Light bar inside behind windshield

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
Idk if this is right section to post this but is in the burbs interior. Has anyone seen it done on a nnbs truck burb or hoe? There's a youtube video of a newer chevy truck done that way and there's kits for jeeps to do it. I like the idea of it being inside because can't be stolen as easily,no wind whistling and most importantly no holes in my roof. I just ordered a 50 inch curved light bar and some seals and will grab some 16 gauge sheet metal in a few days next time I go by the local metal supply shop. My plan is to use some 1/8 inch plate I got leftover and make two mounting brackets that connect to my roof where visors attach between visors and headliner. the ends of the light bar will screw to those brackets as high and tight to roof and close to windshield as I can get it. Then I will screw or probably weld a shroud made from 16 gauge sheet metal that covers the sides and bottom of light bar up to the windshield. I will go around the light bar between it and the mounting shroud with half inch thick foam tape to prevent light from leaking around it into the cab. And I will use rubber weather stripping along the front of the shroud to cushion if it ever hits windshield and prevent any glare from leaking out. Inside of the shroud between light bar and windshield will get chrome paint rest will get black hammer paint
 
Last edited:

Joseph Garcia

Elite Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
10,284
Reaction score
14,891
It seems like an awful lot of work to install and shield away inside light reflection. Some folks here have installed light bars behind their front grill.

What is your intended purpose of this light bar?
 

Tonyv__

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2018
Posts
4,487
Reaction score
10,450
Location
Bucks county PA
Idk if this is right section to post this but is in the burbs interior. Has anyone seen it done on a nnbs truck burb or hoe? There's a youtube video of a newer chevy truck done that way and there's kits for jeeps to do it. I like the idea of it being inside because can't be stolen as easily,no wind whistling and most importantly no holes in my roof. I just ordered a 50 inch curved light bar and some seals and will grab some 16 gauge sheet metal in a few days next time I go by the local metal supply shop. My plan is to use some 1/8 inch plate I got leftover and make two mounting brackets that connect to my roof where visors attach between visors and headliner. the ends of the light bar will screw to those brackets as high and tight to roof and close to windshield as I can get it. Then I will screw or probably weld a shroud made from 16 gauge sheet metal that covers the sides and bottom of light bar up to the windshield. I will go around the light bar between it and the mounting shroud with half inch thick foam tape to prevent light from leaking around it into the cab. And I will use rubber weather stripping along the front of the shroud to cushion if it ever hits windshield and prevent any glare from leaking out. Inside of the shroud between light bar and windshield will get chrome paint rest will get black hammer paint
Honestly sounds like you have it under control..
 
OP
OP
87carl

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
Trail lightning mostly. And I figured a seal similar to car trunk seals would work against the glass and foam tape on the back should seal off glare decently enough hopefully. And yea a little bit of work but it's a pretty basic fab project hard part will be scribing and matching curve of the windshield.
I seen the ones behind the grill and thought about doing that. I think biggest reason I decided on this instead is I want something different and I like having light mounted higher up
 

Rocket Man

Mark
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Posts
26,678
Reaction score
52,943
Location
Oregon
Interesting idea, it’s not for me but I’m following your project. Do it! I did install a curved 50” in the lower slot of a NNBS HD front bumper when I removed the lower plastic portion of the bumper and it fit the curve of the bumper almost perfect. I made brackets to mount it out of 3/16” steel so it was solid. I ended up removing the entire bumper and doing something different though, I decided I didn't like it plus it was worthless for light output.

IMG_8725.JPG IMG_8709.JPG
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
87carl

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
The bar in the hd bumper looks good I've seen those if I ever swap an hd front clip on I would do that but not with it on the ground. And was planning on doing windshield by using a transfer scribe and do the cardboard template in 3 or 4 sections that will get taped together before being transferred to metal that's easiest way I know of doing that. The light bar and seals should be delivered by Thursday. Depending what suspension parts arive to keep me busy by then I should be able to work on this next weekend
 
Last edited:

Sparksalot

Elite Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Posts
6,775
Reaction score
20,587
Location
Bastrop County, Texas
Interesting idea, it’s not for me but I’m following your project. Do it! I did install a curved 50” in the lower slot of a NNBS HD front bumper when I removed the lower plastic portion of the bumper and it fit the curve of the bumper almost perfect. I made brackets to mount it out of 3/16” steel so it was solid. I ended up removing the entire bumper and doing something different though, I decided I didn't like it plus it was worthless for light output.

View attachment 273820 View attachment 273821
I bet the ants hated you though.
 

Sparksalot

Elite Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Posts
6,775
Reaction score
20,587
Location
Bastrop County, Texas
You might be surprised how little flashback you get. I have strobes inside the glass front and rear. The output is likely lower than yours, but with zero sheilding I still don’t have a lot coming back.


8B0C4DC2-6FCC-434A-A552-C67D91974B43.jpeg B1833E07-6EF4-4AA1-B54D-44A03C05A410.jpeg
 
Joined
Apr 11, 2018
Posts
7,124
Reaction score
14,375
Location
St. Louis
Are those green (looks green, but colors in pics can be deceiving), and what are they for?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
OP
OP
87carl

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
You might be surprised how little flashback you get. I have strobes inside the glass front and rear. The output is likely lower than yours, but with zero sheilding I still don’t have a lot coming back.

I was thinking about the police lights when I was planning how to do mine. Alot of time they hang off the visor mounts that's where I got that idea and normally they don't shield them much. I don't think glare will be to bad from what pictures I have found of people who mounted the light inside most barely shield if at all. What are green lights for?
 

Sparksalot

Elite Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Posts
6,775
Reaction score
20,587
Location
Bastrop County, Texas
Are those green (looks green, but colors in pics can be deceiving), and what are they for?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Yes green. At the time I was trying see if anyone would buy into the UFO thing. I had a Project Bluebook reference plus an ET inside.

now I just tell folks it’s fir when I need to get to a campsite fast. ET is still hanging out. plus the overall demeanor just encourages folks to move aside.

1AF6952B-8B9A-467E-8AF4-50D897873D5E.jpeg B0BD1EDB-FC6E-4C43-9203-AB09ED3628AF.jpeg
 

Rocket Man

Mark
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Posts
26,678
Reaction score
52,943
Location
Oregon
Yes green. At the time I was trying see if anyone would buy into the UFO thing. I had a Project Bluebook reference plus an ET inside.

now I just tell folks it’s fir when I need to get to a campsite fast. ET is still hanging out. plus the overall demeanor just encourages folks to move aside.

View attachment 273833 View attachment 273834
You turn them on while you’re driving?
 

Sparksalot

Elite Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2020
Posts
6,775
Reaction score
20,587
Location
Bastrop County, Texas
You turn them on while you’re driving?
That's a big negatory. Only offroad or off the ROW. Except the one time a friend rolled his Yukon XL 3X on a blind curve. I went uphill a few hundred yards and parked with them on to warn others. A game warden, deputy sheriff, and state trooper all saw what I was doing and didn't say a thing.

 
OP
OP
87carl

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
Just picked up a piece of 18 gauge sheet metal 65x12. And some paint. tracking info says light bar will be here tomorrow. Kinda excited to get parts I like fabrication
 
OP
OP
87carl

87carl

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Posts
328
Reaction score
169
I have started didn't get far before got called to go get other truck from shop where it was getting alignment and inspection. Got template figured out for the mounting brackets. will cut and bend them when I get back. I don't have torches so I will kerf the bend lines so I can get tight bends then weld along them after bending. When I get them good I will start to work on the shroud ignore the spot where the marker decided to bleed extra paint lol one down side to this plan is I will have to lower rear view mirror almost a inch not a huge issue and could be avoided with a smaller light bar. i got a huge 4 row light bar
IMG_20210326_094812503.jpg
IMG_20210326_135601160.jpg
 
Last edited:

Rocket Man

Mark
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Posts
26,678
Reaction score
52,943
Location
Oregon
I have started didn't get far before got called to go get other truck from shop where it was getting alignment and inspection. Got template figured out for the mounting brackets. will cut and bend them when I get back. I don't have torches so I will kerf the bend lines so I can get tight bends then weld along them after bending. When I get them good I will start to work on the shroud ignore the spot where the marker decided to bleed extra paint lol one down side to this plan is I will have to lower rear view mirror almost a inch not a huge issue and could be avoided with a smaller light bar. i got a huge 4 row light bar
View attachment 274407 View attachment 274408
How are you going to get that mirror bracket off the glass without breaking it? I used to do auto glass and we used alcohol, lit on fire. But that was with the windshield laid flat on a bench so you could put a big pool of it on there and add more if needed. It takes a lot of heat.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
137,703
Posts
1,990,030
Members
102,698
Latest member
JamesinAbilene
Back
Top