First mods...

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RenegadeTahoe

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Well, I bit the bullet today... did my first mods to the 'Hoe.... I Seafoamed both my '99 S-10 and the 'Hoe... then, took it for some sunglasses...

Tahoe014.jpg


Had 20% in the front... 5%+privacy glass on the sides... and 20%+privacy glass on the back. It's DAAAAAARRRRK!

Now, I need something to boost the brightness of my backup lights... can't see a single thing when backing out at night. :( That was the problem with my CR-V... it was 5% on the back... no privacy glass, but I couldn't see anything... anyone know of a good product for brighter reverse lights?
 

RenegadeTahoe

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Thanks... we like it... unfortunately, I'm getting the mod bug... LOL... wanna throw either 20's or 22's on it... with some nice tires... and lift the front end to take out the rake... then, do the basics (intake, exhaust, tune) and a DVD / Navigation system with possibly a car computer attached as well ...
 

metro273

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^^^I think you should leave it the way it is cause when you put people in it and everyone's stuff in the back, it will straighten out. If it's just you, then raise that badboy up!...:)
 

RenegadeTahoe

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^^^I think you should leave it the way it is cause when you put people in it and everyone's stuff in the back, it will straighten out. If it's just you, then raise that badboy up!...:)

Yeah, after seeing Call_me_Tom 's 'Hoe... I decided I don't need to raise it up...
_LND8301.jpg

Just need the right wheels / tires... I think his looks like what I want mine to look like. ;)
 

RenegadeTahoe

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Well, I got my lights...

Tahoe017.jpg


Tahoe019.jpg


If aimed correctly, they really do help. Picked these up from Autozone for $20... threw in $5 worth of electrical connectors... and VOILA!
 

RenegadeTahoe

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Sure!!

I'd do pics... but I'm tired... and it's hot outside. LOL

I started with just some of the cheap Autozone driving / fog lights. They were $19.99. They came with a switch, and some wiring, mounting screws, etc.
pilpl-2055c003.jpg

Here's a Link @ Autozone..
I read somewhere that on the 7-point trailering harness, there was a reverse light connection in the middle pin. After taking a multimeter to it, I realized this was true! Tracing the pin wire to the light green wire that comes out of the harness, I tested the voltage on the wire. BINGO! I found a wire tap splice at Home Depot (they didn't have EXACTLY what I wanted, but a standard wire tap worked, I'd just have to rig up a disconnect (not necessary, however I wanted it to all be reversible.
Here's a picture... except, I used the blue (I think it's 18-14 AWG instead of 22-18)
u553302.jpg

If I could have found them, I wanted to use these:
4162.JPG

Instead, I just made my own with a female connector and an extra piece of wire. (spliced the female connector and wire to the light green wire using the tap splice, then I had a disconnect)

Then, I connected the wiring to the lights (took out all the extra wiring for the switch as it was not needed. Something I want to do in the future: get a 3-way switch and re-wire it to be on with reverse, off, or on with the switch). These lights were wired as white and black. White is hot, black is ground. I could not find a good place for a ground, so I made my own. I used to be a garage door installer, so I had plenty of self-tapping screws. I used one of them and tapped into the chassis, and secured my ground.

The next part was the hardest part: Securing the lights to the bumper. I found a good place to mount them (equal distance from the trailer hitch... out of the way of the wiring harness) I started with the screws they supplied, however realized they were coarse threaded screws and probably wouldn't work in 1/8" thick (approx) metal. I tried anyway... stripped the phillips head... and ended up drilling it out. After that, I decided to go back to my garage door screws (they were made for metal, and had more fine threads). I drilled my pilot holes and ended up snapping the head off of the screw. Thankfully, there was enough head left over to secure it, so I just threw another one in a side hole to secure it... ended up breaking that head off too. Remember: When attaching to a bumper, use large enough pilot holes! After mounting the first one, I used what I had learned for the second one... drilled the right size pilot and fastened it without snapping any screws. I also mounted them facing a little outward so that I got better coverage. I mounted the lights.. plugged in the connectors to the right colored wire... and tested them. When I found they worked, I wireloomed and zip-tied them up ($.99 at Home depot for 3/8 wireloom 10') I found that if I aim them more straight than down, I get better coverage, and it doesn't blind you if you're standing behind it. It doesn't make it like my old off-road lights did, but it definitely helps. I can see back to my neighbor's garage... which that means I will be able to see anything behind me. If anyone has any questions, I'm more than happy to answer! :) I found most of the information online. The ones I saw used a single 55w light... and I could see how that wouldn't work well, but the 2 lights @ 55w each works pretty good. Not bad for $25

Edit: I may include a "how to" in the technical write-ups section...
 
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