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While I am not sure where JWM gets his ACA style housings I do know that the original ACA housings had projectors fitted with Phillips HID Bulbs and ballasts as original equipment. I used to have an original set of ACAs w/Phillips lamps and ballasts. So if the current ACA clones use the same projector, I expect they were originally built for HIDs. Mine worked very well and threw a powerful beam with a sharp cutoff.
I installed an original set of HID ACAs over a decade ago in my 99 when they were still available. All Phillips components. They were great lights. Ran them with no issues until I sold the 99 removed the ACAs and installed them in my new to me 03 but modified the stops to get a nice "sleepy eye" look. But then I had a chance to get a set of SunGuns with dual Hella projectors, 55w HIDs. Sold the ACAs after installing the SunGuns.
GREAT lights, but no longer available as far as I can tell.
ACAs modified and stock on my 99
SunGuns
A couple of questions:
How do you adjust the stops to control how much the pop-ups extend?
With the pop-ups only partially extended, how does that affect the headlight beam coverage?
JMO,
but all HID installs should use a battery-based relay harness like what was included in your kit. If you rely on the small gauge OEM headlight wiring you may have many unwelcome issues. Common issues can be that the headlight will not close or open as designed. The battery-based relay wiring harness is easy to install and will ensure that proper voltage reaches your HID ballasts.
I will take a look at the package and will consider installing the included harness.
While I am not sure where JWM gets his ACA style housings I do know that the original ACA housings had projectors fitted with Phillips HID Bulbs and ballasts as original equipment. I used to have an original set of ACAs w/Phillips lamps and ballasts. So if the current ACA clones use the same projector, I expect they were originally built for HIDs. Mine worked very well and threw a powerful beam with a sharp cutoff.
The original ACAs used D1S, that I know. The ones available now use H9 projectors; at least, the base is H9. The Taiwan-based projectors I bought from FIPerformance, which should be the same ones that JWM and Radioflyer use, have H9 projectors. Halogen projectors are capable of maintaining the sharp cutoff depending on the projector, but the light distribution will almost certainly be different.
A couple of questions:
How do you adjust the stops to control how much the pop-ups extend?
With the pop-ups only partially extended, how does that affect the headlight beam coverage?
I used a set of custom aluminum stop brackets that I purchased from the maker of the SunGun light units. In my case, I also had to modify these stop brackets a bit to get the height opening I wanted.
Once I had my ACA housings opening as I wanted I adjusted the low beam cut off using the OEM "golden rod" adjustments. This required a set of working OEM "golden rod" adjusters. As well as quite a bit of trial an error but in the end, it did work well.
There are many posts on CF as to how to clean and restore the OEM "golden rod" adjusters. It can be done as long as the units are not broken.
You can see the result in the first pic of my TR 99.
BTW, the high beams will not adjust properly using this mod, but then they never did adjust properly with the ACA housings due to a design error in their construction. But with HID low beams adjusted properly, the high beams are not needed anyway.
Phillips HIR 9011 & 9012 with the harness to keep all 4 on at "bright" mode.
I've done this in my 90's Chevy Trucks as well. Best bang for the buck.
I really want the RadioFlyer package, but just out of reach $$ for me
Stockers for me, I'll look into brighter options when one of them burns out. I try not to drive at night too much, but honestly the output is ok. I don't drive down many roads that have no lighting, but if I did I would probably upgrade sooner. The aftermarket options do look nice, but not sure how willing I'd be to take on such a project and expense considering how infrequently I am driving it at night.
I'm in the same boat. All my night driving is in the family car or pickup.
As much as I would like to use the GM C5 European glass headlamp assemblies or have a HID projectors, I am going the path of less resistance (no pun intended) and less cost for right now and I will be swapping out the 9006/9005 bulbs for the (modified to fit) 9012/9011 bulbs as noted here;
Now granted I will still be struck with the less than optimal (being kind here) pattern produced by the US spec lenses, but at least there will be more light - maybe just not 100% everywhere that I need it. Once I figure out why the fog lamps do not work in my car, I will also be swapping from the 38 watt 899 bulbs to the 50 watt 885 bulbs. Big boost in lumens there as well 1255 vs 754.
Once I figure out why the fog lamps do not work in my car, I will also be swapping from the 38 watt 899 bulbs to the 50 watt 885 bulbs. Big boost in lumens there as well 1255 vs 754.
Just an option,
For about $50 you can install 55-watt HIDs in your stock fog lamps, which happen to be projectors, and have a huge increase in your ability to see at night.
I upgraded the fog lamps in my Durango to Opt7 FluxBeam LED. I just do not think there is something in a direct replacement bulb with say 5000K or lower color that has much more than 700 lumens - which is no improvement over the stock 899 bulb. That's why I am thinking of just going with the 50 watt 1254 lumen halogen 885 bulb for about $20. I may have to look at the Opt7 35w 3400 lumens HID conversion kits if the 885 bulb swap do not yield enough improvement. They also offer over the top 55w 3900 lumens kit as well.
I can tell you that after working on the head lights last evening, that I am very pleased with the 9012/9011 bulb upgrade, especially for the low cost and effort of the change. Is it a perfect fix, no - but at least now I can see the road ahead at night.
Last edited by JHrinsin; Oct 28, 2017 at 09:56 AM.
I can tell you that after working on the head lights last evening, that I am very pleased with the 9012/9011 bulb upgrade, especially for the low cost and effort of the change. Is it a perfect fix, no - but at least now I can see the road ahead at night.
This is another inexpensive way to upgrade your lights even with the HID bulbs:
I use this in all of our headlight kits. If you ever decide to purchase one of those kits, let me know you already have the HI-4 harness and i can discount the kit for that piece.
I first did the HIR bulb replacement and 4-on harness (a big improvement over stock), then went to HID lows and fogs, keeping the HIR high beams - Another big difference in the amount of light and the distance it projected. Much better driving at night with a fully upgraded system.
They look much better too.
