Not to steal anyones thunder (pardon the pun) several guys have been discussing the use of the LeMans, L-88 or whatever style... fixed headlights. I bought a pair of the bubbles many months ago, but am just now getting around to installing them. I didn't really commit to it until a couple of days ago. I had about decided not to use them, but they have always been a favorite of mine and in keeping with the general direction I'm taking my '71 "Rolling Thunder" project.

The down side to them is they are just pure hardcore bolt-ons that have a functional design but look totally unfinished. If you have the numbers, names and sponsor logo's all over the car it looks great. If on the other hand, you want to zaino the paint job and spiff up the chrome, then well... it leaves a little to be desired. I hope that my car will perform with the hardcore, but look finished and classy when I want to slow cruise down broadway and rattle the windows in all the store fronts. :D

Anyway, I decided to use them, but only the front half of the bubble lense. I'm replacing the back half with a fiberglass shell that will become a permanent part of the body. Only the face of the headlight bulbs will be visible through the lense instead of all the mounting hardware. etc. The front (clear) portion will be watertight, but removable to change the bulbs when needed.

Friday I built the fiberglass housing for the passenger side and today I did the driver's side and rough cut the bubbles. I have not yet sanded the driver's side and I still have to trim the bubble pieces. I will fabricate the buckets out of fiberglass.

I put some pictures on my website if you care to check it out.

http://davesrollingthunder.com/rt/ro...headlights.htm

Dave



[Modified by Rolling Thunder, 10:24 PM 7/21/2002]

 

SCHWEEEET! :cool:
What is the guestimated date of completion for the car?


[Modified by MIKER, 10:47 PM 7/21/2002]

 

Thanks. I gave up on forecasting a long time ago. I thought it would have been done a year ago, but health issues put dust all over my plans and car. I've been working daily on the body for several weeks now, and have already contacted the painter. I still have several things that need a little touch-up fiberglass work, and I'm also playing with a design to replace the egg-crate grills on the sides. If time permits, I also want to add a little height to the rear deck spoiler. So with any luck, it'll have color on it by the end of September. The interior is all new and all in my den, so that will add some time after paint. I don't even want to think about the suspension work just yet. :smash:

Oh well, it'll get done eventually. :)

Dave

 

Dave what a great idea with the LeMans lights. I really liked the look of the LeMans lights on the C5's down in BG at the cruise-in. I was actually looking at the C5 light kit wondering if I could get them to work on a C3 but the body lines don't look like it'll work :( .

I can't wait to see the other body mods that your doing. I'm already talking the Amy about going to Cruise-in 4 :D . I've been so inspired by your fiberglassing skills. Just last night I pulled out the Vanacors catalog and was looking at the ZL1 rear flares. I'm contemplating weather I want to cutoff my rear quarter panels ;) .

 

Dave,

You are the MAN!!!!

I have these lights too...didn't start installing them yet...guess I should wait for you and buy the molds from ya :)

Do you know what kind of actual lights are supposed to fit in there?

 

dave, i'm curious to know about the clear portion. i've really thought about doing the exact same thing, i just haven't found a complete kit. i'm not worth a **** at fiberglass so i wasn't about to do it myself. i thought i could probably stumble through the fiberglass part since i could bondo it but never could figure out how to fabricate clear lenses in the correct shape.
what are you going to be using for the lenses and how do you form it?

 

Really cool! :cheers:

 

Mike - Like everyone told me when I cut the fenders off of mine, you ought to have your butt kicked if you mess up that beautiful car! :D Hope to see you again at CI-IV my friend. :)

Rich - I'm leaving town for a few days, but email me and I'll give you some thoughts. I have not picked the lights yet, but thinking of going with the HID's and tinting the clear bubbles.

Gary - My bubbles are the Guldstand lenses. I read in your Bio that you won't cut your car, so that rules out what I'm doing to mine. I am thinking of doing (well my wife suggested it as a business venture) a complete drop-in unit though that will not require anything being done to the car except removal of the old headlight assemblies. I'm not sure there is enough interest to develop a market but who knows? We'll see how mine look painted first.

SF80 - Thanks

Dave

 

That's awesome! I can't wait for you to get the car done to see the finished product. Are you planning on driving the car to CI 4, if you get it finished in time?

 

looks very impressive Dave, if you toy with idea of the drop-in 's I maybe interested....I like the look of more coverage arount the lights...I allready have the recessed light setup, and am looking to cover them or such. Your setup would be a very good match...my body allready is custom, so more won't hurt the issue . :yesnod:

 

corvettemaster - I can't see any way it won't be finished before then, so yeah, we'll be at Cruise-In IV. If you make it over to the left side of the state, give me a shout. :seeya

Jeramie - I just checked out your website. Nice car! I think you'll approve of what I did for sidepipes (but that's a whole nutha post) too, after seeing the ground effects on yours. I think all you need with the rectangular lights you have is the plexiglass cover. Nothing wrong with what you have at all. :cool:

Dave

 

dave, it just so happens that i am planning on going junkyard shopping this weekend. i'm going to be looking for some late model rectangulars like the '93-96 camaro, early '90s grand prix or even a geo storm. i plan on making some pockets like the old conversion to house the lights. i thought about the existing conversions but i am not a big fan of the 'oversized' rectangular lights. plus, i'm going to try to fabricate a duct for all the air that gets trapped in there to the front brakes to supplement the ducting i already have.
BTW, the part about cutting the fiberglass only applies to this car. i've been (kind of) looking for a '68-'72 basket case to make a replica vintage racer and the lights like what your making would be perfect.


[Modified by clutchdust, 5:42 PM 7/22/2002]

 

Gary - From the looks of your page, you car has multiple personalities. :D I like that. :yesnod: I also like your idea of ducting air to the brakes from where ever it collects. I need to do some planning for that at some point. I agree on the small is better than large on the rectangular lights. I'm thinking I can use original size dual round in mine, although new technology. I'm always open to suggestions, so if you have a thought to share, please do. I'll be off line for a few days, leaving for New Orleans in the morning. Take care and happy scrounging at the bone yard. :seeya

Dave