Colorado Av Club Forums: LED Mod

Message

   Okay, so patience is not my own personal virtue waiting for a place to post, so I'll just throw this easy mod tip in here. 
Sail panel LED's are an easy, inexpensive mod that will really make your truck stand out to other AV owners and dress up the back of your rig nicely.
All of the neccessary parts can be purchased at Radio Shack for right around $25.00 and installed in about 2 hours.
All you need are eight 5mm, red LED's, Two fifty foot spools of 22mm wire(one red and one black), a pack of splice connectors, and your good to go.
Start with removing the plastic "scotch lock" screws for the sail panels and open the panels about two inches to give you access to run the wiring, install the LED's in the factory "scotch locks" ( the 5mm's fit right in them), Wire all of the positive and negetive leads in sequence starting at the parking lamp leads in the tail lights.
All of the wiring runs under the saddelbag cladding so the install comes out clean with nothing exposed.
Reinserting the "scotchlocks" requires some patience and a little finaggling to get them seated flush but once they are in there they will hold the cladding as the original screws did and maintenence is zero from my experience.
Mine have been on for about a year and I have yet to have one burn out or have any trouble at all.
The daytime visibility is about zero, but at night they stand out clear and add an extra touch that isn't overwhelming to the point of being tacky or obnoxious.
Good luck and happy modding! 

Edited by justjr - 28 Feb 2007 at 1:51pm

Author	Message
justjr Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 408	Topic: LED Mod Posted: 28 Feb 2007 at 7:54am
	Okay, so patience is not my own personal virtue waiting for a place to post, so I'll just throw this easy mod tip in here. Sail panel LED's are an easy, inexpensive mod that will really make your truck stand out to other AV owners and dress up the back of your rig nicely. All of the neccessary parts can be purchased at Radio Shack for right around $25.00 and installed in about 2 hours. All you need are eight 5mm, red LED's, Two fifty foot spools of 22mm wire(one red and one black), a pack of splice connectors, and your good to go. Start with removing the plastic "scotch lock" screws for the sail panels and open the panels about two inches to give you access to run the wiring, install the LED's in the factory "scotch locks" ( the 5mm's fit right in them), Wire all of the positive and negetive leads in sequence starting at the parking lamp leads in the tail lights. All of the wiring runs under the saddelbag cladding so the install comes out clean with nothing exposed. Reinserting the "scotchlocks" requires some patience and a little finaggling to get them seated flush but once they are in there they will hold the cladding as the original screws did and maintenence is zero from my experience. Mine have been on for about a year and I have yet to have one burn out or have any trouble at all. The daytime visibility is about zero, but at night they stand out clear and add an extra touch that isn't overwhelming to the point of being tacky or obnoxious. Good luck and happy modding! Edited by justjr - 28 Feb 2007 at 1:51pm
	Just Drive Man!!!

	IP Logged

justjr Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 408	Posted: 02 Mar 2007 at 12:25pm
	Lets see if I can get a photo of this in here.............. Nice! It's only a thumbnail sized photo, but I finally got it to cooperate!
	Just Drive Man!!!
	IP Logged

avalanchuck Admin Group Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 491	Posted: 02 Mar 2007 at 3:07pm
	Just thought this should go under our NEW Modifications forum.
	2003 Light Pewter Metallic Z71 WBH
	IP Logged

avalanchuck Admin Group Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 491	Posted: 02 Mar 2007 at 4:02pm
	So these are the items necessary? 5mm Red Wide-Angle LED 75-Ft. UL-Recognized Hookup Wire (22AWG) Wire Tap-In Squeeze Connectors (10-Pack) I may need to add some supplies to my growing list of mods to do! Oh and get off my butt and do them!
	2003 Light Pewter Metallic Z71 WBH
	IP Logged

justjr Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 408	Posted: 02 Mar 2007 at 5:54pm
	I used the factory scotch locks but two of them have now popped back out so I am going to go and get the Radio Shack scotch locks for the LED's specifically. But, yes, other than that, your list is accurate. This is a mod that only takes about 2 hours, max, so it's good if your feeling a little lazy or are just pressed for time. Even with going to get the aftermarket scotch locks, I'm still going to be under $25. Oh! And we didn't have this thread yet when I posted this so I just put it where I could. Edited by justjr - 02 Mar 2007 at 5:55pm
	Just Drive Man!!!
	IP Logged

beercrazy Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Posted: 24 May 2007 at 1:28am
	I can see myself doing this mod, its just too cool.......
	Whats you AVitude telling you????
	IP Logged

beercrazy Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Posted: 27 May 2007 at 12:24am
	well I made the jump and did this update mod and am really pleased with the results, turned out great. Howeveras a note of correction I need to advise anyone who does this mod from here on that the link that chuck has for the 5mm LEDs is correct the part number that Radio Shack has on their page for that part is wrong, its a Radio Shack missprint, th correct part number of the LEDs is 276-270 as opposed to the 276-309 that is listed. Other than that I followed the instructions on this thread and all went well. Difficulty level from a scale of 1-10 was about 6. Thanks again for the neat tip.
	Whats you AVitude telling you????
	IP Logged

justjr Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 408	Posted: 27 May 2007 at 6:12am
	Okay, I'll get 'em this time!
	Just Drive Man!!!
	IP Logged

beercrazy Senior Member Joined: 19 May 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 195	Posted: 27 May 2007 at 12:55pm
	ok how do you post pics in here..Im lost!!
	Whats you AVitude telling you????
	IP Logged

justjr Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 408	Posted: 27 May 2007 at 9:22pm
	The icon at the top of the entry box with the little tree things in it is for attachments. I have had trouble resizing stuff so I have either used my pics as JPEG's or just linked them to the other site that I am a member of as that one has a lager photo size limit. Photobucket is also an option if all else fails. Edited by justjr - 27 May 2007 at 9:23pm
	Just Drive Man!!!
	IP Logged

Exterior Modifications
Colorado Av Club Forums : Modifications : Exterior Modifications

Topic: LED Mod
	Page of 2 Next >>