Debating An Offroading Lighting Idea

[JasonJ]

I have made a lot of progress today. Finished figuring out the workaround for the oddball military electrical connects, and...

I think I finally found the dadgum bulbs - and they are LEDs!!! epper: :emoticondancer: epper:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KJ94Q1K/

Any reason I shouldn't put two spots in the middle with a flood on each end?

Two spots in the middle with floods on the end sounds good to me.. in theory.. You'd have to try it to see if it gave you the beam patterns you want.

As for not having the front lens... you say the old red ones are 3/8" and you're only real concern is the gap that may cause wind noise? Just get some 3/8" thick phenolic material, or sheet of plastic or even rubber, cut a spacer to fit between the lens retainer and the bulb housing itself. Done.

Either that or 3/8" UV protected plexiglass.....

 

[profdlp]

Anyone know if the orientation of led bulbs matters? In other words, is there a "top" and "bottom"?

This is coming together quickly now that I have the bulbs, which just arrived this afternoon. Too bad it's supposed to rain a lot tomorrow morning.

 

[jeeplib05]

Shouldn't matter which orientation you have them, they all have flat reflectors unless they're made with angled ones so that they point one certain direction or something, I would think
But that would be noticeable from the start, so from the pic I would say there's no right or wrong way
Hopefully I'm understanding your question

 

[uss2defiant]

nope. just put in it what ever way makes the best sense for your set up.

 

[profdlp]

I am now ready to mount these things and wire them up. Just a few days ago I was on the verge of giving up.

Turns out, Milspec number be hanged, these are actually a standard Par36 size bulb. They practically grow on trees. My previous Internet searches kept taking me in circles. My main hang up was not wanting to invest in a bunch of bulbs until I had resolved the lens issue. Well, more on that in a second...

To recap, here are the parts I was dealing with. If you think of them as two halves, the lens cover and the light housing it helps.

Laid out in order of assembly:

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One of the new lights I just got today:

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And the back:

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Here is how they mount as a straight replacement for the original 28V bulbs:

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Side view of the completed assembly:

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And a front view:

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Coming up, what will hopefully explain why I have been wringing my hands over the gap created by the lack of a lens cover once the infrared lenses were removed.

That is a BIG gap:

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I can hear the sucker whistling in the wind already. I've long since abandoned any illusions of good gas mileage, but that sure isn't going to help...

The new bulb and the infrared lens mounting bracket. Hmm...:

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Wow! The new lights are just BARELY thin enough to fit there!!!:

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The final product:

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:grd: :signs1: :weld:

I did hear an ominous crack coming from one of the lights just after I set it down. Looks like a hairline crack in one of my #$%^&* new $26 bulbs. Hope to heck it doesn't cause a problem. The lights were a snug fit and I guess there may have been a little too much pressure on one of them. Ain't it always something. :blah:

Anyway, all that remains is to bolt them on and get them wired up.

 

[tommudd]

See , now wasn't that easy :mwah1::happy175:

 

[profdlp]

No, it was not easy at all. Now had I known then what I know now, yeah. :icon_razz:

 

[profdlp]

Alright, so it rained off and on all day, so nothing done.

As for getting the wires from the roof to the inside, I am quite leery of just prying stuff off the roof rail area without knowing what I'm doing. Any advice? A video would be really cool.

 

[tommudd]

Screws under the rubber molding going down the drivers side, screws are in the folds , start by removing that

 

[profdlp]

Folds? I don't see no steenkin folds.

Look, I'm dumb - spell it out for me!!! :happy175:

To be serious, there is what looks like a trim piece along the channel where the roof rails mount. Is that what you are talking about? Can I just pry it out without having to swear, kick my dog, then buy a new one?

PS: Removed the roof rack today and boy am I glad I did. Got all six lights mounted (this includes the two work lights for the back) and soldered everything up on the front end. About two years ago I bought a big pack of heat shrink wrap at HF and it came in handy today by saving me a trip to the store. Then it got dark and my better sense made me quit for the night.

It also looks like the new lights will make the Jeep about a half-inch too high to get in the garage, unless Tom, TwoBobs & Mac want to come over and give me a hand every time I need to go in or out. (I can't get in there now anyway since the GF has still not managed to get rid of her old car.)

 

[uss2defiant]

yes. that's what Tom's talking about.

 

[uss2defiant]

although I'm not sure how to remove it.
I looked at the part fische and couldn't find a diagram that would give you a clue.
nothing in the fsm either.

 

[profdlp]

I can find info for every other kind of Jeep on just how to do this elegantly. Then there are the cowboys who drill holes like mad and then squirt on three tubes of caulk.

Then there is me. :happy175:

 

[profdlp]

All ready, except for getting the wiring inside and hooked up. Everything on the outside end is complete, save for adjusting them once they are working.

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[profdlp]

I spent more time than I would care to admit prying on rubber trim pieces on the roof rail area. The stuff is very hard and seems brittle. I may end up drilling holes and then keep a shower cap in the glove compartment.

I need to do the back end for the work lights, too.

 

[tommudd]

Folds? I don't see no steenkin folds.

Look, I'm dumb - spell it out for me!!! :happy175:

To be serious, there is what looks like a trim piece along the channel where the roof rails mount. Is that what you are talking about? Can I just pry it out without having to swear, kick my dog, then buy a new one?

PS: Removed the roof rack today and boy am I glad I did. Got all six lights mounted (this includes the two work lights for the back) and soldered everything up on the front end. About two years ago I bought a big pack of heat shrink wrap at HF and it came in handy today by saving me a trip to the store. Then it got dark and my better sense made me quit for the night.

It also looks like the new lights will make the Jeep about a half-inch too high to get in the garage, unless Tom, TwoBobs & Mac want to come over and give me a hand every time I need to go in or out. (I can't get in there now anyway since the GF has still not managed to get rid of her old car.)

PM me your phone number, Ill send some pics

 

[uss2defiant]

postdlp: post Tom's pictures after! Thanks

 

[tommudd]

postdlp: post Tom's pictures after! Thanks

Did ya ever think they are for his eyes only ? :emotions34::Insane::icon_razz:

But these will just be ones I took to show him where screws are etc
nothing ****** or.......:happy175:

 

[uss2defiant]

Did ya ever think they are for his eyes only ? :emotions34::Insane::icon_razz:

But these will just be ones I took to show him where screws are etc
nothing ****** or.......:happy175:

x.x

Sorry. didn't mean to pry

 

[profdlp]

My phone chokes on pictures larger than 600k. I really appreciate you trying, though.