Driving Light Modification - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Houston54 · 03-01-2010, 03:38 PM

I have been pretty quiet on this forum lately but thought I would share a modification I just completed on the 54. Since I do drive the truck on a daily basis I wanted to improve the lighting for those late night commutes home.

I was replacing the front bumper anyway so I decided to see what I could do in regards to installing driving lights into the bumper. I had seen another truck (ford) in a magazine with fog lights in the bumper and liked the presentation. I did not want to clutter up the front of the truck with some post mounted versions.

Using 4" exhaust tubing, some scrap metal and a pair of Hella Optilux 1300 lamps I went to town.

Here are a few pics.

More pictures of the process can be found on the picturetrail link in my sig for those interested.

Lextech · 03-01-2010, 03:42 PM

Very Nice! Me Like

Jeff

**michael bustamante** · 03-01-2010, 04:01 PM

nice color too.

OrrieG · 03-01-2010, 04:32 PM

How much light to they throw?? Any chance of a night shot with them on??? Thanks

mylow53 · 03-01-2010, 04:40 PM

great mod.... like the gone in 60 seconds mustang... where did you get the lights?
GT

entourageguy · 03-01-2010, 05:17 PM

Turned out very nice me thinks .....
I found a big improvement as well by doing the relays for the headlights....

bjcaldwe · 03-01-2010, 05:33 PM

Turned out great.

63 & 64 Bowties · 03-01-2010, 05:42 PM

Very nice. Look like they belong there.

Houston54 · 03-01-2010, 07:18 PM

I bought the lamps through this place as they had the best pricing.
http://www.classicgarage.com/accessories.html

One of the challenges was finding lamps which were not too small or too large. The Hella Optilux 1300 model I used are just under 4" diameter.

Another challenge was finding material to use as the "cans". A visit to my buddies at P&P Performance in Tomball resulted in a scrap piece of 4" tubing which worked great. The tubing is 4" OD. The ID provides about 5/16" of clearance around the lamps. Getting the tubing to fit the backside profile of the bumper was tedious as was getting them square and pointed straight. I designed adjustment in to the installation so I can fine tune the aim in all directions.

There were other lamp options but I am not a fan of blue tinted lights or the halo style. Rather keep things subtle. The Hella lamps came in a kit with the wiring, relay and switch.

I had a chance to use the lamps Friday night on a trip up to Decatur, Tx for a swap meet and social. They did help but still need to adjust the aim to maximize the benefit. At this time I do not have a shot showing how well they throw light.

CAL 58 GMC · 03-01-2010, 07:43 PM

Cool!! I like it, nice job!

Kabwe · 03-01-2010, 08:56 PM

That looks pretty cool.

mixermike · 03-01-2010, 09:42 PM

nice work brother

nickp51chevy · 03-01-2010, 11:44 PM

That is very cool. I'm gonna have to try to do that with mine. Hope you don't mind.

**JML55** · 03-02-2010, 12:36 AM

Very nice, looks like they belong there. Was looking at your build pictures, you have build a very cool truck. What is the color from?

03-01-2010, 03:38 PM	#1
Houston54 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: location Posts: 527	Driving Light Modification I have been pretty quiet on this forum lately but thought I would share a modification I just completed on the 54. Since I do drive the truck on a daily basis I wanted to improve the lighting for those late night commutes home. I was replacing the front bumper anyway so I decided to see what I could do in regards to installing driving lights into the bumper. I had seen another truck (ford) in a magazine with fog lights in the bumper and liked the presentation. I did not want to clutter up the front of the truck with some post mounted versions. Using 4" exhaust tubing, some scrap metal and a pair of Hella Optilux 1300 lamps I went to town. Here are a few pics. More pictures of the process can be found on the picturetrail link in my sig for those interested. Attached Images Last edited by Houston54; 03-01-2010 at 03:52 PM. Reason: wordsmithing

03-01-2010, 03:42 PM	#2
Lextech Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oak Forest, Ill. Posts: 194	Re: Driving Light Modification Very Nice! Me Like Jeff

03-01-2010, 04:01 PM	#3
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: Driving Light Modification nice color too. __________________ 1967custom

03-01-2010, 04:32 PM	#4
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Driving Light Modification How much light to they throw?? Any chance of a night shot with them on??? Thanks __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

03-01-2010, 04:40 PM	#5
mylow53 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: thousand oaks, California Posts: 732	Re: Driving Light Modification great mod.... like the gone in 60 seconds mustang... where did you get the lights? GT __________________ Greg 1953 chevy 1/2 ton 5 window, chevy 350 330 horse 700r tranz, lowering spindels mustang 2 frount. ford 9", airbags on 4 corners . purchased in 1983 for $325 while in high school http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=215079&page=5

03-01-2010, 05:17 PM	#6
entourageguy Yellow truck club Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Barrie Ontario Posts: 2,080	Re: Driving Light Modification Turned out very nice me thinks ..... I found a big improvement as well by doing the relays for the headlights.... __________________ ................................................................ Brian ...... My hub garage address http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/59apache I gue$$ everything has it'$ price ALL GONE NOW *59 Chev Apache* *PRAISE THE LOWERED* 350 700r lokar shifter power MII front end, shockwaves tilt, 4 wheel discs 4-link and bags 10 bolt limited Last edited by entourageguy; 03-01-2010 at 05:18 PM.

03-01-2010, 05:33 PM	#7
bjcaldwe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 1,169	Re: Driving Light Modification Turned out great. __________________ My AD Truck Build Thread 52 GMC one day laying on the running boards 2004 Chevy Crewcab. 3/5 and notched

03-01-2010, 05:42 PM	#8
63 & 64 Bowties and a few others Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 5,638	Re: Driving Light Modification Very nice. Look like they belong there. __________________ Bill US Army Vet -193rd Infantry BlueRidgeMuscleCars.com “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Gandhi

03-01-2010, 07:18 PM	#9
Houston54 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: location Posts: 527	Re: Driving Light Modification I bought the lamps through this place as they had the best pricing. http://www.classicgarage.com/accessories.html One of the challenges was finding lamps which were not too small or too large. The Hella Optilux 1300 model I used are just under 4" diameter. Another challenge was finding material to use as the "cans". A visit to my buddies at P&P Performance in Tomball resulted in a scrap piece of 4" tubing which worked great. The tubing is 4" OD. The ID provides about 5/16" of clearance around the lamps. Getting the tubing to fit the backside profile of the bumper was tedious as was getting them square and pointed straight. I designed adjustment in to the installation so I can fine tune the aim in all directions. There were other lamp options but I am not a fan of blue tinted lights or the halo style. Rather keep things subtle. The Hella lamps came in a kit with the wiring, relay and switch. I had a chance to use the lamps Friday night on a trip up to Decatur, Tx for a swap meet and social. They did help but still need to adjust the aim to maximize the benefit. At this time I do not have a shot showing how well they throw light.

03-01-2010, 07:43 PM	#10
CAL 58 GMC Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Clovis Ca. Posts: 3,311	Re: Driving Light Modification Cool!! I like it, nice job! __________________ Classic Trucks Link http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 1958 GMC.Project Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=162816 1966 Chevelle Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=443576 Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrNKo8F7Zw#GU5U2spHI_4

03-01-2010, 08:56 PM	#11
Kabwe Certified Car Nut Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inglewood, California Posts: 3,118	Re: Driving Light Modification That looks pretty cool.

03-01-2010, 09:42 PM	#12
mixermike Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Post Falls, Idaho Posts: 606	Re: Driving Light Modification nice work brother

03-01-2010, 11:44 PM	#13
nickp51chevy Registered Chevy Owner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Snohomish, wa Posts: 1,557	Re: Driving Light Modification That is very cool. I'm gonna have to try to do that with mine. Hope you don't mind. __________________ Love is fleeting, but Chevy trucks are forever!!!! 1970 Chevy CST C10 long box 350/400 2008 Chevy Silverado short box 4x4 Had; 1951 Chevy short box 307/T5 1988 Chevy shot box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C20 long box 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 350/350

03-02-2010, 12:36 AM	#14
JML55 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fannystelle, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 853	Re: Driving Light Modification Very nice, looks like they belong there. Was looking at your build pictures, you have build a very cool truck. What is the color from? __________________ Jean-Marc Lacasse 57 GMC 55 GMC 55 Belair 99 S10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=316140 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=806011



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