Behind grille LED light bar install (PICS)

[jahmes143]

Just installed this cheap Amazon light bar. It was a perfect fit (maybe a bit too long but I made it work). For insurance, I applied clear silicon to every area where leakage seemed possible. It's just as bright as my friend's 24" Rigid, but the Rigid does throw light further.

I removed the hood latch toggle handle and V8 badge.

The legs wouldn't fit, so I used scrap stainless for the mounting brackets.

I'll monitor engine and tranny temp (using UltraGauge) to see if the light bar impedes air flow.

I wired it to my fog light switch.

You'll need to provide your own relay like this one, in-line switch like this one, and toggle on/off switch if you want (I wired mine directly to my fog lights so I didn't need an add'l switch.







Low beams on, light bar off:



Low beams on, light bar on (picture does not do the light bar justice at all...stupid iPhone):

 

[taxzz]

any pics of how you wired it up?

 

[madeinhb]

Pics at night on and off with headlights would be amazing

 

[raptorRunner01]

Also - how do you open the hood now with the toggle removed? Looks pretty great though!

 

[jahmes143]

any pics of how you wired it up?

Wiring schematic added to original post (call me Picasso)

Pics at night on and off with headlights would be amazing

Add'l pics added to original post (although light is very hard to capture in pictures). FYI my headlights are OEM projectors.

Also - how do you open the hood now with the toggle removed? Looks pretty great though!

Just pull the lever under the dash and the hood pops open. The behind the grille lever (which is now removed) is just a fail-safe in the event you accidentally pull the lever under the dash while driving (when has THAT ever happened). You could keep the grille lever option if you wanted by attaching some string or a different metal piece to it...if you really wanted.

 

[raptorRunner01]

Gotcha, that makes sense. Killer mod for pretty cheap it looks like.

 

[taxzz]

Wiring schematic added to original post (call me Picasso)


Add'l pics added to original post (although light is very hard to capture in pictures). FYI my headlights are OEM projectors.


Just pull the lever under the dash and the hood pops open. The behind the grille lever (which is now removed) is just a fail-safe in the event you accidentally pull the lever under the dash while driving (when has THAT ever happened). You could keep the grille lever option if you wanted by attaching some string or a different metal piece to it...if you really wanted.

thanks for the update :thanks:

 

[theoutbackdream]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I have a few questions

1. How much light does the grille block?
2. What size bar do you have?
3. Could it interfere with the cooling of the rad?

Thanks

 

[jahmes143]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I have a few questions



1. How much light does the grille block?

2. What size bar do you have?

3. Could it interfere with the cooling of the rad?



Thanks

31.5" bar.

Light blockage is minimal and not noticeable. Maybe 10%???

Didn't increase engine temp. I have a ScanGauge and my engine temp maintained 194 degrees before and after the install.


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[theoutbackdream]

31.5" bar.

Light blockage is minimal and not noticeable. Maybe 10%???

Didn't increase engine temp. I have a ScanGauge and my engine temp maintained 194 degrees before and after the install.


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Very good to know, thank you very much!!!!

 

[Theo85]

You can also do something like this!

 

[Pgshields]

Looks great. Did you do it?

 

[kcdehart]

You can also do something like this!

How is this mounted?? Looks great!

 

[JeratBP]

[MENTION=102024]Theo85[/MENTION] and [MENTION=125277]jahmes143[/MENTION]

What light bars did either of you go with? I'd like an inexpensive solution that I can mount in the grill of my '05 Sport.

Thanks

 

[jahmes143]

Modify Street 180W 60 High Power LED Spot Driving Lamp, 31.5- Inch. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FWOKKGI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_U2l6zb46HYR13

^thats the bar I used. Sealed all the edges and screw holes with clear silicone just to be safe.

 

[Theo85]

[MENTION=102024]Theo85[/MENTION] and [MENTION=125277]jahmes143[/MENTION]

What light bars did either of you go with? I'd like an inexpensive solution that I can mount in the grill of my '05 Sport.

Thanks

Hey man i went with a ebay slim style light bar, i think it was 25” wide but just double check your grill

 

[alia176]

You can also do something like this!

I'd love some more info on this as well!

 

[JeratBP]

I went with the Mictuning 32” light bar w/harness and their Toyota switch.

Now to decide how to mount it. I prefer the flush mounted vs behind the grill. Got the dermel ready and marked the grill. Figured I could use a 90 degree bracket and the included mounts. Otherwise, it looks like screwing the included mounts into the cross member puts the light bar higher and the license plate mounts block the view

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