When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a Early99 and the headlights are just so bad I need to replace them. They look like crap and they really are no longer putting light down on the road. And a new set of Sylvania Silver Star Ultra's didn't help much. I was wanting to go with 02-04 headlights.
Will a stock 02-04 headlight have the same adjusters and location as a E99?
And I thought that the headlight mount panel was the same for 99-04. Is that statement correct?
Am I correct when I say a 02-04 headlight have the same bulb as a E99 / 9007 bulb ?
Now I really like the look of the 05-07 H/D headlights but I remember seeing posts saying that they were NOT as bright as the 02-04 headlights. If I recall correctly your best bet to get more light down the road with the 05-07 H/D you needed HID set up. That and the cost of all the above just makes it NOT doable for me.
Early 99 here also.
I was thinking about changing my lenses out also as they are all yellowed out. I doubt the buffing kit will do anything for mine, although I have not actually paid for one of the kits and tried to do it. I looked at AdvanvceAuto and they had some from 129$ each to 260$ each
These things are EGGGGGSPENSIVE! I need to find something that is a moderate price that look OK. Who would pay over 500$ for light lenses??
Dwayne
No problem, it's actually the way I want to go as well, best light output for the buck, and I like the looks.
Keeps the look of a definite 7.3 to those that care, rather than the 05 look, which I like too, but could be confused for a 6 leaker to an untrained eye. Silly, I know, but I guess I'm nostalgic.
The stock '99-'01 lenses sucked BEFORE they clouded up. These were dangerously weak brand new IMO... Get the '02-'04 lenses and run a relay harness and 80/100watt bulbs. I do not need/want any more light AND this set-up is not annoying to other drivers (like most HID's ).
I put the '05-'07 front end on the dually and feel like I betrayed my 7.3 heritage. Also, the 9008/H13 bulb in the later-model headlights SUCK. The needle-sized pins in the bulb/pigtail get HOT and with the relay harness I kept melting pigtails...
Good, used OE lenses are prolly getting harder to come by - but the quality of the OE units is MUCH better than the aftermarket stuff. Expect the chinesey fleabay offerings to have peeling reflectors and cloudy lenses after a couple years.
I paid $100 for used OE headlights and corners a few years ago.
My headlights were starting to yellow a little bit and I've been researching replacing the lenses with the 02-04 style.
I bought a lense restoration kit from AutoZone to buff my daughter's VW Jetta headlight lenses. After doing her lenses and seeing the difference it made I went ahead and did my 1990 F150 which was horrific and the 2001 Powerstroke.
Honestly, I can't see much difference in the Jetta or Powerstroke. They do look much better from the outside. But the lights just weren't that bad. However, the F150 made a world of difference. I'm really glad that I bought the kit ($30) and it's still got plenty of polish and u/v protectant left to do them all again when the time comes.
In short, for the money, give a headlight restoration kit a try.
In short, for the money, give a headlight restoration kit a try.
The 'fluted lenses' are simply no comparison to the 'clear lenses'. IMHO, the fluted style should have been recalled... My stock '01 and '00 lights were not yellowed at all when I replaced them. I ran the 80/100 bulbs in the '00 Excursion for awhile and while the brighter bulbs helped - the clear lenses are a world different.
I tried a "high end" restoration kit on my originals, and they came out looking new,for about a month...... They went back to a dull yellow haze.
Maybe me being in the hot sunny south had something to do with it I think putting your money towards new lens's is the better idea.