Make your own underhood light with Rock Light LEDs

id like a set of the universals if there's another run.

 

Me too

 

OK. Here's my take:

I'd been wanting to do some kind of under-hood lighting for a while now and the OP gave me some good inspiration.

Now, I don't have a lot of fancy equipment. I can't always make something look perfect and professional, but I can usually make it function as intended even if it is not pretty. I don't have a 3D-Printer or a CNC machine. But I do have a bandsaw, a drill press and a Rivet Nut tool. And a helluva lot of good old-fashioned Yankee ingenuity.

I had some old industrial plastic that was about ¼ inch thick. So I traced out the lights onto a sheet of heavy paper which I then used as a template to cut the mounts out of said plastic on my bandsaw. I then cleaned them up with some sand paper to make them match the contour of the lights. I then put the plastic mounts into a vise and with the help of a Heat Gun, I warmed up the mounts enough that I could bend the tabs over at about a 45 degree angle. Then off to the drill press. Sorry, but I should have taken a picture of the brackets before I installed the lights on them. But here's a closeup.



To mount them to the hood I installed a couple of small Rivet Nuts into some existing holes under the hood and bolted them up with a little bit of Locktite to hold them in place.




Wiring was pretty straightforward. I decided to use a manual switch (not pictured) instead a pushbutton switch operated by opening the hood. The finished product:

 

genius

 

Looks good. How rigid is the plastic?

 

About 1/4-inch thick.

 

So , there is no wire splicing, right? I was wondering about this until the video posted. Is this true regardless of which light is chosen? I would love to do this along with the anytime fog light mod.

 

I think I made the most expensive DIY underhood light ever!!!! I had to use nylon nuts because metal hardware created a ground connection and the lights stayed on always!
made!

 

@Jeff Dartfrog How do you like that AFE set up? I have one on order and it is a 14 week lead time.

 

I made some with Simpson tie brackets and ProComp rock lights I had laying around.

 

I like it fine. I ran aFe intakes on my 3-series BMWs before I got into Toyotas. After I bought my first Tacoma I was excited to learn they made an intake for it. My butt dyno says it makes a difference!

 

Cool thanks I can’t wait to get mine.

 

I can do a set of two aluminum brackets powder coated matte black with mounting hardware for $45.00 plus 9.45 flat rate usps priortt mail small box

pm for ordering details, if interested

1. @jarebear74
2. @JasonLee
3. @BuzzMor
4. @Midship909
5. @ianGP
6. @sf.larry Shipped
7. @Sl3ven
8. @TacomaOH
9. @Yamahafast
10. @Cbaxter617
11. @Squirrel13
12. @79CHKCHK Pending
13. @dmrivera78
14. @#NEVERGIVEUP
15. @audiopudding
16. @TacO1O
17. @elmontemike
18. @Uthmoelleri
19. @FastEddy59
20. @daveeasa Shipped
21. @lizoid
22. @mac84
23. @Dr3w
24. @TacoBlacko12
25. @rb9228
26. @Jahjahsoljah
27. @25TacomaDCab25
28. @Gunerbey
29. @Tacoma_702
30. @BlkTaco20
31. @esgar18
32. @LitFuse
33. @big42mac
34. @shleppy
35. @Chuy21
36. @flatt-taco15
37. @tmzphoto
38. @Camel89 Pending
39. @Sirnick88
40. @taco_OnTheMove
41. @pearing Shipped
42. @kaijac03 Shipped
43. @Mayak1957 Shipped
44. @Tcpetty58D Shipped
45. @audiopudding Shipped
46. @nickac1092 Shipped

 

Will these be the same design as OP just Al? And which design? Preferably it's the universal design from OP.

 

here is the 3d printed prototype it is slightly different, but does have a center mounting hole, I do not have a set of the KC cyclones to test fit, for verification.



the 4 hole just off center from the the end is to pass the wire through on the Amazon rock light

 

Nicely done. However any reason why the neck is longer than the OP's in your prototype?

 

@pryotech, put me down for a pair also

 

Also down for a pair @Pyrotech

 

Progress Update:

I received the parts from my vendor a couple days ago, however due to my work schedule where I work out of town for 8 days straight, today is the first day I am able to work on completing the brackets.

Everyone who has paid so far there brackets are in the production as I type this, all of them have been Bent, and the first QC check down to verify the angle, ( being done by a manual brake there will be some deviation +/- a couple degrees is my target) and the final tab measured to make sure it is again close to the spec. ( I did catch my backstop sliding out of position this way).

The powder coat oven is running a new auto tune to verify its setting after using the oven to stabilize some wood blanks for a future project(s). The parts should be ready to go in the oven later tonight or first thing in the morning.

I want to take a moment and thank each and everyone of you who bought a set of brackets already, knowing that there would be a delay of a couple weeks, between ordering and getting your order. I take your trust seriously and my goal is to provide a quality part for your truck, one I would be proud to have on my own vehicles. Thank You !

Some pictures because who doesn't like pictures?