JDM / EDM Headlight Conversion

[2ndGenGuy]

Well it's not as easy as it originally looked.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3406508526_3fba08d68d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3406508526/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3406507746_b1986d01d0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3406507746/)

I think this photo tells the whole story:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3405697443_62cf6ffda5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3405697443/)

The good news is you don't really need new fenders. But there's also a piece of trim that is missing under the corner markers. So you probably need the JDM /EDM header panel, corner pieces, and probably the grille.

The header panel bracket might work. But I'm not really sure.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3406509932_15c676deba.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3406509932/)

So, if anybody has a JDM or EDM header panel, grille, and corner trim pieces that go above the bumpers or underneath the sidemarkers, you should hook me up!!

At least you can see on the chassis how it was designed for the JDM lights:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3453/3406512122_df83e91373.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3406512122/)

Those are the adjuster holes with the arrows. You need some fancy tool to adjust them once they're in.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3406510600_bdb9c30830.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgturk/3406510600/)

And that little notch, I think for a city light maybe. Have to investigate further.

[carotman]

Oh, that's a tougher job than expected indeed!

[Hazwan]

How hard is it to reshape the USDM header panel? Grill should be the same if I'm not mistaken.

[seancornelis]

Crap, that's a real bummer. I figured these would swap no problem, but looking at these pics closeup the header panel is definitely slightly different on the JDM/Euro cars. The corner markers/turn signals also look a little taller and wider than the stock ones, or is that just my eyes playing tricks on me?

Strange that they went through so much trouble to change these pieces. Seems like it would have been a lot cheaper to just redesign the US headlight mounting instead of literally everything around it. On the 82-83 models, I've seen the JDM headlights on a US car in person and I'm like 99.9% positive there were no differences outside of the lights themselves...

Good luck dude, don't give up - the one piece lights look so much better...especially on the 2.5g sedan.

[ejos_trg]

hi all...if u all want to use JDM light, u must take out all USDM part like big lamp, signal lamp, grill, and big lamp cover (black colour)...after u all take out all part, just plug n play the JDM part....it easy dude, the hole for grill n lamp same n dont have a different....

[2ndGenGuy]

hi all...if u all want to use JDM light, u must take out all USDM part like big lamp, signal lamp, grill, and big lamp cover (black colour)...after u all take out all part, just plug n play the JDM part....it easy dude, the hole for grill n lamp same n dont have a different....

So I just need the sheetmetal part that is above the headlights, the sidemarkers, and lamps? I can still use my grille?

[79cord]

Ouch! Sorry to see the extra effort that would be required, the JDM style corner lamp does look bigger. So the American grille/lamp lwr trim was deeper or incorporated into its headlamp surround?

If postage gets too expensive maybe a local header-panel & lwr trims could be panel-beaten/ patched /trimmed into the correct shape as Hazwan proposed....

There might be one I could get round here but never got around to figuring out what postage might be beyond looking up the AustraliaPost website....

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah, I'm thinking it might just be worth shaping the one I have, though it still doesn't seem to want to fit, I think there is something in the structural part of the header panel that keeps the light from going all the way back in. I'm not going to worry about it too much right now. I've got enough things to work on. I just was bored and thought I could bolt them in really quick.

[AccordB20A]

Im sure you will sort it out john.

[Hazwan]

Im sure you will sort it out john.

X2. and I wonder why you even start this thread lol.

[MessyHonda]

looks good so far...i spy with my little eyes...a b20 engine

[denhonda]

FYI, the JDM/EDM grille & and fender trims are different as they have the extra plastic that yours don't seem to have. The header panel should modify, but the supports behind the grille do seem different to ours as far as I can see, and could explain why your lamp isn't fitting into place. I think the little notch behind the lamp is for the vacuum controlled height adjustment gear - when fitted. I've got this on my '82 but I've yet to see it fitted on a 2.5g.

[2ndGenGuy]

Aaaah! That totally makes sense. I wonder if I stuck a little light in it if I would get any neat lighting effects.

I kinda figured the grille might be different too. Dangit. Now I still need a slew of parts. I guess I'll worry about that down the road.

[3GCVC]

We will have a go at getting the parts when you arrive here on NZ soil, i know where there is a 2g just sitting so it might have what you require.

[79cord]

Doh! I should have checked this thread again.
I just went & got a 2.5 grille & side-trim pieces here with 2ndGenGuy in mind. The local wrecker has about 5 sedans just now.

I hadn't realized the lower trim piece between the bumper & lights is also part of the grille across the full width of the car! The side-trim pieces between the corner-indicator lights & bumpers reaching back to the wheel arch & attached by a screw at the wheel-arch lip, another under the headlight at the end of the grille lower trim, & two clips through holes in the front guard above the bumper.

Sending the grille in one piece could be aukward! I would wonder about separating the full-width lower trim from the main grille.