Dirt Baby LX - SoCal Explorer Log

[1MParker]

I finally got around to installing my S POD to control the various lights and accessories I have. The switches from left to right are.
Front Light Bar
Left Side Lights
Right Side Lights
Rear Lights
Compressor (not currently hooked up)
Rear 12V outlets Both the Second Row and Rear.

One of the selling points for me on this system was the low voltage cutoff which should help prevent me from ever running my battery fully dead.

After struggling with how to mount this thing I decided to use threaded rod. The threaded rod has "stoppers" that set the height and then the rod goes through holes that I drilled in the wheel well. Nuts on the other side hold it tight. One of the rods was somewhat close to a line so I covered it in several layers of heat shrink as a protective measure.

So far I'm happy, I just wish I had found some of the lower cost options first...

 

[1MParker]

I went out to Anza Borrego a couple of weeks ago to run Grapevine Canyon Road but alas Corona struck and spoiled my plans.

Grapevine Canyon Road, California | GPS Map, Photos & Reviews

Grapevine Canyon was one of the historic routes into Borrego Valley before SR-78 was completed in the 1930's. Even before it was used as a horse and wagon trail by settlers and miners, Grapevine Canyon was home to the Kumeyaay Indians, and their artifacts can still be found in the area. Today...

www.trailsoffroad.com

 

[AN470]

Pretty funny... I'm from LA and got my bone stock LX, 1 owner ( from Newport Beach) 178k miles, on Dec 20th!!

How was the sidewinder trail?

Also which smittybilt winch is that? Been thinking of getting that hidden winch mount for a while now..

FYI Del Sur Ridge was open a few weeks ago. Nice views, attempted most but not all the offshoots. First and only off roading I've really done so far...thanks to covid.

 

[1MParker]

Did we buy the same Truck? Lol.

This is the winch I bought but it was only $460 at the time.

Smittybilt X2O COMP - Waterproof Synthetic Rope Winch - 12,000 lb. Load Capacity Amazon product ASIN B00K150X2E
Sidewinder was fun and easy for my bone stock cruiser (except tires and running board removed). I’d do it again. I’m looking forward to hitting more trails in the area!

Pretty funny... I'm from LA and got my bone stock LX, 1 owner ( from Newport Beach) 178k miles, on Dec 20th!!

How was the sidewinder trail?

Also which smittybilt winch is that? Been thinking of getting that hidden winch mount for a while now..

FYI Del Sur Ridge was open a few weeks ago. Nice views, attempted most but not all the offshoots. First and only off roading I've really done so far...thanks to covid.

 

[eurodre]

Socal (glendale) here as well checking in.

 

[1MParker]

I finally finished up my install of the @Luke111 Bi-Xenon and LED High Beam headlight upgrade. It took quite a bit longer than expected but the results are great.

I started by having my headlight lenses refinished by a local service.

Clear-Cut Headlight Restoration + PLUS - Santa Monica, CA

Specialties: Welcome to Clear-Cut Headlight Restoration + PLUS! Visit clear-cut.net for info about the following services: • Headlight lens resurfacing • Headlight resealing • Paint correction • Ceramic coating • Spot painting For headlight lens resurfacing, I apply a ceramic coating...

www.yelp.com

Once the lenses were looking nice I set to work upgrading the projectors. There are what appear to be a hundred different times and temperatures recommended for baking the headlights for lens removal. What worked for me was 20 minutes at 225F.

 

[1MParker]

With the lenses off I set to work installing the new projectors and brackets. I used locking fasteners and JB Weld to keep everything tight.

 

[1MParker]

In the interest of keeping everything as stock looking as possible I chose to modify the existing rear caps rather than use new caps. Here is how I did it.

I connected the high beam shutter wires to the stock wires and added the 9006 connector to the other side of the stock wires. This then just plugs into the harness provided by luke.

I cut off the unused wires from the bulb assembly.

I then used a step bit to cut a hole that snugly fit the bulb gasket.

 

[1MParker]

Here's what the whole mocked up assembly looks like.

It's not shown here but the holes in the gasket were filled with RTV.

 

[1MParker]

I mocked up the whole assembly before I started installing anything in the truck so that I knew for sure what went where.

 

[1MParker]

I struggled with where to mount the Ballast Computers but eventually came upon the idea to mount them behind the side markers. I used HD velcro to hold them tight. Double sided foam tape would also probably work well here.

I used the step bit and a grommet + RTV to provide the passthrough for the wires.

I added a 9006 connector to the stock headlight connector.

The Relay harness was mounted to a grounding bolt near the airbox.

 

[1MParker]

Lastly I added the high beams. The old bulbs did not look so hot.

The DRL resistor was mounted near the airbox using double sided tape.

 

[1MParker]

These body clips always break...

So they got replaced with new ones when I put it all back together.

And these are all the parts I bought or came in the kit that I did not need.

 

[1MParker]

All in all I'm super happy with the quality of the components and with @Luke111 's service. My headlights are now ridiculously bright on low beam and insane on high beam. While the job is a bit more involved than I anticipated I'd do it again anytime. Just make sure that you can be without your headlights for a week or more if need be. In my case it took 3 Saturdays to complete the job.

 

[1MParker]

Getting ready for a summer adventure in a fully COVID 19 compliant manner. Dispersed camping, back roads, and as little contact with others as possible.

We're hitting Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Rocky Mountain National park on the way to Estes Park, CO. We're still planning the return trip to LA but expect it to be equally exciting.

We're swinging through Telluride to drive Imogene Pass which I am especially looking forward to.

I'll be checking in from the trail occasionally to share some glory shots of Dirt Baby on the trail.

 

[1MParker]

I ran Imogene pass (well actually my wife drove the whole way) at the end of July. It lived up to everything that I have read, seen and heard about it. Just beautiful. We ran from Telluride to Ouray in the late afternoon which as it turned out a great time to go. We ran into very few other people on the way up and absolutely nobody on the way down. This was great from a passing on narrow roads perspective but in retrospect if we had had any trouble it would have been nice to have other people around. The only area where the trail was in any way challenging was on the way down just after the pass where the road was quite steep and wet. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

 

[1MParker]

Medano Pass across the Sangre De Cristo Mountains was a special treat. We went across the pass during a thunderstorm and emerged on the other side at the Great Sand Dune to beautiful light. The trail was not especially challenging and could be done entirely in 4H but was beautiful!

 

[1MParker]

Sedona was amazing as usual. We were running late I and I did not want to miss the show, I aired down and hit the road at speeds that I would not advise but the LX took it in stride. We rolled into our campsite off of Schnebly Hill Road just in time to enjoy a light show being put on by the sun and a thunderstorm.

 

[1MParker]

Goblin Valley Cutoff Road was an unexpected high point. We were treated to rainbows, thunderstorms and a road that is much less straight than depicted on the map.

 

[1MParker]

The cruiser in its natural habitat... It looked a bit out of place back home in westwood.