Shannon Born

Just wanted to share a new product i got some info about yesterday. Detroit Speed has a new electric headlamp door kit available. If your any kind of muscle car / pro-touring enthusiast at all, you know these guys build some of the best and most innovative stuff to be had.....period.
I do have experience with the electric kit that has already been on the market, and had plan on installing the kit in my 73. It's a decent kit, a bit pricey at $1000.
From the looks of the video of the Detroit Speed unit, it seems to be a simpler install with less parts and adustments. And the price is significantly less as well.
I'm in no way trying to boost one vendor or take away from another....just wanted people to know there is a new option out there.

Shannon Born

here is the link directly to Detroit Speed's website, with prices of the kit.
http://www.detroitspeed.com/

Kacyc3

looks like a nice kit but damn thats expensive.

Shannon Born

I've never found the other kit for under 1000., so this kit is about 150. less, and "appears" to be a simpler install. I'm antsy to see the installation video that is forthcoming.

Kacyc3

Do a search on here for new electric headlight.. cost me less than 100 to do the whole install.

keithinspace

I wonder what makes the C2 kit less expensive than the C3 kit?

454Luvr

The C2s are already electric. That probably makes it easier to retrofit with later motors.

Richard454

The guys right here on this forum put together a much simpler-better-cheaper system. And it's been done by several hundred DIYers.

The Ford Probe/Miata headlight motors are the ticket. NO external electronics to go bad- the switching /stopping is all done internally. No current sensing circuits/or limit switches required. PLUS these motors have a proven track record- been on a million plus cars for 20+ years w/ a very small amount of failures. My brother's 92 Miata has over 260K on it and still has the original headlight motors operating w/ no issues.

Since the Probe/Miata motors use a positive trigger to go up and a trigger to go down- w/ the use of a standard Bosch SPDT AKA 5 wire relay - there is no need to run wires all the way inside the cabin - drop the column and take the dash apart just to attach wires to the headlight switch.

The switching is controlled by ingenious circular contact disc INSIDE the motor- stops at the plastic breaks.




Fit w/ no issues -even w/ AC



And have a way to mechanically open -if needed (red ****)



Some brackets -couple of Heim joints w/ threaded rod and a relay/headlight harness- you are there.


Harness- plugs right in- no need to modify factory stuff- then is power and ground for the motors.



Heim joint- screws right into the factory clevis- no need to take apart headlight assembly.



You can send me an email richard454 at comcast dot net and I'll be glad to send you a PDF w/ install instructions and bracket dimensions.


Here they are -



And a fellow forum member Randal-

gmachinz

Detroit Speed is pricey but nice quality stuff. I installed a set of electric hideaways on a 69 Camaro awhile back-pretty fast acting to say the least! I added my delay off harness to it and tried to create a soft close feature for it.

Richard454

You can easily slow down your headlights w/ a PWM. About $20 on eBay


Don't know why you'd want them to slow down as I can easily flash the highs just in case I wanted to warn drivers of a speed trap ahead...w/ the stock vacuum some poor guy is going to get a ticket!!


I used the PWM w/ the Ford Probe motor to "soft close" my reverse lights-

PWM-

7d8

Wow! I love the license plate...... could be handy with speeding cameras ...... not that I would take advantage of that.....just sayin.

gmachinz

Yeah....the Camaro kits have some powerful little motors on them-the damn headlight doors literally slam open and shut lol

stc315

There are 2 kits on fleabay under $500. One is plug and play and the other is cut and splice.

Shannon Born

Detroit Speed does indeed build excellent stuff. The other $1000. kit i have mentioned is a good product as well, and what i had intended to go with until i got the email about the new one from D.S.

I do appreciate the info from Richard454, and i will look into the "retro-fit" using the mazda motors.
Unfortunately my experience doing "retro-fits" in the past have not gone near as smoothly as forums and Hot Rod magazines lead you to believe.
That being the case, i am one who will gladly pay for convenience and purpose built and engineered products to avoid headaches, hassles, extra expense, and extra down time that more often than not, goes with the home-built stuff.
But, i am certainly going to research the mazda motor kit and have Richard email me the PDF.
And again, really was not trying to "promote" any certain vendor, i was just excited about the new kit and thought some others may be interested to know about it.
Thanks.

71 Vert LS1

Just did my 71 corvette head lights per the Miata motor setup. $300 complete. DSE builds some nice stuff but they go out of their way to make it's there own so it can't be copied.

Could I suggest to DSE they could offer at a reasonable margin on a similar Miata DIY system? Say like at $500?

If I want to clean the head lights with the Miata motors I turn the motor **** until the headlight bucket is up. WOW that's worth $700.

Oh by the way Richard454's system was the ticket for the electrically challenged such as myself. His detail couldn't be clearer. Components are so available as used or new.

So now onto the wiper cover via a Miata motor. Will DSE be soon to follow?

drwet

That is sick! James Bond got nothing on you.

ZAKsPop

We need a location on this forum to upload these tutorial videos, PDF's etc.. so that later down the road they will be available if for some reason the member who has them is no longer available. I want to do this mod down the road but my lights currently work and I have other issues needing attention before I do this. I hope when it comes time for me to attempt it these resources will still be available.

Metalhead140

Email sent, thanks heaps!

Richard454

You are welcome- emails responded too!!!

Richard

newbie2vette

I've received many PM asking for the process I used to convert my 72 LT1 headlights into an electric. If one is to follow what Richard had recommend, it will take about 3 hours to do this MOD. This is based on if the hardware on the vacuum system are severly corroded.

Thus far, half a dozen C3 in my area have the conversion.