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Topic: 83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly (Read 536 times) previous topic - next topic

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

I need a clear bumper lamp assembly. They were mostly on the 83 Tbirds and Cougars. To clarify its the light assembly that is in the bumper at the front passenger side. It acts as a parking light and turn signal light. I only need the passenger (right side if you are sitting in drivers seat)
Motorsport FMIC, Boport 1.5, Boblee header, gutted upper, profiled lower, phenolic spacer, Accufab fpr, LA3, Boport stage 3 big valve head, 57 trim/stage III Perfromance Techniques custom turbo, stinger 3" DP and custom 3"exhaust, AEM wideband, custom aluminum carnk pulley, Merkur custom A/C setup, PA performance high output 3G alt, dual oil catcj cans, Motorsport Valve cover,full Motorcraft tune up kit, 22psi of LOCO!!

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #1 –
If I remember correctly both sides have the same light design the only thing different from the pass. side and driver side is the metal plate that it bolts onto. Anyone else want to clarify?

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #2 –
Quote from: 302 PWR;310642
If I remember correctly both sides have the same light design the only thing different from the pass. side and driver side is the metal plate that it bolts onto. Anyone else want to clarify?


They are definitely side specific!

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #3 –
Ah okay then.

'88 Mercury Cougar LS, 302, Project Car - "The Coug"
'83 Ford Thunderbird Heritage, 302, Summer Ride, - "The Bambi Killer"
'86 Chevrolet S10, Daily Driver -  "The Black Beater"

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #4 –
I remember because I purchased and changed them in the Bird I have now and did it some 12 years ago in the 1985 I had.

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Watchdevil;310670
They are definitely side specific!


I disagree...
I just recently swapped out my Ambers for Clears using 2 Right sides from 2 different cars. (obviously, lol)

The lights/plastic housings are exactly the same. Just flip em around and mount them to the side specific metal plates.
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #6 –
Sorry to burst your bubble but they are in fact marked LH TOP and RH TOP right above the bulb socket opening on the back. I bought a set of NOS ones which I am using on the car with the original boxes labeled with the working part numbers and I have a back up set in case I ever need to replace one. I also have the amber set that I took off. They are as follows:


The bulb socket opening in the back is offset closer to the top of the housing.  Part numbers are E3SZ-13200-A and E3SZ-13200-B... In the Ford part numbering system, E=1980's 3=1983 S=Tbird Z=Ford 13200=Front Turn Signal Lamp A=Right Side B=Left Side.

Amber lamps are E4SZ-13200-A and B

Also reference: http://www.coolcats.net/tech/reference/8386partnumbers.html

They are impossible to flip over and use for the opposite side. This puts the mounting studs in a total opposite of where there would need to be to do so... Also the bumper mounting plates that they attach to are side specific with only two holes that align with the studs on the back of the lamp housings LH or RH side. Now I suppose someone might drill extra holes in one of the mounting plates to make them work, but two lamp housings used from the same side will still have the bulb staggered lower on one side than the other if they are flipped around.

LH & RH side by side TOP up, RH TOP down vs. LH TOP up, and LH & RH TOP markings...

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #7 –
D'oh! I got learned.

Went outside and played with my ambers and a plate i had left over.

I was almost positive it was only the plates from when i was playing around with them at the junkyard, But my mind must have failed me because you are indeed right~Side specific on both items.

You "Might" be able to get away using a right side on a left plate and vice verse, But you need to drill new holes in the plate and possibly shim.

Thanks for clearing that up Watchdevil. :cheers:
~Project ThunderStorm = '84 Charcoal Thunderbird - First Car - Long Time Work in Progress~
~Project (No Name Yet) = 1970 Plymouth GTX/RR "Clone"~

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #8 –
I am thinking perhaps you thought you had gotten two of the same side when you may not have realized that you actually did get both sides!

Sometimes I feel like a wicked villian for clearing things up because I hate to make people feel bad if they are less than accurate! But it's okay I have had my own memory fail once or twice! Glad u are a Sport! A Thunderbird Sport I might add... LOL!

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #9 –
I found one in the jy and bought one on ebay, so I'm good for now. Doesa nyone know who would carry these otherwise?
Motorsport FMIC, Boport 1.5, Boblee header, gutted upper, profiled lower, phenolic spacer, Accufab fpr, LA3, Boport stage 3 big valve head, 57 trim/stage III Perfromance Techniques custom turbo, stinger 3" DP and custom 3"exhaust, AEM wideband, custom aluminum carnk pulley, Merkur custom A/C setup, PA performance high output 3G alt, dual oil catcj cans, Motorsport Valve cover,full Motorcraft tune up kit, 22psi of LOCO!!
 

83-84 Thunderbird Cougar clear front lamp assembly

Reply #10 –
Quote from: RDOG;310853
I found one in the jy and bought one on ebay, so I'm good for now. Doesa nyone know who would carry these otherwise?


You are doing as good as I did finding them. I bought mine on eBay as well. Wouldn't you know it though I discovered a salvage yard Cougar with the clear lamps just over two weeks ago, and though they were well worn I could have got them for almost nothing instead of paying eBay seller prices.

Those clear lamps are certainly becoming harder to find since they were used only the first two years and most of the cars of that age have been stripped or sped by now. Just salavage cars of those years are impossible to find now, although there have been quite a few 1985-88's still in the yards. Now they are scarce in just a matter of just a few months.

If you were looking for parts for a 1989-97 Tbird its a buyers market out there. They are all over the salvage yards.