"Lazy/Sleepy Eye" pop-up light mod explained (long)

ArcticTsi · 09-10-2003, 12:40 PM

In the time I have been in the states I have received hundreds of e-mails about this mod. Not about the function or purpose, but rather how to do it. Well, somebody finally asked. This is a letter I wrote last night to a fellow DSM'r. It's long, but if you want to be in the know, read on.

***message-begins****
Dan,
Hey there again. Well, I apologize for that spreading through the DSM community like wildfire. When I got here from Japan I was actually surprised that no DSMs or none that I seen were running this mod. Then when I finally decided to post pictures of my car and taking it to events, you would of thought I invented it. But no such luck. This has been a standard mod for cars with pop-up headlights in Japan since about 89'. Originally the purpose was two fold. Both are for Road Racing, AutoX, Gymkhana, and of course Drifting. I'm sure you know that when racing on open courses how much you are on the gas or brakes. In the old days allot of these racing was done at night and the racers were called "bozozoku". The old "Lazy Eyes" or "Sleepy Eyes" had self-level devices in the homemade kits. So before the racing what the guys would do is adjust the lights so that the beam was exactly were they wanted it on the road. As you know pop-ups are notorious for aiming off into space. Well, anyway, with the lights set at the desired angle on the road the self leveling mechanism would keep the beam always at that angle(on the road) regardless of the orientation or pitch of the rest of the car. In a nutshell when accelerating the a$$ of the car dips and under hard braking the nose of the car dips. But with the self-leveling kit the beam is always focused on the road. That is old school reason number one for the lights orientation. Reason 2, It was discovered that when the pop-up light was in a sleepy position under hood temps would drop a little. In Japan we can gut a car, run no bumper reinforcements and allot of racer friendly mods like that, but must run headlights to pass inspection. Well racers soon learned of the underhood temps dropping and took it a step further. they would gut everything around the pop-up mechanism and relocate their air cleaners behind the pop-up lights mechanism. Basically the lid of the pop-up light acts as a cowl forcing the air to swirl around the light into the engine bay, mainly to the air filter. And you know cooler air means more power and a happier turbo engine since we run hot anyway. Most kits in Japan now just focus on the under hood temps(primarily air to the air-filter). Most kits also state that you can see a drop of 20 degrees at the air filter. The kits are a dime a dozen in Japan. But, I have only seen 1 or 2 types available here in the America. My kit was 20 bucks and is adjustable. The two I have seen here in the states are both about 100 dollars. The ones that are starting to catch on in the U.S. market are made by "Pivot", not to be confused with "Pilot". Pivot is a Japanese outfit. Here is a link to their US site and there newest kit available for the US market. You are one of the first to ask me the reason behind it. That impresses me. I kid you not when I say I have had several hundred e-mails in the year that I have been in the states with people asking how they can make their lights look like that. Not once had anyone asked the purpose. For them it was all cosmetic. I must tell you also that the term I used "Bozozoku" is no longer used for racers. It is a negative term now. Renegade motorist (cars & bikes) that go around in illegal vehicles creating a ruckus and vandalism are now referred to as "Bozozoku", so now it has negative connotations. Hope this helps you out. I may just post this in some of the forums around these parts to enlighten the ones who were doing just to be doing it. So when someone asks them what's the point they can respond intelligently.

Take care,
Jose
Arctic Racing

ps. here is that link to Pivot USA

Once at the home page, select accessories, It is called "pop-up headlight controller"

http://www.pivotusa.com/cgi-local/So...exe/?E+scstore

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Pic from the Pivot site showing the air flow

Enzo · 09-10-2003, 12:47 PM

awesome post!

and i love how your car looks jose.

Libila · 09-10-2003, 12:54 PM

Thats awsome, when I get a 1g I think Ill give this a try.

http://www.pivotusa.com/cgi-local/So...exe/?E+scstore

Nice Post.

Flat Lined · 09-10-2003, 03:36 PM

I'd had done the Lazy eyes but I cut the clear part of the light below the pop-ups for even more flow, now I just need to gut more of the inside.

PaulPDX · 10-11-2003, 11:56 PM

Perhaps some didn't ask because they already know or have guess the reasons behind it. Was pretty obvious to me...

iceman21 · 09-12-2005, 10:31 PM

Thread revival

I have been trying to figure out what Jose has used for his actual headlights.

Anyone have any ideas. I have searched both here and DSMtalk for the answer and got tired after wading through 30 pages of posts.

ArcticTsi · 09-13-2005, 07:18 AM

Here are some pics to give you an idea. I have changed the driving lamp I was using in these pics. I'm using a larger lamp that has greater wattage out put. but they are still somewhat cheap. I think I spent $70.00 on them and they hold a 100 watt H3 bulb that I have tied into the stock wiring with a 15 amp fuse in line. the fuse kit comes with the driving lamps. be sure to look for the box that states driving lamp, not fog lamp.
hope this helps you. then make some sort of mount like you see that I have made and angle the lamps just right behind the clear stock lenses. the weight savings with this mod is an easy 25lbs, after the new driving lamps are installed. see picture of headlight guts on scale.

Jose
Arctic Racing

Kalow · 09-13-2005, 09:30 AM

I wouldn't suggest it. I think it looks good but you can get screwed big time. A friend of mine got hit head on in his probe with the lazy eyes. Well, the passenger ended up suffering major damage. It was totally the other cars fault, but due to the improper lights they could not press charges. You do what you want, but keep that in mind.

iceman21 · 09-13-2005, 09:47 AM

At that point you would go to court and provide evidence that the lights that were in your car at the time of the accident were a higher wattage, aimed better, and illuminated the road better and I almost sure that anyone with a couple of brain cells would let you off the hook.

Besides if it is a front impact, how are the cops going to tell if they are the OEM headlights?

Kalow · 09-13-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman21

At that point you would go to court and provide evidence that the lights that were in your car at the time of the accident were a higher wattage, aimed better, and illuminated the road better and I almost sure that anyone with a couple of brain cells would let you off the hook.

Besides if it is a front impact, how are the cops going to tell if they are the OEM headlights?

He didn't have Arctics setup, just lazy eyes. The detectives can tell when the car in impounded. Trust me, i can happen, i know this because it did.

Stapl3 · 09-15-2005, 03:56 PM

Looks like your headlights are broken.

GSEclipse06 · 09-15-2005, 04:34 PM

arctic your headlights are frickin bright.

Gary 420A RS · 09-15-2005, 04:42 PM

good post should make it a tech article

ArcticTsi · 09-15-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSEclipse06

arctic your headlights are frickin bright.

They are, they illuminate the road much better than the stock lights. The old stock sealed halogen lights were just not cutting it, even when I replaced them with some of the sylvania ones, which were suppose to be much brighter, they really were not. So the aftermarket 100 watt driving lamp kit brightens up the road and well as shedding some weight off the car. bright lights = bonus

ArcticTsi · 09-15-2005, 04:51 PM

I also forgot to mention in additon to shedding the weight and brightening to road ahead. Removing all the headlight guts allowed me to relocate my air filter from within the hot engine bay to were the old pop-up light assembly was, so cooler air = happier motor

Thomas91169 · 09-17-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman21

At that point you would go to court and provide evidence that the lights that were in your car at the time of the accident were a higher wattage, aimed better, and illuminated the road better and I almost sure that anyone with a couple of brain cells would let you off the hook.

Besides if it is a front impact, how are the cops going to tell if they are the OEM headlights?

this is america, not japan(where it says youre from anyways). if theres any signs of tampering with stock equipment, they will use that against you. and no, our judicial system doesnt have a couple brain cells to think with anymore.

manwithaGSX · 09-17-2005, 06:56 PM

that link didnt work, is this what you guys are talking about ..... http://www.pivotusa.com/accessories/pivrhu.htm

iceman21 · 09-17-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas91169

this is america, not japan

Thanks for the heads-up. I kind of wondered why there so many damn SUVs here in Japan anyway.

If the fact that you had aftermarket lights on your car makes you at fault for an accident that you were trully not at fault for, then you either didn't get a laywer that was worth his fees or you didn't get represented at all.

Jose, I have left an email or two for pilot asking this question but I haven't gotten a reply. So I will ask you, what was the cost of the controller from them?

Thanks

ArcticTsi · 09-19-2005, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman21

Jose, I have left an email or two for pilot asking this question but I haven't gotten a reply. So I will ask you, what was the cost of the controller from them?

Thanks

If I recall correctly, the only unit that was available in america was about $100.00 us currency, where the cheapo unit I was running was only about 20 bucks american.

pic of my relocated air filter in action, it was about 100 degrees on the track that day with what felt like 100% humidity, so the car felt like a sauna inside, hence the window down.

Jose

iceman21 · 09-19-2005, 12:07 PM

Would this PIAA kit work, instead of an H3 housing?

http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/Lamp-pages/2100hid.html

*EDIT* Damn, I just found out the price on the damn kit and it's around 900.00. That cost more than I bought the damn car for

The 2100XT might work though.

ArcticTsi · 09-20-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman21

Would this PIAA kit work, instead of an H3 housing?

http://www.piaa.com/Lamps/Lamp-pages/2100hid.html

*EDIT* Damn, I just found out the price on the damn kit and it's around 900.00. That cost more than I bought the damn car for

The 2100XT might work though.

I just bought cheaper Pilot Brand Driving lamp set from Autozone. They are not HID's or anything, just put an extra bright bulb in the housing and called it a day.