New Headlights, Cobra Style

[Chythar]

OK, just installed these last night. The headlights are cobra-style, but they have a black rim around the edge. They're not the best, but here are photos:

<img src="http://www.firstlight.net/~chythar/stangnet/night_with_lights_off.jpg" width="640" height="480" border="0">

<img src="http://www.firstlight.net/~chythar/stangnet/night_with_lights_on.jpg" width="640" height="480" border="0">

And just for completism, here's daylight photos of the 'stang:

<img src="http://www.firstlight.net/~chythar/stangnet/day_front_view.jpg" width="640" height="480" border="0">

<img src="http://www.firstlight.net/~chythar/stangnet/day_rear_view.jpg" width="640" height="480" border="0">

Here's a link to the headlights on eBay:

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7923017689&category=33710">Cobra Black Headlights</a>

I found a better deal than the auction link above, but at least you can see what they look like. The black rim stands out pretty well, and I love the clear corners. Damn, these are so much better than the stock ones.

 

[rudeone707]

lights look good, what kind of bulbs are you running??

 

[Chythar]

Stock bulbs, actually. The headlights are a lot brighter than the photos show.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Are you keeping that spoiler that color or is that temporary? I love those lights but I didnt want to cough up $200 bucks for them so I got the ultra clears.

 

[1105]

your car us kinda like my cars evil twin

 

[Chythar]

Are you keeping that spoiler that color or is that temporary? I love those lights but I didnt want to cough up $200 bucks for them so I got the ultra clears.

That color is what was on the spoiler when I bought it used. I do want to keep it red, but it'll be the same color of the stripes. I do like the red & black paint scheme, as you can see.

 

[Chythar]

your car us kinda like my cars evil twin

Considering I've got a goatee, I'd have to agree. *insert Star Trek reference here*

 

[mo_dingo]

Seat covers
Scott

 

[1105]

Do you have any side shots of your car? Not at an angle but a straight shot of the side?

 

[Car Nut]

Was the install difficult and did you need to fix the aim of the headlights?

I've got to get new headlights, especially at that price. What did you think of the quality and fit/finish?

Great looking car and the lights sure make a good difference. Your color scheme sure is different, but I like it the more I look at it.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Yeah, I got new headlights sitting in my room, tell a little about adjusting/installing them

 

[Nik_95Cobra]

Dunno about those seat covers mang...but the car's good lookin'. Have any tighter shots of the headlights?

 

[SN95StangMan]

Wow theres a lot going on there. I've never been a fan of window louvers but your car still looks real good. The headlamps are very nice too.

 

[GTPhreak]

4 brake lights suck...nothing I hate more than seeing a stock cobra wing stuck on a gt decklid

 

[iwashmycar]

4 brake lights suck...nothing I hate more than seeing a stock cobra wing stuck on a gt decklid

 

[94GTStang]

Looks good. I'm interested in the headlight questions in the previous post.

 

[Chythar]

Do you have any side shots of your car? Not at an angle but a straight shot of the side?

I don't have one, but I should be able to post one in the next couple of days. Anything in particular you're looking at?

 

[Chythar]

Was the install difficult and did you need to fix the aim of the headlights?

I've got to get new headlights, especially at that price. What did you think of the quality and fit/finish?

Great looking car and the lights sure make a good difference. Your color scheme sure is different, but I like it the more I look at it.

Thanks for the compliments. I guess I'm going for a retro look of sorts, with the louvers and the c-stripes on the sides. Mostly, I want my 'stang to be unique, and I think I've succeeded.

The install wasn't too difficult. The hardest part is the single retaining clip on the upper headlight mount. I used pliers to remove it, but putting it back on was nasty. The other supports just have clips that need to be squeezed, and you can work them out. I was able to have the headlights replaced and aligned in about two hours.

You'll definitely need to align the headlights. Most instructions I've read, say to move your 'stang about 10'-15' in front of a wall, make sure the ground is level, do some measuring, etc. As long as your current headlights are aligned now, you don't need to do all that. Here's how I did it:

Park your 'stang in front of something big, with about half a car's length between you. If you don't have that available, throw a blanket over some trash cans or boxes; that's what I did. All you need is something to shine your headlights on to. Of course, it should be dark enough so you can see your lights. Turn your lights on, and you should see two bright spots that stand out from the rest of the light. That's the center of each headlight. Take some tape and mark those spots. Now you can turn off your headlights, and swap them out.

I first pulled one of the old headlights. I had to remove the corner light to get the headlight out. Note the support the retaining clip was on - it's different than the other two. this will be relevant when installign the new headlight. I next compared the supports on the new one to the old, and adjusted the new one so they were close to the same length. This technique should align the new headlights pretty close to the old ones. Go ahead and install the new headlight. There are guides in the headlight panel for each of the supports. Curse the damn retaining clip, but you'll eventually get it back on. The other two supports should Now turn the lights on, and see how close the center of the new headlight is to the old one. It's probably off, mine was.

To adjust the alignment, you have two points of adjustment. The easiest one is the lower-right support; it takes a phillips-head screwdriver. If my memory serves me right, turning it clockwise will both lower and pull the light outwards; counter-clockwise will move it up and inwards. The second adjustment is the lower-left support. You'll have to reach behind the light and find the back of the support. The end of the metal screw has a hex-end to it, which can be gripped by a pair of pliers. Hold the plastic support with one hand, and use the pliers to twist the screw with the other. this will move the headlight left and right (inwards & outwards).

I adjusted the lower-right support first, until the center of the headlight was level with the tape mark I made earlier. I used the other support to fine-tune the alignment.

Repeat all this for the other headlight. It sounds like a lot, but it'll be easier when you try it.

As for the quality, I think they're really nice. They look solid, and fit right into place without problems. I don't know if they leak or not, but there seems to be enough glue around the edges of them all.

 

[Chythar]

Dunno about those seat covers mang...but the car's good lookin'. Have any tighter shots of the headlights?

I'll take those when I take the side shots that 1105 aslked for.

 

[Car Nut]

Thanks for the install info. Good to know before hand.