by "thejustache" (thejustache)
Published 11/27/2017 at 13:39
by "thejustache" (thejustache)
Published 11/27/2017 at 13:39
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STARS: 7
Despite a busier than expected Thanksgiving weekend I was able to pick up my new snows and mount them and then build the light bar I mocked up the other day.
While the bar is a “good from afar, far from good” type of deal, I did manage to make it out of the one 8ft piece of 1.5" aluminum angle I already had. It’s also sturdier feeling than the bar I made for my last car and can be taken off completely with 6 bolts, which is an improvement. I’m honestly pretty happy with my design, even if the execution leaves a little to be desired. Working in the back yard with no shop vice makes things hard! Dreaming of a house with a garage/shop does help a little while working in the cold, however.
Now I just have to wire the lights up, which I’m calling the remaining 15% of winter mode. Going to make the driving lights work with the high beams, and the fogs an always on/off type of deal. Cleanup and painting of the bar will happen if we get an unseasonably warm day before winter, or else will wait until the spring. I actually don’t hate the unfinished aluminum look, although the plan is to paint it black. Thoughts?
Here’s to hoping the snows prove decent - they are $67 walmart special Nexan Win-Spikes mounted on the 16" Sparco Terras left over from my Saabaru. I usually buy the best snow tires I can, but with budgeting and saving for a house and having 2 cars now to think about this is the best I could do. Tread, rubber softness and siping actually seem fairly decent to me, and the reviews didn’t look terrible for the price. I guess I’ll find out how they do once we get some snow. Bring it on! Weather report was calling for 10" here over the weekend but that changed to rain unfortunately. Happy snonut season everyone!
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
11/27/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 2
The front of your car is now 85% lights
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 1
Hahaha yes! And I’m happy about this
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
11/27/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 1
You should paint it a gunmetal that helps it blend in to the plastic cladding.
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0
I like that idea. I’m not stuck on black, it’s just my usual go-to. Thanks!
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
11/27/2017 at 13:48, STARS: 2
It looks pretty nice as is.
"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-)
11/27/2017 at 13:50, STARS: 1
I was hoping to hold off on my winter tires but really couldn’t stand it any longer since we had our first light dusting of snow that’s actually sticking around, and we went from a mild, just-above-freezing temps to below freezing over yesterday so all the meltwater is frozen in patches on roads/sidewalks. The winter Michelins feel so much better than the OEM Nexen all-seasons I have in cold temps.
"vicali" (vicali)
11/27/2017 at 13:51, STARS: 1
Woo-hoo, nice lights!
Subies are ground switched, so I usually tap the highbeam wire on the back of the headlight as a trigger. It means more wire to and from the switch but otherwise no different than usual.
Fogs I’d just do normally.
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 0
Thanks, that is more or less exactly what I plan to do. The only part I haven’t done before is finding and tapping the highbeam wire. Doesn’t seem too hard and it’ll definitely make it easier to not accidentally blind oncoming traffic!
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
11/27/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 2
whaaa... how are going to see anything with just that piddly litle bit of extra light... you my friend... need moar light
:p
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 14:04, STARS: 2
I do believe you are right, thank you for helping me see the error of my ways! And why stop at just forward visibility? I think I need more mirrors while I’m at it as well
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
11/27/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
here to help :) and those mirrors look like a fantastic idea... bet theres no blind spot at all on that thing
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 14:10, STARS: 1
I bet it helps a lot when towing by scooter!
"vicali" (vicali)
11/27/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
55w bulbs are around 4.5A each so if two lights are pared in the harness you will want a 15Amp inline fuse close to the batt on the positive lead.. relay trigger wires can be small because the switch will be in the cabin.
I’ve found these Hella diagrams useful, although you’ll change some bits, like 8 is tapping the highbeam ground wire instead of the usual 12v+. I usually take the (-) of the lights back to the batt as well.
I build my harnesses to accept a 100w upgrade bulb if I want to so bigger wires, bigger fuses, etc.
"KevlarRx7" (kevlarsupra)
11/27/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 1
I need that light bar for the is200, your car is looking awesome though!
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 0
Thank you! What gauge wire would you recommend to be safe for 100w in the future? The wires on my last light setup got pretty hot with continuous use, but I also think I paired all the (-) wires up and didn’t use a big enough wire. Planning on going thicker or running individual runs back to the battery this time.
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 1
Thank you! The bar is just a single piece of aluminum angle from Home Depot , but cut and bent. As long as you can find a couple of mounting point to bolt it on to I’m sure you could do something similar
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/27/2017 at 15:01, STARS: 1
Is that an 08? It’s like looking at what my subie could be... Although I have the base engine and a cvt so it’s probably never going to happen!
I say match the bar to the paint
"thejustache" (thejustache)
11/27/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
It’s an ‘05. My understanding is ‘08 and up got a revised grille, and the 6 speed manual with SI drive, which bumps the price up a bit. Once this car wears out I think I’d like to try for a clean ‘09 or ‘10 and keep the fun going, if indeed I can find any left for sale at that point.
Even a base Subaru can be fun! My last 2 were both NA and pretty boring other than being manuals. Still, with good tires and careful driving they make great all weather adventure vehicles that can allow for sleeping in the back
"vicali" (vicali)
11/27/2017 at 15:18, STARS: 1
I like 12 awg strand for my lights, it’s probably overkill but like you said I don’t like hot wires.. 14 or 16 is fine for the trigger/ relay/ switch.
6 awg is getting into winch territory..