Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Electrical issues, both 12 volt and 120 volt
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usachris
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B190 Year: 1999
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Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by usachris »

Thanks to another forum member (TJ) I was inspired to upgrade the stock headlights to LED HID Projector assemblies and 2 - LED fog lights from Vantage Optics & Diode Dynamics. The headlights are made to fit the Ford E series vans so they look amazing when installed, and the fog lights were placed in an existing opening, just under the front bumper.
Ah, a thing of beauty!
Ah, a thing of beauty!
00FDE775-F575-4F28-BCE7-708B618E871E.jpeg (201.23 KiB) Viewed 12657 times
Close of of the new LED HID Projector Headlights & Fog lamps
Close of of the new LED HID Projector Headlights & Fog lamps
0B2BFAA5-F6E3-4FFF-B978-ACE87C7AD0CD.jpeg (203.97 KiB) Viewed 12657 times
These will save the day on a foggy night!
These will save the day on a foggy night!
98E2C21D-30F7-4547-8C0E-71C587832949.jpeg (34.46 KiB) Viewed 12657 times
Scott Thompson at http://www.VantageOptics.com is the guy to talk to. He is all about the Ford E-Series vans and is extremely enthusiastic about what he does. I couldn’t be happier with the entire process that Scott took me through. :D

https://www.instagram.com/p/Beo5QF5HIlv/

http://www.vantageoptics.com/shop/Ford- ... -p95308941

https://www.diodedynamics.com/ss6-stage ... -pair.html
Last edited by usachris on Wed Feb 07, 2018 5:19 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Christopher Salazar
1999 B190 #301352
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usachris
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by usachris »

A closer look at the fog lamps!
Test firing!
Test firing!
64B77DF2-AE1F-4AC8-989C-A12CB7904D77.jpeg (183.52 KiB) Viewed 12654 times
Great placement!
Great placement!
828BB042-A579-409C-92C3-BFE76344AED3.jpeg (60.94 KiB) Viewed 12654 times
Christopher Salazar
1999 B190 #301352
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by 190-b-651 »

Wow looks great I like the fog lights haven't found a set im sold on for true fog lights you need the top shielded to stop the glare but that wouldn't be hard to modify. Have you thought about where your front license plate is going to go?

I went with these and the smokey billet grill to match.Image

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190-b-651
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by 190-b-651 »

O duh now I see the license plate mount. Looks great.

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Choptop
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by Choptop »

Nice !!
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by 190-b-651 »

Chris the more I see yours im thinking its the nicest one in the bunch that I've seen anyway

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usachris
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by usachris »

190-b-651 wrote:Chris the more I see yours im thinking its the nicest one in the bunch that I've seen anyway ImageImage
Thanks! The fog light bars are installed, setback, in the existing cowling.
Looking down the lights can not be seen.
Looking down the lights can not be seen.
AFF0E22A-32EB-43E8-95D9-E9E8F1016F06.jpeg (41.2 KiB) Viewed 12602 times
Light bars mounted recessed into lower cowling.
Light bars mounted recessed into lower cowling.
387542C2-2283-4471-98FB-9D0AAFA6066F.jpeg (32.22 KiB) Viewed 12602 times
This provides a great upper cutoff/visor to shield off and control glare. The amber lenses also are designed to focus the light and control light spill.
Any light bar spilling is shielded by cowling.
Any light bar spilling is shielded by cowling.
1799A470-75C2-4D99-BC29-6DB5C1A6E879.jpeg (26.25 KiB) Viewed 12602 times
From Diode Dynamics:
Standard optics lose light internally, and to glare, spreading a little bit of light in every direction. Instead, the TIR optic in the Stage Series collects all of the light from the LED, and directs it only where you need it, drastically reducing glare and improving total efficiency.
Last edited by usachris on Wed Feb 07, 2018 3:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Christopher Salazar
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by Kentuckian »

Chris,
Once you get a chance to drive your B190 during the night, please, give us a description of the illumination differences that you notice between the factory headlamps and the LED lamps that you installed. It would be interesting to hear about the pros and cons.
1993 Airstream B190
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usachris
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by usachris »

Kentuckian wrote:Chris,
Once you get a chance to drive...
Will do! In the meantime, this might give you an idea:
One new and one old headlight.
One new and one old headlight.
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Christopher Salazar
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by 190-b-651 »

Thats a big difference


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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by usachris »

Yes, a HUGE difference. Currently, lots of pros but not many cons. I have heard to expect a shorter overall life expectancy on the headlights based on usage. I’ll keep you posted on that. Although the headlights are super bright, http://www.vantageoptics.com did a perfect job of aiming them so I won’t blind on-coming drivers. I was driving at dusk - about 10 minutes before sunset, and I could actually see my headlight beam on the road infront of me! (The attached photo was taken well past dusk.) 10/10 would install again!
Attachments
Low beams are very “punchy”.
Low beams are very “punchy”.
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Christopher Salazar
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Re: Upgrading Headlights & Adding Fog Lights

Post by mountaindent »

what a beautiful rig. I am planning on doing very little night driving or early morning where dark. Although, this looks like a great upgrade should a decision be made to improve vision.
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