Headlight Upgrade Guidance!
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
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Headlight Upgrade Guidance!
Hello fellas!!!!
Biscuit boy here again (as some members have come to know me)
I'm looking to refresh the look of my 02 excursion. I"m going to be ordering the grill conversion kit, but also would like to do something about my sorry headlights. They are just NOT bright @ all in my opinion.
I've done my research, but find that most of the time upgrading to newer style lights requires cutting of the header panel. Truth be told, I'm not hip to that idea.
I'm wondering, have any of you guys found any kits per say that allow for upgrading the look and lighting of the truck without cutting into it?
Also, how the heck do you take out the stock head light assembly? I tried giving it a go the other day and for the life of me couldn't get those *******s out. Is there a trick I'm not aware of?
Thanks ahead of time as always guys!
Biscuit boy here again (as some members have come to know me)
I'm looking to refresh the look of my 02 excursion. I"m going to be ordering the grill conversion kit, but also would like to do something about my sorry headlights. They are just NOT bright @ all in my opinion.
I've done my research, but find that most of the time upgrading to newer style lights requires cutting of the header panel. Truth be told, I'm not hip to that idea.
I'm wondering, have any of you guys found any kits per say that allow for upgrading the look and lighting of the truck without cutting into it?
Also, how the heck do you take out the stock head light assembly? I tried giving it a go the other day and for the life of me couldn't get those *******s out. Is there a trick I'm not aware of?
Thanks ahead of time as always guys!
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park, NY
good video from 1A Auto on headlight replacement. Shows how to remove the clips that hold the lights in place. I manhandled mine out of there with needle nose pliers :-)
I installed these http://www.protuninglab.com/2lclh-f25099jm-apc.html, basically the oem look but smoked
I installed these http://www.protuninglab.com/2lclh-f25099jm-apc.html, basically the oem look but smoked
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 1
From: Loveland,CO
I had some Halo LED projector type things that I did not like one bit. I ended up with the new clear corner type from a forum member. Threw in some LED's and couldn't be happier.. There should be some pics in my album if you want to check them out..never mind not there, but here is a pic.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
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I had some Halo LED projector type things that I did not like one bit. I ended up with the new clear corner type from a forum member. Threw in some LED's and couldn't be happier.. There should be some pics in my album if you want to check them out..never mind not there, but here is a pic.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,072
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From: Dustbowl, NV
To upgrade to the 05-07 headlights, you can can just replace the header panel instead of cutting it. (appx 100 bucks and a couple hours of work)!
They have a way better reflector and bulb. No need to get crazy.
They have a way better reflector and bulb. No need to get crazy.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 1
From: Loveland,CO
Mine are like the one in the video. Heres another shot
I would order a set like this or see if you can find some factory takeoffs.
2002 Ford Excursion Composite Headlight and Corner Light Kit at 1A Auto.com
Then order some LED's 9007
9007 HB5 LED Headlights by Brite *** LEDs | LED Headlight | LED Conversion Kits
I think there are some less expensive LED's out there, but I forgot the website..maybe Lifetime led's. These are the one's that I have.
I would order a set like this or see if you can find some factory takeoffs.
2002 Ford Excursion Composite Headlight and Corner Light Kit at 1A Auto.com
Then order some LED's 9007
9007 HB5 LED Headlights by Brite *** LEDs | LED Headlight | LED Conversion Kits
I think there are some less expensive LED's out there, but I forgot the website..maybe Lifetime led's. These are the one's that I have.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
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Thanks for that idea. I was hoping to just be able to find a good headlight replacement that bolts on right where the old ones went.
Btw. Why did you not like the projector lights? Were they not bright e Pugh? Were they cheap knock offs ?
Btw. Why did you not like the projector lights? Were they not bright e Pugh? Were they cheap knock offs ?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Mine are like the one in the video. Heres another shot
I would order a set like this or see if you can find some factory takeoffs.
2002 Ford Excursion Composite Headlight and Corner Light Kit at 1A Auto.com
Then order some LED's 9007
9007 HB5 LED Headlights by Brite *** LEDs | LED Headlight | LED Conversion Kits
I think there are some less expensive LED's out there, but I forgot the website..maybe Lifetime led's. These are the one's that I have.
I would order a set like this or see if you can find some factory takeoffs.
2002 Ford Excursion Composite Headlight and Corner Light Kit at 1A Auto.com
Then order some LED's 9007
9007 HB5 LED Headlights by Brite *** LEDs | LED Headlight | LED Conversion Kits
I think there are some less expensive LED's out there, but I forgot the website..maybe Lifetime led's. These are the one's that I have.
I like the led bulb idea. I might look around to see if I find any other head light housing out there that may look better but if not I may just got with your suggestion.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 1
From: Loveland,CO
They were on the truck when I purchased them. I did find the receipt and the PO paid like 300 or so for the pair. But to install them they are one piece and the header panel was chopped to hell, barely on there with 2 bolts each instead of the four- they chopped the header panel way too much. The light output is terrible maybe if you want HID's that could work but I killed 3 birds at once. Fixed header panel, got better, brighter lights!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 1
From: Loveland,CO
Plug and play just need to mount the ballast type thing..which I installed on the inner fenders near the battery, and you will need to trim the retainer ring to about half, this holds the lights in the housing. LED's have fans so they stick out a bit more than stockers. I just used an angle grinder took about 10sec each.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 336
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One of my buddies sent me this link:
ANZO USA Crystal Headlights for 1999-2004 Superduty & Excursion (Clear)
THey looks sweet and I like the idea of it being a one piece housing, BUT in doing some googling, I have head some pretty horrid reviews. Anyone here install one of these housings?
ANZO USA Crystal Headlights for 1999-2004 Superduty & Excursion (Clear)
THey looks sweet and I like the idea of it being a one piece housing, BUT in doing some googling, I have head some pretty horrid reviews. Anyone here install one of these housings?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 17
One of my buddies sent me this link:
ANZO USA Crystal Headlights for 1999-2004 Superduty & Excursion (Clear)
THey looks sweet and I like the idea of it being a one piece housing, BUT in doing some googling, I have head some pretty horrid reviews. Anyone here install one of these housings?
ANZO USA Crystal Headlights for 1999-2004 Superduty & Excursion (Clear)
THey looks sweet and I like the idea of it being a one piece housing, BUT in doing some googling, I have head some pretty horrid reviews. Anyone here install one of these housings?
You still have to cut the header panel. Which the way the original ad was worded when I bought them, you didn't have to - that was a load of crap.
If that's the style light you want, I would recommend the 05-07 housings with the matching header swapped in. While these are definitely better than the stock units, they leave some stuff lacking. The adjusters for a start, there is only one. Turning it out both raises the beam AND moves it out. Turning it in moves the beam down and in. There are no independent adjusters for vertical and horizontal. It took me forever to get the hot spots to be both where I wanted them for best light, while also not being that douchebag that's blinding everybody.
The beam pattern itself is somewhat scattered up close, which I didn't like. However I swapped 9005 bulbs into the foglights when I did the headlights, and they MORE than make up for the scattered pattern. I actually ended up jumping some wires in the switch to work my fog's independently from the headlights, so now I run the foglights only around town at night. Headlights for speeds over 45, below that the fogs are more than sufficient at lighting the road and shoulder.
If you want the LED's driving lights, I still suggest some 05-07 housings and get a quality halo kit.
