i want to install some halogen running lights behind my grills...
you know the ones...the are one whenever the car is running like all of the new cars have nowadays...

question is, where should i wire them into?
any ideas?

 

I would use a direct, fused line from the fuse box, making sure of course it is a ignition activated source.

 

do a search for paul79 about a year and a half ago i think it was, he installed some hella's that were extremely bright behind his grills.

 

thanx but im wondering if they can be wired to ONLY come on when the engine is running but NOT when the key is on WITHOUT the engine running...
sometimes i turn the key on when parked to listen to the stereo and dont want them coming on then...
i suppose i could put a cut-off switch on them but id rather not if it can be avoided...

 

Sighnguy..let me look in my ecklers mag..there is a daytime running light kit in there for our cars...uses the park lights like the new vettes use..looking!

O.K. signguy..got my catalogue and went to eckler's site plugged in their part number and low and behold..DISCONTINUED!! I was not happy and my email to them said so..if you are going to put out a new catalogue..which is BTW less than a week old..don't fill it with discontinued items...really torq'd my off...but oh well. Hope you find something that will work for you...take care!

Joe


[Modified by 81' Corvette Guy, 6:20 AM 3/6/2004]

 

If you look at the bottom left hand area of the fuse box you will see an unused, 30 amp ignition-switched terminal. It is for the auxiliary electrical cooling fan that most 1979s do not have. That is a good power source. In addition to switched ignition, I had a 20-amp toggle switch under the dash to control the lights as well: I did not want them on all the time. They are great for visibility to oncoming vehicles on two-lane highways but really are not needed in the city.








[Modified by paul67, 7:56 AM 3/6/2004]


[Modified by paul67, 8:13 AM 3/6/2004]

 

OK paul..lets see the close up with mounting, no blinding lights in our eyes..type of light etc..need some info..thanks buddy! :cheers:

 

I deleted my pics of the installation when I sold the 1979 last summer. But here goes. The lamps are Hella 1500 driving lights (link below). Behind the grilles you will find a vertical frame piece just inboard of the parking lights. The Hella unit has a mounting bracket requiring two bolts. I drilled two holes in the vertical frame piece and bolted the lamp on.

The Hella instructions recommend tapping into the headlight harness. I wished to leave stock wiring intact so I ran the wiring back to the fusebox for power as noted above. And through a heavy duty toggle switch. The lamps are double switched: ignition and toggle. Ground is the normal headlight spot on the radiator frame. So the circuit is independent of factory wiring. The lamps can be pulled off in 15 minutes and everything stock is still intact.

The lamps will not work for 1980-82. Up to 1979 the grilles slats are perfectly horizontal and the light from the lamps shows through very nicely. For 1980-82 the grille slats are slanted forward, thus cutting off the light.
http://www.hellausa.com/optilux/newo...model1500.html

You can see the horizontal slats in this pic.



This is the ignition-switched power source (unused in this pic). It accepts a standard male spade connector.




[Modified by paul67, 8:37 AM 3/6/2004]


[Modified by paul67, 8:59 AM 3/6/2004]

 

If you have an 80-82 you can get the lights out of an 84-89 vette. Ghostrider did this and it looked pretty cool.

 

well thanx everybody for your advise and input!
this forum and its members never cease to amaze me!

but...still...cant they be wired to ONLY come on when the engine is running?

 

Yes. Just omit the toggle switch. That fusebox power source is switched for ignition on.

 

Paul,

That was a beautiful shark. I bet you miss it, but at least you have visitation rights. :cheers:

 

Yes I have visitation rights! I had that 1979 for 17 years and it was a tough decision to move on to a C2. But all things must pass. The 1967 and the 1979 are currently stored in the same commercial facility for winter. They should be on the road by Easter.



Lots of fond memories, however.




[Modified by paul67, 8:43 AM 3/7/2004]