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Topic: 83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs (Read 1815 times) previous topic - next topic

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Has anyone replaced their stock 83-86 Thunderbird headlights with LEDs? My stock headlights are various shades of clear to not so clear and I'm looking for a more uniform look with something that pulls fewer amps.
1986 Thunderbird Elan 5.0 EFI AOD, 3.73:1 SN95 rear, 17" Mustang Bullitts w/Firestone WO Indy 500's. Future plan: 349 stroker, C9 block, forged dish pistons, Scat 9000 crank, 4340 I beam rods, ARP head/main studs, ported explorer intake, 1.72 CC RR, Vortech V2 supercharger, Mr. Freeze Meth Inj, intercooler, TFS 190 11R CNC heads (66CC), BBK shorties with 2.5" duals, 4R70W Transmission, Taurus fan.

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #1 –
I'm kind of playing around with this on the '86. Right now I'm running H4 housings and xenon-style (blue) halogen bulbs. The light is okay but it's really high wattage (like 90-100W on low beam) and to be honest, the usable light is faint at best. The fog lamps supplement them nicely...which, of course, is sort of back-asswards. Definitely need something better.
 
I did get some LED H4 bulbs from eBay to try out. They were supposed to be for high/low beam but they ended up being low beam only so that did me no good. I didn't even drive on the street with them so I cannot say whether or not that would be something that interests you. Still experimenting this summer with this...so stay tuned.

Otherwise, the all-LED replacements are funky looking but seem to be alright. It's not my style; I like the stock looking ones. I haven't seen much feedback on them, other than the people at Four Eyed Pride that have them, seem to like them.

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #2 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;461212
I'm kind of playing around with this on the '86. Right now I'm running H4 housings and xenon-style (blue) halogen bulbs. The light is okay but it's really high wattage (like 90-100W on low beam) and to be honest, the usable light is faint at best. The fog lamps supplement them nicely...which, of course, is sort of back-asswards. Definitely need something better.
 
I did get some LED H4 bulbs from eBay to try out. They were supposed to be for high/low beam but they ended up being low beam only so that did me no good. I didn't even drive on the street with them so I cannot say whether or not that would be something that interests you. Still experimenting this summer with this...so stay tuned.

Otherwise, the all-LED replacements are funky looking but seem to be alright. It's not my style; I like the stock looking ones. I haven't seen much feedback on them, other than the people at Four Eyed Pride that have them, seem to like them.

I'll probably put new stockers in for the time being. The headlight bezels are out of the car while it is in paint, so I thought it was a good time to change the headlights. Some are clear, others foggy and grayish given the fact that they were changed at different times over thirty years.
1986 Thunderbird Elan 5.0 EFI AOD, 3.73:1 SN95 rear, 17" Mustang Bullitts w/Firestone WO Indy 500's. Future plan: 349 stroker, C9 block, forged dish pistons, Scat 9000 crank, 4340 I beam rods, ARP head/main studs, ported explorer intake, 1.72 CC RR, Vortech V2 supercharger, Mr. Freeze Meth Inj, intercooler, TFS 190 11R CNC heads (66CC), BBK shorties with 2.5" duals, 4R70W Transmission, Taurus fan.

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #3 –
A whole new set fan be had for around $40 at Wal-Mart last time i bought some. ($8is for the one and $12 for the other).
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #4 –
I was just at Autozoo yesterday....regular "basic" 4651/4656 housings are about $10 each. Sylvania Silverstars are around $16 each. Ric has them on his '85 and loves them. That might be an option if you have a little more coin.

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #5 –
Quote from: EricCoolCats;461219
I was just at Autozoo yesterday....regular "basic" 4651/4656 housings are about $10 each. Sylvania Silverstars are around $16 each. Ric has them on his '85 and loves them. That might be an option if you have a little more coin.

I just ordered a new set of low and high beam halogens from Rock Auto for $24. As I said, mine were various shades of grey from leaking and fogging over the years. May switch to LEDs down the road a bit once I see them on a similar car. They can look odd, but so do most new things when we first see them.
1986 Thunderbird Elan 5.0 EFI AOD, 3.73:1 SN95 rear, 17" Mustang Bullitts w/Firestone WO Indy 500's. Future plan: 349 stroker, C9 block, forged dish pistons, Scat 9000 crank, 4340 I beam rods, ARP head/main studs, ported explorer intake, 1.72 CC RR, Vortech V2 supercharger, Mr. Freeze Meth Inj, intercooler, TFS 190 11R CNC heads (66CC), BBK shorties with 2.5" duals, 4R70W Transmission, Taurus fan.

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #6 –
That's not a bad price, cool!

If I get the H4 LED bulbs in soon, I'll let you know and meet up with you somewhere so you can see them in action.
 

83-86 Headlight Replacement with LEDs

Reply #7 –
I did some research awhile back but never did pull the trigger.  http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10002&categoryId=13091&pageView=grid&urlLangId=-1&beginIndex=0&langId=-1&top_category=15554&parent_category_rn=13089&storeId=10001
84 COUGAR/90 HO, 1.7RRs, performer RPM,700DP, equal length shorties, stainless EXH ,T-5,Hurst pro-billet, KC clutch, 8.8/ 4.10s, line-lok, bla ,bla, bla.
71 COMET/289,351w heads, 12.5 TRWs, 750DP, Liberty TL, 9"/6.00s, 11.9x @112 , bla,bla,bla.

Never shoot your mouth off, unless your brain is loaded! ....I may get older, but I'll never grow up!....If you're not laughing, you're not living!  :laughing: