HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENT TIP

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

This information may only be good for the 1980-1986 trucks.

Ever since I did the big-wire/relay modification to my headlights, I have been shooting those twenty-dollar Silver-Stars about every sixty days; I figure due to the full voltage they are now getting, as opposed to the wimpy nine or so volts that they were previously getting.

The bottom two retainer screws can easily be accessed, but the top two have always required me to remove that big chrome/plastic "bezel" trim thingie to be able to remove/install them; this is not the best situation, especially in the dark or in the rain.

I have remedied that situation and can now easily replace a headlight while leaving the bezel/trim un-molested.

I marked the location of the top retainer screws on the bezel, then I cut two notches, about a half-inch high by half-inch wide, that coincide with the retainer screws.

The plastic bezel was easily cut with a plain old wood-working coping saw.

I blacked the sawn edges with a "magic marker".

The notches are not easily seen at all, and not even noticable if you don't know they are there.

Now, replacing a headlight takes two minutes instead of thirty.

 

[fury9]

thanks for the bezel info as I broke several tabs and lost several clips today during the relay mod

 

[LCAM-01XA]

I had the same experience with the Sylvania Silverstar Ultras I used to run in my Lincoln (also has the relays mod), I finally got fed up with this and "downgraded" to Sylvania XtraVisions, never had an issues ever since.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I had the same experience with the Sylvania Silverstar Ultras I used to run in my Lincoln (also has the relays mod), I finally got fed up with this and "downgraded" to Sylvania XtraVisions, never had an issues ever since.

With my most recent headlight failure, I down-graded to plain old Sylvania halogens that I picked up at a swap-meet new-in-the-box for a buck apiece.

I noted the date of installation and am waiting to see if they fare any better than the high-dollar SilverStars.

I really love the SilverStars, but they are obviously a luxury that I can't afford under the current administration.

 

[Sycostang67]

I've heard the silverstars dont last as long as regular lights to begin with, so your increased power probably isn't helping. I'm going on 3 years and 2 trucks with my first set of silverstars though.

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Something I've always found is...When You R&R the headlight retainer rings frequently, they seem to loose their ability to hold the headlight tightly. (We've all seen the headlights that seem to vibrate when We meet them?)

Vibrating Silverstars is not good.

When I've run into that, I just shim the inner headlight mount with thin, self adhesive weatherstrip. Just a bit around the rim, where the headlight mounts to the door, works wonders.

 

[Agnem]

I think the prefered solution is not to mess with the trim ring at all. I say replace it once with one of these and be done with it.

 

[dyoung14]

I think the prefered solution is not to mess with the trim ring at all. I say replace it once with one of these and be done with it.

thats what im going to do one day