H4 install--Help

[esample]

I want to install H4s on my '86 coupe. Easy, right? Everything I can find on the subject says the trim ring is held with one screw only. When I remove that screw, however, the ring is tight as can be. I can't pry it, or turn it at all by hand. I'm afraid to use tools for fear of damaging the fender.

What am I doing/not doing to make this difficult? Thanks for your suggestions.

-Feeling dumb

[silverc4s]

Sorry I am at work & don't have any pictures handy.
The screw you want to loosen is at the very bottom dead center of the trim ring, and is a shoulder type fastener.
One you have it loose & floppy, you should be able to pull kind of down & outward from the bottom of the lamp assembly, and it should come out. It may be stuck from all of the years of being clamped tight.
Careful of your paint in the area around the ring...

[RoninLB]

Is this Bosch H-4s or Hella/Cibie H-4 ?

[TerryH]

Lens covers are great places for water to collect. Don't be surprised if some rust is holding it together.

[PSJoyce]

On my car, I suspect the headlight sugar scoop buckets had never been removed in 22 years, and the rubber gasket was just really stuck. It took a lot of pulling and twisting to get them off. I didn't use any tools, but my finger nails sure took a beating

Paul

[quattrorunner]

It really can be hard. I can only put one gasket on mine because the fit is just too tight. Keep trying.

[rusnak]

esample, you say you want to install H4s, but not which style you are trying to remove.

I remove the bottom bolt completely, then grab the headlight trim ring by pressing my palms together, facing each other. I press my hands together, then turn the whole assembly by rocking the trim ring back and forth. It usually works well. Any dirt, bugs, etc make the trim ring hard to remove, but rocking or rotating the trim ring back and forth will dislodge any dirt that makes it hard to remove.

This technique is especially good if you need to change a headlight when you're on the road in the middle of nowhere, and have only a few screwdrivers to work with (me about 2 weeks ago).

[esample]

Hey guys

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions. Yeah, the ones I'm removing are the original sugar scoops and I'm going to replace them with Bosch H4s.

When I get home tonight, I'll put these tips to work. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't about to break something by persisting.

Again, much thanks.

-ernie

[esample]

Thanks again to all for the help installing the H4s. Here's how they look on my car. Also installed new wheel. [img][img]

[rusnak]

They look great! I recommend the heavy clear vinyl headlight film that you can get at many aftermarket suppliers. I put some on my H4s after I noticed slight pitting after driving through a rainstorm. The film has been on there for over 5 years now and still looks invisible, and is doing its job protecting the headlight glass from stones and debris.

[TerryH]

Very nice!