While we often gravitate toward the tried and true modifications that put a big smile on our faces every time we step on the throttle, vintage Mustangs will always benefit from the technological advances that the auto industry has made since they first rolled off the assembly line some 40-plus years ago. While we have plans to upgrade the handling, braking, and engine performance of our '66 fastback, we've also recently made some safety upgrades in the form of a rollbar, safety harnesses, and modern locking seats with increased lateral grip. One area where any vintage car can benefit regardless of intended use is lighting.
1 We start our conversion...
1 We start our conversion with the front marker lights and headlights. Both were working fine, which isn't always the case with a vintage Mustang or Ford, but we knew there were more intense options to give us a safer view of the road ahead of us.
2 Two screws and the old...
2 Two screws and the old lens comes right out, along with the crusty gasket. You'll want to use a new gasket to keep the water out.
In 1986, all automobiles were equipped with a government-mandated third brake light affixed to a high position on the vehicle. This worked to some extent, but as the years have passed and with the third light becoming the standard, the effects have arguably waned. However, automakers have sought to increase driver awareness with the design, location, and type of lightning. While halogen lightning made its way into the automotive landscape many years ago and improved lighting as we knew it, LED (light-emitting diode) lightning is now becoming more prevalent. Thanks to our wonderful aftermarket support, classic Mustang owners can upgrade their Mustang with more current lighting options, which is safer for everyone on the road.
3 You may need to clean the...
3 You may need to clean the socket out a bit if the bulbs haven't been changed in a while. After that, simply push in and twist the bulb base on the pigtail of the LED parking lamps (PN PL66), just like you would the original bulb. Then, use the supplied hardware to secure the LED light to the housing.
4 While our Colt of Personality...
4 While our Colt of Personality was equipped with more modern halogen lamps, their looks were very plain and stock, and the factory vintage Mustang wiring isn't really suited to them. We decided to swap them out in favor of these tri-bar halogen (PN PF700C) pieces from Mustangs Unlimited, along with a new harness (PN HRH1) that is designed to supply the proper voltage to the new halogen lamps.
5 To swap out the headlights,...
5 To swap out the headlights, we need to remove the four screws that secure the headlight door. This allows access to the headlight trim ring, which is held in by three more screws.
We went to Mustangs Unlimited for our lighting needs, as the company offers pretty much everything from stock to aftermarket for all Mustangs. While we'd be swapping out most of the factory equipment for new pieces, we had nothing when it came to the taillights, and needed everything—screws, gaskets, housings, lenses, bezels, wiring pigtails, and all. Check out the captions to see how easy it is to upgrade your Mustang's lighting equipment.
6 Now, take out the old headlight...
6 Now, take out the old headlight and unplug it from the factory harness. The new Mustangs Unlimited wiring harness is then connected to the passenger-side headlight plug, and the headlight plug from the new harness is fed into the headlight cup.
7 The tri-bar headlights...
7 The tri-bar headlights are too deep to fit the stock cup, so we removed the rear rubber seal, followed by the bulb, to allow us to cut the back of the headlight housing.
8 Using a cut-off wheel gave...
8 Using a cut-off wheel gave us a smooth cut through the composite housing. We removed approximately half an inch of the housing to give us the required clearance to mount the headlight in the cup and attach the trim ring.