Marlon_JBT
06-29-2005, 12:31 AM
Well, I did it. Decided that the stock lighting on the Jeep pretty much did suck. It just wasn't very safe driving down my street with all these kids out playing, and the dumb street light is out again.
So, I did something about it... picked up these 5.5" driving lights on Monday. I returned my 100W lights that day, seeing as they were not street legal in any way. I could however, buy them again someday. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Here's a link.
http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?Use...7EPIL%7C%7Etrue (http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=C001&UserAction=performMoreDetail &Parameters=TRUE%7C%7EDriving+Lights%7C%7ENONE%7C% 7EPilot+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Clear+Round+ Lens+White+Beam+Driving+Light+Kit+With+Stone+Guard +%285-1%2F2)
Install took a total of 24 hours. Don't ask. OK, I'll tell you anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have tools, but not enough. I didn't have a 3/8" drill bit required with the included bolts. (YES, I DRILLED 2 HOLES IN MY BUMPER!) That was my #1 problem. I decided to just sleep it out. I woke up the next day. Stretched out the included wiring kit, and opened my hood, to see where everything was going to go. Positive power came from the Power Distribution Block under the hood, and grounded on the radiator crossmember. That worked out to be perfect for the layout of the stuff under the KJ's hood. Switch wires went through the firewall. I didn't drill a hole in the metal, however, there was this plug, which I've heard is used for the clutch cable, which of course, having an automatic, I don't have. I drilled a small hole in the plug, pulled it out, cut out what I needed to get the wires through, put it back in, and sealed it with silicone. That much was easy. I then wired up the switch properly, and grounded the lighted switch on an existing ground location. I then drilled two more holes in the dashboard to mount the switch. When the lights are off, the switch is off. When the lights are on, the switch lights up this insanely bright red. That works for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif
No, the lights aren't mounted yet.
Talked to the now Honda owning Zach about it. He told me to just use self tapping screws. Eh, I don't like fiddling around with screws, so I used a bolt. I came up with this idea of using a wide washer for more strength, since I wasn't going to any longer use the supplied nuts and bolts. On to Home Depot, I picked up 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" self tapping bolts, and 2 1/4" hole x 1 1/2" wide washers. It's now beginning to look bad outside, with plenty of lighting, so I hurry home only for it to start raining shortly after I get back. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/furious.gif So, I drill hole # 1 on the bumper anyway. It now begins to rain a little more heavily, so I go inside, and wait for it to stop. It does, about 15 mins later. It's also darker now. Time to use that flashlight! I dried up all the wires and all, and I'm back to work. That lasts about 5 minutes, then it starts raining again. I managed to get one side in, only to realize that there's not enough room for the socket. Oh great. So, I bend the mount by hammering it on the side of my porch to open it up a bit. Oh well, that didn't work either. It starts to rain quite heavily now, so I pack up and head back into the house. By the time I get into the door, a downpour starts. This may have lasted about an hour or two? Oh well... time for more thinking. How am I going to do this?
I realized that I had some parts that I wasn't going to use... so I thought of using them as a spacer between the bottom of the mount, and the top of the bolt. This works. So, after the rain, I dry everything off again, and head back outside to finish this. My sister comes with me to watch. She wanted to help, so I told her to hold the grille. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/36_12_6[1].gif Dang it, the bumper bolt is now too tall, and the light will not fit for the cross bolt! This is the point where I pretty much just give up all hope. Sister says that I can cover up the hole. I say, nah, I need another bumper cover. "How much does that cost?" I say "Several hundred dollars." I put the grille back on, packed up again, when I noticed these two washers laying around (also from the kit). Could this be my lifesaver? So, I try.. IT WORKS! Everything fits perfectly! This is the only part that went quickly. I measured everything for almost exact spacing, and drilled the other side. I repeated everything I had learned over on the other side. Connected the wiring... YES!
The moment of truth, however... will the Jeep start now? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif It does... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif
No real pictures yet, however, I will leave you with this. It's a velcro and cardboard teaser for what is now permanent. I will have more tomorrow morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/marlonjbt/DSC08022.jpg
So, I did something about it... picked up these 5.5" driving lights on Monday. I returned my 100W lights that day, seeing as they were not street legal in any way. I could however, buy them again someday. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Here's a link.
http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?Use...7EPIL%7C%7Etrue (http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=C001&UserAction=performMoreDetail &Parameters=TRUE%7C%7EDriving+Lights%7C%7ENONE%7C% 7EPilot+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Clear+Round+ Lens+White+Beam+Driving+Light+Kit+With+Stone+Guard +%285-1%2F2)
Install took a total of 24 hours. Don't ask. OK, I'll tell you anyway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have tools, but not enough. I didn't have a 3/8" drill bit required with the included bolts. (YES, I DRILLED 2 HOLES IN MY BUMPER!) That was my #1 problem. I decided to just sleep it out. I woke up the next day. Stretched out the included wiring kit, and opened my hood, to see where everything was going to go. Positive power came from the Power Distribution Block under the hood, and grounded on the radiator crossmember. That worked out to be perfect for the layout of the stuff under the KJ's hood. Switch wires went through the firewall. I didn't drill a hole in the metal, however, there was this plug, which I've heard is used for the clutch cable, which of course, having an automatic, I don't have. I drilled a small hole in the plug, pulled it out, cut out what I needed to get the wires through, put it back in, and sealed it with silicone. That much was easy. I then wired up the switch properly, and grounded the lighted switch on an existing ground location. I then drilled two more holes in the dashboard to mount the switch. When the lights are off, the switch is off. When the lights are on, the switch lights up this insanely bright red. That works for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif
No, the lights aren't mounted yet.
Talked to the now Honda owning Zach about it. He told me to just use self tapping screws. Eh, I don't like fiddling around with screws, so I used a bolt. I came up with this idea of using a wide washer for more strength, since I wasn't going to any longer use the supplied nuts and bolts. On to Home Depot, I picked up 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" self tapping bolts, and 2 1/4" hole x 1 1/2" wide washers. It's now beginning to look bad outside, with plenty of lighting, so I hurry home only for it to start raining shortly after I get back. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/furious.gif So, I drill hole # 1 on the bumper anyway. It now begins to rain a little more heavily, so I go inside, and wait for it to stop. It does, about 15 mins later. It's also darker now. Time to use that flashlight! I dried up all the wires and all, and I'm back to work. That lasts about 5 minutes, then it starts raining again. I managed to get one side in, only to realize that there's not enough room for the socket. Oh great. So, I bend the mount by hammering it on the side of my porch to open it up a bit. Oh well, that didn't work either. It starts to rain quite heavily now, so I pack up and head back into the house. By the time I get into the door, a downpour starts. This may have lasted about an hour or two? Oh well... time for more thinking. How am I going to do this?
I realized that I had some parts that I wasn't going to use... so I thought of using them as a spacer between the bottom of the mount, and the top of the bolt. This works. So, after the rain, I dry everything off again, and head back outside to finish this. My sister comes with me to watch. She wanted to help, so I told her to hold the grille. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/36_12_6[1].gif Dang it, the bumper bolt is now too tall, and the light will not fit for the cross bolt! This is the point where I pretty much just give up all hope. Sister says that I can cover up the hole. I say, nah, I need another bumper cover. "How much does that cost?" I say "Several hundred dollars." I put the grille back on, packed up again, when I noticed these two washers laying around (also from the kit). Could this be my lifesaver? So, I try.. IT WORKS! Everything fits perfectly! This is the only part that went quickly. I measured everything for almost exact spacing, and drilled the other side. I repeated everything I had learned over on the other side. Connected the wiring... YES!
The moment of truth, however... will the Jeep start now? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif It does... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif
No real pictures yet, however, I will leave you with this. It's a velcro and cardboard teaser for what is now permanent. I will have more tomorrow morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/marlonjbt/DSC08022.jpg