Let there be light

[chojinchef]

Added another interior light to the Thingamajigger today.

This is the unit I got from a Tahoe. Painted it to match interior.

I had previously crafted a harness that I ran the length of the van inside the panel behind the shelf on drivers side. I ran it up and over the base of the upper bed cabinet. I had planned on breaking out the router and making a channel for the wires, but after laying on the bed I could not feel the three wire harness and opted not to weaken the particle board bed support anymore.

I spliced into the wires for the existing driver entry light for power and added the wires to the passenger side in order to install another stock type light in the existing hole on passenger side. I took down the headliner to do this and was glad I did. Vacant mouse nest with many turds. Was nasty. Tore out the insulation, added some sound deadener and went to work on this light.

Measured out the hole. Planned it 6 inched from the bar support at edge of bed fold and in center of headliner. Will never look symmetrical due to closet and offset cabinets, but I made sure it was correct anyway.

Drilled holes in center and jigsawed out the piece. The light is deep enough to require a complete removal of this piece, but it actually works out better this way.

Installed, the center light works off the new door switch I installed and rewired, and the directional lights are hotwired so that they will work off aux battery at any time.

On the topside, I placed a 6x8inch piece of heavy gauge sheetmetal that the light afffixes to with some pan head 10-24's and loc nuts. Once the light was assembled and mounted, I was able to adjust for center placement and then screwed the sheetmetal piece down to the bed support.

$5 for the light, plus wire, heat shrink tubing and sheet metal. I am very pleased with the final product.

Now I am working on a mount system for an overhead console between driver and passenger seat with same directional lighting.
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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.

[fsf1o1]

nice man

[purplepeopleeater]

Nice!

Q: does that paint you used match the stock brown stuff? I have been having difficulties finding the correct paints...most are too light.

[danfromsyr]

that's a big hole in the middle of the upper bed board..
should still hold you up ok, but you won't like it if you put your knee thru it..
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[chojinchef]