Headlight Swap

[hstang]

I have a 84 and I like the look of the newer flush headlight. Can you convert to the flush style headlights? What parts would you need?

[svobud]

Yes, you can convert it to the 85.5/86 flush headlights. You will need everything used on the newer cars though .. and you'll need to change out the harness "plug" as well. Everything meaning: mounting plates and hardware - etc. You might check with www.svpu.com - he has reproduction mounting plates. Not sure about the rubber trim that goes around the headlight bucket .. but he does have reproduction headlights too.

[Christina]

We bought an 84 that the guy had converted to an 86. He even went so far as to put the third brake light on the hatch, but didn't wire it. He kinda modified things rather then replaced everything. But poeple never realize it's an 84 unless I tell them. I actually wish it hadn't been changed, to me it takes away from the fact that it was an 84. Now it looks like I have two 86 instead of an 84 and 86.
Christina

[Christina]

By the way....if you decide to change everything and are selling the header panel, let me know what you want for it. I can use it to swap my 84 back and then use the one that's on the 84 now to put on my wrecked 86. The header panel is not the same on 84 and 86.
Christina

[SVOeric]

The header panel is not the same on 84 and 86.

can you tell me what the difference between them is?

[Christina]

It was sold to us off an 84 and when we were installing it we realized that the headlight holes did not line up right. We had to drill holes to make it work since there were no holes where we needed them and holes where we did not need them. I don't know if this was just a freak thing or what, but the 84 panel had to be modified. Yes, it was from an svo, you can see it in the pictures of my 9L. The headlights never quite sat right, but since it was smashed into a million little peices it doesn't matter now!! Haha!!
Christina

[Kendal Coker]

I put 86 headlights on my 84 after dirlling two holes for them to fit. Mine fit corectly. The only difference I can find is the two holes for the 86 lights to fit. later Kendal

[Eyelawdoc]

Like Kendal, back in the fall of 85 when I put 86 flushmounts on my 84, all I had to drill was two holes on each side for the headlight mounting screws. The flushmounts then fit up perfectly.

I hope your project to rebuild the 84 back into an 84 goes smoothly, Christine! If you can, I'm sure we would all enjoy seeing pics of the process as it moves along!