custom projectors and switchback turnsignals
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Here`s a cheap mod for your back up lights and 3rd brake light.
Buy some #894 halogens and mod them in, WORLD OF DIFFERENCE...!
For the back up lights, i took my die grinder to the odd tab on the #894 (left the two opposing tabs) fit right in the tail light housings. Then made a short harness to hook up the bulb connections at the factory harness. The #894 bulbs stand at the perfect height inside the back up light housings and shine perfectly. This is one mod i can say i`m VERY glad i did, as now i can see ALOT more behind me when backing up.
The 3rd brake light, i cut the plastic base off the #894 bulb, folded the wire tabs in half, plugged it in. I also installed wig-wag flasher along with the halogen bulb. Its amazing how quick the people behind me now pay more attention when i step on the brakes. I`m now working on 15/42watt brake & tail light mods for the tail light housings, i`ll keep ya`ll posted how that works out.
To go from that cheezy #921 (17watt) to the halogen #894 (37.5watt) it will not tax your lighting system.
Not to mention, the halogens will outlast those #921 bulbs two hundred to one easily.
Anyhow, just thought i`d throw some lighting mods in here along with all yours.
Buy some #894 halogens and mod them in, WORLD OF DIFFERENCE...!
For the back up lights, i took my die grinder to the odd tab on the #894 (left the two opposing tabs) fit right in the tail light housings. Then made a short harness to hook up the bulb connections at the factory harness. The #894 bulbs stand at the perfect height inside the back up light housings and shine perfectly. This is one mod i can say i`m VERY glad i did, as now i can see ALOT more behind me when backing up.
The 3rd brake light, i cut the plastic base off the #894 bulb, folded the wire tabs in half, plugged it in. I also installed wig-wag flasher along with the halogen bulb. Its amazing how quick the people behind me now pay more attention when i step on the brakes. I`m now working on 15/42watt brake & tail light mods for the tail light housings, i`ll keep ya`ll posted how that works out.
To go from that cheezy #921 (17watt) to the halogen #894 (37.5watt) it will not tax your lighting system.
Not to mention, the halogens will outlast those #921 bulbs two hundred to one easily.
Anyhow, just thought i`d throw some lighting mods in here along with all yours.
I think 09+ have different bulbs, but anywho..
I went with jusy 916's for the 3rd brake light and reverse lights and tail reverse and 3157's rather than 3156's for the brakes.
This setup only adds a few amps rather than doubling it.
I hope you dont have any issues, cuz that'd be nice to know how high the threshold is.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,770
Likes: 1
The TIPM reads current draw. Your more than doubling the current draw which may fool the tipm into thinking there is a short to ground. If it reads it 256x's in a row, it'll turn off that circuit.
I think 09+ have different bulbs, but anywho..
I went with jusy 916's for the 3rd brake light and reverse lights and tail reverse and 3157's rather than 3156's for the brakes.
This setup only adds a few amps rather than doubling it.
I hope you dont have any issues, cuz that'd be nice to know how high the threshold is.
I think 09+ have different bulbs, but anywho..
I went with jusy 916's for the 3rd brake light and reverse lights and tail reverse and 3157's rather than 3156's for the brakes.
This setup only adds a few amps rather than doubling it.
I hope you dont have any issues, cuz that'd be nice to know how high the threshold is.
My truck is a 2010, the 09 & 10 are the same tail light and bulbs. (3rd gen on back are not the same)
I also replaced my 3157 brake light bulbs with the 3357/3457LL which are a tad brighter for brake.
Brake & Tail light Wattage Spec`s: 29.4/8.3
Guess i`ll have problems here too..?..NOT
Absolutely NO problems since modded either. Ther are guys on this very forum that are running 50watt reverse light bulbs with no problems, i hardly believe i will have any problem before they do. My fuse`s aren`t blowing, the wiring will handle the VERY slight increase in amperage as well. And its not like you have the reverse lights and 3rd brk/light on for that long either.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
Rich, you are comparing your 3rd gen to 4th gen, again. (alot different TIPM between 3rd & 4th gen)
My truck is a 2010, the 09 & 10 are the same tail light and bulbs. (3rd gen on back are not the same)
I also replaced my 3157 brake light bulbs with the 3357/3457LL which are a tad brighter for brake.
Brake & Tail light Wattage Spec`s: 29.4/8.3
Guess i`ll have problems here too..?..NOT
Absolutely NO problems since modded either. Ther are guys on this very forum that are running 50watt reverse light bulbs with no problems, i hardly believe i will have any problem before they do. My fuse`s aren`t blowing, the wiring will handle the VERY slight increase in amperage as well. And its not like you have the reverse lights and 3rd brk/light on for that long either.
My truck is a 2010, the 09 & 10 are the same tail light and bulbs. (3rd gen on back are not the same)
I also replaced my 3157 brake light bulbs with the 3357/3457LL which are a tad brighter for brake.
Brake & Tail light Wattage Spec`s: 29.4/8.3
Guess i`ll have problems here too..?..NOT
Absolutely NO problems since modded either. Ther are guys on this very forum that are running 50watt reverse light bulbs with no problems, i hardly believe i will have any problem before they do. My fuse`s aren`t blowing, the wiring will handle the VERY slight increase in amperage as well. And its not like you have the reverse lights and 3rd brk/light on for that long either.
Your still doubling the amperage on the stock wiring, stock electrical connections within the tipm. Higher amperage means higher arcs at the terminals. Maybe the tipm doesnt care like it does with the headlights, I always asumed it did. But loading the circuit up too much is playing games I'm not going to risk. If you have problems with your tipm, it's $6-800 for replacement.
I added lights on their own circuit that are better than upgrading stock bulbs anyways. to each their own in this matter I suppose.
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 2
From: South, FL
Jay, got my switch backs and giggity... They look sharp! You are right they are a little bit whiter than my 6k heads, but nothing that bothers me.
Interpunx, I looked at my headlights today and I guess your right, you don't need to remove the grille, just a really long extension to get to the lower bolt.
Interpunx, I looked at my headlights today and I guess your right, you don't need to remove the grille, just a really long extension to get to the lower bolt.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Jay, got my switch backs and giggity... They look sharp! You are right they are a little bit whiter than my 6k heads, but nothing that bothers me.
Interpunx, I looked at my headlights today and I guess your right, you don't need to remove the grille, just a really long extension to get to the lower bolt.
Interpunx, I looked at my headlights today and I guess your right, you don't need to remove the grille, just a really long extension to get to the lower bolt.
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: S.C. Pennsylvania
Thanks for the video JayMan...
I like them. What exactly did you order/install, and from whom?
I've visited the retroshop site, they have a ton of images, and very few words...
Did you order a mod to your existing light assemble?
Or a complete replacement?
Looked through most of the 4th GEN gallery on Retroshop...
My favorite was these. Are they at all what you installed?
Thanks for your time...
I like them. What exactly did you order/install, and from whom?
I've visited the retroshop site, they have a ton of images, and very few words...
Did you order a mod to your existing light assemble?
Or a complete replacement?
Looked through most of the 4th GEN gallery on Retroshop...
My favorite was these. Are they at all what you installed?
Thanks for your time...
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 2
From: South, FL
If you e-mail Jeremy at retro-shop, tell him what your looking for he'll write you up a quote. He's EXTREMELY good with writing back multiple e-mails to pinpoint exactly what you want. When I ordered mine I must have sent 30-40 emails discussing what I wanted and how I wanted to do them. Then he sent me a invoice and a few weeks later I saw mine!
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: S.C. Pennsylvania
Thanks Mikeyyy,
Took your advice, they really are pretty pricey, $700+ your old lights. I like them, I just can't understand the pricing...not saying they aren't perhaps worth it... it just seemed like a big pile of money for basically a couple ballast and projector lamps and some labor.
Just my 2 cents.
I'll have to think on that expenditure for a bit.
Thanks again for the reply Mike.
Took your advice, they really are pretty pricey, $700+ your old lights. I like them, I just can't understand the pricing...not saying they aren't perhaps worth it... it just seemed like a big pile of money for basically a couple ballast and projector lamps and some labor.
Just my 2 cents.
I'll have to think on that expenditure for a bit.
Thanks again for the reply Mike.
If you e-mail Jeremy at retro-shop, tell him what your looking for he'll write you up a quote. He's EXTREMELY good with writing back multiple e-mails to pinpoint exactly what you want. When I ordered mine I must have sent 30-40 emails discussing what I wanted and how I wanted to do them. Then he sent me a invoice and a few weeks later I saw mine!
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 2
From: South, FL
Thanks Mikeyyy,
Took your advice, they really are pretty pricey, $700+ your old lights. I like them, I just can't understand the pricing...not saying they aren't perhaps worth it... it just seemed like a big pile of money for basically a couple ballast and projector lamps and some labor.
Just my 2 cents.
I'll have to think on that expenditure for a bit.
Thanks again for the reply Mike.
Took your advice, they really are pretty pricey, $700+ your old lights. I like them, I just can't understand the pricing...not saying they aren't perhaps worth it... it just seemed like a big pile of money for basically a couple ballast and projector lamps and some labor.
Just my 2 cents.
I'll have to think on that expenditure for a bit.
Thanks again for the reply Mike.
I had duals and went to quads n. Kept my old lights and sold the duals. But the ballasts/lights from retro solutions aren't cheap and good quality from my experience. No codes or TPMS lights on my dash like other kits. It's definitely worth thinking about. I tell my buddies I have 600+ invested in my lights and they stare at me like I'm stupid lol.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Canada
I agree too that they aren't cheap that's for sure, but you know what it's much better than doing it yourself, I could probably try it myself but I know I would totally **** it up. So for the quality and have done right I think it's worth it. Plus you can get whatever color customized you want. I should have mine soon, cannot wait. Ordered the quads painted black and also got the fogs painted black with projectors. I'm thinking of wire the high beams on a switch that will activate the high beams and the fogs and headlights since they are bixenon. That should light up the world. I also got ccfl halos on them, total cost me 1000 but I did have HID's already so that's not in the price.. It might be a Lil crazy to spend that just on lights, but if its gonna save me an accident it was all worth it.
Last edited by InterpunX; May 15, 2012 at 09:26 PM.