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-   -   My "01" Excursion Thread (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1526050-my-01-excursion-thread.html)

01__Excursion 01-28-2018 07:06 PM

My "01" Excursion Thread
 
I had mentioned I'd start my own thread to simply share my work on my Excursion. I'll add to this as I have time, I'll try to be chronological with all that I have done, but that may not happen.
I'm not very good at narration, or write-ups. I'll find something doesn't seem right, and needs to be fixed, or improved, or simply come up with an idea and get to creating. I usually take random pics during the progress, rather for instructional purposes. I'm always open to questions about where I got stuff, or how I achieved something.
I had been recently asked about the cup holder lights I just added, so I'll start there.
I had found the LED's in my local Walmart and bought one package which contained one pair of lights. After deciding I wanted a total of 3 individual lights some 2 weeks later, I went back to the Walmart and found they no longer stocked them in the stores but were on their site. It took a while to come up with a finished product that didn't completely molest my console. Usually when ever I mod something I always try to obtain a spare, weather it be new NOS, or good used. SO in this case I did find a NOS front cup holder just in case. For the front I ended up cutting the light assemblies apart so I could just use the SMD's, and cut the entire light assembly in half to use for the rear.
I diffused the LED light with factory diffusing plastic found behind the drivers, ,aster slave, and slave A/C climate controls, the Excursion is usually green filters, and the Navigators are usually blue. Since I had blue lights, I used the blue diffuser material. In addition I added a LED dimmer to get the amount of light where I wanted it.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...5cae0aa5d.jpeg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...21dea505d3.jpg
Dremel cut the opening


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7707fbb437.jpg
Dremel cut the opening


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...139f52b17c.jpg
Fixture before cutting in half


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...997688e154.jpg
cut in half white diffusing plastic added between SMD and clear lens, re sealed with hot glue


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e59b25a097.jpg
Green pictured, Blue/White was used



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...905ac59d7e.jpg
Mounted, hot glued in, flush on inside of the cup-holder


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7285a807b2.jpg
slack wire glued in place


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...820b4b3dd5.jpg
Fitted to the opening, tacked with super glue, flush on interior side


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b8f915c372.jpg
Testing with 9 Volt battery, too bright toning down still needed


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...fe03882444.jpg
Testing with 9 Volt battery, too bright toning down still needed


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...01a0cd3889.jpg
Testing with 9 Volt battery, too bright toning down still needed


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1f7f095f3c.jpg
Testing in the dark, will tone down later


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...caa5ea8294.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ea43853466.jpg



https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c34ebf8637.jpg
Flush install, blue diffusing plastic to be added when finished.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...476311814c.jpg
Console completely taken apart, holes drilled for each front holder


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0a6a076617.jpg
Larger holes drilled and beveled in front holders, with white plastic diffuser material tacked in with super glue


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0ddc7d2e10.jpg

SMD's were secured from the inside of the console base with hot glue, testing in progress


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...01f85de656.jpg

SMD's were secured from the inside of the console base with hot glue, testing in progress


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e6b0d7a703.jpg

SMD's were secured from the inside of the console base with hot glue, testing in progress


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b7cea5de8c.jpg
SMD's were secured from the inside of the console base with hot glue, testing in progress


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1a7cfc3410.jpg

Cup holder removed, revealing the SMD's mounted from behind


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...00aed95a42.jpg
Dimmer switch from Amazon

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...928d3cf244.jpg
Dimmer switch from Amazon


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...2262d12bed.jpg
Dimmed to where they glow nicely when in the dark, the camera doesn't show how the holder nicely glows


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7e88000f8f.jpg
Dimmed to where they glow nicely when in the dark, the camera doesn't show how the holder nicely glows


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...084ba10f74.jpg
Rear with interior light on

59CRL 01-28-2018 07:14 PM

Cool, the dimmer switch is a great idea....

01__Excursion 01-28-2018 07:34 PM


Originally Posted by 59CRL (Post 17759029)
Cool, the dimmer switch is a great idea....

I tapped off the dash illumination wire that supplies dimmable voltage to the rear console illuminated audio controls, while this worked, at the lowest setting it was still too intense, so the inline dimmer was added.

01__Excursion 01-29-2018 06:03 PM

Prior to the LED cup holder idea, I added interior LED lights to the inside console area..


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7827ea67f7.jpg
Console apart, planning the install


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...5b67312641.jpg
LED unit times 2, from Pilot Lights


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...367a71c225.jpg
Donor switches from the glove box of Nissan, Acura, or Mazda's, 1 switch used


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...74a93e2812.jpg
Middle left and right locations were chosen


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b54881c79b.jpg
Holes drilled, wires passed through, LED double side taped to underside


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c298d1cff6.jpg
Main console cavern re-assembled


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0a01d7ae5e.jpg
Tapping into the 12V power supply


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...268defacc1.jpg

Plunger switch location drilled


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...198d534578.jpg
Plunger switch pre-fit, and tested for clearance


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0ae4ed2517.jpg
Plunger switch with plug used


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bd9432adbb.jpg
Fitted, and glued in with strong gutter sealer epoxy


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ab5d6cbdc9.jpg
12V power connections


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...8fd7bd6b92.jpg
Completion


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a7cdbbd918.jpg
Completion



EXSwap 01-29-2018 09:03 PM

I really dig the cup holder lights...I’ve been tooling around in my head how I’d mount a switch in mine with lights so that they come on when you pull the cup out of the holder and go out when you put it back. I’m not a huge fan of extra light inside when driving at night and tend to turn my dash lights down pretty far, but I think it’d be both convenient and cool to have a light in there. Well done!

01__Excursion 01-30-2018 05:38 AM


Originally Posted by EXSwap (Post 17761913)
I really dig the cup holder lights...I’ve been tooling around in my head how I’d mount a switch in mine with lights so that they come on when you pull the cup out of the holder and go out when you put it back. I’m not a huge fan of extra light inside when driving at night and tend to turn my dash lights down pretty far, but I think it’d be both convenient and cool to have a light in there. Well done!

Many thanks.
I drove to Lake Powell on the AZ/UT line last August, once night fall set in and your eyes were adjusted to the road light I kept missing the mark on my cup holder. That second dimmer dims the LED's down to where they almost don't fire, and has an off setting. I was trying to achieve the same effect as the window switches on the doors. You can find cup holder rings & disks, I was trying not to alter the cup holding capacity at all, when you're on the long distance, you want the biggest cup it will hold in there.

Led Cup Holder Rings Illuminated Led Cup Holder Rings Lights Marine Boat Wakeboard - Rings Review 2017

EXSwap 01-30-2018 08:48 AM

Those rings are pretty cool too! Definitely want to have as much capacity as possible and not limit it. I was thinking a switch like this (design) would work for turning them off and on. Haven't done much work on it yet, but now it's on the list!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-New-EMB60...QAAOSwn-tZIxF-

01__Excursion 01-30-2018 05:28 PM


Originally Posted by EXSwap (Post 17762796)
Those rings are pretty cool too! Definitely want to have as much capacity as possible and not limit it. I was thinking a switch like this (design) would work for turning them off and on. Haven't done much work on it yet, but now it's on the list!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-New-EMB60...QAAOSwn-tZIxF-

Ahh yes, the fridge door switch. That puts you down the same road I just went, that is, keeping the cup holders fully functional, and able to hold liquid.
You may want to look at pressure pad switches at the base of the cup holder, an optic eye, or an infrared setup at the very top for your LED trigger.

01__Excursion 01-30-2018 05:39 PM

Shortly after I bought the truck (2016) I realized I had no running board lights, well running boards for that matter. At some point someone added the factory nerf bar accessory. Although I liked this a lot, I still wanted the illumination feature too. I easily located the dangling plugs for the original running board lights, and got to work. I found plugs and running board harnesses from an Epedition which matched my round plug style. The LED light strips I purchased were from Super Bright LED's, these are exterior grade, aluminum framed, water proof, and rubber coated over the pc boards. The light strips are now discontinued, but have a replacement which does not have as many lights per strip.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4483d96835.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...cc41bd6f0d.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...595edb82b6.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0dbe8fb3c0.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1b968ca70a.jpg

Jeff53 01-30-2018 07:46 PM

Nice
 
I'd like to do something similar, as my PO did the same as your PO and installed the nerf bars. I also like them better since they don't hold moisture next to the rocker panels like running boards do. However, I'm not sure mine came with the lighted running board. Since it was an SSV with XLT trim, it may have either not had them at all or had the unlighted version. I've looked underneath and couldn't find any dangling wires. If mine did come with lighted boards, the PO may have tucked them up somewhere or cut them. Where were your wires located?


Originally Posted by 01__Excursion (Post 17764060)
Shortly after I bought the truck (2016) I realized I had no running board lights, well running boards for that matter. At some point someone added the factory nerf bar accessory. Although I liked this a lot, I still wanted the illumination feature too. I easily located the dangling plugs for the original running board lights, and got to work. I found plugs and running board harnesses from an Epedition which matched my round plug style. The LED light strips I purchased were from Super Bright LED's, these are exterior grade, aluminum framed, water proof, and rubber coated over the pc boards. The light strips are now discontinued, but have a replacement which does not have as many lights per strip.


Greenscobie86 01-31-2018 10:41 AM

Nice work on the ambient lighting and running board lights. I like the attention to detail. Gives me some ideas that I'd like to execute using the factory leftover running board light wiring in my truck.

01__Excursion 01-31-2018 11:11 AM


Originally Posted by Jeff53 (Post 17764389)
I'd like to do something similar, as my PO did the same as your PO and installed the nerf bars. I also like them better since they don't hold moisture next to the rocker panels like running boards do. However, I'm not sure mine came with the lighted running board. Since it was an SSV with XLT trim, it may have either not had them at all or had the unlighted version. I've looked underneath and couldn't find any dangling wires. If mine did come with lighted boards, the PO may have tucked them up somewhere or cut them. Where were your wires located?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...10f6d9c54c.jpg
Drivers side, just aft of the front wheel well and frame bushing, the one on the wheel well liner is the ABS plug.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b4ca97ab0c.jpg
Passenger side just aft of the rear frame bushing

Jeff53 01-31-2018 07:17 PM

Thanks
 
The pictures help a lot. If it warms up a bit, I'll take a look. I don't enjoy rolling around on cold concrete as much as I used to. :)


Originally Posted by 01__Excursion (Post 17765736)
Drivers side, just aft of the front wheel well and frame bushing, the one on the wheel well liner is the ABS plug.


Passenger side just aft of the frame bushing


01__Excursion 02-01-2018 05:23 AM

I have a couple spare tarps, probably twice the square footage of the truck. I sometimes fold one up to fit within the footprint of the tires, this gives some cushion, and comfort against the concrete.

01__Excursion 02-04-2018 07:17 AM

I installed the Hellwig rear sway bar late 2016 after buying the truck. The previous owner had it, was going to do it, and just asked me if I wanted it. I had to buy an end link from Hellwig to perform the install.
Ignore the AirBags, and the aluminum spacers, these were deleted after I corrected a defunct lift.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ae9593dddb.jpg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...853b84f267.jpg


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