Blacking out the Ex (updates)
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Portage, MI
I will try and explain this the best I can!
First, get a LED flasher, and at 4 relays. Get a spool of wire. You have to take your door panels off to get to the wires for the mirrors. Wire up your flasher to a switch. After you take the door panels off, test the wires and find the one for the parking light and the one for the turn signal. You need a relay for each light, one for each turn signal, and one for each parking light in the mirrors. I put the relays right in my door panel.
Wire the relays as follows:
Run the power "or feed" from the truck's harness to the normally closed pin 87a (where you cut the wire for the light in the mirror, it will be the hot side of the wire.)
pin 30 will run back to the light and work normally when the relay's coil is NOT energized
pin 87 will have a lead from an LED flasher running to it. (one of the channels from the flasher)
pin 85 is ground
pin 86 it your switched 12v (from the switch you install to run the lights)
The 12v switched power will also be used to turn on the LED flasher
Hope this makes some scene!
As far as my strobe lights, I can run 6 90 watt strobe tubes. I am only using 4. They are all hooked into the power supply and the controller.
I dont think you will be able to hook up your rears to your fronts.
I did have a melting issue with my rears at first. I ended up getting new tail lights and mounting the strobe tubes in a different spot. I have not had an issue since.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Portage, MI
Are you using halogen strobes on your tail lights? I ask because I had a set of Whelen 90s in the "third reflector" (top) of my tail lights. I ran them for about 30 minutes or so this past summer while helping deploy a DART boat. It was about 100 out that day. I noticed when I got home the outer shell of the tail light was bowed in at that third (top) reflector.
If you run those for any length of time when it is hot out, they can melt your tail light housings. I dont know how the fire service kept theirs from melting before they converted to LED (maybe drilled holes for ventilation at the top of the reflector inside the housing?), but if you run them in the summer, be aware.
To solve my issue I swapped the halogens in the rear for the Vertex LED models. They ended up being brighter than the 90 watt halogen strobes.
Loving the mirrors! That video alone is making me seriously consider a swap (I dont have the signal mirrors). Can you post a diagram of how you wired the relays?
Is the third brake from a F150?
If you run those for any length of time when it is hot out, they can melt your tail light housings. I dont know how the fire service kept theirs from melting before they converted to LED (maybe drilled holes for ventilation at the top of the reflector inside the housing?), but if you run them in the summer, be aware.
To solve my issue I swapped the halogens in the rear for the Vertex LED models. They ended up being brighter than the 90 watt halogen strobes.
Loving the mirrors! That video alone is making me seriously consider a swap (I dont have the signal mirrors). Can you post a diagram of how you wired the relays?
Is the third brake from a F150?
It is a Recon light............RECON® - Red LED 3rd Brake Light - 2000 Ford Excursion Lights
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 33
From: Sacramento Area
I really like the mirror mod! The post above explains it a bit!
It is a Recon light............RECON® - Red LED 3rd Brake Light - 2000 Ford Excursion Lights
It is a Recon light............RECON® - Red LED 3rd Brake Light - 2000 Ford Excursion Lights
I noticed you run yours in the 'main' reflector...I'm thinking that's the issue - not enough space in the reflector. A smaller reflector housing will have more heat than a larger one.
On your mirror LEDs...do they flash when the headlights are on? I'm wondering if the relay is telling them to turn off but the parking lights are on, do they just stay on steady?
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Portage, MI
When my headlights are on, my marker lights in the mirror work as normal. As soon as I turn on the switch to have them flash, they start flashing and the parking light in the mirror is no longer on. I flip the switch back off, the parking lights in the mirror come back on. Same goes for the turn signal and my 3rd brake light
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 33
From: Sacramento Area
When my headlights are on, my marker lights in the mirror work as normal. As soon as I turn on the switch to have them flash, they start flashing and the parking light in the mirror is no longer on. I flip the switch back off, the parking lights in the mirror come back on. Same goes for the turn signal and my 3rd brake light
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 1
From: Weston Fl.
I dont have mirror light but the information is highly appreciated. Im sure it will come in handy if I get a sweet deal on them. Im looking at the running board light's and I'd like to put strobes in them too. Thanks for the info..
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Portage, MI
I've been thinking of doing those lights too. I can hook them into my LED flasher, all I have to do is replace the bulbs with LED bulbs
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 0
From: South Shore, MA
Thanks!
I will try and explain this the best I can!
First, get a LED flasher, and at 4 relays. Get a spool of wire. You have to take your door panels off to get to the wires for the mirrors. Wire up your flasher to a switch. After you take the door panels off, test the wires and find the one for the parking light and the one for the turn signal. You need a relay for each light, one for each turn signal, and one for each parking light in the mirrors. I put the relays right in my door panel.
Wire the relays as follows:
Run the power "or feed" from the truck's harness to the normally closed pin 87a (where you cut the wire for the light in the mirror, it will be the hot side of the wire.)
pin 30 will run back to the light and work normally when the relay's coil is NOT energized
pin 87 will have a lead from an LED flasher running to it. (one of the channels from the flasher)
pin 85 is ground
pin 86 it your switched 12v (from the switch you install to run the lights)
The 12v switched power will also be used to turn on the LED flasher
Hope this makes some scene!
As far as my strobe lights, I can run 6 90 watt strobe tubes. I am only using 4. They are all hooked into the power supply and the controller.
I dont think you will be able to hook up your rears to your fronts.
I did have a melting issue with my rears at first. I ended up getting new tail lights and mounting the strobe tubes in a different spot. I have not had an issue since.
I will try and explain this the best I can!
First, get a LED flasher, and at 4 relays. Get a spool of wire. You have to take your door panels off to get to the wires for the mirrors. Wire up your flasher to a switch. After you take the door panels off, test the wires and find the one for the parking light and the one for the turn signal. You need a relay for each light, one for each turn signal, and one for each parking light in the mirrors. I put the relays right in my door panel.
Wire the relays as follows:
Run the power "or feed" from the truck's harness to the normally closed pin 87a (where you cut the wire for the light in the mirror, it will be the hot side of the wire.)
pin 30 will run back to the light and work normally when the relay's coil is NOT energized
pin 87 will have a lead from an LED flasher running to it. (one of the channels from the flasher)
pin 85 is ground
pin 86 it your switched 12v (from the switch you install to run the lights)
The 12v switched power will also be used to turn on the LED flasher
Hope this makes some scene!
As far as my strobe lights, I can run 6 90 watt strobe tubes. I am only using 4. They are all hooked into the power supply and the controller.
I dont think you will be able to hook up your rears to your fronts.
I did have a melting issue with my rears at first. I ended up getting new tail lights and mounting the strobe tubes in a different spot. I have not had an issue since.
HMmmmmm....????
All this wiring stuff sounds familiar to me.....
What's it gonna take for this mod to be re-named the "GRECO-MOD"???
http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=102769
F350 strobe set-up - YouTube
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Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 1
From: Weston Fl.
I have some results for the bondo on chrome experiment and Im happy to report that bondo works good on chrome. Last night I did a little experiment to see how bondo sticks to chrome but before that I did a lot of reading on the subject and I was divided by different results. Alot of people said that the chrome has to be grinnded down to the metal, some said it wouldn't work, some said it could but not sure. Well I set out to find out. I know metal of any type can be sanded and painted. Just because chrome is so shinny doesn't mean it cant be prepped like raw metal before paint.
Here is my results:
I lightly sanded a piece of chrome on my barber chair just enough to get a bit of rough surface. I then washed it clean of any dust from the sanding.
I wiped it with some alcohol and let dry for a few minutes. Next I applied a lil bondo and let sit. To my amazement when I checked just now the bondo is hard and stuck like chuck to the chrome. I got a drywall hand saw and scraped it, beat it, cut it and it held really good.
I will now move to taking my bumper off and rubber hammer the dent out so I can apply bondo and fixing this dent already. Wish me luck.
Here is my results:
I lightly sanded a piece of chrome on my barber chair just enough to get a bit of rough surface. I then washed it clean of any dust from the sanding.
I wiped it with some alcohol and let dry for a few minutes. Next I applied a lil bondo and let sit. To my amazement when I checked just now the bondo is hard and stuck like chuck to the chrome. I got a drywall hand saw and scraped it, beat it, cut it and it held really good.
I will now move to taking my bumper off and rubber hammer the dent out so I can apply bondo and fixing this dent already. Wish me luck.
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 1
From: Weston Fl.
Bondo on chrome
Well guys, I spent all night working in my garage. Im beat but had to post the work for you guys to see. Don't have much to write so I'll let the pictures do the talking.. Enjoy.
Here is a little bonus. I shot a small video for you all to see a it bit of the process.
******** width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/NMCpy5PnL70?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/NMCpy5PnL70?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>*********>
Here is a little bonus. I shot a small video for you all to see a it bit of the process.
******** width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/NMCpy5PnL70?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/NMCpy5PnL70?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>*********>
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More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 608
Likes: 1
From: Weston Fl.
Thanks Large, yea, the little one loves working on the truck with old man. I enjoy every minute of his company now because I know the years will fly by. That's a future fighter pilot there and he can get you any tool out the box you need. I put him down around 10:30pm last night but he wanted to ride it out. I was up till 2 working on the bumper. First thing he did this morning was to go look out side to see it. He's already for the tint job this weekend..
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: northeast PA
I'm looking for a bit of clarification here. This is a privately owned vehicle with no direct connection (owner and/or vehicle) to Law Enforcement? Not being critical, I just want to be certain that I have a proper understanding.
