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95.5 Tacoma, headlight upgrade?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by birddog187, Feb 27, 2022.

  1. Feb 27, 2022 at 3:36 AM
    #1
    birddog187

    #1
    birddog187 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey all i have the original 95.5 1st gen tacoma with the glass square headlights. What are my options in upgrading the brightness in my headlights?

    Go LED? Do i just swap em out or do i need other mods? Help!
     
    birddog187, Feb 27, 2022
    #1
  2. Feb 27, 2022 at 9:36 AM
    #2
    1997tacomav6

    #2
    1997tacomav6 V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger,Haltech, 800k

    Joined:
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    Denver
    Vehicle:
    97 reg cab, v6 5sp 300hp supercharged, Methonal Injection, 800,001 plus miles, Original Owner
    V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger, 56mm pulley, methanol injected Haltech ECU, AC Tvs1320 supercharger,(MUST DO) every 125,000- 150,000 needs rebuild Projector headlights HID 5 speed manual Amsoil for all drive train Smaller 56mm custom pulley, (MUST DO) 2004 DESNO fuel injectors, zero ping ping, 2004 side door mirrors Dick Cepek Rims, Michelin tires LTX, ATM Pathfinders Dynopro ATM ( that last 100,000 miles) Now running Dynopro ATM mud and snow tires KN cold air intake Cat back dual exhaust with ss exhaust tip, Raised exhaust tail pipe to 2" below body line Optima*dry cell battery,red top Alpine sirius radio, 200 watt amp, focal is165 split door pod speakers Focal door speakers Subwoffer behind seat Viper alarm, Electric Locks Dark tinted windows, bucket seats corbeau lg1 Tacoma Rubber floor mats TRD fender extenders, Bilstien shocks, King shocks JBA UCA trailer iv hitch, electric brake control, Drilled slotted brakes, High carbon steel (MUST DO) EBS green stuff 7000 series pads(MUST DO) TRD engine oil cap TRD stick shift, Marlin crawl shift kit. Rear sliding window 2002 4Runner functional hood scoop cut into Tacoma hood, 4Runner dual overhead map light Gentex Auto dim + Compass + Temp, garage,rearview mirror Snow Methonal kit stage 2 Custom 3 core aluminum radiator Linex bed liner Haltech stand alone ECU, Intake supercharger gauge. Stainless steel brake lines, Custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Haltech stand-alone ECU,
    LED are ok for a cheap fix,
    Projectors are the best but expensive and a chore to do.
    Retrofit projectors

    BF45C292-E3E9-4869-BF62-C1BF72689947.jpg
    6B0F43F5-6807-433B-BFB8-3E750D4418AD.jpg
    01750533-495E-47BB-BA53-7FED8B542274.jpg
    0EA03893-8146-489D-8DFF-F92BAF94D567.jpg
     
    1997tacomav6, Feb 27, 2022
    #2
  3. Feb 27, 2022 at 1:12 PM
    #3
    Agir

    #3
    Agir Well-Known Member

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    Projectors are so nice, even if you have to save up and dedicated time to the install they are amazing93C5C54D-61A4-40D4-A69F-73C730228586.jpg
     
    Agir, Feb 27, 2022
    #3
    1997tacomav6 likes this.
  4. Feb 27, 2022 at 1:23 PM
    #4
    birddog187

    #4
    birddog187 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Led s is just simply removing the old unit and replacing?
     
    birddog187, Feb 27, 2022
    #4
  5. Feb 27, 2022 at 2:32 PM
    #5
    OpeCity

    #5
    OpeCity Well-Known Member

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    Yes but they’re awful for everyone else with whom you share the road
     
    OpeCity, Feb 27, 2022
    #5
    1997tacomav6 likes this.
  6. Feb 27, 2022 at 2:43 PM
    #6
    birddog187

    #6
    birddog187 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Even if there dot legal?
     
    birddog187, Feb 27, 2022
    #6
  7. Feb 27, 2022 at 3:14 PM
    #7
    CraigF

    #7
    CraigF Well-Known Member

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    DOT compliance is on the honor system, well lets say most companies are not honorable (if they won't show their testing data assume thy are garbage)
    Ether get some new sealed bulbs and get the Headlight Services Harness listed in the first post here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/
    Or save up and get good retro projectors that use quality parts
     
    CraigF, Feb 27, 2022
    #7
  8. Feb 27, 2022 at 4:22 PM
    #8
    1997tacomav6

    #8
    1997tacomav6 V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger,Haltech, 800k

    Joined:
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    Denver
    Vehicle:
    97 reg cab, v6 5sp 300hp supercharged, Methonal Injection, 800,001 plus miles, Original Owner
    V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger, 56mm pulley, methanol injected Haltech ECU, AC Tvs1320 supercharger,(MUST DO) every 125,000- 150,000 needs rebuild Projector headlights HID 5 speed manual Amsoil for all drive train Smaller 56mm custom pulley, (MUST DO) 2004 DESNO fuel injectors, zero ping ping, 2004 side door mirrors Dick Cepek Rims, Michelin tires LTX, ATM Pathfinders Dynopro ATM ( that last 100,000 miles) Now running Dynopro ATM mud and snow tires KN cold air intake Cat back dual exhaust with ss exhaust tip, Raised exhaust tail pipe to 2" below body line Optima*dry cell battery,red top Alpine sirius radio, 200 watt amp, focal is165 split door pod speakers Focal door speakers Subwoffer behind seat Viper alarm, Electric Locks Dark tinted windows, bucket seats corbeau lg1 Tacoma Rubber floor mats TRD fender extenders, Bilstien shocks, King shocks JBA UCA trailer iv hitch, electric brake control, Drilled slotted brakes, High carbon steel (MUST DO) EBS green stuff 7000 series pads(MUST DO) TRD engine oil cap TRD stick shift, Marlin crawl shift kit. Rear sliding window 2002 4Runner functional hood scoop cut into Tacoma hood, 4Runner dual overhead map light Gentex Auto dim + Compass + Temp, garage,rearview mirror Snow Methonal kit stage 2 Custom 3 core aluminum radiator Linex bed liner Haltech stand alone ECU, Intake supercharger gauge. Stainless steel brake lines, Custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Haltech stand-alone ECU,
    The leds reflects everywhere and if in snow at night will blind you from Reflecting back to you
     
    1997tacomav6, Feb 27, 2022
    #8
  9. Feb 27, 2022 at 6:30 PM
    #9
    xplorn

    #9
    xplorn Well-Known Member

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    Ken
    Oregon, USA
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    I have Truck-lite LED reflectors and they are great. Quality units and they have a sharp cutoff to keep out of others eyes. Not a cheap solution but you get what you pay for.
     
    xplorn, Feb 27, 2022
    #9
    Speedytech7, se7enine and Wulf like this.
  10. Feb 27, 2022 at 7:09 PM
    #10
    se7enine

    #10
    se7enine MCMLXXIX

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    This is the way to go if you want LED. Cheaper than an LED projector retrofit.
     
    se7enine, Feb 27, 2022
    #10
  11. Feb 27, 2022 at 7:44 PM
    #11
    DellTaco

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    DellTaco Member

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    I ordered bx built headlights, pretty priced, but we will see how they go
     
    DellTaco, Feb 27, 2022
    #11
  12. Feb 28, 2022 at 12:04 PM
    #12
    jjsul

    #12
    jjsul Well-Known Member

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    jjsul, Feb 28, 2022
    #12
    Wulf and beignet like this.
  13. Feb 28, 2022 at 4:08 PM
    #13
    jbrandt

    #13
    jbrandt Made you look

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    Normally, putting LED bulbs in Halogen housings is frowned upon unless you're a dudebro who likes blinding other drivers, but with the sealed beam housings, that's not really a thing anyway.

    For your lights, I believe one of the better recommended lights are the Hella E-codes. If you search around in the ultimate upgrade threads, you should find the ones that are applicable to your sealed beam headlights.

    That said, I would consider WHY you're wanting upgraded lights. Honestly, for on-road driving, I don't see much of a reason for the expense and effort of converting to high-end LED or HID lights. My stock(ish) halogens have never felt insufficient for city driving (where everything is already lit for you) or driving around in the rural mountains (they throw plenty of light for the speeds this truck is capable of, lol). When I did the lazy-man's version of the ultimate upgrade (the harness but regular sylvania bulbs), most of the improvement I saw was in the new housings.

    You'd be surprised what a simple set of good quality OEM housings will do for the light output.

    If you're looking for improved lighting for off roading, get yourself a roof mounted lightbar and/or some ditch lights. They're illegal for road use, but for off road having the light as high as possible is FAR superior to the stock location.
     
    jbrandt, Feb 28, 2022
    #13
  14. Feb 28, 2022 at 4:39 PM
    #14
    1997tacomav6

    #14
    1997tacomav6 V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger,Haltech, 800k

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    97 reg cab, v6 5sp 300hp supercharged, Methonal Injection, 800,001 plus miles, Original Owner
    V6 5sp,RegCab,TVS1320 Supercharger, 56mm pulley, methanol injected Haltech ECU, AC Tvs1320 supercharger,(MUST DO) every 125,000- 150,000 needs rebuild Projector headlights HID 5 speed manual Amsoil for all drive train Smaller 56mm custom pulley, (MUST DO) 2004 DESNO fuel injectors, zero ping ping, 2004 side door mirrors Dick Cepek Rims, Michelin tires LTX, ATM Pathfinders Dynopro ATM ( that last 100,000 miles) Now running Dynopro ATM mud and snow tires KN cold air intake Cat back dual exhaust with ss exhaust tip, Raised exhaust tail pipe to 2" below body line Optima*dry cell battery,red top Alpine sirius radio, 200 watt amp, focal is165 split door pod speakers Focal door speakers Subwoffer behind seat Viper alarm, Electric Locks Dark tinted windows, bucket seats corbeau lg1 Tacoma Rubber floor mats TRD fender extenders, Bilstien shocks, King shocks JBA UCA trailer iv hitch, electric brake control, Drilled slotted brakes, High carbon steel (MUST DO) EBS green stuff 7000 series pads(MUST DO) TRD engine oil cap TRD stick shift, Marlin crawl shift kit. Rear sliding window 2002 4Runner functional hood scoop cut into Tacoma hood, 4Runner dual overhead map light Gentex Auto dim + Compass + Temp, garage,rearview mirror Snow Methonal kit stage 2 Custom 3 core aluminum radiator Linex bed liner Haltech stand alone ECU, Intake supercharger gauge. Stainless steel brake lines, Custom leather wrapped steering wheel, Haltech stand-alone ECU,
    I had these before, they are ok but nothing compared to projectors
     
    1997tacomav6, Feb 28, 2022
    #14
    jjsul[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Mar 12, 2022 at 6:17 PM
    #15
    sputnik378

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    sputnik378 Member

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    ARB Front, 4x4 Innovations Rear with 2" receiver hitch, 3" Pro Comp Lift, Tundra Breaks, BIG STUPID rims and tires... Not tall enough to fit them, but it seemed a good idea when I was being convinced.
    I have the same thing. 99% of the time I love them. When it dumps snow they are terrible though because all the heat goes out the back and the glass just frosts over.. Wish there was a simple solution for that.
     
    sputnik378, Mar 12, 2022
    #15
  16. Mar 12, 2022 at 8:10 PM
    #16
    ForestRunnerFrank99

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    ForestRunnerFrank99 Well-Known Member

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    ForestRunnerFrank99, Mar 12, 2022
    #16
  17. Mar 12, 2022 at 8:15 PM
    #17
    ppham444

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    ppham444 Well-Known Member

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    ppham444, Mar 12, 2022
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  18. Mar 17, 2022 at 8:26 AM
    #18
    Fantastic11

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    Fantastic11 Well-Known Member

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    Fantastic11, Mar 17, 2022
    #18
    1997tacomav6 and Wulf like this.
  19. Mar 17, 2022 at 9:11 AM
    #19
    Wulf

    #19
    Wulf no brain just damage

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    Many years ago I switched from sealed beams to E code H4 housings, relay harness, and 100W hella bulbs. The total cost then was less than $100 and I think it was well worth it

     
    Wulf, Mar 17, 2022
    #19
    jjsul and 1997tacomav6 like this.
  20. Mar 17, 2022 at 8:23 PM
    #20
    CraigF

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    CraigF Well-Known Member

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    none yet
    they're just flog the products they own
     
    CraigF, Mar 17, 2022
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Products Discussed in

Hella 200mm Rectangular E Code H4 Halogen Replacement Headlight Kit with Standard 60/55W H4 Bulbs
$119.96
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