DIY Network

'65 Mustang Restoration: Headlights and Taillight Conversion Our '65 Mustang's old headlights and taillights get upgraded with some halogen and LED technology. From "Classic Car Restoration" episode DCR-509

In this phase of the restoration of our 1965 Mustang, Steve Magnante tricks out our fastback with a digital dash conversion, stereo upgrade and new headlights and taillights. In this project, Steve continues the resto-mod upgrades with the headlight and taillight upgrades.

We install a Mustang GT style fog lamp bar onto the front grill of the '65 Mustang . . .

and upgrade the headlights to halogens.

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	Inside of the original taillights, with standard incandescent bulb.
	The replacement taillights use LED technology.

First, Steve installs a Mustang GT style fog lamp bar onto the front grill. Then he upgrades our incandescent bulb headlight system to a modern halogen bulb tri-bar system that provides whiter and brighter light and makes for safer night time driving. Steve then completes the exterior light conversions by installing rear LED sequential tail lights that don't require any cutting or modification of the rear panel. The lights are similar to the popular sequential tail lights found on vintage Thunderbirds but huse modern LED technology.

Note: This is a summary of steps included in the restoration procedures as shown in episode 309 of Classic Car Restoration. The steps seen in this demonstration are general guidelines for restoration procedures on this particular make and model of vehicle, and for the level of restoration selected for this project. There may be variations in procedures depending model, condition of vehicle, level of restoration undertaken and the types of replacement parts or upgrade kits selected. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with any replacement parts or kit that you select.

Front Light Conversion

Tools and materials:

full set of sockets/wrenches
front head lights
tail lights

	Steve installs the new halogen headlights.

Steps:

• The fog light bar mounting post slips into the center slot of the grill trim and the fastener is tightened from below the bumper.

• The top mount screws are installed onto the grill clip and tightened down and the fog light studs are installed onto their grill clips.

• Then the wiring is run through the grill, into the engine compartment.

• The positive power wire is connected to our car's wiring harness and the ground cable is installed onto the frame mount.

• Then go back and tighten all the mounting studs down.

• With the halogen bulb clipped into the unit, the rubber boot goes on to seal out moisture and prevent condensation.

• Then the unit is installed onto the headlight harness connector and seated in the socket.

• The trim rings goes on, sliding and locking the brackets onto the mounting screws and the screws are tightened down.

• All that's left to do is to install the headlight surround and secure it to the body with screws.

	Steve installs the sequential LED taillights.

Sequential Tail Light Conversion

• The new sequential tail light units simply install into the stock tail light mounts, so there's no cutting, drilling or permanent modification of the rear valance.

• The washers and nuts are installed onto the mounting studs and tightened down using a ratchet wrench.

• The tail light wires simply connect to our car's wiring harness.

• Then do the same on the other side.

RESOURCES :

Special resources for DIY's Classic Car Restoration 500 series: 1965 Mustang

Mustang Club of America
www.mustang.org

Mustang Central
vintage Mustang parts
www.mustangcentral.com

Motorbooks Publishing
www.motorbooks.com

Class-Tech-Cars
www.class-tech-cars.com

Holley Performance Products
www.holley.com

Flowmaster Exhaust Products
www.flowmastermufflers.com

Genuine Hot Rod Hardware
www.genuinehotrod.com

Revelation Racing Supply
www.rrs-online.com

National Parts Depot
www.npdlink.com

Classic Auto Air
www.classicautoair.com

Pertronix Performance Products
www.pertronix.com

Stainless Steel Brake Corp.
www.ssbrakes.com

Painless Performance Products
www.painlessperformance.com

Loctite Products
www.henkel.com

Paintucation
www.paintucation.com

Dupli-Color Paints
www.duplicolor.com

Norton Abrasives
www.nortonabrasives.com

Dremel Tools
www.dremel.com

Classic High Performance Audio
Product: audio equipment

Direct Source
www.the-direct-source.com
Product: stereo electronic equipment

Dakota Digital Instruments
www.dakotadigital.com
Product: digital dashboard

Mustang Project
www.mustangproject.com
Product: LED sequential taillight system

GUESTS :

Johnny Ray
Classic High Performance Audio
We apologize no contact information is available.