I bought a drivers side headlight to replace my old dirty headlight from ebay and after i put it on, seems like its a little more round than my other headlight doesnt seems like it fits flush. Is there a differnce in headlights over the years? Thanks for any info.

 

You know, I've been wondering that myself. Today, I looked at a '92 SC400 and a '97 SC300 side by side and they didn't exactly the same...I am finding out if the part numbers are different for these cars...

 

actually, there are 3 part numbers

92-96 81511/81521 24043
97-98 81511/81521 24044
99 81511/81521 24045

I don't know how much changed but they changed the part numbers.

 

From what I've read it's 92 & 93 are one style, then they changed in 94 and stayed that way on up.
But they mighta changed when the re-did the front end in 97


John

 

Mongoose (Richard Thomson) from the UK LSOC has recently fitted a 1997 front end to his 1996 Soarer and everything looks proper, his 96 h/lamps (outer) appear to be the same as the pre/post 94 type.

The inner main beam lamps are different on the 97 front end, see the finished job on SoarerTT , you will find it on LSOC Meets.

 

London Bill - Are you sure about the high-beam housing being different? That's good to know! Wonder if the AutoCouture kit is designed for the '97+ highs or the pre-'97....

 

Manaray;

Absolutely positive, you can see it on the bodywork page at SoarerTT I have just put up a blown-up photo comparison of the 91 & 97 front ends.

 

Cool, thanks for the info! Do you know if the '97 lights will drop right into the pre-'97 cars?

 

The hi-beams are not different, there is no fitment issue, and the older headlamps fit the newer frt bumper.

 

Manaray;

As the 96 outer h/lamps fit the 97 front end it should swap the other way too, after some carful examination even the pre 94 h/lamps look identical to the later types. There may be some subtle difference in the different part numbers across the years but the fit appears to be the same.

Lex Luther;
When you say there is no difference in the high beams are you talking about the inner h/lamps? if so there is a difference in the 96 & 97 front ends, the older lamps (inner) will not bolt-up to the 97 front end, Mongoose found this out when he fitted the 97 front to his 96 car.

 

Bill, I am referring to the inside lamps, and they WILL bolt up to the newer bumper, i've done it, Mongoose must have done something wrong. What problem did he say he encountered? I agree on the headlamps, any differences are subtle, and they all fit all the bumpers.
- Jon

 

Lex Luther;

I don't know exactly what problem Mongoose encountered, he got the 97 front end from a breaker but had to also get the 97 inner lamps as he said they (his 96 inners), did not bolt-up (he is an engineer so I tend to believe him), he did use the 96 outer lamps no problem.

I checked the Toyota Parts CD and they do list different part numbers for the inner and outer h/lamps across the year changes.

If you look at the 96 & 97 J Spec front ends the inner lamp is a different shape (see Bodywork @ SoarerTT, with the later one being slightly narrower (could just be the cover has a different shape I suppose).

 

Lex, didn't you have a issue with the inner lights...getting the body guy to get it to fit just right? I'm wondering if switching out the inners for the '97+ ones would have minimized "fitting"...

 

OK, let's settle this, manaray and Bill, there is a small difference in the shape of the lamps, the older ones will fit with some adjustment of the bumper, but yes, the newer ones are a different part number and would be the totally correct way of doing it, but as **** as I am, I still didn't see the need for it, but if you want to spend an extra $250-300 for the pair, go nuts.

 

Thank You for that Lex;

I guess with Mongoose being a Precision Engineer he would not consider bodging the lamps or bumper cover, he got the lamps for about $40USD each so it was not really a big deal to do a proper job.

BTW, his new 97 front end complete with all lamps, fittings, back brace, and two side skirts cost him $750USD plus fit & paint, nice job.