Light bar inside behind windshield

[87carl]

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.

Had a chain break and shatter my windshield couple weeks ago and haven't replaced it yet. I will leave mirror bracket in place for now and when I replace the windshield I will have him glue it on a inch lower

 

[Rocket Man]

Had a chain break and shatter my windshield couple weeks ago and haven't replaced it yet. I will leave mirror bracket in place for now and when I replace the windshield I will have him glue it on a inch lower

Perfect timing for an accident I guess if there’s a good side to it you found it!

 

[87carl]

Brackets started both look like this other one is just opposite. Still gotta weld bend on light bar end then grind drill and paint. Will get better pics when they are done. Got distracted with other things so didn't have alot of time for this yet.

 

[87carl]

 

[bill1013]

Make sure the light bar is flush against the windsheild, with a soft cushion so it doesn't rub. Otherwise when you turn it on it will reflect back into the truck and you will probably be blinded by the intense light. I say this out of experience. The closer the light is to the windsheild the less the reflection or kick back from the lightbar. It's hard to drive or navigate when your..."Blinded by the light! Wrapped up like a deuce..." Manfred Mann "Blinded by the Light" reference. Pretty sad, eh? Have a greta weekend! Aloha!!

 

[87carl]

Make sure the light bar is flush against the windsheild, with a soft cushion so it doesn't rub. Otherwise when you turn it on it will reflect back into the truck and you will probably be blinded by the intense light. I say this out of experience. The closer the light is to the windsheild the less the reflection or kick back from the lightbar. It's hard to drive or navigate when your..."Blinded by the light! Wrapped up like a deuce..." Manfred Mann "Blinded by the Light" reference. Pretty sad, eh? Have a greta weekend! Aloha!!

After I make the brackets I am making a shroud out of 18 gauge that will go around the sides and bottom of the light bar. I will put a seal like a car trunk seals along the front of the shroud where it meets windshield and I got half inch foam tape to go around light bar to seal any gaps between light bar and roof or light bar and shroud. So there should be very little light coming inside

 

[bill1013]

BTW, if your light generates a lot of heat you may want to adjust the distance from the windsheild. Most light bars are made to be installed outside the vehicle, so heat isn't a concern. The light bars I've seen are really bright LEDs which don't heat up as much, so just beware. And that's experience talking. You don't want to warp the dashboard or scorch the headliner. As Homer says, "DUH!!" Aloha!

 

[87carl]

BTW, if your light generates a lot of heat you may want to adjust the distance from the windsheild. Most light bars are made to be installed outside the vehicle, so heat isn't a concern. The light bars I've seen are really bright LEDs which don't heat up as much, so just beware. And that's experience talking. You don't want to warp the dashboard or scorch the headliner. As Homer says, "DUH!!" Aloha!

Idk how much heat this specific light bar will give off but most don't get to hot. I will keep an eye on it see what it does

 

[87carl]

Got busy putting reverse lights in burban rear bumper and cargo light on the dodges rack. Only thing I did to this project is got brackets bent little better so they fit right and drilled the holes for the visor screws and wire. Trimmed edge of visor mounts to clear brackets and did a test fit I gotta move the screw holes for the bar down about .25 inch and back about .375 so it will be able to be adjusted more. Hopefully tomorrow I can focus on it and finish the mounts then I can make the shroud and wire it. It felt very solid so I'm happy with how it's turning out so far. It's tipped down right now which is why I gotta move screw holes so it can get adjusted up.

 

[87carl]

 

[exp500]

I hope you aren't in snow country! I even hated the Clearance Lights on the one tons roof for glare!

 

[87carl]

I hope you aren't in snow country! I even hated the Clearance Lights on the one tons roof for glare!

We'll see how bad that is next winter lol

 

[87carl]

Didn't get to work on it yesterday today I scrapped the first brackets I made and made a new set that are a little simpler and fit alot better I also moved it back and down little more. I like how it's sitting now but moving it back causes couple issues first now longer can just lower the mirror and second there's more gap between it and headliner so gotta cover that somehow. The mirror I have a simple solution for. I will make a piece of 8th inch plate that will attach to roof structure behind map light and switch panel, with a couple self tappers and come out between headliner and windshield and go down and behind the light bar and will connect to the shroud to support the middle of it. Then reangle mirrors post upward and attach it to that center brace. The mirror will be about same height as stock but About 3 inches back closer toward seats should be alright like that. started making template for shroud but didn't get far with it yet. This is taking forever to get done but I only get a little time to work on it and I want it to look good so going slow. Gonna focus on finishing mirror bracket first then finish the shroud.

 

[bill1013]

Didn't get to work on it yesterday today I scrapped the first brackets I made and made a new set that are a little simpler and fit alot better I also moved it back and down little more. I like how it's sitting now but moving it back causes couple issues first now longer can just lower the mirror and second there's more gap between it and headliner so gotta cover that somehow. The mirror I have a simple solution for. I will make a piece of 8th inch plate that will attach to roof structure behind map light and switch panel, with a couple self tappers and come out between headliner and windshield and go down and behind the light bar and will connect to the shroud to support the middle of it. Then reangle mirrors post upward and attach it to that center brace. The mirror will be about same height as stock but About 3 inches back closer toward seats should be alright like that. started making template for shroud but didn't get far with it yet. This is taking forever to get done but I only get a little time to work on it and I want it to look good so going slow. Gonna focus on finishing mirror bracket first then finish the shroud.
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BTW, what are vehicle Safety Inspection Standards in your State? It might not pass due to "Obstructed View" as the lights hang down pretty low into the windsheilds line of sight. You may want to redesign those clips to be easily detachable so if you need to take it off for let's say a Safety Inspection you can just pop it off before the event and then pop it back on after. I bring this up because Hawaii has strict "Reconstruction" standards when it comes to vehicles. Car or truck tires must be within the body of the vehicle, but fender flares remedied that situation. All sorts of crazy shit. You also have to get a special appointment at the only spot that does it and it's a pain in the ass to get to. Just thinking ahead so you don't get ham stringed by the MAN! Aloha!

 

[87carl]

BTW, what are vehicle Safety Inspection Standards in your State? It might not pass due to "Obstructed View" as the lights hang down pretty low into the windsheilds line of sight. You may want to redesign those clips to be easily detachable so if you need to take it off for let's say a Safety Inspection you can just pop it off before the event and then pop it back on after. I bring this up because Hawaii has strict "Reconstruction" standards when it comes to vehicles. Car or truck tires must be within the body of the vehicle, but fender flares remedied that situation. All sorts of crazy shit. You also have to get a special appointment at the only spot that does it and it's a pain in the ass to get to. Just thinking ahead so you don't get ham stringed by the MAN! Aloha!

Western New York is normally pretty relaxed when it comes to enforcing vehicle laws. The visors hang lower than the light bar when they are down so I doubt an inspection would be an issue. Worse case might run into a ***** cop who is bored or having a bad day and he will give a "fix it" ticket and I just gotta pull it down for a day have a shop or cop sign the ticket and I can mail it to whatever court and it goes away. Then I can put light back up. I think there's a law saying something about top 6 inches of the windshield for tint or decals Idk if this falls under that same law or not. If I lived in a city or somewhere stricter I would be concerned but round here it should be ok

 

[Sparksalot]

Didn't get to work on it yesterday today I scrapped the first brackets I made and made a new set that are a little simpler and fit alot better I also moved it back and down little more. I like how it's sitting now but moving it back causes couple issues first now longer can just lower the mirror and second there's more gap between it and headliner so gotta cover that somehow. The mirror I have a simple solution for. I will make a piece of 8th inch plate that will attach to roof structure behind map light and switch panel, with a couple self tappers and come out between headliner and windshield and go down and behind the light bar and will connect to the shroud to support the middle of it. Then reangle mirrors post upward and attach it to that center brace. The mirror will be about same height as stock but About 3 inches back closer toward seats should be alright like that. started making template for shroud but didn't get far with it yet. This is taking forever to get done but I only get a little time to work on it and I want it to look good so going slow. Gonna focus on finishing mirror bracket first then finish the shroud.
View attachment 274813 View attachment 274814 View attachment 274815

What is the silver plate in the first pic? I’m guessing part of the console mount?

both of mine had this bracket in place. I learned later that DPS put the light controller up there.

 

[87carl]

At my dads house couple of minutes ago i decided to test the light bar and hooked jumper to the battery and touched them to the lights wires. Glare wasn't bad. Even on the side that does not have a shroud template. Shines above the hood and i can see insanely far forward and to the sides. My wife joked to shut it off before I blind dad and my kids in the house. She wasn't wrong when I got inside they asked what the light was. Dads exact words were "that's f***ing ridiculous every window in the house was glowing"

 

[87carl]

What is the silver plate in the first pic? I’m guessing part of the console mount?

both of mine had this bracket in place. I learned later that DPS put the light controller up there.

View attachment 274819

Maybe yours is different from the police package? I think the screws went through it I will check tomorrow

 

[87carl]

Made center bracket for mirror and finished the shroud template. Stopped to get kid from school and get grain. I will cut that out bend and paint it when I get back. this will be done tonight I got to take the burb for an alignment tomorrow morning and I don't want it going with interior pieces missing and wires dangling so I gotta finish.

 

[87carl]

While waiting for paint to dry stopped to go get stuff to make dinner. Got pretty much everything done to where I can assemble it when we get back. Ran the wires through firewall and up the a pillar. I used fuel line to cushion back edge of the shroud and got the seal on the shrouds front edge and foam tape on the bottom of the light bar. I will foam tape the top of the light bar when I make pieces to cover the gap between it and the windshield. I painted on the seal so it don't stick out so much I put a couple of layers of paint before putting on the seal