This video works as a good guide for replacing these older sealed beam headlights. Given that you don’t see this type of headlamp much anymore, the ones you do find tend to get a bit rusty. The parts can also be hard to find if you break something. You can use the tricks in this video to help guide you through headlight replacement on an older vehicle like this and also to help prepare for aiming them later.
When Sylvania reaching out to me and asked if I’d like to try their Silverstar headlights in my 1979 Ford Fairmont, I said sure, I’ll try them out. They were also kind enough to send me some Silverstar tail lights to go with them. I feel both are a vast improvement over the stock lamps. Thanks for hooking me up Sylvania.
Headlights. $9.99
http://www.quadratec.com/products/97000_401.htm?sgsc=C6Z06ZR1C6Z06ZR1&utm_medium=compshop&utm_source=googlemerchant&gclid=CJDYo83wk8ECFYVDMgodMC8AAw
Silverstar 1157 bulbs, sold in pairs. $9.99
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/sylvania-silverstar-incandescent-mini-bulb-1157-st/10031108-p?cm_mmc=ACQ-_-Google-_-GPLA-_-10031108&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=10031108&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw=&iv_=__iv_p_1_g_12425515822_x_pla_y_6201684_f_online_o_10031108_z_US_i_en_j_73682442382_s__n_g_t__d_c_v__vi__&gclid=CI-R7rnxk8ECFcRAMgodZ2wABw#utm_source=acq&utm_medium=google&utm_campaign=gpla&utm_content=10031108
Sylvania website: http://www.sylvania.com/en-us/products/automotive/Pages/default.aspx
Related videos.
Element HID Headlight Install: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB-KQIySb7w
Element HID Fog Light Install (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvOez4RCyn8
Element HID Fog Light Install (Part 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rINkzWHgCTM
Vigor LED Headlight Installation:
Aiming Headlights with Hoppy’s: Video link provided when video goes live.
How To Aim Headlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ3OZnzR1Zc
Tools.
Eastwood screwdrivers: http://www.eastwood.com/screwdriver-set-eastwood-9-piece.html
Innovative Products of America 8047 Diamond-Coated Electrical Contact Cleaners – $24.99
http://www.jbtoolsales.com/innovative-products-of-america-8047-diamond-coated-electrical-contact-cleaners/#oid=1002_1
Useful Articles.
Electrical Problems
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-electrical-problems
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http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-do-when-your-engine-overheats
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http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems
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http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/determining-the-causes-of-vehicle-vibrations
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What a Hack! Bending the frame because you're too lazy to remove 2 tiny screws?…
Go to 7:00
can i use grease?
I was hoping for a sealed beam to modern swap, or a sealed beam modification.
I put a new set of Sylvania SilverStar halogen bulbs in my '09 Tacoma. What a difference over the stock lights. Whiter and brighter. Thank you for the review (and thank you Sylvania for donating the bulbs to a great guy/car project).
I jsut replaced a lightbulb in my mom's suzuki. It took almost and hour of swearing and destroying my fingers to get a cheap and shitty bracket back on, because i couldnt see what I was doing and my fingers didnt fit
silverstars are not upgrades. give it 10 months and they will be dead
so you can't replace the headlight 'bulb' by itself?
I would stick some kind of high level tail light in you rear window, just might save you from getting rear ended. I wonder if installing driving lights behind the radiator grill would give you some extra light and maintain that sleeper look?
I would not have bent the headlight retaining rings. After doing that a couple of times they will break off. Just try finding new ones for a '79 Fairmont. I paid $45 for a used one on eBay for my '64 Fairlane.
I also used Sylvania sealed beams to replace the old ones on my 1984 Honda Accord. Big difference in brightness and illumination. I just need to point them correctly…
Why not LEDs for the tail and brake lights?
The H6054 lights… such a common light used in so many different vehicles for decades.
have you ever thought about installing a third brake light on the Fairmont?
Eric, what happen with the new rebuilt on the Fairmont?
i do very much like those silverstars. i was given a set a few years ago to put in my ford van. theyre identical to what you got. score, brother!
what can i do to make the headlights brighter on a 94 chevy c1500 with composet headlights.
After a few years, my Sylvania Silverstars are now just as yellow and tame as your old bulbs lol
2 out of my 3 trucks take the 6054 bulbs, and I run the Silverstar bulbs in them. I also have the upgraded harness as well since GM thought it to be a good idea to run power through the switch instead of a relay.
Are the headlights integrated with bulbs? I am very surprised if this is true never seen this before!
Eric you should swap those rusty fasteners holding the grille piece with the shiny ones on the bezel! Just sayin…
Nice I had a 81 and I miss it would love to get another one
Put these in on my old 99 Lexus GS, they almost look like Hids, looks way better. And the distance of light was noticeably greater at night. Definitely worth the 40$ they cost
is there any full glass built 7×6 headlights that are not seal beam and can take a h4 bulb i believe and no i dont want hid i just want a brighter light done the right way i just dont feel these upgrade seal beams are enough for me as i live in a place where there is no street light but with the exception of street corners any help will be grateful i been searching for hours an all that comes up is plastic and i dont want plastic… im picky-_-
Small Nail file should work too.
I still like these sealed beams better than the plastic ones of today. Break one and it's cheap to replace.
Also, the glass lens doesn't pit, haze or yellow like plastic. Just wipe them clean.
When age starts to take a toll on the brightness of these headlights…again, a cheap and easy replacement!
Best of all, when I see these older vehicles, they take my mind back to a better time!
I would also use a Relay harness you get the load off the headlight switch this can make sure full voltage gets to the headlights and make them much brighter
Eric, get a headlight relay kit. Alot of older vehicles ran the headlights from the battery through the headlights to the lights. You can get relay kits that use the factory wiring as the trigger and run power straight from the battery. I installed a set in my 97 Jeep, which uses the same sealed beam headlight. Based on my unscientific results, my low beams are now almost as bight as my brights and my brights are brighter. I went from like 10 volts at the headlight sockets to nearly 12 when I did my relay kit.
Something else to consider is that when you upgrade your headlights they draw more amps. This can cause wiring to overheat, melt, or even catch fire. The relay kit reduces that risk.
I have noticed that the lifespan on these bulbs is a good bit lower than standard bulbs. I would hesitate to install them if getting them swapped out is labor intensive (think Toyota Prius…..).
However, they did make a big difference on a Sebring convertible I owned. That car had very weak headlights, and the new Sylvania Silverstar bulbs were a welcome improvement.
My personal experience with these Sylvania bulbs is they are well worth the money !
They do cost more and they don't seem to last as long ' for me ' but what price can you put on being able to see at night ?
I used them when they were called Cool Blue & what a difference they make !
IMO this is the cheapest most gain thing you can do to make night driving safer .
their is a law suit against the maker of the lights on claims it made on advertisement
Thanks Lavenderblue333….I'm going to try and get that tool…looks very useful (up here in the Northeast corrosion is always an issue)…
Hey Erik! what are your plans for the fairmont? gonna fix it up or hot rod it or somethin? I had an 1985 model with a 305 and a manual 4 speed. Did you know that all fairmonts made in mexico had v8's in them? I enjoy your show!
Drop a V-8 in it already.
Good video, I would install these in my 80's Jeep but I rarely drive at night and never leave town with it so won't bother spending the money. But you show just how easy it is to change a headlight in an older vehicle.
Good vid Eric…like that terminal cleaning tool –.can you tell us where you got it and what company makes it?