Spotlight Installation-With Tips/Pics

[Gastrick]

My dad wanted spotlights in his Mercury. He didn't want dummy spots, he wanted real spotlights that he could play with like he did when was a teenager. So I hunted down some vintage Appleton spotlights with the right shape for a custom and installed them for him.

I don't want to insult anybody as this is a light-duty job but I thought I would throw some installation tips in here in the event someone may find them helpful. Some of these photos are crappy and were taken with my cell phone but you'll get the idea.

I'll put up the finished photos first. I like spots on a custom.

 

[Gastrick]

The problem with these spotlights is that the shaft does not remove from the body, making it difficult to locate a suitable mounting location.


So I made a fixture out of some scrap tubing that simulates the part of the spotlight that goes on the exterior of the car


Here it is in action with the spotlight and base attached. Holding this assembly to the A-pillar allowed me to choose a mounting location that looked good and let the shaft go through the post in a suitable location. Not getting this right on the first shot is a disaster.


More to follow..........................................

 

[Gastrick]

Once a location was chosen using the above fixture, I mounted the base,


This is another area that is easy to mess up because of the angle the big holes in the pillar need to be drilled. A bad angle of attack here can make an ugly mess so I threw together this makeshift drill guide.


Heres the drill guide inserted in the base. I stuck a drill bit in there for illustration.

 

[Gastrick]

Then I made a paper template and transfered the marks to the other side of the car so everything would be symetrical.


That's all. Thanks for looking.

 

[allis327]

I wanted to do this to my car, now I have some insight to what is involved Thanks

 

[earthman]

Good score on finding a pair of those. Thanks for sharing the info on the lost art of spotlight installation Gas.

 

[rainman]

Looks really nice!! I used to have a Dodge Demon like the one in the background, same color and all!!

 

[donsrods]

Sure beats the way I would have done it. There would have been 3 or 4 "trial" holes in each pillar!

Those sure look nice on there. Is your Dad still having fun playing with the Merc?

Don

 

[Sam_Fear]

Nice! And it's always good to have another tech thread. Thanks GT!

 

[cantwell.colton]

may be a light duty job -- but im with don -- your way is much more methodical and makes more sense -- also, the techniques you used can be carried over to other things -- i appreciate you sharing... and thos photos are fine _
thanks [cl

 

[VonHyde]

nice i just picked up a unity spotlight at the swap meet for $20, now this keeps me from guessin the best way to do it

 

[cycledog]

As usual..great stuff. Thanks for thinking of us and sharing.