light up bowtie - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

stepside71 · 01-25-2004, 02:40 PM

I recently came up with the idea to light up the blue bowtie on the grill of my 71. I thought ," it will look cool at night", now I know it does. It was still dark out when I was driving to work and I saw IT. Someone had "stolen" my idea!! Has anyone here ever done this or seen it done ? BTW it was a late model Chevy pickup.

lukecp · 01-25-2004, 02:52 PM

I did this to my truck.

The stock bowtie won't let any light through. I removed the blue plastic lens in it, and made my own lens out of plexiglass i cut with a dremel and glued together in the middle, then epoxied it into the bowtie. I gave it a light coat of blue paint so it looked kinda stock.

For the light, i went to Wally-World and got a trailer lisence light...a little 12v light, round, with one side covered. Get one for the bottom right and top left of the bowtie. I epoxied them into the grille shell. Then, ground the lights on the core support.

To get them to light up, i ran the hot wire from the wire for the parking lights in the bumper. Just find out which wire turns the parking light on, not the blinker signal, and tap into it.

That is all it takes.

Unforuntantely, i was having problems with the parking lights in my truck, and re-did some of the wiring and didn't bother to hook the bowtie light back up. Plus, half of my lens flew out when i was on the road...i will re-do it one of these days. It defenitly looks pretty cool!

What would make it look even better is if you could find some colored plexiglass clear lens, like on a taillight or marker light, and put that in there. Or maybe a LED light. Would look really good that way.

stepside71 · 01-25-2004, 10:13 PM

I guess not many people think of doing this. I was thinking along the lines of running an independant wiring setup for this with a toggle switch somewhere on the dash.

lukecp · 01-25-2004, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stepside71
I guess not many people think of doing this. I was thinking along the lines of running an independant wiring setup for this with a toggle switch somewhere on the dash.

I also did that with it for awhile. I don't reccomend it...you will forget to turn it off and it will run your battery down. With it hooked up to the parking lights, it will only be on when the parking lights and/or headlights are on.

It is a faily easy install...and does look cool

*1972C10* · 01-25-2004, 10:42 PM

I did that several years ago back when i was in high school what did is sand and clean the silver backin off the back of the stock lens and once it was clear i painted it with stain glass paint and put a cab light type of bulb in it one of them long round ones.

Oh and if it did it again instead of wiring it with the running lights i would put it to where it can be turned off since it is illegal unless its white or yellow light but thats lame 120 dollar ticket forced me to take it off .

stepside71 · 01-25-2004, 10:48 PM

interesting! Thanks for the info. guys.

Blue Beard · 01-25-2004, 11:04 PM

If you decide to do that, post a pic of it....

Sounds like a good idea......

*1972C10* · 01-26-2004, 02:05 AM

I still got my old blue one in the shop hangin as a 120 dollar project LOL ill get some pics if anyone is interested.

01-25-2004, 02:40 PM	#1
stepside71 Project Money Pit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 90	light up bowtie I recently came up with the idea to light up the blue bowtie on the grill of my 71. I thought ," it will look cool at night", now I know it does. It was still dark out when I was driving to work and I saw IT. Someone had "stolen" my idea!! Has anyone here ever done this or seen it done ? BTW it was a late model Chevy pickup.

01-25-2004, 02:52 PM	#2
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I did this to my truck. The stock bowtie won't let any light through. I removed the blue plastic lens in it, and made my own lens out of plexiglass i cut with a dremel and glued together in the middle, then epoxied it into the bowtie. I gave it a light coat of blue paint so it looked kinda stock. For the light, i went to Wally-World and got a trailer lisence light...a little 12v light, round, with one side covered. Get one for the bottom right and top left of the bowtie. I epoxied them into the grille shell. Then, ground the lights on the core support. To get them to light up, i ran the hot wire from the wire for the parking lights in the bumper. Just find out which wire turns the parking light on, not the blinker signal, and tap into it. That is all it takes. Unforuntantely, i was having problems with the parking lights in my truck, and re-did some of the wiring and didn't bother to hook the bowtie light back up. Plus, half of my lens flew out when i was on the road...i will re-do it one of these days. It defenitly looks pretty cool! What would make it look even better is if you could find some colored plexiglass clear lens, like on a taillight or marker light, and put that in there. Or maybe a LED light. Would look really good that way. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

01-25-2004, 10:42 PM	#5
1972C10 Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,686	I did that several years ago back when i was in high school what did is sand and clean the silver backin off the back of the stock lens and once it was clear i painted it with stain glass paint and put a cab light type of bulb in it one of them long round ones. Oh and if it did it again instead of wiring it with the running lights i would put it to where it can be turned off since it is illegal unless its white or yellow light but thats lame 120 dollar ticket forced me to take it off . Last edited by 1972C10; 01-25-2004 at 10:44 PM.

01-25-2004, 11:04 PM	#7
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,834	If you decide to do that, post a pic of it.... Sounds like a good idea...... __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

01-25-2004, 10:13 PM	#3
stepside71 Project Money Pit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 90	I guess not many people think of doing this. I was thinking along the lines of running an independant wiring setup for this with a toggle switch somewhere on the dash.

01-25-2004, 10:48 PM	#6
stepside71 Project Money Pit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 90	interesting! Thanks for the info. guys.

01-26-2004, 02:05 AM	#8
1972C10 Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,686	I still got my old blue one in the shop hangin as a 120 dollar project LOL ill get some pics if anyone is interested.



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