Notices
C5 General General C5 Corvette and C5 Z06 Discussion not covered in Tech

The pop up projectors back?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:01 AM
  #1  
_Wayne_'s Avatar
_Wayne_
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
Default The pop up projectors back?

I was browsing the internet and visited the fleabay and happened to see several listings by the big sellers with the ACA (?) projectors that were pulled bc they were not DOT approved. must of got it figured out? anywasy im already dead set on making my own headlights based off of the breathless kit and the radio flyers, hopefully cheaper!
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:21 AM
  #2  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

can't you just use plug and play hid bulbs? those aftermarket projectors sucked! they do for any car. all made in china and none reflect light correctly

i'm not sure if it's DOT that pulled them as some were sold direct from overseas

i would hope it's that people have decided to stop ricing out the corvettes

people make fun of these on honda-tech

that should say something

Last edited by racebum; Sep 22, 2012 at 12:27 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:22 AM
  #3  
_Wayne_'s Avatar
_Wayne_
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
Default

I was just pointing out they are back, im going to develop my own fixed system
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:23 AM
  #4  
dblerman's Avatar
dblerman
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Default

They're DOT approved... I believe the reason they weren't popping up on ebay for a while was the supply had just dried up, even the vendors were out of stock for a while. Same thing happened with the LED halo tail lights last year.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:30 AM
  #5  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

Originally Posted by _Wayne_
I was just pointing out they are back, im going to develop my own fixed system
if you do, use oe lenses. the 94-97 acura integra used a projector lamp with some really good glass. they are also inexpensive. if you took those apart and adapted them to a c5 housing you could have a good system that used a 9005-9006 bulbs

what were your ideas?
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:33 AM
  #6  
dblerman's Avatar
dblerman
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
can't you just use plug and play hid bulbs? those aftermarket projectors sucked! they do for any car. all made in china and none reflect light correctly
HID + ACA projectors > HID + stock housing > halogens + stock housing

PLENTY of people on here are running projectors with HID and love them.
Oh, and ACAs are made in Taiwan.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:41 AM
  #7  
_Wayne_'s Avatar
_Wayne_
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
if you do, use oe lenses. the 94-97 acura integra used a projector lamp with some really good glass. they are also inexpensive. if you took those apart and adapted them to a c5 housing you could have a good system that used a 9005-9006 bulbs

what were your ideas?
use the lenses from the breathless kit:
Find some good projectors 2 on each side like the radioflyer ones, make a simple mounting braket and fiber glass a shroud, so either make a product that is similar to these 1000+ lights for cheaper or make something that people can easily remake with stuff readily available online and at a local hardware store
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:43 AM
  #8  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

Originally Posted by dblerman
HID + ACA projectors > HID + stock housing > halogens + stock housing

PLENTY of people on here are running projectors with HID and love them.
Oh, and ACAs are made in Taiwan.
if they do it's the bulb, not the lens.

i think that stuff is junk. guess to each their own
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:46 AM
  #9  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

Originally Posted by _Wayne_
use the lenses from the breathless kit:
Find some good projectors 2 on each side like the radioflyer ones, make a simple mounting braket and fiber glass a shroud, so either make a product that is similar to these 1000+ lights for cheaper or make something that people can easily remake with stuff readily available online and at a local hardware store
what are the lenses sourced from? something like that was kind of the idea i had in my head listening to your post. it's just that OE projector lenses are SO much better than that crap you see on ebay. side by side the light output is night and day.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-95-96-97-...275775&vxp=mtr

these actually pop apart and that projector lens you see is extremely good. wonder if you could mount that in your system rather than a china junker

typical used price on these is under 100 a pair. this auction is priced high
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 12:50 AM
  #10  
_Wayne_'s Avatar
_Wayne_
Thread Starter
Pro
10 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 715
Likes: 17
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
what are the lenses sourced from? something like that was kind of the idea i had in my head listening to your post. it's just that OE projector lenses are SO much better than that crap you see on ebay. side by side the light output is night and day.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-95-96-97-...275775&vxp=mtr

these actually pop apart and that projector lens you see is extremely good. wonder if you could mount that in your system rather than a china junker

typical used price on these is under 100 a pair. this auction is priced high
Those look good, depending on the size it could possibly save a lot of time and money in mounting braket development, just need to find a reliable source for them
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 01:48 AM
  #11  
dblerman's Avatar
dblerman
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
what are the lenses sourced from? something like that was kind of the idea i had in my head listening to your post. it's just that OE projector lenses are SO much better than that crap you see on ebay. side by side the light output is night and day.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-95-96-97-...275775&vxp=mtr

these actually pop apart and that projector lens you see is extremely good. wonder if you could mount that in your system rather than a china junker

typical used price on these is under 100 a pair. this auction is priced high
What's funny is that everyone on the Honda forums complain about the 3rd gen Integra projectors and retrofit mercedes E55 lenses into their HID setups.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 10:49 AM
  #12  
MSG C5's Avatar
MSG C5
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by racebum
can't you just use plug and play hid bulbs? those aftermarket projectors sucked! they do for any car. all made in china and none reflect light correctly

i'm not sure if it's DOT that pulled them as some were sold direct from overseas

i would hope it's that people have decided to stop ricing out the corvettes

people make fun of these on honda-tech

that should say something
I've received many comments and compliments over the past two years regarding my HID projector ACA lights and "rice" was never one of them. Simply aim the projectors for the correct cut-off.

For those of you considering just installing HID bulbs in the stock halogen reflection designed housings and simply blasting light, please consider other drivers on the road.






Last edited by MSG C5; Sep 22, 2012 at 10:52 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 01:42 PM
  #13  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

Originally Posted by dblerman
What's funny is that everyone on the Honda forums complain about the 3rd gen Integra projectors and retrofit mercedes E55 lenses into their HID setups.
LOL

you have a point there

people are never satisfied
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 01:47 PM
  #14  
racebum's Avatar
racebum
Race Director
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
Default

Originally Posted by _Wayne_
Those look good, depending on the size it could possibly save a lot of time and money in mounting braket development, just need to find a reliable source for them
check your local craigslist, people are always parting out the 94-01 integras. the 94-97 cars are the ones that have the lower cost headlights. 98+ are about 3x more

make sure they are oem units and not aftermarket china lights if you go this route.

may even be able to find some at a pick n pull
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2012 | 10:53 PM
  #15  
Vetteman Jack's Avatar
Vetteman Jack
Administrator
Supporting Lifetime
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Veteran: Reserves
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,340
Likes: 24,781
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by MSG C5
Those lights look very good on your car.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2012 | 08:02 PM
  #16  
phinfan's Avatar
phinfan
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 323
Likes: 9
Default

Originally Posted by MSG C5
I've received many comments and compliments over the past two years regarding my HID projector ACA lights and "rice" was never one of them. Simply aim the projectors for the correct cut-off.

For those of you considering just installing HID bulbs in the stock halogen reflection designed housings and simply blasting light, please consider other drivers on the road.





I'm not into many of the mods, but those look fantastic.

Would it be too much trouble to ask you where or how you went about that? Also what the approx cost was?

Last edited by phinfan; Sep 23, 2012 at 09:43 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2012 | 08:18 PM
  #17  
Blown 346's Avatar
Blown 346
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
Default

Get them off ebay, They are the same housing and wiring harness etc. The only thing you have to get after that is order a HID kit. I bought my ACA kit years ago when they first came out and that was $1000. You can get the exact same kit from Ebay and they are ACA brand for around $300. Then the HID kit up to $100 depending on who you buy thru.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To The pop up projectors back?

Old Sep 23, 2012 | 08:29 PM
  #18  
MSG C5's Avatar
MSG C5
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by phinfan
I'm not much many of the mods, but those look fantastic.

Would it be too much trouble to ask you where or how you went about that? Also what the approx cost was?
I purchased my lights through forum vendor JW Motoring. He provided the ACA housings, HID bulbs, ballasts and harnesses as well as my HID fog lights and could provide you current pricing as my system is over 2 years old.

The key for a successful HID upgrade is in the wiring and the bulbs/ballasts. In the end, the ACA housings are simply that, housings for the projector lenses.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2012 | 10:00 PM
  #19  
phinfan's Avatar
phinfan
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 323
Likes: 9
Default

Originally Posted by MSG C5
I purchased my lights through forum vendor JW Motoring. He provided the ACA housings, HID bulbs, ballasts and harnesses as well as my HID fog lights and could provide you current pricing as my system is over 2 years old.

The key for a successful HID upgrade is in the wiring and the bulbs/ballasts. In the end, the ACA housings are simply that, housings for the projector lenses.
How difficult is the installation, about how long/involved of a project is it?
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2012 | 10:25 PM
  #20  
MSG C5's Avatar
MSG C5
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by phinfan
How difficult is the installation, about how long/involved of a project is it?
It was pretty straightforward with the directions provided by JW Motoring. I also swapped out my corner lights/LEDs as well as my rear tail lights to the Halo LEDs to the entire project took we a weekend.

I took my time and everything worked correctly the first time. If you take this on, work one light at a time and then test afterwards in case you need to reverse engineer or correct any issues. If you install everything at once without testing along the way, you may not be able to figure out the problem if only one bulb doesn't fire.

Below is a link to my original thread detailing the project. Good luck!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...sion-pics.html
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:40 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE