Irrelevant Dumb Project

[riotwarrior]

I'll take a pic when it's dark. '80-'86 has one light under each side of dash like just about all 60s Fords, except the econoboxes which only had a single under dash light. Newer trucks don't have that?

My 88 does not that I know of have under dash lights.

I would like some but ONLY to come on with courtesy switch or turning headlight switch for courtesy lights. I do not use much in way of dash illumination...distraction I find.

The new NuClEaR Blue ***** on the market actually gives me headaches quickly.

Rode in a Hyndui for extended tdip with all blue dash...was nausus by end of trip and migrane.

I want well lit interior when I want it otherwise I want it DARK! LIKE RUM AND COFFEE AND BEER!

Guessmy next trip to pik n pul I have a new project ...

Well I await more of this fine lightjng speak....

 

[crash-harris]

I'm with riot here. Neither of my XLT Lariat '90 trucks have under dash lights. Other than the ones I installed in Bruiser's cab. Only on with doors open or courtesy detent on the headlight switch.

 

[BrianX128]

Project is done! Went kinda smoothly except for the fact that I rushed through it before a wheel alignment I have scheduled for oh twenty minutes from now lol..

Here are some pictures, I'll type up what I did along the way when I get back.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

I still need to replace the regular bulbs with led's and tighten the back light the whole way in, but you get the idea.

 

[riotwarrior]

Damn looks nice

 

[BrianX128]

Ok so there's three screws that goes in on these things, the top right one is the ground for the whole unit. The top left one is constant 12v for the map lights, at least in this truck (90) but in my 89 f250 it only is hot when the running lights or headlights are pulled out on the headlight switch. Not sure if that's a thing or my switch is messed up, but anyways.. The bottom right is switched 12v for the main light from the doors being opened, etc.

What I did, was take the main dome light off and then take out the three screws on the back that hold the headliner in place by the rear window and drill a medium sized hole in the headliner so I didn't have to drill into the metal. Then I fished a tree branch (I'm not kidding I couldn't find steel wire in all of my junk and coat hangers were upstairs) but fish something solid from the dome light out the back of the headliner. You'll never make it the other direction because of the insulation that's up there above the headliner. Then I ran two wires from the main dome light and wired the two hot leads from the main dome light to the auxiliary one. The trick here is don't use three screws in the auxiliary one. I just twisted the wires on to the screw holes for the leads and used a self tapping screw in the ground hole to mount the auxiliary unit and bam you're done there with that one. Then I took the two corresponding wires and twisted them around the two main screws that screw into the wires from the factory. Warning there is something dumb here. The hot leads screw into plastic pieces sitting in the metal roof. Be careful none of your extra wires come out from the screws and plastic when you tightened everything or you're blowing a fuse easy. Kinda a dumb design. You could always splice the auxiliary wires directly into the wires and not tie them onto the screws like I did but there is 0 slack in the wires and no space to work.

Yeah though that's about it. Outside of fishing the wire through the headliner from the main dome light it was actually kinda easy.

 

[icanfixall]

Caution on that 12 volt constant hot on the crewcab. We had a member here many years ago loose his E4OD because the fuse blew. Turns out the dome light is piggybacked off the power to the pcu for the rans. Seems some children were sitting on the top of the crewcab roof. That pressure caused the roof to contact the hot screw that goes just a little too far thru the dome light .. So remove the screw. Grind it down a little but and problem is solved.. Ot keep the children off the rop of the crewcab.. The funny things you leaqrn here. I too have had issues with the milk colored lense and hate it so it rides in the glove box. I think I will invest in a lense replacement now.... Thanks...

 

[BrianX128]

Zf in mine but still, good to know. Sure enough went to Walmart and they have like 0 of the LED bulb sizes I need to switch things over so yay Amazon time

 

[crash-harris]

The constant 12V on your dome is for the map lights. We can turn on the map lights without ignition power.

I have a magnetic orange strobe light on Bruiser's roof that has occasionally bounced the roof skin enough to contact that same screw and kills the fuse for all interior lights and the radio. Doesn't affect the dash lights though.

 

[BrianX128]

I almost feel like I should message the guy on eBay who sells those clear replacements and tell him you're welcome lol

 

[79jasper]

Superbrightleds.com

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[riotwarrior]

I almost feel like I should message the guy on eBay who sells those clear replacements and tell him you're welcome lol

Inquire bulk buy???

 

[BrianX128]

I might give that a try actually, I've bought 4 now and could use two more for a couple old fords in the family and I'm sure there is some interest here as well. Worth a try.

 

[icanfixall]

I bought one of these earlier today after I was reading someone here got the last one. The ebay site said 1 left and 130 sold. So I purchased the only one left.. I'm thinking this item I purchased is one of many "last ones" to be sold by this seller.....

 

[BrianX128]

I was going to post some night time pictures but flynns decided to screw up one of my adjustment bushings and need to order me a couple of bolts to fix it right so I won't have it back until Monday. They unfortunately know I have three other vehicles and I don't think there was a grand priority to find me anything to fix it same day after whatever bushing and plate got jacked up. Never fails haha. I really enjoyed telling the guy "ok, good luck starting it monday"

 

[dunk]

Turned out nice. I make do but probably would be useful to light up the floor of the back seat, particularly if adding rear door switches.

Under dash lights on my '86... Even Ford I've ever owned (which is many!) has had these, though my Falcon only had one, and I believe floor vent only on drivers side too. Penny pinching on the econoboxes I suppose.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach