After market Rectangular Headlights for 80 series… do they perform better than the factory sealed beams?

[nashqadri]

Both of my headlights adjusting screws are broken and the beam alignment is quite off. It’s annoying in the nighttime. I’ve been teyinf to find replacements and seen some people put those rectangular ones on. Not sure if they work better than the sealed factory lights. Do the spread the light well and are they bright enough. Are they adjustable in both directions vertical and horizontal? Any feedback would be much appreciated thank you. I’m attaching the picture of the lights that I’m referring to.

 

[TreadingLight]

The rectangle ones look cool and can be wired and upgraded in various ways, but in a stock configuration they are not as effective as the OEM ones molded to fit the front grill (as was standard in the US).

As far as I know, no 80 was ever subjected to sealed beams (maybe early 80s in some GCC markets?).

Personally, I'd drill out and repair the adjusters, and then start using good bulbs like Osram Night breakers or Phillips RacingVision.

But if I really liked rectangles, I'd look at OEM lamps and I'd wire them to have 4 on at low and 4 at hi to overcome the smaller reflector surface area. This is not legal in some states.

If I wanted LEDs (I don't) and had a boatload of cash I would buy Holley Retrobrights.

 

[robnicko]

Most 80's in Australia came with that headlight config and yes, there are up/down & left/right adjustment screws for each headlight
Earlier FJ80's here came with sealed headlamps and FZJ80 with non sealed (replaceable globes). I reckon theyre great as they are Glass and do not cloud over and look as clear as they day they were made

 

[TreadingLight]

Interesting that you had sealed beams. I would avoid those today just because the h4 bulbs available are so much better than a sealed beam's filaments.

The downsides to the rectangles are cost (in the US) and that you have a smaller surface area for the lo beam reflector compared to the US market 80s.

But the upside is flexibility. You can run h4 bulbs in all four positions and wire them to let all 4 come on. I've never done a side by side comparison but it should improve low beam performance. I've also seen people run fog lamps on the inners, albeit sacrificing some highbeam performance.

Edit: removed wrong info about plastic lenses. USDM 80s have glass lenses too. I stand corrected.

 

[george_tlc]

US headlights on the 80 series are GLASS. I think with the 100 series Toyota went with plastic

It's funny, in the US, folk want the square lights 'cos they look cool. In oz, the probably want ours because they look cool

Personally our headlights (with decent replacement bulbs) work plenty good. A pair of good LED spotlights will take care of country driving.

cheers,
george.

 

[FJ80HI]

The headlights on my 91 us model fj80 are the best headlights I have ever had on an older vehicle. My sons 23 Tacoma led are comparable. That is saying a lot to a 35 year old vehicle

 

[60 toy ota]

I laugh when people complain about the 80 lighting being poor. Coming from a 60, where I could literally mistake them for being off when they were un fact on, I've always thought the 80's lights were excellent.

It's funny, in the US, folk want the square lights 'cos they look cool. In oz, the probably want ours because they look cool

Totally. It's the same thing with the barn door/tail gate. Barn doors are fun to think about for their novelty here but I'd choose a tailgate hands down.

 

[FJ80HI]

I laugh when people complain about the 80 lighting being poor. Coming from a 60, where I could literally mistake them for being off when they were un fact on, I've always thought the 80's lights were excellent.



Totally. It's the same thing with the barn door/tail gate. Barn doors are fun to think about for their novelty here but I'd choose a tailgate hands down.

Yes I like the tail gate with the top hatch. When my kids were young and 2 feet tall after a day at beach or hiking they could stand on tailgate and change. If raining top hatch kept them dry

 

[Mag71k5]

My quads are much brighter than my OEM lexus headlights.

But thats comparing apples to oranges, my quads are cheap amazon special LEDS that I aimed so the light has a cut off line.

Its very bright below the line, and fades off quickly above it so I dont blind drivers. High beams are the same, but just add another layer of light above the low beams. My quads are wired so the low beams and high beams are on together when i switch to high.

My factory LX450 lights were terrible on dark country roads, fine for in the city. I love the look of the quads and wanted a light upgrade.

 

[CutumFZJ80]

I updated my headlights to a quad set up and swapped/retrofitted in Holley Retrobrights into the factory housings. Literal night and day difference.

 

[ikarus]

I went with quads because it was easier (though probably not cheaper) than doing a projector retrofit. With the stock H4 bulbs I don't think it would too much of an upgrade, but with LEDs as others have pointed out, it's amazing. Honestly close to the light output on my 200 with stock projectors.

This is with JTX leds:

(I think this was with brights on)

 

[TreadingLight]

Personally i would never put an LED bulb in a halogen housing. They are fragile with weak fans, put light in all the wrong places, and are tiring on the eyes. Good halogens (cheap) or good LED housings (expensive) are the only way to go.

 

[thetoyotaman]

I gave up on my stock 97 lights as the adjusters weren't great and the reflector material wasn't what it was new. I changed it out to the poverty pack overseas lights like above and went with JW Speaker LEDs that have heaters for icing in winter. Very happy with the results!

 

[alia176]

I gave up on my stock 97 lights as the adjusters weren't great and the reflector material wasn't what it was new. I changed it out to the poverty pack overseas lights like above and went with JW Speaker LEDs that have heaters for icing in winter. Very happy with the results!

Your approach is interesting!

 

[mudgudgeon]

I went with quads because it was easier (though probably not cheaper) than doing a projector retrofit. With the stock H4 bulbs I don't think it would too much of an upgrade, but with LEDs as others have pointed out, it's amazing. Honestly close to the light output on my 200 with stock projectors.

This is with JTX leds:

View attachment 4168591

(I think this was with brights on)

View attachment 4168592

I swapped out OEM quads for aftermarket quads.
There was a definite improvement over the original lights.

Dim headlights was a common complaint in Australia too. This is why the Slee headlight wiring upgrade harness and the Aussie equivalent existed.

 

[Haring Bagsik]

Switched mine out and love them!