Blackout lights - other options?

[FridgeBrilliance]

So, my main blackout light is toast. I read in another thread where someone fried a wiring harness trying to convert it over to fog lights. Frankly, the blackouts are useless to me to an extent, and I am looking for other options while maintaining the appearance.

Can I connect a red lens warning light like the ones they have at Saturn but not use the flasher? (don't ask). How about one of the IR lights?

Anybody else do anything interesting with the existing wiring?

 

[doghead]

Are you refering to the blackout drive light as the "main" blackout light?


So, you want to replace the "useless light" with some other unneeded light?

Why?

 

[319]

Are you refering to the blackout drive light as the "main" blackout light?


So, you want to replace the "useless light" with some other unneeded light?

Why?

It's not totally useless, it fills that opening in the grille next to the headlight.
In fact, if you replace the standard bulb with a high wattage bulb.........well, it's still useless.

 

[FridgeBrilliance]

Are you refering to the blackout drive light as the "main" blackout light?


So, you want to replace the "useless light" with some other unneeded light?

Why?

God I love you doghead. I really really do. We need a smooch smiley.

Yes, main blackout light. And lets go with "useless -> less useless".

 

[KsM715]

Can I connect a red lens warning light like the ones they have at Saturn but not use the flasher? (don't ask). How about one of the IR lights?

In most states it is illegal to project any light forward other than white (headlights) or amber (orange turn signals) on non- emergency vehicles. Some volunteer fire fighters can get special permits to install em. light bars on their personel vehicles.

 

[Cucvnut]

I just took mine out and covered it up with off road lights.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

October 26th, 2012.

The OP's obviously not a politician, otherwise he'd want that blackout light working so he could sneak into his girlfriend's drive without all the neighbors seeing him! Good point, Doghead! I guess the man has never, ever needed a blackout headlight at any time in his life, so he just doesn't sense the possibilites that having one on your truck provides you with.....

All my military vehicles had blackout lights, they are great fun! You can drive the local PD's nuts with them just by sitting in an alley with them on.....

Me, I'd replace and repair the original unit to get the circuit working as designed, plus a CUCV without blackout lights looks wimpy, just like most GM's without blackout lights....

 

[cscmc1]

Granted, you'll rarely use it, but why not fix the blackout light? There's really not much to it... very little to go wrong.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

All my military vehicles had blackout lights, they are great fun! You can drive the local PD's nuts with them just by sitting in an alley with them on......

You are evil! Evil, do you hear me?



Come to think of it, that sounds like fun!

 

[Skinny]

October 26th, 2012.

The OP's obviously not a politician, otherwise he'd want that blackout light working so he could sneak into his girlfriend's drive without all the neighbors seeing him! Good point, Doghead! I guess the man has never, ever needed a blackout headlight at any time in his life, so he just doesn't sense the possibilites that having one on your truck provides you with.....

All my military vehicles had blackout lights, they are great fun! You can drive the local PD's nuts with them just by sitting in an alley with them on.....

Me, I'd replace and repair the original unit to get the circuit working as designed, plus a CUCV without blackout lights looks wimpy, just like most GM's without blackout lights....

Not sure how blackouts are going to make a 6.2 diesel all sneaky pete with the neighbors...

 

[CycleJay]

Hello Fridge,

You should just repair the Blackout drive light.
It is not that hard to do, I did it.

And you never know when you may actually need it.
So keep your CUCV stock, and repair, as opposed to replace it with something else.

That is just my opinion. You are free to choose to do anything you want with your truck.

Good luck, let us know if you need help.

Just my $0.02 cents...

 

[clinto]

Not sure how blackouts are going to make a 6.2 diesel all sneaky pete with the neighbors...

Exactly!

All the neighbors would be like "Hey, it's totally dark outside, I don't see anything but it sounds like a washing machine full of hammers is coming down the street".

 

[skysix]

Biggest problem of using that circuit for fog lights is the rest of the lighting will be off (signals, brakes, headlights...)

 

[FridgeBrilliance]

Exactly!

All the neighbors would be like "Hey, it's totally dark outside, I don't see anything but it sounds like a washing machine full of hammers is coming down the street".

This post made my day.

Also, fixing the **** light.

 

[cshaw07]

cracked me up too! at 7am that's usually not that easy

 

[L1A1]

Exactly!

All the neighbors would be like "Hey, it's totally dark outside, I don't see anything but it sounds like a washing machine full of hammers is coming down the street".

Now I don't care who you are, that's funny!
Matt

 

[L1A1]

a CUCV without blackout lights looks wimpy, just like most GM's without blackout lights....

They make GMs without blackout lights??!!
Matt

 

[saddamsnightmare]

October 30th, 2012.

Yes, maybe not CUCV GM's, but the ones that are made to have them look so wimpy and light footed in the grilles....Should be an option on the Civillian ones just for machismo purposes.... in blackout lights, size and location ARE important. My Unimog puts its blackout light boldly out on the front bumper and even has a plug on the fender to plug it in....! Unfortunately, someone, before I got the truck, poked out the two little identification disks of blue green celluloid (which identifies it as a truck, versus a motorcycle with one disk), so I am looking around for a little piece of celluloid or clear styrene to make repairs....
The Swiss were different, their blackout lights were independent of the main light switch, which had blackout positions (used on the German trucks), controlled by a separate switch,and it operates the front blackout light and two small bulbs, one in each standard taillight, NO cats-eyes for them!

I'd replace or rebuild the blackout light if it were my particular CUCV.....

 

[cscmc1]

Unfortunately, someone, before I got the truck, poked out the two little identification disks of blue green celluloid (which identifies it as a truck, versus a motorcycle with one disk), so I am looking around for a little piece of celluloid or clear styrene to make repairs....

Cool info on the Mogs -- I love those trucks! We vacation in Bavaria frequently, and those buggers are a VERY common sight in winter on the mountain trails. Throw some chains on 'em, and they're unstoppable.

Re: the red and green colored discs, are the filters used in the old style USGI flashlights big enough? Those seem plentiful enough; maybe that'd work for you.

 

[Matt1031]

October 30th, 2012.

..... Unfortunately, someone, before I got the truck, poked out the two little identification disks of blue green celluloid...... so I am looking around for a little piece of celluloid or clear styrene to make repairs....

Google "color gels'. They are the colored plastic films used in stage lighting. Generally available in a bazillion different colors, so you should have no problem finding a close match to the original blue/green. Laminate a color gel to a piece of acrylic and you can have any color lens you like.

Be advised that in the US, having any blue lighting on your vehicle ,regardless of whether you actually use it or not, carries the *potential* to get you in trouble with the law. They remove the lenses from the aux strobes on most police auction vehicles because of this.