[shawnD2]

I recently changed my sealed beam headlights to Hella H4's on my 96 and I wish I did it years ago.
However after 8 years of never cracking a cheap sealed beam a rock cracked my new lights.
Does anyone know of some sort of protector for a 200mm rectangular light. If so wre would I get one?

Shawn

 

[TacomaNova]

I recently changed my sealed beam headlights to Hella H4's on my 96 and I wish I did it years ago.
However after 8 years of never cracking a cheap sealed beam a rock cracked my new lights.
Does anyone know of some sort of protector for a 200mm rectangular light. If so wre would I get one?

Shawn

something like this... it didn't say it fit a 96 though...

http://www.performanceproducts.com/...&producttype=20&referer=1469&Vehicle_ID=27472

 

[jdiesel]

I recently changed my sealed beam headlights to Hella H4's on my 96 and I wish I did it years ago.
However after 8 years of never cracking a cheap sealed beam a rock cracked my new lights.
Does anyone know of some sort of protector for a 200mm rectangular light. If so wre would I get one?

Shawn

Do you have any pics of the front of your truck?? I have a 97 and would like to see how yours looks with the hellas. emaill to [email protected] if you need to. Thanks, Justin

 

[shawnD2]

Do you have any pics of the front of your truck?? I have a 97 and would like to see how yours looks with the hellas. emaill to [email protected] if you need to. Thanks, Justin

The truck looks exactly the same (there rectangular and a direct drop in) By far the best change I've made on my truck.

Shawn

 

[shawnD2]

I could probably just cut it to fit. I was thinking of some grills which I saw years ago when I was a kid at Kmart or something like that.
The film looks like it would be good, a little pricey considering the Hella's are only lik 40-50 a light. I guess it would be worth it for expensice OEM light though.

Shawn

 

[EnolaGaia]

I think it was 3M that originally introduced the stick-on transparent protective film. I've seen claims that it can be purchased in sheets so you can do custom installations.

 

[EnolaGaia]

The maker cited above (XPEL / X-Pel - http://www.xpel.com) doesn't list a headlight kit for a '96 Taco. They do, however, sell their protective film by the foot.

 

[thehulk]

I've got the same lights but haven't installed them yet. Do you know if the tabs on the back of the Hella conversion bulb need to be removed? It seems as if they need to be removed to fit in the stock location.

Thanks!

 

[shawnD2]

Not sure what you mean. I just bought a new one and don't remember any tabs.....

Feel free to elaborate, as it's been a while since I installed them.

Shawn

 

[thehulk]

I tried to post a pic of what I'm talking about, but I couldn't.

On the back side of the Hella light, there are these "tabs" that look like mounting tabs. They are raised off the housing of the frame of the light and have a hole in the middle of them (for a screw I suppose...). If I remember correctly, the Tacoma has a retainer ring that holds the light...so I don't see why these "tabs" are on there. Also it looks like the tabs will be in the way when it slides into the space where the light goes. I'll post a link to a pic of the backside of the light.

Thanks!!

http://oem.overnightautoparts.com/p...overnightautoparts.com/live/P803949902HEL.JPG

 

[Uneasy Rider]

I think it was 3M that originally introduced the stick-on transparent protective film. I've seen claims that it can be purchased in sheets so you can do custom installations.

You are correct. I bought some of the 3m stuff a while back it it is great for many purposes. It seems to last forever without turning yellow. Usually anyone who does vinyl graphics can hook ya up with it. Thats where I got some. :xbeer1:

 

[JRunner01]

I could probably just cut it to fit. I was thinking of some grills which I saw years ago when I was a kid at Kmart or something like that.
The film looks like it would be good, a little pricey considering the Hella's are only lik 40-50 a light. I guess it would be worth it for expensice OEM light though.

Shawn

Yea the 3M stuff is what you should use to protect the lights. But like you said, if the Hellas are only 40-50 bucks each?, then it may not be worth the money for a 3m kit installed for the headlights. Since it’s just a big rectangle, you could buy the stuff yourself and install yourself and then it would be worth it since it’s only the cost of the film. But then you would have to see if you could get the film cheap enough in a small amount. I think the pre-maid kits from companies like xpel are a minimum of 50.00 bucks for the pair, which then would bring you over the top again for cost vs. just replacing the Hella units.

About your Hellas, that’s exactly what I’m thinking of doing to my 96. What type of bulb did you use, watts, etc.? Are there any choices in the type of bulb and wattage? I think not since you are sticking to the stock wiring and thus would have some wattage limitations for that reason.

Aside from the Hellas you used, are there any other choices out there in this type of modification… meaning different manufactures of the “drop in sealed beam’ using the newer style bulbs?

Thanks…

 

[Darrcoma]

Try this site out click me

 

[shawnD2]

Yea the 3M stuff is what you should use to protect the lights. But like you said, if the Hellas are only 40-50 bucks each?, then it may not be worth the money for a 3m kit installed for the headlights. Since it’s just a big rectangle, you could buy the stuff yourself and install yourself and then it would be worth it since it’s only the cost of the film. But then you would have to see if you could get the film cheap enough in a small amount. I think the pre-maid kits from companies like xpel are a minimum of 50.00 bucks for the pair, which then would bring you over the top again for cost vs. just replacing the Hella units.

About your Hellas, that’s exactly what I’m thinking of doing to my 96. What type of bulb did you use, watts, etc.? Are there any choices in the type of bulb and wattage? I think not since you are sticking to the stock wiring and thus would have some wattage limitations for that reason.

Aside from the Hellas you used, are there any other choices out there in this type of modification… meaning different manufactures of the “drop in sealed beam’ using the newer style bulbs?

Thanks…

Hey how come I don't get an email notification when I get a message?

Anyways the Hella are great, like I said the best upgrade I've done. I always found the sealed beam crappy. As far as other manufacturers I used to have a BOSCH kit in my old 4runner, but had nothing to compare it to. I like the H4 bulbs because there easy to get in different wattages (I use 55/100w super white bulbs) that way I don't blind people when using low beams, but really light things up on high beam. Plus I get the bulbs from my uncle for like $4.00 a peice.

I did however end up changing my wiring harness with one from SUVLights.com (I found there kit alright, could be a bit better longer wires, better instructions, and more permanent diode connections, however it still works) I didn't believe that for the amount of time I use the high beams at 100watts that it would make a difference to the wiring (I do alot of home/industrial electrical work) however it did melt the wiring going to one bulb. So I would recommend changing the wirinf if you want higher wattage bulbs.

Shawn