Ownership Verified: 1.6 Liters of gayness... '90 MX-5

When it warms up a bit more, I'll yank the passenger seat out and drive up there and get it.

I need time to reset the corner balance of the car to account for the weight :p

Jones: I'd drive up there for the hell of it eitherway, assuming I have the time off from work.
 
If no one else snaps it up it's yours. Hmm I'm thinking maybe a FinalGear meet... You could throw Viper in the trunk on the way up. :p
 
Portland Swapmeet FinalGear meet anyone?

First weekend of april
 
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I just said first weekend of april because that's when the Portland Swapmeet usually is held.
 
Ours would be better. :p
 
Custom headlights, or How to use a Car stereo as a metal brake.

Custom headlights, or How to use a Car stereo as a metal brake.

So... I FUCKING HATE the stock headlights on pop miata's. They are utter shit and HUGE. The ambient lighting of the streets here is bright enough that I forget to turn on my headlights half the time. They suck that god...damned...much.

My solutions. Hella 60mm projectors :thumbsup:

57000.jpg


Only problems... no one makes a bracket for these. There is a company that makes a conversion for the 90mm lights, but I'm not a fan of those particular lamps... and the kit is $480-$500 USD! And made of steel.

My plan of attack, procrastinate for 3 months...
 
Then get a fire lit under my ass after purchasing the head light in october...

Here's my 12" x I don't remember how long, sheet of aluminum already being cut up for the light:

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0318.jpg

Test fit:
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0320.jpg

You'll notice it looks like ass. When done, it'll likely continue to look like ass but it'll work well.

My fabrication tools are a claw hammer, a rotary tool, tin snips (don't work to well on this thick of sheet), the side of the bench, and my old car stereo.

The point of the roll at the top there is to provide rigidity for the adjustment bolts. Previous ghetto rigging has shown that it's do that or use a crap ton of aluminum to keep it from flexing.


Some more shaping taking place. Yes that is a car stereo being used to help bend the aluminum.

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0322.jpg

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0323.jpg

The bottom section in need of trimming:

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0324.jpg

Trimmed at set on a paint can for giggles.
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0326.jpg

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/28/IMAG0325.jpg

Once i actually finish the box, I'll produce another and order the rest of the projectors. Unfortunately I'm stuck for another 3 weeks before the projectors I want are available.
 
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More updates!

More updates!

So I now have a fully functioning headlight.

The whole assembly is made form sheet aluminum and cheap 1/8" thick bar stock from home depot.

Here is how I shaped the tops of the bracket, I just notched them a bit then bent.
Aluminum doesn't really like this much and you only get 1 chance to bend it before it fatigues too much and fails. Ideally I'd make smoother bends around a small diameter pipe.
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0329.jpg

Some random test fitting and ghetto pics of the bracket:

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0332.jpg

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0331.jpg

You'll notice only 1 screw from the support brackets to the main mounting face.
This allowed the assembly to pivot till I could figure out exactly where I wanted it all to lock down.

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0330.jpg

And the, largely finished ghetto bracket:

You'll noticed that there is an extra piece screwed in down at the bottom going
up to the top of the main brace. This was because I broke off my original tab.
This little fuck up may likely be the reason I build a new box section as it's made the bracket weaker than wanted.

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0335.jpg


Here is the motor linkage, which currently raises the assembly a good inch higher than I need or want. I can either bend the factory linkage at the base or cheap and notch where it mounts on the headlight so it slides a bit before pushing it up or pulling it down:

https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0336.jpg

Down:
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0333.jpg

Up:
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0334.jpg


Up and light up:
https://pic.armedcats.net/t/th/thedguy/2010/12/30/IMAG0337.jpg
 
I just need to do some more clean up on the bracket, and produce a way to mount the top plate on it. There are 4 mounts for the panel, but I only currently have capacity to easily fit 2 of 'em. Also any pivots/sliding parts will be getting nylon sleeves of some type to make sure everything operates smooth for a long time.

The other side will hopefully look a lot better as I'm going to avoid the sharp bends where possible.

I gotta admit I didn't think this piece of sheet aluminum would be strong enough for the job, but it's all been stronger than I expected and needed.
 
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I'm honestly not sure. It is aluminum. And I won't be leaving them up anymore now than I ever did before, so not as though it really matters.
 
Personally I think the aluminum might look cool just bare. But that could just be me.
 
Satin Black, as Edd China always recommends. Also, love the home job on the lights :thumbsup:
 
OH NOES!
What happened?
 
X3.

What happened?
 
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