installing a map light in the wiper bezel?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
installing a map light in the wiper bezel?
I am currently restoring the interior in my 72 vette. Working my way up from the emergency brake forward...cleaning, fixing, painting and polishing. I am looking at this little piece that holds the wiper controls and has a little slot on it that looks like it was suppose to be used as a vent for this plastic duct piece that connects to the main air duct (actually it's just hanging on by a thread right now and I don't see how any air could had gotten into that thing and out that slot). So, I was thinking that I would just take that duct out and patch the hole in the main duct. And I was thinking of installing a little map light in the area where that slot is (mainly because the car only has a little light in the back that would be considered an interior light. Has anyone ever done this before? If so, do you have any advice? I would like to install some type of light that has a built in switch to it or one that you push on and off. I have a 1980 MGB that has a little dome light in it's console that you toggle front and back to turn on...I think something similiar to that would work. Any ideas or advise would be super awesome!! Thanks!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
Your car should also have courtesy lights mounted under the dash in each footwell. The driver side courtesy light mounts into the same bracket that holds the hood pull handle, the passenger side courtesy light mounts to a bracket that attaches to the screw on the upper forward corner of the kick panel.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 88
From: Easton Pennsylvania
Not meaning to highjack this thread. But has anyone considered a rear view mirror that already has lights in it that come one when the doors open and have separate switches to turn them on and off.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Starting in 73 , map lights on the rear view mirror were an option (UF1).
On convertibles the only lights were the 2 footwell, and rear courtesy lights. I would have to hold things up in the rear compartment to find things. I switched to a 73 mirror with a map light, and tied it into the courtesy light system. Now I have plenty of light when I open the doors, or turn on the courtesy lights. I have light when I need it, and it still looks stock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-map-light-rear-view-mirror-for-1973-only-Core-needs-restored-8-inch-/261554619059?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1973%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item3ce5dec2b3&vxp=mtr#ht_38wt_1362
On convertibles the only lights were the 2 footwell, and rear courtesy lights. I would have to hold things up in the rear compartment to find things. I switched to a 73 mirror with a map light, and tied it into the courtesy light system. Now I have plenty of light when I open the doors, or turn on the courtesy lights. I have light when I need it, and it still looks stock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-map-light-rear-view-mirror-for-1973-only-Core-needs-restored-8-inch-/261554619059?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1973%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item3ce5dec2b3&vxp=mtr#ht_38wt_1362
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
Starting in 73 , map lights on the rear view mirror were an option (UF1).
On convertibles the only lights were the 2 footwell, and rear courtesy lights. I would have to hold things up in the rear compartment to find things. I switched to a 73 mirror with a map light, and tied it into the courtesy light system. Now I have plenty of light when I open the doors, or turn on the courtesy lights. I have light when I need it, and it still looks stock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-map-light-rear-view-mirror-for-1973-only-Core-needs-restored-8-inch-/261554619059?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1973%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item3ce5dec2b3&vxp=mtr#ht_38wt_1362
On convertibles the only lights were the 2 footwell, and rear courtesy lights. I would have to hold things up in the rear compartment to find things. I switched to a 73 mirror with a map light, and tied it into the courtesy light system. Now I have plenty of light when I open the doors, or turn on the courtesy lights. I have light when I need it, and it still looks stock.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-map-light-rear-view-mirror-for-1973-only-Core-needs-restored-8-inch-/261554619059?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1973%7CModel%3ACorvette&hash=item3ce5dec2b3&vxp=mtr#ht_38wt_1362
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Not meaning to highjack this thread. But has anyone considered a rear view mirror that already has lights in it that come one when the doors open and have separate switches to turn them on and off.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Not meaning to highjack this thread. But has anyone considered a rear view mirror that already has lights in it that come one when the doors open and have separate switches to turn them on and off.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
I got this one from if I recall a mid 80s GM car. I think it will work well and look cool in my Vette. I also plan on changing the bulbs out with leds.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 88
From: Easton Pennsylvania
Thanks. You just wire it into your courtesy lamp circuit. And you also run a separate wire to 12 volts so you can switch them on and off independently.
Last edited by persuader; Aug 8, 2014 at 10:22 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 74
From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Have you considered a short strip of LED's? Something like this: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/a...searchTerm=led
Last edited by Raphiki; Aug 8, 2014 at 11:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Here's a $20 solution- that doesn't require hacking up your bezel!!!
Use a COB LED - about $20- and surface mount it- you can locate the switch under the dash- and this light pulls very little power.
I'm using them for my turn signals-
Pretty bright- and this is running a 9v battery-
Use a COB LED - about $20- and surface mount it- you can locate the switch under the dash- and this light pulls very little power.
I'm using them for my turn signals-
Pretty bright- and this is running a 9v battery-
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 673
Likes: 2
From: Melbourne Victoria
Have you considered a short strip of LED's? Something like this: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/a...searchTerm=led
I have a small LED tube mounted under the wiper control- double sided taped.
I also put 2 movable LED spot lights in the small recess where the T Tops
clip in.
Seems to work OK.
Cheers from a cold Melbourne, Australia !!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,743
Likes: 1,385
I picked up a USB flexible lamp one day....
at the dollar store because it looked interesting. SO, reading this thread I was wondering if it could be powered by the USB connector on my radio.....sure enough!
I guess I'll go get another one (or several, for a buck each?!!?), it's got about a 1' semi-rigid flexible, cord which you can position anywhere.
And, YES, you can get a cigarette lighter to USB adapter for a USB outlet availability (I got one of those at the same dollar store...kind of amazing to me that all that crap only costs a dollar?).
I like the rear view mirror idea, and I hadn't even thought about using this flexi-USB-lamp, until I had to go look inside the door panel earlier and then saw this thread.
I guess I'll go get another one (or several, for a buck each?!!?), it's got about a 1' semi-rigid flexible, cord which you can position anywhere.
And, YES, you can get a cigarette lighter to USB adapter for a USB outlet availability (I got one of those at the same dollar store...kind of amazing to me that all that crap only costs a dollar?).
I like the rear view mirror idea, and I hadn't even thought about using this flexi-USB-lamp, until I had to go look inside the door panel earlier and then saw this thread.
Last edited by carriljc; Aug 9, 2014 at 05:12 PM. Reason: add picture, add cig lighter comment