idratherbe
Skid Plates
- Location
- North Shore, MA
This is a step by step of how I installed a set of PIAA 1500 backup lights. This can be used as a guide for other types of lights as well.
The hardware
4 x 4" 1/4-20 carriage bolts (length could vary depending on your bracket)
16 x 1/4" washers
12 x 1/4" nuts
2 2" x 6" mending plates
(I got extra)
Line up the adjusting holes on the light bracket with the center of mending plate, mark holes
mark center of those lines, that way you have more adjustably when it comes time for mounting
Drill 1/4" holes, Insert bolts through plate, two washers and a nut go next, tighten. Thread the adjuster nut onto each bolt and your bracket should look like this. Now go hit it with some paint so it doesn't rust while you do next steps. (its too cold for me to paint or I would have done this)
Now make some templates for your lights out of cardboard or something stiff. I took the lens off and traced around the plastic housing.
This picture is just to show what it looks like behind the cover. You'll see there really isn't much room to go any lower then I did and still use this bracket.
Find a location good for your application and tape up the area. Now tape on your templates, measure, adjust, measure, adjust, measure, measure, measure and measure again.
Once you're sure of the spot, mark it out.
measure some more, eyeball it, step back. Once your happy remove the cover. I drilled out the corners to make it easier to Dremel.
Now cut it out. I used a Dremel with a plastic blade and it went easy. TAKE YOUR TIME!!!! Wear glasses and something over your mouth and nose. The bits of plastic go everywhere and you'll find it distracting when your getting hit in the face. I made my cuts tested fit, cut some more, tested, cut. I wanted a tight fit and once you take it away you cant put it back
Now assemble your light onto your bracket
Put whole assembly into bumper and put it back on the truck
Now from under the truck adjust the bracket so most of it is on the metal, check clearances of bolts
Mark the location with a sharpie and remove bumper again. I just had to cut the corner off of the bracket. once your happy with the spot secure just the bracket with either screws or 3m trim tape or both.
I wanted to dress up the holes a little so i used this door trim stuff. Use a heat gun or hair dyer to soften it and make it ply-able. It also has a glue in it the works nicely once warm
Once your trim is on, place the light back in the hole and put the bumper back on lining the bolts up with the lights bracket. Secure the cover to truck. Now adjust the nuts on the bracket so you have tension and the light should not move, thread the lock nuts on and tighten.
Finished
The hardware
4 x 4" 1/4-20 carriage bolts (length could vary depending on your bracket)
16 x 1/4" washers
12 x 1/4" nuts
2 2" x 6" mending plates
(I got extra)
Line up the adjusting holes on the light bracket with the center of mending plate, mark holes
mark center of those lines, that way you have more adjustably when it comes time for mounting
Drill 1/4" holes, Insert bolts through plate, two washers and a nut go next, tighten. Thread the adjuster nut onto each bolt and your bracket should look like this. Now go hit it with some paint so it doesn't rust while you do next steps. (its too cold for me to paint or I would have done this)
Now make some templates for your lights out of cardboard or something stiff. I took the lens off and traced around the plastic housing.
This picture is just to show what it looks like behind the cover. You'll see there really isn't much room to go any lower then I did and still use this bracket.
Find a location good for your application and tape up the area. Now tape on your templates, measure, adjust, measure, adjust, measure, measure, measure and measure again.
Once you're sure of the spot, mark it out.
measure some more, eyeball it, step back. Once your happy remove the cover. I drilled out the corners to make it easier to Dremel.
Now cut it out. I used a Dremel with a plastic blade and it went easy. TAKE YOUR TIME!!!! Wear glasses and something over your mouth and nose. The bits of plastic go everywhere and you'll find it distracting when your getting hit in the face. I made my cuts tested fit, cut some more, tested, cut. I wanted a tight fit and once you take it away you cant put it back
Now assemble your light onto your bracket
Put whole assembly into bumper and put it back on the truck
Now from under the truck adjust the bracket so most of it is on the metal, check clearances of bolts
Mark the location with a sharpie and remove bumper again. I just had to cut the corner off of the bracket. once your happy with the spot secure just the bracket with either screws or 3m trim tape or both.
I wanted to dress up the holes a little so i used this door trim stuff. Use a heat gun or hair dyer to soften it and make it ply-able. It also has a glue in it the works nicely once warm
Once your trim is on, place the light back in the hole and put the bumper back on lining the bolts up with the lights bracket. Secure the cover to truck. Now adjust the nuts on the bracket so you have tension and the light should not move, thread the lock nuts on and tighten.
Finished
