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FORDMUSCLE.com FordMuscle Nav

We all know that anytime you make your car look better, it just feels like you've gained fifty horsepower. Although we've made it a point at Fordmuscle to focus our content on performance, rather than restoration or "looks", every now and then we come across a simple bolt-on product that makes such a huge improvement in how the car looks, that it is worthy of mentioning. Such was the case when we replaced the hazed over headlights on our '88 Mustang.


1. Unless you've kept your late model in the garage all its life, chances are your plastic headlight housings are as faded and ugly as these. Not only do they look like crap, they substantially reduce the amount of light projected by the bulbs. Eventually you find yourself using the high-beams just to get through the neighborhood at night.

2. It's almost hard to believe how much clearer a set of new housings really is. We thought that it was just the headlight that had faded, so that's all we purchased (reproductions from Mustangs Unlimited for under $40 a side. OEM is about $20 more.) But after seeing the new piece, it was clear that the parking lamp and inner turn signal housings were also in bad shape, so we'll order those up as well.

3. Installation is easy, taking all of 10 minutes per side. Begin by disconnecting the bulb from the housing, then remove the three bronze colored retaining nuts.

4. The headlight housing pulls right out with a little persuasion. Be careful not to tear the rubber seal, as it will be reused.

5. Remove the rubber seal carefully. It is held to the housing with four clips.
6. Using a screw driver, gently pry off the three retaining clips which hold the adjusting plate to the housing. Do not attempt to remove the adjustment screws unless you want to reset the projection angle!
7. Transfer the adjusting plate to the new housing. Reattach the clips and seal.
8. Bolt the new housing back into place and admire. The new housings take at least five years off the appearance of the car, and really brighten up night driving.

The inner and outer housings are just as easy to do. Most Mustang mail order houses offer a reasonably priced ($180-$200 for reproduction) package deal which includes all three housings per side, as well as new seals. F/M
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