Chuck's coach restoration

Topic: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights (Read 2097 times) previous topic - next topic

Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

October 05, 2011, 06:52:14 am

Work in progress here. These guys are almost too bright, they are bi/xenon HID units. When I bought the coach it was missing the headlights and fiberglass for that matter on the passenger side. This was the most straightforward fix. The lower mounting works well for driving except that it highlights irregularities in the road surface-distracting. I will probably raise them and blank off the existing light location.

Held my breath while I was getting state inspection on coach but inspector had no problem with them.

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #1 – October 05, 2011, 11:06:30 am

Hi Chuck,
That's a real nice job. I agree they may still be to low. Is that the coach that was for sale with damage from an accident in Mexico? Looks like you coming along just fine.
Raymond

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #2 – October 05, 2011, 08:21:58 pm

Looks great...That doggie in the window looks good too!

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #3 – October 06, 2011, 09:21:33 am

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, this is the coach that blew a tire in Mexico and veered off the road. It was a two owner coach, grandma and grandpa were still driving it between their places in Mexico and Az at the age of 91 when the kids convinced them to hang up the keys. One of the kids ended up with the coach and was piloting it when the blowout happened. Not sure what the moral of the story is but I've thought of it often.

We're getting some great use out of it, up to 7K miles on current trip, headed for the Smokies from Yellowstone. I'm looking forward to doing some exterior enhancement this winter. That's my 12 yo mini wirehair Doxie Blossom in her personal sunroom.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #4 – October 06, 2011, 10:34:48 pm

Quote

I will probably raise them and blank off the existing light location.

Are you saying all you have to do is drill a couple of holes and slap in the new lights? (Besides a few other obvious things)

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #5 – October 07, 2011, 08:05:20 am

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – October 06, 2011, 10:34:48 pm

Quote
I will probably raise them and blank off the existing light location.

Are you saying all you have to do is drill a couple of holes and slap in the new lights? (Besides a few other obvious things)

Not that simple. These things have to be aimed precisely as they have a very focused beam. The mount /adjustment/tensioning arrangement is still evolving in this case, I don't know how the big boys do their mounts for aftermarket HIDs (extreme). New wiring, relays, mounting for and water proof enclosures for the housings are other considerations. Sure, it's doable but by the time its done one has developed a great appreciation for a typical junky modern headlight housing.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #6 – October 07, 2011, 09:24:04 am

Anyone that has one can take a pic of the back side, which will reveal all. I'm pretty sure they are 'adjustably mounted' to a board\panel that is then glassed or glued into position.

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #7 – October 07, 2011, 01:35:23 pm

Will be going to the coach next Friday to bring it down to Chicago. If no-one has posted a pic I will take one of my setup if you like. It has the full light conversion from Extreme.

Keith

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #8 – October 07, 2011, 03:10:26 pm

Please do post a a pic!

Don

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – October 07, 2011, 01:35:23 pm

Will be going to the coach next Friday to bring it down to Chicago. If no-one has posted a pic I will take one of my setup if you like. It has the full light conversion from Extreme.

Keith

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #9 – October 08, 2011, 02:43:09 pm

Don,

You may find information on James Stallings' website or you can give him a call. He should be back from ALBQ by Monday. XtremeGraphics in Nac.

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #10 – October 17, 2011, 10:16:21 am

Here are the pics of my coach's headlight mounts. They are Hella units as put in by Xtreme Graphics.

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #11 – October 19, 2011, 11:38:07 am

Thanks for the pictures. It would appear that the biggest cost would be associated with the body work. So to make sure I understand, from the inside out, high beam, low beam, turn signal? Being so recessed, do they still give enough light to the sides?

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #12 – October 19, 2011, 12:54:37 pm

Gayland,

They are from left to right as you look at photo Turn, High, Low. Low beam on outside. Did not notice any problems with side vision. Coach also has fog & driving light conversion. This was Jeff & Carol Savournin's old coach so they could address the vision question better as I have only made 2 night runs so far.

Keith

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #13 – October 19, 2011, 06:49:48 pm

It looks like the high beam may not be a HID style light, kind of unusual to see one in a non projector fixture. I may be mistaken The low beam is a projector style As far as cost, Extreme wanted in the range of 3500 for the light conversion which is not a bad deal at all, those Hella fixtures are running between 5-600 each, best I can tell. They look sweet too, compared to the aftermarket HID fixtures which are not waterproof, have no external housing, no weatherproof lens, no adjusters or mount brackets.

In my case I had to install lights in the field in order to drive coach home, couldn't tempt fate any more than I already was with an expiring temporary transport permit, a class c drivers license, large chunks of the front cap missing. generator hanging from chains/comealongs, crossing three state lines in a strange coach with zero coach driving exp. So, it was a quick and dirty installation which worked out surprisingly well, meant to be purely temporary but now blowing well past the 10K mile mark.

I do intend to move the lights up, and expect they will work even better there. I have big, big plans for the real estate currently occupied by lights. Maglev launched kevlar harpoon with electromagnet hook, steal tows from semis? Can't say now, but it's big. Really really big. Oh yeah.

Gayland, if you're going to do this conversion yourself I'll be glad to share what I've learned. Basically, I'm going back to square one, fabricating some aluminum brackets with adjusters in them, waterproof enclosures which will probably be tupperware, will bond all in place. Unless some real estate sells in which case will gladly pay Extreme to do em.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #14 – October 19, 2011, 08:09:16 pm

Chuck - thanks for the offer, but you might be trying to draw me in to some of your fiendish schemes

I 'm okay with my high beams, I put in some of those higher power bulbs. The problem I have is the low beams so I bounce the idea's around in my head that maybe I could do something different with them. Purely speculation at this point.

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #15 – October 20, 2011, 07:55:47 am

Gayland, it occurred to me that an easy way to do the conversion would be to retain your existing headlight lenses and housings. The low beam bulbs and holders are removed, and a special small HID projector inserts into the existing housing, mounting through and where the low bulb was removed. This way you retain the weatherproof housing and adjustability of original but get HID output for your low beams, a vast improvement.

If you or anyone else is interested I'll cite parts sources.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #16 – October 20, 2011, 10:45:18 am

Always interested in possible alternatives so if you have those part #'s handy.....

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #17 – October 20, 2011, 12:37:19 pm

Chuck,
That sounds like a good interim solution until we can afford the Extreme treatment. Any part numbers would be appreciated!
Don

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – October 20, 2011, 07:55:47 am

Gayland, it occurred to me that an easy way to do the conversion would be to retain your existing headlight lenses and housings. The low beam bulbs and holders are removed, and a special small HID projector inserts into the existing housing, mounting through and where the low bulb was removed. This way you retain the weatherproof housing and adjustability of original but get HID output for your low beams, a vast improvement.

If you or anyone else is interested I'll cite parts sources.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #18 – October 20, 2011, 01:03:06 pm

Don, See if this is what you need.
List: Headlight - 1989 Ford F-350 | O'Reilly Auto Parts
These Headlites are late 80's Ford Van, Bronco.
Should be available at any parts store.
Gary B

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #19 – October 20, 2011, 07:09:25 pm

Here is the starting point. Please bear in mind that there is another option, simpler yet, and that is to just install HID bulbs in your existing reflector housing. The downside to this is the fact that the focal relationships between bulb and reflector housing are incorrect, resulting in, I am told, lots of light scatter and glare for oncoming drivers. That said, I have no experience in doing this simple conversion though I understand there are some folks on this forum who have done this.

If you wish to go with a more accurately focused retrofit it will be necessary to install projector style housings inside of your old light fixtures. Here is the link for projector housings designed for this application:

Bi-xenon: Morimoto Mini D2S 2.0 - HID Projectors from The Retrofit Source Inc

In addition, you will need ballasts, bulbs and wiring relays for the new lights. These are bi/xenon fixtures, meaning that to dim them a selenoid swings down a shield inside the light, making a sharp light cutoff. There is only one "filament" in the bulb, it is not switched for high/low beam. There are various choices for bulbs, I chose the most "normal" temperature bulb which is more whitish than blue. I also used the morimoto ballasts and have had good luck with them all. The top of the line bulbs and ballasts are Phillips brand. All this stuff is available on this site, you can also call them and they will help out with selection. Were I doing it again I would probably buy Phillips.

It is necessary to disassemble your existing light fixtures which requires baking them in an oven at a certain temp to release the sealant that holds lens on. Though this sounds tricky I found it very straightforward. Wiring is common sense, I actually ran new fused power and ground wires and used the existing wiring only to trigger high/low beam selections on new relays, a low current operation.

A good source of information, forum style is HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum - The Buzz Lots of pictures and tutorials on there along with wiring diagrams. I'll also be happy to help in any way.

It's worth it if you drive at night.

Chuck

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #20 – October 21, 2011, 01:15:09 pm

Thanks for the info Gary! Is there a list of OEM parts that Foretravel used for the various coach models?
Don

Quote from: Gary Bouland – October 20, 2011, 01:03:06 pm

Don, See if this is what you need.
List: Headlight - 1989 Ford F-350 | O'Reilly Auto Parts
These Headlites are late 80's Ford Van, Bronco.
Should be available at any parts store.
Gary B

Re: Chuck's coach restoration - headlights

Reply #21 – October 21, 2011, 01:22:27 pm

Thanks Chuck! That is a great starting point... That option looks like it would make a huge difference. I am adding it to my ever growing list of projects. It will be a while before I get to it... Currently have the carpet removed from the bed and bath area to put in Bamboo flooring. The pedestal and duct/electrical/etc cover between the shower and the vanity turned out to be formidable design challenges!

Don

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – October 20, 2011, 07:09:25 pm

Here is the starting point. Please bear in mind that there is another option, simpler yet, and that is to just install HID bulbs in your existing reflector housing. The downside to this is the fact that the focal relationships between bulb and reflector housing are incorrect, resulting in, I am told, lots of light scatter and glare for oncoming drivers. That said, I have no experience in doing this simple conversion though I understand there are some folks on this forum who have done this.

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