Looking for input on foglight/drl locations

[great white]

OK, I usually make up my own mind and don't do this often but here goes.....

I'm having trouble deciding where to mount square lights.

I picked up a set of 3x5 KC LX2 fog lights online a few minutes ago. I considered round lights,m but they just don't seem to go well enough with the GMC front end. Shame really, I already had a set of round 4" fog light sin the garage. Oh well.........it's only money and you can't take it with you......

I took Davids picture of his 88 (uses same lights) and scaled it to the same size as my picture (the size of the actual trucks in the pictures). I then copied over the fog lights so the size is correct for the KC LX2 lights.

Here's the things I have to consider:

It has to look good (duh) and it has to be practical when I remove the air dam for winter snow plowing.

"Quick and dirty" photoshop pics-

Lights in bumper and light in air dam:

The cooling hole on the drivers side is really there in metal, the passenger side is photoshoped the proper size for purposes of this comparison. Basically, so it won't throw off the visuals. It's a project in progress.

I like the lights in the dam look good, but I like the protection and no fuss installation in the bumper (well, I like a little bit of customizing also).

Remember: these also are going to serve as my daytime driving lights since my low beams are now Acura TSX HID projectors, so removing the fog/DRL lights is not an option as teh air dam goes on and off.

The bumper is going out for re-chroming once I'm done anyways, so no worries about fabricating/welding the bumper. Cutting and welding in a proper opening is not a problem either.

The lights in the air dam make the front of the truck looks taller and the bumper lights make the truck look wider. At least, that's how is seems to me.

Personal opinion is a weird thing.

I just can't firmly decide either way.




So, that brings me right back to where the thread started; Opinions and points for me to consider either way?

 

[saratoga]

Why not on a pushbar?

 

[great white]

It's an option, but not one I want to go with.

Thanks anyways.

 

[saratoga]

No sweat, I've always liked the way GMT-400's looked with a pushbar and a set of lights. :thumbsup:
It beats the way they put the fogs in the valence on new trucks now IMO.

 

[DieselCash]

Get a ranch hand full replacement bumper.

 

[great white]

Get a ranch hand full replacement bumper.

While I do like some aftermarket bumpers that's not in the cards ($$$$$).

I don't like the ranchhand ones for the gmt400 trucks either...


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[Mad Maxx]

If they are going to be Used as Fog Lights and you want them to be Functional, the Lower Valance is the Correct Spot for them.

 

[Big T]

Details on how you did the Acura TSX HIDs please. Close up pics too. How do you like them?

 

[great white]

Double post

 

[great white]

Oh, that's a simple question with a complex answer.

I installed tsx projectors in aftermarket housings with a lot of plastic shaving, jb welding and metal working...

They work ok right now, better than the stockers. The cutoff and alignment is a bit "off" as I'm still refining the whole package. I've got a couple reflections that I'm still working out also. Basically, I have a couple dimmer "spots of light" above the cutoff that's a reflection off something. It's sure as heck not the Acura projectors!

Same thing it always is with something custom; takes a while to dial it in....


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[saratoga]

This would look good without the goofy brush guard.

 

[Pepperidge]

This would look good without the goofy brush guard.

That is fine...even with the brush guard...

they can custom build em' ...that would mean you could have them add nostrils ...

I'm just not digging the elongated nostrils on the stock bumpero sorry)...I keep thinking I've seen something similar except with billet grill inserts...

 

[great white]

That is fine...even with the brush guard...

they can custom build em' ...that would mean you could have them add nostrils ...

I'm just not digging the elongated nostrils on the stock bumpero sorry)...I keep thinking I've seen something similar except with billet grill inserts...

That's cool, you don't have to.

I'm not a fan of that big bumper.

I like the way my modified stocker is coming along.




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[ak diesel driver]

That is fine...even with the brush guard...

they can custom build em' ...that would mean you could have them add nostrils ...

I'm just not digging the elongated nostrils on the stock bumpero sorry)...I keep thinking I've seen something similar except with billet grill inserts...

look at LMCs bumpers

 

[Pepperidge]

look at LMCs bumpers

yep...the ones on the right are the offenders

 

[ak diesel driver]

I've toyed with the idea of using the center section as a place for an intercooler

 

[saratoga]

I like the three on the lower right. The holes in the OEM diesel bumpers always looked like an afterthought to me.

 

[handcannon]

Looking at this picture I keep thinking that those lights you photoshopped in are not aligned with the original nostril holes. I haven't looked at my pickup, but is there enough room between the bumper and the ends of the frame to put them immediately outside the rubber nerf bars. They would need to be on the exact same horizontal plane as the nostril holes. This would also require that the rubber bump strips be shortened.

The photoshopped light positions are not symmetrical with the existing configuration of the bumper. This is just my opinion and the cabinetmaker in me coming out. I like to see mirror images and uniformity, left and right, and have found that most people will also gravitate to that same thing.

Don

 

[great white]

Looking at this picture I keep thinking that those lights you photoshopped in are not aligned with the original nostril holes. I haven't looked at my pickup, but is there enough room between the bumper and the ends of the frame to put them immediately outside the rubber nerf bars. They would need to be on the exact same horizontal plane as the nostril holes. This would also require that the rubber bump strips be shortened.

The photoshopped light positions are not symmetrical with the existing configuration of the bumper. This is just my opinion and the cabinetmaker in me coming out. I like to see mirror images and uniformity, left and right, and have found that most people will also gravitate to that same thing.

Don

I did mention it was a quick and dirty photoshop pic.

The lights would not be level with the cooling holes, they are mounted lower in the bumper. This was the intent.

They are also further out towards the ends, which puts them in line with where the factory location in the air dam would be.

I do not intend to mount them closer to the middle or higher in the bumper itself.

That won't look right, not everything is about symmetry.

However, the symmetry is there left to right. You're talking about planes. I don't think that's a good looking (or functioning) orientation in this application.

But I'll see about doing a quick 'chop for confirmation.

 

[great white]

Here's some 'chops:

Don't like that at all

Nope, don't like that either

Getting closer, but that's one heck of a lot of welding and I don't like it "inline" with the holes.

Asymmetrical to the holes but looks much better. Still one hell of a lot of welding and smoothing....