[flash]

ok - so, amongst my many projects, i'm contemplating fixed headlights - i may actually have an idea that will work - since i have a fender sitting in my garage, i can start working on it - i have a couple of questions though first for those of you who might be interested:



how important is the brightness of the headlight?



how important is it that the light be porsche?



how important is it that the light be halogen?



how important is it that the lens be flat?



what cost would seem reasonable for such a conversion?



are you willing to remove the entire existing mechanism from the car?



let me know your thoughts here so i can figure out if this will work

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[mech]

I keep going back and forth on that one, sometimes I like that my car has boobs they are pretty unique, but they disturb the lines of the car.



I think if you are going to take this route the lamps should be at least a standard 4000k 55w halogen to keep it simple and get nice output. I looked at mini coopers lights and they are a little big and they are ok but the car would look bug eyed with lights like that. I don't think this project will be crazy hard, but getting it to look just right will be the challange.



Something like what you see on race cars with the plexiglass light cover, it would be nice to see a nice glass piece that flows with the body and has a good looking projector behind it maybe the one out of a Audi TT. But then I think about it and Im like yech, it could turn out looking like the new vette that does not flow like a 968 does.



I talked to Iceshark on rennlist he says that he could do a HID conversion for the 968, he just seed someone to work out the details with. That would be nice, but the stock optics are pretty impressive. So back to projector which are cool but would be difficult. The 993 look is cool but that will take work. Tells us what yo got in mind, im interested, I want the car to always look as good as it does with the lights down.

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[flash]

i really don't want to have a light behind a dummy lens - i can't stand that look on this car - it's incongrous with the lines - i am looking at having the light actually sit still and be functional through the lens as is - the 55W isn't a problem - the 4000K may be

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[Anchorman]

Trying to answer the questions you asked:

- Brightness is certainly an issue - but I find the stock lights to be quite good, so if at least that much illumination remained after the conversion, I'd be satisfied.

- Staying in the Porsche family for the light is irrelevant.

- Halogen per se is not critical, as long as the first answer is accomplished.

- Flat, or near flat, would seem best, but some (modest) curvature would probably be OK as long as it didn't protrude or appear bulbous.

- Something under $1k would likely have me do the conversion.

- Yes, I'd remove all existing components and mechanics.

- I agree with your objective of avoiding a light behind a dummy lens, but I can imagine an acceptable result that would use this approach.

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[mech]

I was thinking a custom cut glass piece from a larger round lens similar to the stock optical lens,I would allow you to alter the light pattern somewhat. The current design give a great light pattern, I don't think it would work at the lowered position, it would be worth it to try. I think the result would be a hazy scattered pattern, buts thats just conjecture. The TT projector casts a nice beam that might compliment the stock one. It just has to be messed with to see how it all works together.



You could go with tiny xenon driving light like the Hella Micro DE. Those would give you a ton of space to work with, but they cost $$$, the halogen version is much cheaper..



I'm just throwing out the ideas i have been thinking about...

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[bob blackwell]

Flash, Anchorman has caught my feelings exactly on this one. Hope you can work something out. good luck, Bob Blackwell.

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[Silver BLT]

#2 to agree with Anchormann, ditto.



I find myself apologizing for how the headlights look everytime I turn them on. I think Porsche really dropped the ball when they let someones child design the headlight system after watching "The Muppet Show".



Silver BLT

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[Greimann]

I don't suppose it makes anyone feel any better that the headlights were also put on the ultra rare 964 Flachbau. Only 100 or so of those were made. Kinda' makes me feel special.



http://www.flachbau.com/1994s.html

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[Cloud9...68]

First of all, I think I speak for the whole 968 community when I say thanks for considering taking this on. A tastefully done fixed headlight conversion would be a great upgrade to the 968's appearance.



As for the look of the conversion, I respectfully disagree with Anchorman on the point of the importance of the light being Porsche. To me, far and away the number 1 consideration would be that the headlight either be a Porsche original (and I don't see anything other than a 993 headlight looking right), or an EXACT copy. I just can't see a non-Porsche headlight looking right on our cars. In fact, I would just cut to the chase and say that if you could copy what either Arktech or a guy by the name of Konstantin (discussions of both available on 968.net) did, it would be perfect. I agree with what Anchorman and others have said in response to your other questions/points (other than the one about the importance of the headlight being flat; again, for me, it would pretty much have to be a 993 headlight, or nothing).



Are you thinking of staying with a steel fender, or going with carbon fiber? And as for cost, I know I'm dreaming, but a price of about $1500 for the pair would be very tempting.

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[Anchorman]

I understand Cloud's comment. My point, and probably that of those that agreed with what I'd said, is that the look and performance of the result is more important than whether or not the light is a Porsche light. For example, I'd be very intrigued with a look that was along the lines of the early XKEs, and - TTBOMK - that could not be achieved with anything Porsche. I'm not saying that's the way to go, just that I think there's a range of looks that could work - for me, at least. All of that said, I have a pretty strong feeling, Flash, that if you come up with anything, it will likely be more than acceptable to most potential converts.

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[flash]

thanks guys - i'll give it my best shot - we'll see what i come up with - i definitely want a "bolt in" that requires no paint or bodywork of the the existing parts - i'm looking for the same accluded lens look - porsche lights will therefore not work - i do not want to look through a clear lens and see a smaller light behind it (like the 996) - there are a lot of other lenses out there, some by the same company (porsche didn't make any of them anyway) so i'm personally not concerned with any of that, and frankly, if somebody is considering a mod this big, i don't see why they would either, but whatever - can't please everybody i guess



i'll keep you updated as i progress

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[Greimann]

Then you will just need to go down to Pep Boys and get some of these, they might fit:

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[PcarFan]

What are the chances of mating the 968 fender with a 993 fender? would they allign after a certain point or would it be way to difficult to make this work?

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[rustech]

Why? Was someone making fun of your Kermy lights again?? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Greimann]

[quote name='PcarFan' date='Jul 12 2005, 10:18 PM']What are the chances of mating the 968 fender with a 993 fender? would they  allign after a certain point or would it be way to difficult to make this work?

[right][post="7309"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

Anything is possible in the hands of a skilled sheetmetal / body fabricator. The questioin is who has the resources and willingness to do it. And if you do it once, can you replicate it for production? We have seen picture of a 993 headlamp in a 968 fender, but these are usually one-offs. Arktech Motorsports used to sell a fender that would work, but they are apparently out of the business.

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[flash]

pretty sure i'm giving up on this project - noting seems to be cost effective for reproduction purposes, and they just don't bug me enough to change them, as much as i'd like to save the 10-15 lbs up front, and reduce parts failure potential - the lights have only been on once in the last 4 months, so it's just not a high priority for me



now, if i ever get around to working on smoothing the body lines, and getting rid of all hard corners, then maybe i'll go for it, but then it will really be a one off, so agian, no solution for everyone else



looks like i'll be selling off this fender

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[Anchorman]

My disappointment overwhelms me.

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[flash]

me too - i was really hoping to work that one out - i'm not throwing in the towel just yet, but it doesn't look good, especially for repitition



recessing a single projector is a no brainer - that isn't what i want though



we'll see - it's been back burnered until i finish the other 4 items that i can reproduce for everybody

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[djangology]

[quote name='Greimann' date='Jul 13 2005, 11:27 PM']Anything is possible in the hands of a skilled sheetmetal  / body fabricator. The questioin is who has the resources and willingness to do it. And if you do it once, can you replicate it for production? We have seen picture of a 993 headlamp in a 968 fender, but these are usually one-offs. Arktech Motorsports used to sell a fender that would work, but they are apparently out of the business.

[right][post="7320"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Actually, Arktech Motorsports is not out of the business. My friend is working there as a translator. He just told me that they need more time to prepare the upcomming race. He used to create the web-site too but after they got new web-designer, just waiting for new version of the site would come. Arktech Motorsports is participating the several races still.

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[Josho]

check out this aproach on a 951.



http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/show...ad.php?t=216633

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