So there is a slew of information on retrofitting existing headlamps with projectors or bulbs of one sort or another, all across the web. As has been repetitively pointed out here, such a modification to an existing and compliant lamp is illegal (reasonably so).
But what about mounting lamps of a completely different format on a vehicle? Not as auxiliary lighting, but as a full on replacement for, say, an oem lamp that was poor performing when new, and that is not in one of several standardized formats (e.g. 5-3/4" or 7" round, 4x6" or 5x7") that has a variety of possible lamps that will funtion as a legitimate upgrade over the lamp it replaces.
To put it simply, is it legal to remove an OEM headlamp housing and possibly the underlying mount/mounting hardware in order to replace it with a solidly mounted bracket for say a 5-3/4" or 7" bucket that allows for horizontal and vertical adjustment of aim?
My curiosity was piqued recently. I drive an older vehicle (3rd gen 4runner) and despite a relay harness, good bulbs and recently cleaning the housings, is beginning to leave me desiring more light. A common thing on t4r.org is one of several highly touted LED headlight bulbs (not legal, install threads clearly illustrate massive increases in glare, very blue light produced, and the common complaint is of a noticeably decreased viewing distance [so not much of an upgrade, eh?] or a projector retrofit of some type or another. Not an option for me. I also already run a set of cibie led auxiliary high beams, so adding a set of auxiliary lamps seems to be a step back (being that high beams here in the US are constrained to 75k candela output), and you certainly will attract unwanted attention having 4 uncovered auxiliary lamps on the front of a behicle, let alone 6 illuminated lamps.
In my case, my 4runners headlamps are a headlamp only lamp, large in size both vertically and horizontally, and have a deep mounting depth, that also uses spaces in the core support to accommodate their depth. The lamps also sit in a bracket that has several solid mounting holes in the core support. Frankly, it would not be a problem to create a mount for a 7" bucket that would place the lamp in approximately the same space (and still well within the min/max mounting heights and widths), that would attach solidly to the core support without modifying it. Some sort of bezel would likely be needed to fill in the resulting gap, but I have no issues working with fiberglass and molds.
So, is it legal to fully replace an OEM lamp and mount with a diy one that allows for both vertical and horizontal beam adjustment?
But what about mounting lamps of a completely different format on a vehicle? Not as auxiliary lighting, but as a full on replacement for, say, an oem lamp that was poor performing when new, and that is not in one of several standardized formats (e.g. 5-3/4" or 7" round, 4x6" or 5x7") that has a variety of possible lamps that will funtion as a legitimate upgrade over the lamp it replaces.
To put it simply, is it legal to remove an OEM headlamp housing and possibly the underlying mount/mounting hardware in order to replace it with a solidly mounted bracket for say a 5-3/4" or 7" bucket that allows for horizontal and vertical adjustment of aim?
My curiosity was piqued recently. I drive an older vehicle (3rd gen 4runner) and despite a relay harness, good bulbs and recently cleaning the housings, is beginning to leave me desiring more light. A common thing on t4r.org is one of several highly touted LED headlight bulbs (not legal, install threads clearly illustrate massive increases in glare, very blue light produced, and the common complaint is of a noticeably decreased viewing distance [so not much of an upgrade, eh?] or a projector retrofit of some type or another. Not an option for me. I also already run a set of cibie led auxiliary high beams, so adding a set of auxiliary lamps seems to be a step back (being that high beams here in the US are constrained to 75k candela output), and you certainly will attract unwanted attention having 4 uncovered auxiliary lamps on the front of a behicle, let alone 6 illuminated lamps.
In my case, my 4runners headlamps are a headlamp only lamp, large in size both vertically and horizontally, and have a deep mounting depth, that also uses spaces in the core support to accommodate their depth. The lamps also sit in a bracket that has several solid mounting holes in the core support. Frankly, it would not be a problem to create a mount for a 7" bucket that would place the lamp in approximately the same space (and still well within the min/max mounting heights and widths), that would attach solidly to the core support without modifying it. Some sort of bezel would likely be needed to fill in the resulting gap, but I have no issues working with fiberglass and molds.
So, is it legal to fully replace an OEM lamp and mount with a diy one that allows for both vertical and horizontal beam adjustment?