LED Grill Lights Installed the Easy Way - The "Raptor Look"

rikhek · June 8, 2020

Installed some Amazon LED grill lights. I read a thread where guys were mounting on a 1" x 36" aluminum bar stock 1/8" wide. I did it a different way. I was playing around and found the threaded stud OD of the lights was just wide enough to "friction fit" them in the grill. I simply put the light in the "receiver" as shown and tapped them in tight with a socket against the outer flange of the light. They're in there pretty snug and I don't think I'll have any issues. I did super glue the flange to the body of the light as the flange pops off easily. Time will tell....

I think they look good without being over-the-top. Comments welcomed, I have thick skin.

Edited June 8, 2020 by rikhek

HoustonVol · June 8, 2020

Personally, I like this a lot. Nice job. Interested in seeing how the friction fit holds up long term.

rikhek · June 8, 2020

Thanks. I think if anything goes awry it will be due to the "cheap" lights failing. They seem well made but how well can they be when they only cost ~$15 for a box of 10. They're in there pretty good...

Edited June 8, 2020 by rikhek

BowtieSquatch · June 8, 2020

Edited June 8, 2020 by BowtieSquatch

Stand By · June 8, 2020

I think it looks pretty decent. Considering GM has made it near impossible to add factor marker lights up top for 2020, this might be a good alternative for towing. Maybe even stick one on the running board, midship.

beefin06 · June 8, 2020

Looks great! What did you wire them to? And, do you have a link to the lights you ordered?

rikhek · June 9, 2020

I grabbed power from fuse #40 which is Misc. Ignition. Anytime truck is running they're on.

Link provided. Note these are rated at 90 lums and I wouldn't want them any brighter. Amazon has other similar lights by different manufacturers at the same price point but the next lowest lumen I saw was 120.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU7IT47/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited June 9, 2020 by rikhek

beefin06 · June 9, 2020

1 hour ago, rikhek said:

I grabbed power from fuse #40 which is Misc. Ignition. Anytime truck is running they're on.

Link provided. Note these are rated at 90 lums and I wouldn't want them any brighter. Amazon has other similar lights by different manufacturers at the same price point but the next lowest lumen I saw was 120.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU7IT47/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks!

eppieguy · June 9, 2020

I do like them, I wonder how they'd work on my HC grill.

BowtieSquatch · June 26, 2020

On 6/8/2020 at 9:09 AM, BowtieSquatch said:

This grill is for sale if anyone wants it. all wiring and freshly painted black from a dealership body shop.

J2Jones · June 26, 2020

On 6/8/2020 at 8:04 PM, rikhek said:

I grabbed power from fuse #40 which is Misc. Ignition. Anytime truck is running they're on.

Link provided. Note these are rated at 90 lums and I wouldn't want them any brighter. Amazon has other similar lights by different manufacturers at the same price point but the next lowest lumen I saw was 120.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MU7IT47/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just so you know, I had initially wired my grill lights from that fuse as well but noticed they “flashed” when the auto-stop cycled and didn’t like that so moved to the side marker light fuse. Just and FYI.

rikhek · June 29, 2020

On 6/26/2020 at 12:16 PM, J2Jones said:

Just so you know, I had initially wired my grill lights from that fuse as well but noticed they “flashed” when the auto-stop cycled and didn’t like that so moved to the side marker light fuse. Just and FYI.

Thanks. How did you notice that as you can't see them when you're sitting in the truck? FWIW, I'm not concerned as I disable the auto-stop as part of my starting the truck routine. I turn the auto-stop off in less than a second after I push the ignition start button every time I start the truck..

J2Jones · June 29, 2020

6 minutes ago, rikhek said:

Thanks. How did you notice that as you can't see them when you're sitting in the truck? FWIW, I'm not concerned as I disable the auto-stop as part of my starting the truck routine. I turn the auto-stop off in less than a second after I push the ignition start button every time I start the truck..

I could see the lights flash in the reflections off the vehicle in front of me at stop lights.

rikhek · December 8, 2020

UPDATE: Don't waste your time on these specific lights. One of the lights burnt out after about 3 months followed by another a couple weeks later and a third one today. Shows you get what you pay for. FYI, the friction fitment held up GREAT. They didn't move at all.

I need to find some high quality lights that don't burn out so quickly.....