New Ideas Have a new idea for your Ford Ranger? General discussion of new ideas for the Ford Ranger.

Front end switch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-03-2009
offroadn_redneck's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Front end switch

Ive searched, but I dont know if Ive been using the right words. Anyway, what Im thinking of doing is converting my headlights to the 01+ style. I did a quick PS to show what I mean:

Name:  HeadlightSwitch.jpg
Views: 78
Size:  241.2 KB

What would be involved to do this?
 
  #2  
Old 05-03-2009
FordGuy302's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chelsea,AL
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Duct Tape LOL
 
  #3  
Old 05-03-2009
sonicbluestx's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dover Delaware
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
im pretty sure its fenders, grille, hood, header panel ect .. whole front end
 
  #4  
Old 05-03-2009
Lazler's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Brantford, Ontario
Posts: 5,526
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
LOL @ duct tape comment.. pretty sure u need the header panel for sure but not sure about anything else
 
  #5  
Old 05-03-2009
offroadn_redneck's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was thinking it was just going to be the header. But then again, I could try to paint over the blinker with DWB and rewire the lights...
 
  #6  
Old 05-03-2009
nbro3232's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Nokomis, FL / Tallahassee
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by offroadn_redneck
I was thinking it was just going to be the header. But then again, I could try to paint over the blinker with DWB and rewire the lights...
if you paint over the blinker it will look like mazda headlights

photoshop on my truck
Name:  IMGP1975copy2.jpg
Views: 81
Size:  116.7 KB

i dont think you need fenders or even a hood (hood wont line up correctly but it will still fit)
 
  #7  
Old 05-03-2009
Ray_Welder's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Zephyrhills, FLorida
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
What if you were to put in headlights like these,
And then paint over your bottom blinker,

And you could even mount your bottom blinker into the projector hole, As I'm sure they arent very good anyways.
 
  #8  
Old 05-03-2009
Ray_Welder's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Zephyrhills, FLorida
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Doenst look quite as good as oem IMO, but they're for your year at least, So less part swapping
 
  #9  
Old 05-04-2009
chainfire's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mission B.C.
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
The headlights are a different shape I believe. I could be wrong, but I think the 01+ are bigger because the have to house the blinker as well.
 
  #10  
Old 05-04-2009
04blackedge's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 23,426
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Whose light did you use to PS that? It looks like mine lol. Do it though!
 
  #11  
Old 05-04-2009
freddie's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: OH
Posts: 2,463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You can't just swap your headlights to the newer style. Here is what you'd need.. and if you search around a little, you can find the parts for the right price.

Headlights (with the clip things to hold them to the header panel)
Header panel(2001-2003)
Grill + grill surround(2001-2003)

You can go with a newer grill and grill surround, but you then need to get an 04+ header panel, grill + grill surround, AND A HOOD for an 04+
 
  #12  
Old 05-06-2009
crazymikey's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: your mom
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by nbro3232
if you paint over the blinker it will look like mazda headlights

photoshop on my truck


i dont think you need fenders or even a hood (hood wont line up correctly but it will still fit)

That actually looks pretty sweet
 
  #13  
Old 05-07-2009
Darock's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, Canada
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by crazymikey
That actually looks pretty sweet
I did pretty much the same thing with a 98 and an 01 Edge grille. It looks pretty good. I will post pics when I get a chance.
 

Last edited by Darock; 05-09-2009 at 03:17 PM.
  #14  
Old 05-07-2009
Xplo's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Norcross, GA
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As stated previously, you will need:

Headlights (w/ mounting clips)
Corner Lights
Header Panel
Grille

2001-2003 style

Your fenders and hood will still fit as is, but the headlights are a different shape in 2001. I've been planning this swap as well, and if you can get stuff from Certifit, it won't cost too much. The headlights were the worst part.
 
  #15  
Old 05-08-2009
crazymikey's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: your mom
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Darock
I did pretyy much the same thing with a98 and an 01 Edge grille. It looks pretty good. I will post pics when I get a chance.

Post pics ASAP or GTFO.
 
  #16  
Old 05-08-2009
99offroadrngr's Avatar
TOYOTA
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 11,713
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
ok im def doing this swap also during the summer. whats the deal with the header panel and clips an that stuff...??
 
  #17  
Old 05-09-2009
Darock's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, Canada
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by crazymikey
Post pics ASAP or GTFO.
Fine! Be that way:

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

The shots are a bit rough as they were taken with me cell phone. With the exception of the modified 01 Edge grille, everything else is from a 98 (well the headlights are aftermarket, but still meant for a 98).
 
  #18  
Old 05-09-2009
chainfire's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mission B.C.
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
What did you do, just chop the sides that normally go under the light off? What do you use for the signal?
 
  #19  
Old 05-09-2009
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Thats pretty dang original if you ask me. I like it!! Jeff...I assume the corner lamp acts as the signal?





OP.....well......number 1 the 01+ lamps are significantly bigger then the 98-00 lamps....It'd be pretty dang neat to glass in a piece for under the headlamps, run a 98-00 grille, and the 01+ lamps. I think you'd be much better off starting off with a 01-03 headerpanel, and modding a new grille to it.
 
  #20  
Old 05-09-2009
chainfire's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mission B.C.
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Yeah Shane that was what I was thinking. Maybe it is a Canadia thing, but my upper corner lights do not work as signals. They are my running lights. I wonder if I could retro fit them up into that....hmmm

But I really like that idea. I might have to steal it from you to update my horrible front end.
 
  #21  
Old 05-09-2009
Darock's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, Canada
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So here's what I did:

1. Yes, I chopped the plastic piece that goes under the lights and did a little more trimming to make it work. It is a bit nerve racking chopping up a brand new grille, but it worked in the end.

2. I rewired the corner lights to work as turn signals. Then I modified the sockets to accept larger 3057 bulbs. I used some LED bulbs from superbrightled.com. The headlights have a row of 5 LEDs that act as my marker lights.

3. I reworked the old fog lights to accept a 3057 bulb so that they are now turn signals as well. then I sprayed night shade on them to pimp them out.
 

Last edited by Darock; 05-09-2009 at 12:28 PM.
  #22  
Old 05-09-2009
Fx4wannabe01's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (23)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boring, Oregon
Posts: 21,721
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
US 98-00's are running lights there too. If it were me, I'd mod in a 3157 into the corner lamp for running lamp and blinker.
 
  #23  
Old 05-09-2009
chainfire's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mission B.C.
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Bravo Sir lol. I am going to seriously consider jacking that for my own truck if you do not mind. I might forgo the LED marker lights, and the LED's period, but beyond that consider it jacked!
 
  #24  
Old 05-09-2009
Darock's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, Canada
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Fx4wannabe01
US 98-00's are running lights there too. If it were me, I'd mod in a 3157 into the corner lamp for running lamp and blinker.
Sorry, I meant 3157. I have 3157's in the old fog lights as well, but I will be changing those to 3156's

Originally Posted by chainfire
Bravo Sir lol. I am going to seriously consider jacking that for my own truck if you do not mind. I might forgo the LED marker lights, and the LED's period, but beyond that consider it jacked!
Take what you want from it. I light the LED bulbs because they are clear, but besides that, they are kind of weak.
 
  #25  
Old 05-09-2009
crazymikey's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: your mom
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Darock
Fine! Be that way:

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

The shots are a bit rough as they were taken with me cell phone. With the exception of the modified 01 Edge grille, everything else is from a 98 (well the headlights are aftermarket, but still meant for a 98).
That looks really good. Is it a Ranger or a Mazda?

I have a feeling those headlights would fit a Mazda.

Nice work.
 


Quick Reply: Front end switch



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:26 AM.