Adding set of headlights in grille

[russosborne]

I came across this on another forum. I searched there and the search didn't even come up with the thread I was reading about it. And I searched here didn't come up with anything either.

At least one car there has a second set of headlights that are in the grille. Similar to what a 1969 Mustang has. In fact very similar. It is something I would really like to do with mine.

So the question is how to do it? I would like to do it so that the inner pair is the high beam. Wiring it up I can figure out. It is what is needed as far as parts and how to install them that I need help with.

Thanks for any advice.
Russ

 

[78CobraII]

I've seen one or two CBII's or KC's over the years with a set of grill-mounted headlights or foglights.

I think I would lean away from a set of high-beam headlights in the grill as they would need to be more solidly mounted and would need an aiming mechanism. In this case, steel supports wold need to be attached to the radiator surround and some sort of headlight buckets with adjusters would need to be mounted. Just about any 4-eyed Ford with round 5 3/4" (?) lights in a junkyard would do.

Or you could just mount large round foglights in the grill. These 2005-2009 Mustang fogs from New-TakeOffs would probably do:
2005-2009 Mustang GT Fog Lamps Includes Bulbs (Pair R/L)

I doubt that you could get large round aftermarket fog lights any cheaper than $99 (new).

Here is one of the CBII's I've seen with grill-mounted headlights/foglights (no details though):
The Mustang II Organization

 

[russosborne]

Thanks.

If I ever get approved on that site I will just ask the people who have them how they did it. I could always experiment with it, but right now the car is apart and won't be together anytime soon. Plus I only have one extra grille, so I don't want to cut into it until I know what I am doing.

Just thought i would ask here in case someone had details on what to do. I am not holding out much hope for being approved on the other site.

Russ

 

[kcobra302]

Mustang II Network Forums - Four Headlight Grill

sorry if posting the link causes any problems. just trying to answer the question

 

[russosborne]

Thanks, but that is actually the post that got me started on this. A couple of people have asked there on how it was done but never got an answer that I can find.

I am still waiting to be approved there so I can bring it up again. Otherwise I will just see what I can figure out when I get to that point with my car. No big rush, still tearing it down.

I am actually printing out articles and posts of stuff that I want to do and will be putting it in a binder just in case I lose internet or sites lose data. It never hurts to have a hard copy.

Russ

 

[fajr22]

I did this in my cobra as well as sequential tail lights, I used Lincoln Navigator fog lamps, I marked the grill cut them out and used them as fog lamps, I used pvc collar for the border and plastic welded it all together, sanded it and painted it black... Not really that hard... You want to talk about bright...WOW,,, Not hard at all time consuming though...

 

[russosborne]

When you say "plastic welded", just what is that? Is it a glue type thing or is it like the plastic welder kit that Harbor Freight sells?
Sorry, not up to speed on a lot of stuff. The closest I ever came to plastic welding was using a wood burner as a kid to customize model car kits.
Thanks,
Russ

 

[Wart]

On my first II I had lights mounted on top of hte bumper in front of the grill.

Used a light with a round pedestal, drilled the cover then reamed the cover to a tight fit about the pedestal. Bolted the light directly to the bumper structure.

Looked really good and I didn't need to worry about structure and support of lights in the grill.

OTOH thats when my II was a daily driver. Not sure how much I would worry about supporting a light in the grill now.

 

[78CobraII]

The big issue with adding center-mounted headlights in the grill is likely to be the installed depth. If you create a 4-headlight system like the '69 Mustang used, you will need an adjuster system which usually comes in the form of a bucket that pivots and screws to do the adjustment. While you could pirate the parts from any 4-headlight Ford, they are probaby 4-6 inches in depth.

The fog lights from a 2005+ Mustang or the Navigator mentioned previously are probably much more shallow in depth. There may be aftermarket fog lights available in the 5 3/4 diameter that are shallow in depth also. There are several DeltaTech 6 inch fog lights with a shallow depth listed on JCWhiney that would work, although they have the added complication of a mounting post to deal with:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/...ku=fog+lights&shopid=100001&_requestid=286616

 

[russosborne]

Hmmm. I have no idea how much room there is, since my car was already apart when I got it.

Maybe the post on the other forum is mistitled, and they really meant 4 lights, not 4 headlights?

Either way, I really do like the look and will do it one way or the other. If I ever get this car that far.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[Jax Rhapsody]

HOw about putting the blinkers in the foglights?

 

[78CobraII]

I like the idea of putting the turn signals in the center mounted lights. It sure does reduce the amount of work needed to get the center lights.

I've found two possibilites:

Sealed beam replacements in 5.75" or 7" (Sealed Beam Conversion Lights)

AutoLoc lights (Headlights - Snake Eye Headlights, Tribar Headlights, French Headlight Kits)

Both mount a turn signal light in the enclosure, but the Autoloc light has a sub-enclosure for the turn signal, either in clear or yellow.

The AutoLoc Tribar are available in 5.75" or 7", but I can't tell about the AutoLoc SnakeEye model.