After market headlight assembly

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Mar 18, 2004 | 10:24 AM

boomvader

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From: Arizona

After market headlight assembly

Has anybody had any experience with the after market headlight assemblies? They are much cheaper than the OEM. Here is a link from eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2465749137

Is anyone familiar with that brand? Do you think it would be worth it to buy them? My truck has some pretty yellow headlights, even after cleaning them. Ford is just too proud of them at $250 per side.

Any recommendations or advice is welcome.

Thanks!

Mar 18, 2004 | 11:44 AM

notchstang92

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Joined: Feb 2004

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From: South Shore, MA

A/m lights and body panels are a waste of time and money. They usually don't fit properly and if you can get the holes to line up you will almost always have a gap somewhere. They also tend to leak much sooner than OEM. An a/m radiator or a/c condenser is one thing that is just as good if not better than OEM if you buy the right brand, but a/m lights and body panels are not worth the extra time and aggravation to get them to fit properly.

Mar 18, 2004 | 12:15 PM

BandBFord

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Joined: Sep 2003

Posts: 329

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From: Virginia

Try these...

http://www.autolights.tv/index.shtml

Mar 18, 2004 | 09:34 PM

boomvader

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From: Arizona

Anybody else tried this company?

Mar 19, 2004 | 06:26 AM

BandBFord

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Joined: Sep 2003

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From: Virginia

Quote:

Originally posted by boomvader
Anybody else tried this company?

Without a doubt, you will not find an "aftermarket" part that fits as well as the factory one. The best thing to do is find a salvage yard that has one or buy one from Ford.

Mar 19, 2004 | 01:00 PM

wtroger

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Joined: May 2001

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I have used aftermarket body panels and light assmeblies and have been satisfied with the fit and finish. The thing to remeber is that body panels sold by the factory are seconds to start with they didn't make the grade when they where first stamped. And I have seen a lot of factory panels that didn't fit right. I like to use salvaged body parts when I can. But I also know that these parts also don't always match real well. So go easy on the after market stuff some are pretty good some are not buyer beware. And any time you are doing body work that means that something happened and it will probably take a lot of tweaking a lot of shimming etc to make these parts fit. Just look at all those shims the factory uses.

Mar 19, 2004 | 07:43 PM

boomvader

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From: Arizona

I talked with a rep at www.1automotive.com today about the headlight assemblies for the 87-89 F-series. He assured me that they are guaranteed to fit, and they cover that by a 60 day warranty. He also said they have a lifetime warranty against the headlights leaking too. I was surprised to hear that. I think I might bite the bullet and purchase two of them for my truck. If I do, I will post pictures of the before and after in case anyone is interested.