jacobbert9
New member
Well for awhile now, I've been trying to find a thread on putting a light bar in the front bumper of a '99. After limited results I decided to just pull the trigger and figure it out myself. I forgot to take pictures as I went so let me know if you need some more detail and I'll post more pics or more instructions.
Here's what was needed:
Bar: 22'' LED bar (mine was the Opt7 C2 off of amazon.
Something to cut out the front valence (I used a sheetrock saw)
Drill
12 gauge stranded wire
switch
electrical tape
Inline fuse holder (and fuse, mine was a 30a)
Connectors to connect the wire to battery and wires together
locktite
So first I completely cut out the valence to make room for the bar. This includes the license plate mounting pieces.
next I put the mounts on the bar to and then marked the spot on the bumper where I needed to cut down through the plastic to metal. After cutting into the metal I noticed that the metal cross support under the plastic tilted down towards the front right where my brackets were going. This wasn't a problem at all. I marked where both sides of the bracket would go.
The next step was to take the brackets back off and place them on the metal support exactly where I wanted them and then mark the hole onto the support. I had to turn the brackets to where the 'feet' pointed inwards because of where the access holes were located on the back of the support.
I first used a small drill bit (I think it was 1/8'') and made a pilot hole and then increased the size until the bolt would drop through it.
This picture shows the access holes with the bolts already in them.
I had a friend hold the nut up to the bolt with his finger while i turned the bolt from the top, it was a huge PITA but it didn't take too long. After it got started i just put a wrench on it and finished tightening. (I put the locktite on the bolt before putting the nut on.)
Next I just mounted the light bar to the brackets and locktited those screws as well.
I did a pretty basic wiring setup. I ran a wire off of the positive terminal of the battery to the inline fuse holder and then to the switch through a small gap under the hood that was at the back driver side corner of the bay. I then went in through the door jamb and up behind the switch. Then I ran from the other terminal on the switch to the red wire on the light bar. Then the other wire on the light bar to the negative terminal of the battery. Excessive amounts of electrical tape were used at all connections.
For the switch I just used a metal toggle switch and mounted it to one of the blanks on the left side of the steering wheel.
And that is all. All in it took about 1.5 hours (I've never done any light wiring in a car before).
Here are some pics, I'll post some of the wiring and brackets tomorrow probably.
If you have any questions about how I did anything or want a specific picture just let me know .
Driving with brights only
Low beams+light bar
These pictures don't really do the light justice. It was bright enough that when I turned it off and went to high beams, it took a couple seconds for my eyes to adjust to the huge difference in light.
Here's what was needed:
Bar: 22'' LED bar (mine was the Opt7 C2 off of amazon.
Something to cut out the front valence (I used a sheetrock saw)
Drill
12 gauge stranded wire
switch
electrical tape
Inline fuse holder (and fuse, mine was a 30a)
Connectors to connect the wire to battery and wires together
locktite
So first I completely cut out the valence to make room for the bar. This includes the license plate mounting pieces.
next I put the mounts on the bar to and then marked the spot on the bumper where I needed to cut down through the plastic to metal. After cutting into the metal I noticed that the metal cross support under the plastic tilted down towards the front right where my brackets were going. This wasn't a problem at all. I marked where both sides of the bracket would go.
The next step was to take the brackets back off and place them on the metal support exactly where I wanted them and then mark the hole onto the support. I had to turn the brackets to where the 'feet' pointed inwards because of where the access holes were located on the back of the support.
I first used a small drill bit (I think it was 1/8'') and made a pilot hole and then increased the size until the bolt would drop through it.
This picture shows the access holes with the bolts already in them.
I had a friend hold the nut up to the bolt with his finger while i turned the bolt from the top, it was a huge PITA but it didn't take too long. After it got started i just put a wrench on it and finished tightening. (I put the locktite on the bolt before putting the nut on.)
Next I just mounted the light bar to the brackets and locktited those screws as well.
I did a pretty basic wiring setup. I ran a wire off of the positive terminal of the battery to the inline fuse holder and then to the switch through a small gap under the hood that was at the back driver side corner of the bay. I then went in through the door jamb and up behind the switch. Then I ran from the other terminal on the switch to the red wire on the light bar. Then the other wire on the light bar to the negative terminal of the battery. Excessive amounts of electrical tape were used at all connections.
For the switch I just used a metal toggle switch and mounted it to one of the blanks on the left side of the steering wheel.
And that is all. All in it took about 1.5 hours (I've never done any light wiring in a car before).
Here are some pics, I'll post some of the wiring and brackets tomorrow probably.
If you have any questions about how I did anything or want a specific picture just let me know .
Driving with brights only
Low beams+light bar
These pictures don't really do the light justice. It was bright enough that when I turned it off and went to high beams, it took a couple seconds for my eyes to adjust to the huge difference in light.
