Headlight Swap

[So_Powerful]

I want to swap my 85's headlights for some 87's. Has anyone attempted this? Does it work? Let me know. The reason is 85's headlights don't seem to put out enough light for me and I know the 87 one's can get nighthawks put into them.

[hberdan]

Use the search function, there's at least one or two prior threads on this very issue.

Here is one:
http://tercel.datfukkendog.com/forums/v ... 8ac#p34598

[Petros]

I have done it, as well as others on the forum. the later lights are brighter and look more modern as well. It is an easy swap, you will need the later side marker lights, grill and trim. There are a couple of minor mods you have to make, one is to drill a hole in the radiator support panel (that holds the headlight assembly) to allow the new style adjuster to fit, and the other is to splice in the later type side marker light connectors. Neither is a big deal.

You should consider putting some kind of head light protector over the new lens, these are hard to find and quite expensive. I have only broke one head light in 35 years of driving, one week after I found a perfect set of these lights in a wrecking yard for my '84, and installed them, a stone smashed one of mine. it was a pisser.

Also there are conversion light available to replace your sealed beam head lights, they are also costly but it is an easy switch and you keep your grill and side markers.

[garyfish]

It would be simpler -- and no modifications are necessary -- to do an H4 conversion where you replace the stock H6054 sealed beams with H4 housings that accept a replaceable bulb. I did this on my '85 T4WD -- along with installing relays, fuses and beefier 12-gauge wiring -- and the difference in light output was astounding.

Here's some threads that may provide some useful info if you decide you wanna do an H4 conversion:

http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... age#p32965
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... ght#p31106
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... hts#p19720

I lucked out and got the H4 housings on eBay for a song, $15 for a hi-qual pair... and then purchased Super White H4 xenon bulbs online from MCM Electronics for $8 a pair -- a fraction of what you'd normally pay at retail outlets. Pretty sure the 100/80 watt bulbs aren't street-legal but here's the info on where I got mine:
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/60-19902

Good luck with your project.

[So_Powerful]

Does anyone know where I can buy those diamond cut projector headlights in Canada? It's expensive to get them shipped from the states.

[garyfish]

Concerning the "diamond cut" headlamps:
At least one forum member does not recommend them... see below

Re: headlight conversion ... worth it?

Post by buffalomesa » Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:10 pm
The diamond cut headlight pattern sucks compared to a good "e-code" H4 headlight, and they're weak even compared to many of the cheap glass e-codes available on ebay. As far as upgrading your wiring, anything more than a 55/60 H4 bulb should have you seriously considering upgrading to a relay harness.

My H4 conversion used the cheaper E-code (European-code) housings available on eBay, and I'm very pleased with them. Basically, E-code headlamps strictly control low-beam glare, and they produce a sharp "cutoff" line at the top edge of the low-beam light pattern. Check out the following website for a BUNCH of useful info on this topic:
http://www.endosquid.com/audi/audinfo_l ... .htm#ecode

As for a source in Canada, try searching the eBay Canada listings at http://www.ebay.ca/

Try using search terms like 6054, H4, Euro, etc.

The least expensive set on eBay-Canada right now is about $40 Canadian (shipping included), maybe a bit less depending on how low of a "Best Offer" the seller will accept:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/200mm-H6054-H4-EURO- ... 4ce8f6e2f3

Just make sure you get the correct size... you wanna be able to do a straight swap for the stock 6054 sealed beams, which are 7 7/8" x 5 5/8" outside dimensions. Apparently, they're also referred to as the 200 mm size (= 7 7/8"). Also, make sure they have glass lenses (not plastic) and a metal reflector, and that they accept a replaceable H4 bulb.

[So_Powerful]

So if I do put 87 headlights into an 85 electrically it shouldn't matter? Do I need heavier gauge wire or can I splice the two together? What about relays?

[Petros]

I have had no issues with my '84 wiring using the '87 head lights. I made a simple adapter that uses the halogen light connector, with a pigtail that uses a connector to fit the factory sealed beam head light plug. That way if I ever want to covert back to sealed beams I just have to pull the adapter pigtails out.

If I went to some really high powered bulbs (expensive) than I might have wire issues, but I am just using standard halogen bulbs. the standard halogen bulb is such a big improvement over the sealed beams I do not feel high powered bulbs are necessary. I inspect the wires regularly and I have not seen any signs of overheating the wires or connectors. If I did I would add the relays, it is simple enough to do.

[So_Powerful]

Right on. Thanks Petros.

[splatterdog]

Any car, especially a classic like ours would benefit from a relayed power source direct from battery. There's lots of wire,crimps,connections between the battery and the headlights. It all adds up and can reduce available voltage to the bulbs. Even half a volt can make a noticeable difference in output. There is one drawback to this however. Bulb life gets reduced as voltage is increased. Worth it though if you miss just one deer,bear,cow,musk ox,etc. at night due to early detection.

[hberdan]

I have an 87 and used to also drive an 85 and an 86--and personally I found the 6054 sealed beams in the earlier models brighter and better for night driving than the later 87's composite bulbs. And I commute at night, a very long way, so really have a lot of experience in night driving.
I actually considered "retrofitting" the 87 back to the prior config, but never did before having to junk the others.
Due to the age of the wiring, I'm reluctant to upgrade the OEM recommended composite bulb, but if anyone has tried and sucessfully used a brighter bulb using the factory wiring, with no wiring upgrades, please let me know.
By upgrades, I mean bulbs like the Phillips VisionPlus or CrystalVision, GE NiteHawk, Sylvania Xtravision, etc., but all in a 9004 size, the OEM size for the car. Any noticeable differences?

[So_Powerful]

I used to have a 87 2wd wagon that I put nighthawks in. There was definately a difference. That is why I want to put 87 semi-sealed headlights into my 85. All I see at night when I driving is two very bright rectangles in front on me and everything else is dimmer.

I spent a couple hours today at the Edmonton pick n pull dissecting some of the tercel. I figured it was a better way to learn the innards of the vehicle then toying around with one of my good ones. I managed to remove all the wiring for the 87 headlights so now I could use that wiring if need be. I also got a good looking bumper to replace a slightly damaged one for a 86 I'm working on. I also decided while I was at it to take the rad fan as it looked in good condition. So now I have the grill, headlight mounts and wiring from the 87. I think I'm going to experiment on the 86 and put the 87 headlights in that one first. I'll have to make a trip down to Kelowna sometime this summer to get some more 87 mounts. The actual headlights were cracked so I couldn't use them.

[hberdan]

Well, after thinking about it, and reading above remarks, and that headlight bulbs can lose as much as 30% of their brightness over time, I splurged and installed some new Sylvania XtraVision 9004s. Wow, what an astounding difference. I replaced older bulbs, the newest of which was installed by me in 2005, several 10's of thousands of miles ago.
We'll see how long these burn before needing replacement, but I am stunned at the candlepower.

[So_Powerful]

So I've sort of given up on finding some factory 87 headlights that are nearby. Instead I want to put in some Euro HID lights. Does anyone know where I can order some of these in Canada and not have to pay more money for the shipping then the lights? I have found a lot of places in the states that sell them but the shipping to Canada is ridiculous.

[ARCHINSTL]

Shipping ANYthing to Canada from the USA is ridiculous if UPS or FedEx is used; the USPS is much cheaper and there are no "special fees" for exporting required. Insist that the vendor use USPS; if they resist, move on - tell them that there are plenty of other vendors selling lighting equipment.
See my post http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... sps#p40874
Tom M.