here's a picture with the part numbers and such:
First step in the actual install involves removing the clear lenses from the ebay housing. You want clear lenses, projectors and ribbed lenses will diffuse too much light and blind people. I heated up a teakettle's worth of water to boiling, let it sit for a minutes then poured it into the housing. After letting that sit for a couple minutes I was able to pry off the lenses with a screwdriver without much trouble.
Here's the only other mod you need to do if you're using my shopping list. Cut off part of the original bulb plug area below the lugs with a hacksaw.
You can then install the supplied washer:
The projector housing install is incredibly simple. I don't have a picture of the silicone washer that goes on the back of the housing to provide a seal, but you can imagine it. Stick the housing through the hole, and then tighten it down with the supplied nut.
Here's the nut, with the bulb holder plate screwed down, forgot to take a picture before I added the plate.
Here's the projector in the housing. There are a bunch of different shrouds you can install on the projector, I just went with the default choice cause I'm boring that way.
Once everything is tightened up add some fresh butyl rubber glue, which comes with the kit:
I also added a dab on the hi/low solenoid wires. There was already a drain hole there for the wires, super easy.
After you've got the new glue put in place, you need to heat it up. Popping it in the oven for 7 minutes at 270 degrees seems to be the standard, and it's what I did. Worked great, though things are a bit hot, I suggest taking it out of the oven with some paper towels. Push the lens back on and you're pretty much done.
Just in case anyone wants to know, stock headlights are incredibly easy to remove, though I had to look it up. I thought I was going to have to remove the grill. There are only 2 screws, so that you can get the side markers out of the way. Once those are removed, you just pull the lights out. They're held in with three studs.
Install your bulbs:
I can get some pictures of the wiring harness tomorrow, but it's pretty much self explanatory. Everything just plugs in. Ballasts, relays, bulbs ect.. all have their own connectors. Then it just needs a ground wire, power wire, and you plug it all into one of the OEM headlight connectors so that it can be controlled.
It is incredibly bright. These are only 35 watts, but I think it's doing an even better job than the cheapo 55 watt hid's in my TJ.
I should finish the rest of the wiring tomorrow, then I'll just be waiting on the drivelines to get gone at the shop. Can't wait to get this thing out on the road.
