I have a 97 f150 lariat 4x4 and was wanting to replace oem headlights and corner lights but must have an early build 97 from what i've read. Corner lights and headlights screw into a holding bracket then are held in by two clips that can be pulled up and out to remove headlight assembly. Anyways just wanted to see if anyone knew if the headlight header panel out of a 98-03 will bolt up to my truck without alot of mods to make it fit.

Thanks

 

manufacture date 7/96

 

150's 97-2003 are all virtually unchanged, so I would go ahead and try the new panel
I have a 2000 and I got the same crapy clips that you're talking about

 

the headlight and corner light sit in a "basket" type holder then install into truck. bought new headlight and corner light lenses and they will not fit into this.

 

Header panel will swap w/ no mods. I put the entire 99-up front end on mine when I swapped.

 

Meeeee too ! Well worth the $$$ and effort!

 

Smaug will I need to swap the whole front end or can I just swap the header panel and put everything else back on???

 

To do the update you'll need the 99-up header panel and the grille/grille shell in addition to the parts listed below. You said you already have bought the lights, right?

If you don't want to do the update you CAN just change the header panel and re-use the rest of your 97-98 parts .... I THINK.


(1) 1999-2004H Grille Shell
(1) 1999-2004H Left Grille Shell black plastic deflector
(1) 1999-2004H Right Grille Shell black plastic deflector
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper
(1) 1999-2004H Left Bumper Brace
(1) 1999-2004H Right Bumper Brace
(1) 1999-2004H Left Bumper-to-Frame Mounting Bracket
(1) 1999-2004H Right Bumper-to-Frame Mounting Bracket
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper Top-Pad
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper 2WD Bottom Air Dam
---------------------or--------------------
(1) 1999-2004H Bumper 4WD Bottom Air Dam w/ Fog Lights
You can reuse the plastic deflectors but they need to be trimmed.


2-4 hrs depending on how much help you've got. Pull the bumpers off first, then the grille shell. You'll need to take the corner lights out to get to 2 screws behind them. IF you have an early production 97 (6/96 or earlier), the lights are mounted different. Just pull the 2 metal tabs behind the header panel. The head and corner light will come out in 1 piece. On the later version, there is 1 screw on top of the corner light. There are also 2 metal clips on the bottom of the shell.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

The only thing Ford changed in mid 97 was the header panel and headlight retainer clips. You'll have to get the clips from a junkyard or a dealer.