Don't laugh, just joined so this is my first post. Have a 1981 4 wheel drive pickup which has several challenges. One of them being the headlamps are dim (highbeams seem ok). Truck has sat for an unknown length of time, certainly years. So I bought new Sylvania halogens thinking this would be a no brainer to replace. First challenge....does the bumper have to be removed to get the bottom screws out of the trim piece that has to be removed first? I hope it doesn't but can't see any other way to get to them. If so, where are all the bolts for removing the bumper, keep in mind we are talking an 81 so there is rust behind the bumper.
I did try searching "81 headlamp removal" and 'bumper removal" but did not locate anything useful for what I'm dealing with.
Any assistance is appreciated.

 

I don't have an 81, but I have an 87 pickup, and a 87 4Runner. I've replaced the headlights in both of them a couple times. Only thing I had to take off was the metal plate that hold them in. 4 small, phillips screws, one near each corner. Reachable without TOO much effort. A long, thin, screwdriver will be helpful. Magnetize the screwdriver, so the screws stick to it when they come loose. Easy way to do that is to get a decent size speaker, and use it's magnet. Rub the screwdriver on it for a few minutes. That will magnetize it so you hold onto the screws, for both removal and installation.
Once the little hold in plates are off, just give a push on the back off the headlight, and out it comes. Pull the plug, plug in the new slide it in, and install the little hold-in plate. All done. It's a good idea to put some silicon dielectric grease in the plug before you put it on. Keeps the ick out of it. Prevents, or greatly reduces corrosion buildup.

Here you can easily see the hold-in plate. Right in front of the bulb. easy-peasy. That's all you need to pull off to get the bulb out. Just the plug is left connected. There's plenty of slack in the wiring to pull the bulb out far enough to pull the plug.

BTW: You dimness problem could well be nothing more than corrosion in the plug, and on the headlamp contacts. The three sticking out the back. Pull the plug off, and use a pencil eraser to clean the contacts. Again, Silicon dielectric grease in the plug, slide it on and off a few times to clean the plug's contacts. Then try the lights and see if the headlight is still dim.
The switch in the steering column may also have corroded contacts. Well worth the time to pull the covers off the steering column, and check the headlamp switch for corroded/dirty contacts. Some real fine grit sandpaper will slide between the contacts, and clean them up nicely.


Hope this helps a little.
Pat☺

 

Hi Pat,
Thanks for the reply, the bottom screws on the 81 appear to be located behind the bumper and of course the Haynes manual just says to remove the headlight bezel. I think my next step may be to search for a shop manual to see how exactly to get it off. Another instance of Murphy raising his head!

 

Should be just the 3 screws in the silver (on my 81) ring directly in contact with the headlight glass (beauty ring?). should be able to back out the screws a bit, then rotate the ring (probably CCW) maybe 1/4" to remove. Tabs on the ring are a slot with a bigger hole for the screw heads.
Not to be confused with the screws that are for adjusting where the headlights are pointing, that have cutouts in the plastic surround to access.
That's how I remember it at least. Swapped to LED's about 2 years ago.

Edit: On re reading your last post, I think the "bottom 2 screws" you're talking about are for the plastic surround. I'll double check after work, but I don't think that you have to remove that to replace the headlights.

 

I looked at it and it seems like you should be able to get at the screws for the "beauty ring" that holds the lamp into the bracket, but my front end isn't perfectly straight so your situation could vary.
With the top 2 screws out of the plastic surround it should give you enough wiggle room to get a small screwdriver in there.