PIAA 90 PRO XT (top) install questions...

[norros]

Fellas'... I got a couple of questions regarding installing a pair of lights ABOVE the front windshield... I will be installing them on Friday, so I'm trying to plan this out...

First, for those who have installed lights on the exterior roll-cage around the front windshield, WHERE & HOW did you route the wires ??? I'm having some difficulty thinking of how to do this... (I've got the dual OPTIMA setup with the AudioPipe Battery Terminals so I need to route the wires directly to the battery... <stole that from ExpeditionExchange.com>) :)

Second, has anyone installed lights on a factory safari roof rack in front ??? (not the other one's... the real one LRNA90FSRR ) I'm thinking that might look cool as well.

As always, any help is appreciated.


'Tanks

Nicholas

[Mike Hippert]

Hey Just saw your post here are some threads on the subject.

http://www.d-90.com/discus/messages/16/1020.html

http://www.d-90.com/discus/messages/16/1226.html

http://www.d-90.com/discus/messages/16/2175.html

[norros]

Fella's...

Got these lights in today... sweet...
only now I don't know how the hell I'm going to mount them. The 'width' between bolts is much larger than the 'roll-bar' light tabs, I'd say from looking at them in the dark they're about 1/3 inch off on each side.

Not worried, just wondering if I could get a plate and just drill 2 holes...

Anyone have experience in mounting tabs to 'existing' tabs on the lightbar part of the external roll cage and mounting lights... ?

Thanks

Nicholas

[Mike Hippert]

Hey Nicholas, You could buy a some 1/4" thick by 2" wide steal (they sell it at Home Depot) and run it between 2 of the light tabs on the rollbar so that it bolts to 2 of the tabs. Then drill 2 hole whereever you want in the steal for the lights themselfs. Clear as mud? be sure to paint it black when done to match the cage, you can also make the steal longer then the distance between the 2 mounting holes and mount the lights on the part that hangs out so the lights are farther appart.

[norros]

Mike,

Great answer. I was thinking of purchasing some kind of steel like that but just to put over 'one' of the tabs... somehow it didn't occur to me to run the piece of steel to 'each' of the tabs.

Excellent. Thank you Sir !

Nicholas Orros

[OCD90]

I know everyone seems to install the Hella-style lights above their 90's...and they look cool/OEM...but, with all the new HID light technology now, has anyone seen a neat install with those compact HID-type lights on a D-90?

I'm convinced that they have to offer advantages...especially since the 90 is shaped like a brick already, and those 4 hubcap-sized lights can't help the situation...

[Doug]

Nicholas, you might want to make that bar out of angle iron or 'L' shaped steel. I have a bar and found that the light patterns vibrated annoyingly. Had to jam a piece of rubber in there to stop the shimmies!

[norros]

Not bad... a lot of measuring but all came out well.

Purchased 1" x 1/4" of flat aluminum and cut them with a hacksaw, drilled holes in it, filed the ends a little, installed, wired ... and came out pretty good. I only wish they both turned on at the same time, it seems that you can only turn either the ion crystal fog lights or the driving lamps... Maybe it does, who knows...

Have pics if anyone's interested.

Nicholas Orros

[howellm70]

Nic, can you post a few pics...I'd love to see how it turned out. Thanks.

[norros]

no problem.

Nicholas

[Mike Hippert]

Not bad... a lot of measuring but all came out well.

Purchased 1" x 1/4" of flat aluminum and cut them with a hacksaw, drilled holes in it, filed the ends a little, installed, wired ... and came out pretty good.

Nicholas Orros
Sounds exactly how I would do it! Looks Good! And with the aluminum you don't have to worry about rust!

[norros]

Thanks.
I just took a short hour cruise through some windy 35-55 mph roads and got to test them out. The fogs are just the right brightness for me and the driving lamps are a little too bright, but haven't used them in the woods or tested them in any off-road purpose yet.

I attached a pic from the front.

Nicholas

[rover4x4]

looks good.

[OCD90]

That is my exact rig, and your install looks GREAT. I dig it. Can you post any pics from closer to show me how you set it up? I get the idea, but if you have a pic from above or the side...

I really like that. Way better than the Hellas, I think...and better lighting, I'd assume.

[norros]

Luckily I purchased about 4ft of the aluminum because after the first cut I noticed that I had to 'bypass' the next nearest light tab from the end closest to the outside, because it was at a different 'level' than the next.

You'll see in the pics.

So, the aluminum pieces were about a foot or so in length.
Sturdy though, I don't think I've have a lot of bouncing issues.

Nicholas

[OCD90]

How are the wires from the lights typically plumbed? I don't see holes in the rollcage (beneath the mounting tabs) to drop the wires through...but that seems to be the most sanitary way to do it, no?

[flippedrover]

Black zip ties down the cage. Is one way.

[norros]

Torrence,

Just saw your post.

I agree with Tyler, cheap black zip ties are the best. I think I paid $1.18 for 8 plus the lights usually come with some...
The PIAA lights I put on had a soft white plastic sheathing (tubing) over the wires themselves that said 'PIAA' on it, so it looks pretty cool. You could drill through the roll bar but then you'll open the inside of the roll bar tubing up to the outside elements... not to mention 'what if' you had to take the lights down ?
Pain in the ass!

Anyway, these lights rule.
I'm thinking of getting another set and install them between the others. I love the look.

Just my .01 CENT.


Nicholas

[OCD90]

Yes, they look great. They're on my short list now, definitely. Great install.

Oh, and where to the wires enter the vehicle, incidentally?

[norros]

Torrence,

Thanks & Great Question !

After ruining 3 sets of battery cable for my winch because I had it running UNDER the vehicle like someone told me to (melted 2 cheesy thin cables <cuz I didn't know you were supposed to use THICK cable> and one set of 0Gauge 2AWG wires) I ended up drilling a hole in the 'kick panel' and running them OVER the drivers side wheel well where they were CLEAR of any HEAT.

SO... I ran the light wires right at the corner/back of the hood and right next to the winch power cable through cabin and into the battery compartment... (where I had to drill another hole).
I hated drilling so many holes but it works and is clear of any heat. (thats the killer!)
And I did the dual battery setup that I stole from ExpeditionExchange.com with the AUDIOPIPE batter terminals (those things are great) so the install after the lights were mounted was CAKE.

Nicholas

[DJ Menasco]

Torrence,

Thanks & Great Question !

After ruining 3 sets of battery cable for my winch because I had it running UNDER the vehicle like someone told me to (melted 2 cheesy thin cables <cuz I didn't know you were supposed to use THICK cable> and one set of 0Gauge 2AWG wires) I ended up drilling a hole in the 'kick panel' and running them OVER the drivers side wheel well where they were CLEAR of any HEAT.



Shoot Nick! You should of just purchased a length of heat reflecting tube rather that drilling into the bulkhead. Have a look (http://www.designengineering.com/products.asp?m=sc&cid=10). Summit Racing sells thier products. If you look at the stock battery cable that runs to your starter you'll see what I'm talking about.

DJ

[norros]

Yeah, I thought of that but I really didn't like how the cable SAT under the truck. It was always hanging here or there and I really didn't like the idea of having it running under the truck, I really just couldn't find 'the right spot' for it.
And it made the PIAA light installation a LOT easier...

Thanks for the link though... (I love links!).... I can think of other applications to use that stuff on.

Cheers,

Nicholas

[flippedrover]

I run my XM antenna wire through the gap in the weather stripping on the corner of the top of the door. Then down the inside of the frame under the plastic trim. Works well for them but then again they are on the thin side.