I would like to know if I can do a direct interchange between the five panel taillights and the (better looking) six panel units. If possible, is there anything needed other than the housings?

Thanks,
Jeff

On older cars (78 and earlier) this swap required drilling a couple large holes with a hole saw (in the area of the innermost bulb sockets). On yours there's kind of a big open area. You may have to notch things out with a cutoff wheel or a "nibbler" basically a reciprocating punch-type cutter. Best bet: check a junkyard, and compare the sheetmetal for any 83-up 240 sedan with yours. The taillights are ALWAYS taken, if they were any good, so access in a 'yard is usually not a problem.
In the end, I think it'd probably be easier to just find a newer car that came with those lights. They're certainly cheap enough now.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total

You can switch from 5-panel lights to 6-panel lights, but it is not a direct swap. You'll have to cut some metal and drill four new holes (2 per side) to mount the new units. The holes in the tail panel of the car are smaller on the five-panel cars.
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Speed Racer, '83 240 R, '74 164 E, '93 940 OL1 (Manchester, CT)