A little driving light upgrade

This is the gen II upgrade for me on the behind the grille fog lights.  The first ones looked really cool but offered just a little light improvement.  I hope gen II helps more to be deer spotters.  I wish they were fogs and not driving lights, but not sure fogs would be as effective behind the grille.

Gen I










Gen II

Tim,
Trying to copy Tom?

Link from original post

Just get the HID Hella 12 inch lights.

I think the HID 4000 series with the internal ballast was what he was using. The HID SS Streetlights are good. But they were just not bright enough for him.

The HID Hellas turn night into day. Believe me. Just be careful of oncoming traffic.

-D

Yeah Toms car inspired me. Those are to rich for my budget, or I would!

YachtDriver wrote:

Tim,
Trying to copy Tom?

Link from original post

Just get the HID Hella 12 inch lights.

I think the HID 4000 series with the internal ballast was what he was using. The HID SS Streetlights are good. But they were just not bright enough for him.

The HID Hellas turn night into day. Believe me. Just be careful of oncoming traffic.

-D

That Roadmonster is drool worthy!

That car is such a sleeper. 383 golen (if my memory serves me correct), T56, 10" widened stock wheels. The hood vents on his racing hood are floor vents from Home Depot and the rear quarters are pretty ratty.

How much light are you getting?

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

That car is such a sleeper.  383 golen (if my memory serves me correct), T56, 10" widened stock wheels.  The hood vents on his racing hood are floor vents from Home Depot and the rear quarters are pretty ratty.

Yes, That is the configuration. Last I heard she is still going.  A very stout configuration. But there is a bit of rust.

This was his daily driver for several years. He drove the kids to school in it. Drivers seat and the rear bench. No passenger seat or third row. Battery relocated to the back. He removed everything he could to reduce weight but not be obvious about it.

Now it just has driver and passenger seats.

Last video I saw the windshield was even cracked

Yeah. I am sure he has gone though a few windscreens. I do know one of the reasons for the Headlights and the spotlights are he has hit deer several times. For a while he was going between St. Louis and Colorado on a regular basis.

I believe he has replaced the front sheet metal at least twice.

YachtDriver wrote:

Yeah. I am sure he has gone though a few windscreens. I do know one of the reasons for the Headlights and the spotlights are he has hit deer several times. For a while he was going between St. Louis and Colorado on a regular basis.

I believe he has replaced the front sheet metal at least twice.

Maybe a Police bumper should be his next mod?

Now we are in Nicks area of expertise.

Attle' hold a few lights

Andebe,
I believe he was doing everything he could to reduce weight. So adding a police bar or brush bar would have defeated the purpose. The car has no seats besides racing driver and passenger seats. I believe he even swiss cheesed the bumper bar. I know he removed most of the sound deadening and anything that was not necessary including the air ride compressor and any brackets he didn't need anymore.

Tim,
How much light are you getting now with the new lights in place versus the old ones. They seem to be a bit low and cut off by the lower portion of the grill / bumper.

YachtDriver wrote:

Tim,
How much light are you getting now with the new lights in place versus the old ones. They seem to be a bit low and cut off by the lower portion of the grill / bumper.

Haven't really given a run at night just yet but I would say it's going to be dramatically more light than the other lights gave me. In fact his lights seem to perform the stock lights with clear housings.

YachtDriver wrote:

Andebe,
I believe he was doing everything he could to reduce weight. So adding a police bar or brush bar would have defeated the purpose. The car has no seats besides racing driver and passenger seats. I believe he even swiss cheesed the bumper bar. I know he removed most of the sound deadening and anything that was not necessary including the air ride compressor and any brackets he didn't need anymore.

Tim,
How much light are you getting now with the new lights in place versus the old ones. They seem to be a bit low and cut off by the lower portion of the grill / bumper.

Sometimes sarcasm doesnt translate well...I could tell it was a war/race wagon.I just hated the thought of him mangling more deer with that front end.

Stupid question...maybe...Tim arent you afraid of heat issues/warpage with the grill? Or did I miss cutouts?

So its a wet foggy night. HOLY CRAP do they project!! So much so you cannot tell the stock lights on even on. Gotta aim them out a bit.

Andebe wrote:

Stupid question...maybe...Tim arent you afraid of heat issues/warpage with the grill? Or did I miss cutouts?

Its only two 55 watt bulbs the same as the Micro DE lights I had prior. There is also about 6 inches between the grille and lights. I cannot image there would be a heat issue. Custom fit cut outs with lights inserted would be REALLY cool though.

They look good Tim. Cut outs in the grill would be nice, so who's going to cut up the first grill for 6" driving lights? Anyone?

These are 7" I think

200OZ wrote:

They look good Tim. Cut outs in the grill would be nice, so who's going to cut up the first grill for 6" driving lights? Anyone?

I don’t think cutting a hole through bottom of the grill (as well as the grill support, bumper cover, bumper guards…) is going to look so good.



Or you could center the lights in the opening first.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

These are 7" I think

I had a set of 7 inch Hellas on my CBX,amazing amount of light with the stock 55 watt bulbsI tried a set of 80 watt bulbs but my charging system couldn't handle the drain.Used them on the blueridge parkway at night when the traffic was almost zero.Just too bright to use on any busy road when riding a motorcycle but should be great on your wagon once well aimed.

Cutting the grill will make almost no difference in the output,I'am with Jay!

JaySS wrote:

200OZ wrote:

They look good Tim. Cut outs in the grill would be nice, so who's going to cut up the first grill for 6" driving lights? Anyone?

I don’t think cutting a hole through bottom of the grill (as well as the grill support, bumper cover, bumper guards…) is going to look so good.



Or you could center the lights in the opening first.

If they will clear the side of the grille support and hood release lever I might be able to raise them some. But I like the look the way it is. And cutting a hole would not do much. I like what I have, but might do some tweaking. Not first priority right now.

Haven't gotten my RMW yet, (relatives car donated to me to relieve my destitute condition) but I have ridden in it and i can attest to the inadequate nature of the stock headlights.I will go to my fallback guys in such a situation and mount some 5 3/4 Hella H4s with Yellowstar bulbs (Rallylights.com). My concern is with light scatter from running behind the grill. Does anyone have an opinion on this. I could destroy a perfectly good stock grill, but as they seem to be unobtanium I may just remove the center and replace with pained hardware cloth.

Fogs will give you backscatter going through the grill, driving lights should not.

Looks great Tim. Love the simplicity of the installation too. I think I have to add a set of those to my winter battle Wagon...can hardly see the road in front of me at night with the stock lights, despite installing a set of Night Hawk bulbs.

This upgrade is growing on me...Tim did you fab your own brackets for this?

Brackets? Just flat stock with bolts going through the core support. One hole for each light. Light use a "L" bracket welded to the stock if I had do do it again.

BigBlackBeaSSt wrote:

Brackets?  Just flat stock with bolts going through the core support.  One hole for each light.  Light use a "L" bracket welded to the stock if I had do do it again.

To sure it up? Have you had problems with the lights moving at speed,push back or up?

Andebe wrote:

To shore it up? Have you had problems with the lights moving at speed,push back or up?

More likely the penn state potholes trying to shake 'em off,.