Hey guys, Well I was online shopping for headlights and I guess none of them will fit my truck. It says, "not compatible with anything before manufacture date of June 97" The problem is that my truck is built 10/96. Does anyone know where I could get a set of smoked headlights for 10/96? If so, some help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well, an explanation is helpful here, which also results in the solution! The header panels are different for those production years, and that is the reason why. Just pick up a new header panel for the later years, and you'll be good.

 

Ok good to know, but do you know any smoked lights that will fit as it stands now before I do it?

 

I doubt. It was such a small gap for the different design, that it wouldn't have been practical. Honestly though, you'd be better off with the swap. You can find them everywhere in junkyards, and it's easy enough to swap them out. Could also swap to the 99-03 front ends. People have done it, so it's there if you want to.

 

Awesome, is there a guide on how to do it or a special piece I am looking for?

 

For the front end swap, you need the header panel, grill insert and surround, valence, and bumper.

You're just going to need the updated header panel if you want to keep your front end, but just have the updated headlight fitting.

 

Yes I would keep the front the same just change the header panel. Is it difficult to install?

 

No, not at all. You just have to remove the headlights, corner lights, and grill surround to access it. It sounds a little hard, but it should only take about 5 minutes to get it all off.

 

Wait before you go through the trouble of a header panel swap, how do your headlights install to the truck? If the corner light and headlight are both connected to a plastic housing that you then put on the truck, then yes you will need to swap header panels. If the headlight and corner light both can be removed separately one at a time then you don't need to do a header panel swap. My truck was built in December of 96, and my headlights and corner lights remove separately. I'm pretty sure that it's trucks built before 7/96 that have the older style header panel.

 

I can take my corner lights without taking my headlights out or vise versa. My corners are 1 bolt on the top and slide right out with no other issue.