New stuff installed this weekend!

[AKcruiserfreak]

I finally got a full Saturday to concentrate on the 60, so I installed and hooked up some stuff I've been wanting to do for awhile.
First, Not super original, but I work at a small print shop and we bought a large format printer that we can print on many differnet types of media, so I had to try out a 3M adhesive graphic just to see how it holds up in the real world. I think it looks cool. (and no, I did not throw the extra crap on the symbol, but our graphic designer thought it looked cool)

Second, I installed a Smittybuilt center console. I will eventually hard mount a holster in it for my Glock and .44 and will also be installing a cb after I finish my rear bumper. For those that haven't purchased one, these things are quite well built and well worth the $100 I paid over e-bay just as an armrest.

Third, I finally hooked up a rear lightbar for driving lights, brake lights, blinkers, and back-up lights. I am eventually going to have a rear tire carrier and jery cans on the rear of the rig that will obstruct at least part of the stock rear lights.

Finally, I bought a HID retrofit kit for my Hella 500's on ebay. What a HUGE difference in light output! I went with 55 watt 6000k color and couldn't be happier. I really need to figure out what to do about my regular lights now as they are severely outshined by the Hellas. Well worth the $30.00. We'll see how long they last as they are cheepo Chinese ballasts.

Anyways, Just thought I'd share and post a few pics of the progress. If you have any questions feel free to fire away.

TK

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Here's a pic of the rear light bar. I'm kinda proud of it. It turned out better than expected and does its job well. I haven't been rear-ended in the last three days.

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Fianlly, the lights.

First pic is low beams only.
Second pic is highbeams only.
Third pic is highbeams with the new HIDs.

 

[klinetime574]

Dude, nice work!

I have some HID's myself. Couldn't go back to my old headlights.

Have those seats been re-upholstered?

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Dude, nice work!

I have some HID's myself. Couldn't go back to my old headlights.

Have those seats been re-upholstered?

Yeah, your ROTM actullay prodded me in the HID direction. Thanks!

The seats are reupholstered via $or's kit. They do look nice, allthough not worth the money for sure as it took ALOT of elbow grease to get them to fit properly-ish. I ended up re-sewing the front drivers side seat as their was no way it was going to fit over $or's new seat foam.

TK

 

[PoeDog]

Wow...that is a lot of light! Nice work.

 

[JCop]

Question about the Smittybuilt center console, i looked on ebay and it says they are for jeeps, do they fit cruisers as well or did u have to make it fit? is there it particular model that fits best?

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Question about the Smittybuilt center console, i looked on ebay and it says they are for jeeps, do they fit cruisers as well or did u have to make it fit? is there it particular model that fits best?

Yeah, It's for a J**p, but it is modified to fit by re-drilling new holes in the bottom and bolting it to the stock console's bolts/ nuts. Chech out this link for more info. Really easy mod for anybody. https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/319359-smittybilt-console-review.html

TK

 

[87 HJ60]

How did you run the wires from the inside to the lightbar?

What are you using for your headlights and what bulbs are also using?

I plan on getting some Hella 500's too and seeing how it looks with HIDs I may do the same.

 

[Welltech]

Nice upgrade. I cant even tell my lights are on at night.

 

[hatman406080]

I finally got a full Saturday to concentrate on the 60, so I installed and hooked up some stuff I've been wanting to do for awhile.
First, Not super original, but I work at a small print shop and we bought a large format printer that we can print on many differnet types of media, so I had to try out a 3M adhesive graphic just to see how it holds up in the real world. I think it looks cool. (and no, I did not throw the extra crap on the symbol, but our graphic designer thought it looked cool)

Second, I installed a Smittybuilt center console. I will eventually hard mount a holster in it for my Glock and .44 and will also be installing a cb after I finish my rear bumper. For those that haven't purchased one, these things are quite well built and well worth the $100 I paid over e-bay just as an armrest.

Third, I finally hooked up a rear lightbar for driving lights, brake lights, blinkers, and back-up lights. I am eventually going to have a rear tire carrier and jery cans on the rear of the rig that will obstruct at least part of the stock rear lights.

Finally, I bought a HID retrofit kit for my Hella 500's on ebay. What a HUGE difference in light output! I went with 55 watt 6000k color and couldn't be happier. I really need to figure out what to do about my regular lights now as they are severely outshined by the Hellas. Well worth the $30.00. We'll see how long they last as they are cheepo Chinese ballasts.

Anyways, Just thought I'd share and post a few pics of the progress. If you have any questions feel free to fire away.

TK

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LOL, and I thought it could not get worse than T&A racing. I was wrong.
J

 

[stocksail]

Did you heat and indent a space for the HID bulbs to fit in the Hella 500 covers or something else?

 

[slcfj62]

Your HID picture is interesting for how much of the trees to the right are illuminated. The argument against HID conversion lamps is that even though they throw a lot of light down the road, they also have a lot of stray light shining everywhere. This can lead to eye fatigue on long drives as the stray light will reflect back at you from particles in the air. Of course straining your eyes to see with dim headlights will also lead to eye fatigue for sure.

Nice looking rig. Are those tail lights in the rear light bar dual element that also come on with the brakes?

 

[klinetime574]

threadjack/

My HID's kick up to the right a little bit, it helps illuminate road signs a lot.

Both lenses do the same thing because they are identical. The correct way to do it would be to have only the PS headlight do it. Otherwise you can't read road signs!

I like them and they are nice to have at night.

My Low Beams:

/threadjack

AK do you have an overall shot of your 60? Looks like one I have to see more of!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

How did you run the wires from the inside to the lightbar?

What are you using for your headlights and what bulbs are also using?

I plan on getting some Hella 500's too and seeing how it looks with HIDs I may do the same.

I just ran the wires down the right side of the rear hatch.

I am just running the stock, sealed-beam headlights right now, soon to be upgraded hopefully.

Hella's aren't that great of a light,but they are cheap and seemed to work well with the HID conversion.

Nice upgrade. I cant even tell my lights are on at night.

I have the same problem when it comes to my stock front lights. I really think HID's are the answer.

LOL, and I thought it could not get worse than T&A racing. I was wrong.
J

You like that huh? My name is Travis and my wife's name is AnnaLisa, thus T&A racing in the perverted mind of our designer. lol

Did you heat and indent a space for the HID bulbs to fit in the Hella 500 covers or something else?

I actually hacked out a hole on the back of the Hella's so that the wires could run throught it and give the light a little more room. The kit came with a seal to cover the 1" hole. I suppose heating it would have worked as well, but I still needed a place to run the wires through since the stock hole was way too small.

Your HID picture is interesting for how much of the trees to the right are illuminated. The argument against HID conversion lamps is that even though they throw a lot of light down the road, they also have a lot of stray light shining everywhere. This can lead to eye fatigue on long drives as the stray light will reflect back at you from particles in the air. Of course straining your eyes to see with dim headlights will also lead to eye fatigue for sure.

Nice looking rig. Are those tail lights in the rear light bar dual element that also come on with the brakes?

You can certainly tell that the Hella's reflector is not ideal for HIDs(i.e. hot spots and, as you mentioned, lots of stray wash), but what is important to me is that they throw light a lonngg ways compared to the original 55w bulb. We get a number of moose crossing the roads at night, and the sooner I can see them the better.

Yes, the light bar is dual element, so the entire bar lights up when the brakes are applied.

TK

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

P.S. Hatman, Love your TEQ symbol! We should start a club. lol

TK

 

[Fourrunner]

Nice upgrades...huge difference over stock light for sure. Nice rear bumper as well

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

klinetime, I'll post some overall pics of it after work today. I am definitely going the HID retrofit for headlights here pretty soon. Have you been flashed at all yet with yours? Your pattern seems to be pointing a little low, or maybe it's the angle of your driveway, but I was just wondering if you had to adjust the lights way down to compensate for the amount of the light they kick out.

TK

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Nice upgrades...huge difference over stock light for sure. Nice rear bumper as well

That bumper is nice...can't remember who I got it from though... jj
Thanks for making those bumpers man, they are great looking and functional. Hopefully I will be fabbing up some swingarms for it in the near future.

TK