Finally added my driving lights

TxDox21 · 01-11-2006, 07:57 PM

I finally added on my Hella FF50 Driving lights. I put them behind the grille insert. The only complaint I have is they bounce a little while driving. Just another project though for another day.

Headlights Only:

FF50s Only:

Both:

Tell me what you think.

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SnoViking · 01-11-2006, 08:00 PM

they look hella bright ....do you have a pic of them behind the grill?

TxDox21 · 01-11-2006, 08:03 PM

No I just ran outside a minute ago and took a pic, but I will take some tomorrow when it is sunny.

garrett1478 · 01-11-2006, 08:09 PM

pretty cool. that puts out more light than i would expect from behind the grill. i'd also like to see a pic during the day

grimpy · 01-11-2006, 11:21 PM

Looks great! How small are they? I just picked up some KC Hilites that I am trying to decide where to mount... It won't fit behind my grill for sure though...

4RunnerFever · 01-12-2006, 05:06 AM

Looks real nice. A daytime picture would be great.

dirtypuke · 01-12-2006, 06:59 AM

yeah that does look cool, do you have a pic of these in daylight? i just bought some hella 4000s i hope they will fit on my factory brush guard.

99_Runner · 01-12-2006, 07:27 AM

We need daylight pics. Looks real good though.

TxDox21 · 01-12-2006, 02:07 PM

Here they are in the Daytime:

dirtypuke · 01-13-2006, 06:29 AM

ah very stealth, nice. the wire nuts kind of scare me though. i would invest in some solder and some heat shrink tubing.

TxDox21 · 01-13-2006, 07:45 AM

One of my friends has wire nuts on his and they seem to work fine, but I was skeptical too. Where do I find that tubing?

dirtypuke · 01-13-2006, 08:08 AM

go to napa

99_Runner · 01-13-2006, 08:54 AM

Very nice. Do you have any pics of the mounting brackets and where you mounted them to?

jackson · 01-15-2006, 11:21 AM

The Hellas look great. Couple of questions since I'm thinking
that driving lights might solve my headlight problem...:
- why did you choose the FF50s over the FF75s?
- how much is the improvement in the lighted area of the road?
actually, that's what I'd really like to see: before/after pics
of the road!

thanks
jackson

Bob_98SR5 · 01-15-2006, 11:35 AM

tx,

good stealth look, but your bouncing is caused by your mount location. it appears you mounted your lights on the grill plastic itself. you need something more stable if you want to stop that bouncing, but i am not sure if there is such a place behind the grill. personally, i would fab a mount and bolt it to something rigid.

also like others have said, solder your connections. here is my writeup on soldering http://www.4runners.org/articles/solder101

soldering stuff, heat shrink tubing, etc, go to any radio schmuck

bob

Bob_98SR5 · 01-15-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackson

The Hellas look great. Couple of questions since I'm thinking
that driving lights might solve my headlight problem...:
- why did you choose the FF50s over the FF75s?
- how much is the improvement in the lighted area of the road?
actually, that's what I'd really like to see: before/after pics
of the road!

thanks
jackson

jackson,

just as an alternative, take a look at my writeup on hella 500 driving lights. They are inexpensive and you won't have to worry about the bouncing/mounting issues in this thread. its probably the most popular driving light option out there.

bob

TxDox21 · 01-16-2006, 08:32 AM

Jackson,

I chose the FF50s mainly because of their shape. I was not sure how the light output would be from behind the grille so I figured that they may end up in front of the grille. I photoshopped the lights on the bumper and decided I liked the way the 50s loked better. I am happy with the way the lights light up the road. I need to adjust the lights to make the beam a little higher and they would be perfect. I suggest looking on ebay when you do buy your lights. I got mine for $35.

Bob,

I did mount them on the plastic. It is weird though because only one lights bounces just a hair. I probably end up making a bracket to mount the to something back there. I dont know if you are familiar with these, but I used "Corrosive Proof" wire screws. They have a sealant inside of them that you push the wires into. Let me know if you have had any experience with these.

-Matt

tc · 01-16-2006, 09:35 AM

Wire nuts (weather tight or not) are not intended for automotive applications - eventually they will vibrate and come unscrewed. T-taps, crimp connectors, or solder are your only real options (I would go with solder).

SLC97SR5 · 01-16-2006, 09:51 AM

I've got 4 hella 500's on my bumper and I'm thinking of putting them elsewhere. Nice looking TX. While your at NAPA pick up 8 or so feet of split wire loom, it'll look super clean and your wires wont chafe on anything.

TxDox21 · 01-16-2006, 10:18 AM

I had to do aquick job while at home because I dont all the tools I needed while at school. I will get the tubing and plan to solder them soon. I mainly just wanted to mount them and make sure they worked.

01-11-2006, 08:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
SnoViking Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: York PA Posts: 786	they look hella bright ....do you have a pic of them behind the grill? __________________ Pat 1999 4Runner SR5 V6 4WD - Brush Guard, lift, Duelers, roof rack, acouple lights ~You will always be my little boy~ Hobbes (11/28/05) Future mods- more lift, tire gate, sliders, better lights, engine upgrades.

01-11-2006, 08:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
TxDox21 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aggieland, TX Posts: 152	No I just ran outside a minute ago and took a pic, but I will take some tomorrow when it is sunny. __________________ 2002 4Runner 2WD Current Mods: Hella FF75 Driving Lights, Manik Nerf Bars, K&N Filter Charger, Aiwa Head Unit, Infinity Components and speakers, Infinity Basslink, MagLite Mod, Wagner TruView Headlamps, Firestone Destination A/T Tires Future Mods: 4WD coils(Need to be installed), Seat Covers and Fog Lights

01-11-2006, 11:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
grimpy Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 659	Looks great! How small are they? I just picked up some KC Hilites that I am trying to decide where to mount... It won't fit behind my grill for sure though... __________________ 2007 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 TRD Sport 6speed Pro Comp 6" - Bilstein 5100 front 18x9 Moto Metal 951B - 325/60/18 NTG Pro Comp Skid - Lund Grill Cover 17x10 Weld EVO Velociti 6 *soon

01-12-2006, 05:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
4RunnerFever Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 883	Looks real nice. A daytime picture would be great. __________________ 2004 Tacoma Double Cab, TRD Off-Road, PIAA fogs, ARE Shell, Yakima, etc. 4RunnerFever _______ GBNF: 1998-3rd Gen-4Runner, SR5, 4WD, TRD Supercharger, TRD Cat-Back, 3-inch Revtek Suspension Lift, 285/75-16 Revos, 4Crawler Offroad 1" body lift, Sonoran Trac Bar, Hayden Cooler, Hood Scoop, 'Outback' Mod, Optima 34R, Amsoil, Yakima, PIAA, etc. Sold to Mastacox.

01-12-2006, 07:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
99_Runner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 1,115	We need daylight pics. Looks real good though. __________________ Drew 99 4Runner SR5, auto, 3.4 V6, factory rear locker, 265/75 Yokohama Geolander AT+II Stock for now, but hopefully not for long.

01-11-2006, 08:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
garrett1478 Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 0	pretty cool. that puts out more light than i would expect from behind the grill. i'd also like to see a pic during the day

01-12-2006, 06:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
dirtypuke Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: defiance, ohio Posts: 52	yeah that does look cool, do you have a pic of these in daylight? i just bought some hella 4000s i hope they will fit on my factory brush guard.

01-12-2006, 02:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
TxDox21 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aggieland, TX Posts: 152	Daytime Pics Here they are in the Daytime: __________________ 2002 4Runner 2WD Current Mods: Hella FF75 Driving Lights, Manik Nerf Bars, K&N Filter Charger, Aiwa Head Unit, Infinity Components and speakers, Infinity Basslink, MagLite Mod, Wagner TruView Headlamps, Firestone Destination A/T Tires Future Mods: 4WD coils(Need to be installed), Seat Covers and Fog Lights Last edited by TxDox21; 01-12-2006 at 02:16 PM.

01-13-2006, 06:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
dirtypuke Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: defiance, ohio Posts: 52	ah very stealth, nice. the wire nuts kind of scare me though. i would invest in some solder and some heat shrink tubing.

01-13-2006, 07:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
TxDox21 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aggieland, TX Posts: 152	One of my friends has wire nuts on his and they seem to work fine, but I was skeptical too. Where do I find that tubing? __________________ 2002 4Runner 2WD Current Mods: Hella FF75 Driving Lights, Manik Nerf Bars, K&N Filter Charger, Aiwa Head Unit, Infinity Components and speakers, Infinity Basslink, MagLite Mod, Wagner TruView Headlamps, Firestone Destination A/T Tires Future Mods: 4WD coils(Need to be installed), Seat Covers and Fog Lights

01-13-2006, 08:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
dirtypuke Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: defiance, ohio Posts: 52	go to napa

01-13-2006, 08:54 AM	#13 (permalink)
99_Runner Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 1,115	Very nice. Do you have any pics of the mounting brackets and where you mounted them to? __________________ Drew 99 4Runner SR5, auto, 3.4 V6, factory rear locker, 265/75 Yokohama Geolander AT+II Stock for now, but hopefully not for long.

01-15-2006, 11:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
jackson Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boulder County, CO Posts: 18	The Hellas look great. Couple of questions since I'm thinking that driving lights might solve my headlight problem...: - why did you choose the FF50s over the FF75s? - how much is the improvement in the lighted area of the road? actually, that's what I'd really like to see: before/after pics of the road! thanks jackson __________________ 96 4Runner 2.7L 4WD, K&N FIPK, Flowmaster

01-15-2006, 11:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,092	tx, good stealth look, but your bouncing is caused by your mount location. it appears you mounted your lights on the grill plastic itself. you need something more stable if you want to stop that bouncing, but i am not sure if there is such a place behind the grill. personally, i would fab a mount and bolt it to something rigid. also like others have said, solder your connections. here is my writeup on soldering http://www.4runners.org/articles/solder101 soldering stuff, heat shrink tubing, etc, go to any radio schmuck bob Last edited by Bob_98SR5; 01-15-2006 at 11:42 AM.

01-16-2006, 08:32 AM	#17 (permalink)
TxDox21 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aggieland, TX Posts: 152	Jackson, I chose the FF50s mainly because of their shape. I was not sure how the light output would be from behind the grille so I figured that they may end up in front of the grille. I photoshopped the lights on the bumper and decided I liked the way the 50s loked better. I am happy with the way the lights light up the road. I need to adjust the lights to make the beam a little higher and they would be perfect. I suggest looking on ebay when you do buy your lights. I got mine for $35. Bob, I did mount them on the plastic. It is weird though because only one lights bounces just a hair. I probably end up making a bracket to mount the to something back there. I dont know if you are familiar with these, but I used "Corrosive Proof" wire screws. They have a sealant inside of them that you push the wires into. Let me know if you have had any experience with these. -Matt __________________ 2002 4Runner 2WD Current Mods: Hella FF75 Driving Lights, Manik Nerf Bars, K&N Filter Charger, Aiwa Head Unit, Infinity Components and speakers, Infinity Basslink, MagLite Mod, Wagner TruView Headlamps, Firestone Destination A/T Tires Future Mods: 4WD coils(Need to be installed), Seat Covers and Fog Lights

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01-16-2006, 09:35 AM	#18 (permalink)
tc Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 8,372	Wire nuts (weather tight or not) are not intended for automotive applications - eventually they will vibrate and come unscrewed. T-taps, crimp connectors, or solder are your only real options (I would go with solder). __________________ Check out www.coTTORA.org to hook up with great Toyota 'wheelin' folks! Current - 93 4Runner: 3VZ 33"x10.50" no lift ARB F/R 96 Impala SS: My own personal cop car Previous - 89 2WD Pickup 22R, Fabtech "Ivan Dan" lift, 31x10.50, IASCA World Finals 4th Place Stop with the mods and get on the trail! Pix at www.4wheelingoh.shutterfly.com/action

01-16-2006, 09:51 AM	#19 (permalink)
SLC97SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 392	I've got 4 hella 500's on my bumper and I'm thinking of putting them elsewhere. Nice looking TX. While your at NAPA pick up 8 or so feet of split wire loom, it'll look super clean and your wires wont chafe on anything.

01-16-2006, 10:18 AM	#20 (permalink)
TxDox21 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Aggieland, TX Posts: 152	I had to do aquick job while at home because I dont all the tools I needed while at school. I will get the tubing and plan to solder them soon. I mainly just wanted to mount them and make sure they worked. __________________ 2002 4Runner 2WD Current Mods: Hella FF75 Driving Lights, Manik Nerf Bars, K&N Filter Charger, Aiwa Head Unit, Infinity Components and speakers, Infinity Basslink, MagLite Mod, Wagner TruView Headlamps, Firestone Destination A/T Tires Future Mods: 4WD coils(Need to be installed), Seat Covers and Fog Lights