Headlight/grill confusion

So I just got home to see my Ebay specials had arrived for my butterface 97 4x4 DLX V6. After my dopamine leveled back out from all the unboxing, I layed my new bumper,grill, headlights, to see fitment. Right away I realoized the grill was a fit. But they ain't NO WAY these are the right lights! Thinking I messed up ordering, I check and it says its suppose to fit...
That's when I started noticing some 97s had a different front all together. Can someone PLEASE send me in the right direction? Wouldn't be a problem if he had left the old parts in the back or something but Ill show you what it looks like.
Surely they didn't change it mid year?! If so, I'm gonna need to know why..

My 1st post so please be kind and sorry if this is old news I couldn't find.

 

Taking a guess here since you didn't include any pictures of the parts you got...

There are three "facelifts" of 1st gen Tacomas, generally referred to as 1995.5-1997, 1998-2000, and 2001-2004. Those numbers are correct for 6-lug trucks, which are what most people are interested in on this forum.

For five-lug trucks, the years are 1995.5-1996, 1997-2000, and 2001-2004. For some reason, 5-lugs got the "1998" facelift a year early in 1997.

1996 5-lug:



1996 6-lug:


1997 5-lug:



1997 6-lug




1998 5-lug:



1998 6-lug:

 

Probably not helpful, but neat to mention: the 97 5 lugs are easily recognizable since they're the only trucks with the facelift AND the turn signals in the chrome part of the bumper. To my knowledge, they're the only trucks with such a configuration that you can identify the year with just a glance.

 

I like the White one!!!!!!

lol

Really great documentation!

thanks 6P4

 

OP
Lay down your parts out
Both old and new if possible

incredible amt of info/advice here!!!!

 

Okay, so after early looking at my parts and what I ordered, my dumbass didn't realize the importance of adding 4x4 to your search... listen learned and thank you so much guys for all your input. You're a lot of help

 

In my post I explained I didn't have the old parts to go by and that was my issue. But after going to that side where you put in your VIN number, things started working better. My truck was actually manufactured October 96.

 

After many returns, finally got to here. It's starting to make sense. Now. I need to get a handle on this four-wheel drive business that I have no idea about