Hella 500 floating front bumper mounts...(install pics)

[momo.75]

Looks awesome!

Didja look into a way to mount those lights so that they won't be the first thing hit in a bumper-bumper collision? .... Specifically mounting them through the grill area of the bottom part of the hood?
I know they'd be a bit higher up than your mounting location, but I'm curious if that can be done too, all the while keeping the lights out of harm's way in a small crash.

i am sure there is some way to mount them up there, but I really wanted them down in front of the bumper. i am not too concerned about hitting them on anything. It is very rare that I have to parallel park. If there is every any collision, I am sure the lights will be the least of my worries. Ideally, i would love to have cut-outs in the front bumper with the light recessed, but don't want to go through the hassle of cutting up the bumper.

 

[AlexJet]

momo.75,
Where did you get that brackets from and what size are they? I was at my Home Depot, but couldn't find any that looks like yours. The only one I found were aluminum and seem too big for this particular application.

 

[momo.75]

momo.75,
Where did you get that brackets from and what size are they? I was at my Home Depot, but couldn't find any that looks like yours. The only one I found were aluminum and seem too big for this particular application.

I just bought the flat strips of steel, bent them at a 90 degree angle and drilled the holes.

 

[AlexJet]

I just bought the flat strips of steel, bent them at a 90 degree angle and drilled the holes.

Could you give me dimensions of the strips you got and where to drill holes and bent it? On your picture they are black. Did you buy them like this or you get some rustproofing?

 

[momo.75]

Could you give me dimensions of the strips you got and where to drill holes and bent it? On your picture they are black. Did you buy them like this or you get some rustproofing?

I am sure each truck is slightly different but here are some general measurments. The verticle part of the bracket is 5", then the 90 degree angle. From the right angle out the front is 7.5". I just bought the piece of steel and cut it in half. Then I just took each half and bent them in half in the middle of each piece. That way I had plenty on each end and cut off what I didn't need. Once I was done cutting and filing them down, I painted them with some black rust proof paint for protection.

 

[atomic punk]

Momo: You gonna keep the standard 55w bulbs, or maybe upgrade to 65 or even 80w? I know the manufacturer will not recommend or sign up for saying that the housings can handle the extra heat, but many people can attest that 80w bulbs won't harm quality constructed lights, nor the wiring if you use heavy enough gauge.

 

[momo.75]

I haven't even gotten past the wiring stage. After I got the mounts finished, I left them on for a while hoping I could get somebody to help me do it, but then got slammed with work. I took them off for a while, but have recently put them back on, even though they aren't wired up. It just looks different. I stopped by a couple of shops and the both wanted around $175 just to wire them. It looks like I might have some time this weekend, so I might just sit down and try to figure it out. I can do a lot of things, but for some reason wiring just gives me troubles.

 

[AlexJet]

I stopped by a couple of shops and the both wanted around $175 just to wire them.

I've done installation of my lights on a brush guard with all wiring for 120cdn => 95us. I know the guys who work there and I'm always doing my mods in this shop. So, if you planning to visit Toronto let me know, I'll ask them to do it for you. I also have good discount there from 5 to 20% off, depending of what and how many items I'm ordering.

 

[sharp4runr]

holy crap! $175 to wire a set of fog lights!!!!

I know this is an old thread, but if you haven't done it yet Momo give me a call and I'll walk you through it. I use the same Hella 500s on mine and they were relatively easy to install and this was the first time I've mounted FOG lights. Hardest thing was getting the wiring through the firewall and that wasn't too hard.

 

[sharp4runr]

holy crap! $175 to wire a set of fog lights!!!!

I know this is an old thread, but if you haven't done it yet Momo give me a call and I'll walk you through it. I use the same Hella 500s on mine and they were relatively easy to install and this was the first time I've mounted FOG lights. Hardest thing was getting the wiring through the firewall and that wasn't too hard.

 

[HookNLadder]

Nice write up - Really helpful!

Good going!

 

[HookNLadder]

Hey MoMo -

Do you have the exact dimentions of those brackets? ie: hights and length.
The more I look at it - the more I like the idea!

Thanks,
Johnny

 

[holzapfel]

I'll go a step farther, in addition to what length height, do you have the width and measurements of the holes, IE; where are they drilled and size of hole? The size and length of the bolts?

I'm anal and lazy, bad combo! :[)

Chris

 

[viper4evr2001]

hey momo if your still checking this thread, its really easy to wire up fogs like that. all you got to do is get 18-16g maybe 14g (i dunno how much the hellas pull) stranded wire from home depot and black loom, its the stuff that goes around the wire to protect it from heat and burning from hot parts under the hood. (you might have knowen that, sorry) and a simple rocker switch from maybe home depot of radio shack or where ever. what you do is take one wire from the battery run it through the firewall, there might be room on the driver side where there is an existing hole and run it to a location that you would want the switch. (i.e) to the left of the wheel, center console? i dunno.) then from the switch back through the firewall to the lights, the negative side of the fogs you can do to things, just ground them to the frame or run another wire to the (-)side of the battery, both will work depends on how much wire you want to use. i would suggest just grounding it to the frame. if you need help for taking the paneling off pm me or post here and ill take pics of me doing it, its really easy once you have done it a couple of times.

 

[holzapfel]

I decided to give this a shot. I went to Home Depot & bought a strip of 1 1/2 x 3/16 cold rolled steel. The strip was 36" long. I cut it in half.

I cut some card board into a strip and made a template from the 4runner. I bent the card board to 90% and punched the holes. I then transferred the hole locations and bend point to the steel.

I put the steel into a vice, right at the cut line and bent it with a 3 pound sledge. Then I drilled the holes. I didn't feel like drilling out the holes on the 4runner any bigger, so I just bought 3/16 bolts, nuts, and washers.

I bought rustoleum primer & black enamel. I've sprayed on the primer. This is where I'm at right now. I ordered Hella 500's from Offroadwarehouse.com, they should be here in the next day or two. Once I get them I will determine the hole location for them and drill that hole, then spray with the enamel.

Here are a few pics, I'll post more when I finish... wish me luck!

 

[momo.75]

Very cool! Post some pics when you get it finished.

 

[holzapfel]

Almost Finished

I finished the brackets and recieved the lights. Between Thanksgiving and crappy weather, I just now put them on. I haven't had a chance to hook them up yet.

Getting those bolts into the holes from inside the the tube was a bitch for me but I finally got it done by, get this, superglueing a piece of yarn to the tip of the bolt and pulled it threw that way. It must have taken me an hour and about 10 different ways before I came to that idea. Wrapping the wire around the bolt made it to wide to fit threw the hole.

Does anyone have a webpage where I can get an OEM switch?

Here are a few pics, I think they looks good. Thanks for the write up Momo you saved me a ton of money, I almost bought the JAOS lamp stay.

 

[holzapfel]

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[momo.75]

Those look really good!

 

[holzapfel]

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