VT -> Monaro headlights installation

Note that all pictures are thumbnails, click on the thumbnail for a larger image

This web page describes in very basic form how to fit Holden Monaro headlights to your VT series Commodore. These instructions are based on fitting Monaro lights to a VT SS series commodore, all other models still apply, the slight difference being the front bumper.

Brief overview of work involved & instructions

Part numbers listed at bottom of page

Please note that once installation is completed, wiring modifications need to be made to the headlights in the steering column so that both the high & low beams come on when you switch the highbeams on. This is detailed towards the bottom.

Remove the grills, this will aid easier access to get places and also move the bumper around.
Remove the 3 main bumper bar screws so that you can pull forward and lift the bumper bar later when inserting the new headlights.
Losen the bottom corners of the bumper, where it attaches to the front quarter panels. There are approx 3 clips that hold it in place
Losen the radiator shroud on the front left headlight, to aid in accessing the headlight mounting bolt.
If you have HSV CAI - then remove the "lid" that is screwed ontop of the mouth, once removed you will see the headlight bolt

The first photo shows lifting where the grills insert, this aids in the side headlight mount clearing the bumper. The second photo shows the necessary detachment of the corner of the bumper as that's the only way to slide the light in, we found that it wouldn't fit through otherwise. The third photo is the HSV CAI mouth.

We also removed the battery mounting clamp before we started, this may explain why we didn't encounter any clearance problems. We also didn't encounter any problems with the HSV CAI. The factory loom simply plugged straight in and all lights operated as standard. There have been reportedly issues with:

Battery clearence - requiring slight adjustment of the mounting for clearance
HSV CAI - I don't know what issues were faced by some here but we had no problems

Because the Monaro headlight assy has a low beam lamp and a separate high beam lamp unlike a standard car which has a combined High/Low lamp and a driving lamp, problems will occur when the lights are placed on high beam. In a standard car the high low combination lamp will light up the edges of the road when the lights are on high beam, the driving light works like a pencil beam lighting up the distant road.

If the Monaro light assy is used in a standard car without modding the wiring, when the high beam lamps are turned on, only the centre pencil beams work and you loose visibility of the edge of the road. Monaro's overcome this by turning on both High and Low beams when the high beams are selected.

The following document shows you where the changes need to be made. A wire needs to be cut and joined to another wire on the Flash Dip switch on the steering column. Preferably this type of join should be made by soldering and heat shrinking a cover over the join but I cannot see why one of the crimp lock connectors wouldn't work as well. Click here for the PDF document.

Special mention goes to Mark "5.7 Berlina" from the LS1 forums for supplying me this information and file. There is a thread with this information on the Australia & LS1 Holden Forums at http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6302&highlight=headlight

Included for your reference is are a couple of photos of the front left standard VT headlight, to give you some insight into the mounting points.

Part Number and description list

V2 Monaro headlight Left Hand - 92094525
V2 Monaro headlight Right Hand - 92094524

Updated on Saturday, January 04, 2003

These instructions are provided in good faith, please ensure you are careful with what you do and how you do it. Roity / Australian LS1 & Holden Forums cannot be held liable for incorrect installation.