DIY - ABL using EL wire, and 3/16" tube

[RickRay]

Originally Posted by wrek

Oh sorry, when I say "hot" I mean too much voltage/too bright. I've already placed the order so I'll just coil up some extra behind the dash or find something else that needs a little light. Maybe I'll just put two rows at the feet.

Make sure to post your foot lighting Pics

[TJ91]

i can show you my pics of my footwell lighting if youd like lol

[RickRay]

Originally Posted by TJ91

i can show you my pics of my footwell lighting if youd like lol

Anyone will do just to see some different ideas

[TJ91]

alright cool ill wait for the sun to go down to take some pics, ill also take pics of my broters stang since hes got blue on the inside.
Give me a few hours guys

[TAG UR IT]

Did mine last night but with the other ABL stuff. Looks pretty good, but I kinda like the way this option looks. Mine dims out just a bit over on the passenger side...

...and I might need to order two more plastic dash pieces... I taped it off to sand like you did and got impatient using my dremel tool to "sand down" the plastic. It worked well...until it went through the d@mn tape in a few spots. Now, my "line" across the panel is kinda wavy with a scratch here and there....UGH!

Does not look good during the day. But at night....HOLY CRUD!

[camarorick]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Did mine last night but with the other ABL stuff. Looks pretty good, but I kinda like the way this option looks. Mine dims out just a bit over on the passenger side...

...and I might need to order two more plastic dash pieces... I taped it off to sand like you did and got impatient using my dremel tool to "sand down" the plastic. It worked well...until it went through the d@mn tape in a few spots. Now, my "line" across the panel is kinda wavy with a scratch here and there....UGH!

Does not look good during the day. But at night....HOLY CRUD!

Sorry to hear that Tag.... Yeah the Dremel is a great tool, but it can be dangerous. The sanding is the most critical part.

EVERYONE, start with 400 grit.... work your way to 800, and finish off with 1000. Be prepared to be at this for a few hours, take your time or you'll be ordering new dash inserts.


By the way, I've added two daylight photos of the trim on the first post

[khislop007]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Did mine last night but with the other ABL stuff. Looks pretty good, but I kinda like the way this option looks. Mine dims out just a bit over on the passenger side...

...and I might need to order two more plastic dash pieces... I taped it off to sand like you did and got impatient using my dremel tool to "sand down" the plastic. It worked well...until it went through the d@mn tape in a few spots. Now, my "line" across the panel is kinda wavy with a scratch here and there....UGH!

Does not look good during the day. But at night....HOLY CRUD!

My set from ELwire got shipped out today...hopefully I should have it next week.

I got impatient and did the 2 extra inches on the doors today. I taped it off and started sanding but even those couple of inches......I said screw this. I got my dremel as well but I used the small steel brush and it worked fine. After I finished I went back over it with the sand paper to give it more of a glossy look and used a led flashlight to keep checking that it looked uniform. It turned out nice......can't wait to get the dash done.

[camarorick]

Originally Posted by khislop007

My set from ELwire got shipped out today...hopefully I should have it next week.

I got impatient and did the 2 extra inches on the doors today. I taped it off and started sanding but even those couple of inches......I said screw this. I got my dremel as well but I used the small steel brush and it worked fine. After I finished I went back over it with the sand paper to give it more of a glossy look and used a led flashlight to keep checking that it looked uniform. It turned out nice......can't wait to get the dash done.

Looks great Did you also sand a little where the light was already visible..... Looks much brighter than mine..... Next mod for me

[bkwagonss]

Thanks for the write-up.
I just ordered the parts. I'm going to try it.
I ordered 20 ft of the EL lighting and both the 0-4 and 4-8 inverters.
I'll do the dash lighting for now with the 0-4.
Then later I change over to the 4-8 and add the floor lighting.

I have an idea about using the square holes instead of drilling.
What if you attached the wire and connector to the EL.
Then did all the sanding and attach the tube to the trim pieces.
Then plug the EL in and feed it through the square hole from behind.
Then feed the EL through the tube and snap the trim back in place.
I'll try it and take pictures.

I guess I'll go to the trouble of taking the door panels off and exposing the rest of the light tube in the door, so it goes all the way to the dash also.
This is a lot of work for a little bit of extra lighting, but I think it's worth it.

[camarorick]

Originally Posted by wagons

Thanks for the write-up.
I just ordered the parts. I'm going to try it.
I ordered 20 ft of the EL lighting and both the 0-4 and 4-8 inverters.
I'll do the dash lighting for now with the 0-4.
Then later I change over to the 4-8 and add the floor lighting.

I have an idea about using the square holes instead of drilling.
What if you attached the wire and connector to the EL.
Then did all the sanding and attach the tube to the trim pieces.
Then plug the EL in and feed it through the square hole from behind.
Then feed the EL through the tube and snap the trim back in place.
I'll try it and take pictures.

I guess I'll go to the trouble of taking the door panels off and exposing the rest of the light tube in the door, so it goes all the way to the dash also.
This is a lot of work for a little bit of extra lighting, but I think it's worth it.

This would work You could add an extra foot or more of regular wire to the plug, and then when your about to install, you could pull it through and hide it in the dash

[kga10734]

Got mine done, but I still need to go back and glue the tube in place and do the fine sanding to the trim pieces. At least I have it working so far. Once I get the dash fine tuned, I'll start working on the doors. I may go ahead and put El wire in the doors as well.

The sanding is a bitch, but trying to get the El wire down the tubes is worse unless you had a trick to do it.

[khislop007]

Originally Posted by camarorick

Looks great Did you also sand a little where the light was already visible..... Looks much brighter than mine..... Next mod for me

Actually I only sanded the the piece that was covered up. It really does look bright in those pictures.

Originally Posted by bkwagonss

Thanks for the write-up.
I just ordered the parts. I'm going to try it.
I ordered 20 ft of the EL lighting and both the 0-4 and 4-8 inverters.
I'll do the dash lighting for now with the 0-4.
Then later I change over to the 4-8 and add the floor lighting.

I have an idea about using the square holes instead of drilling.
What if you attached the wire and connector to the EL.
Then did all the sanding and attach the tube to the trim pieces.
Then plug the EL in and feed it through the square hole from behind.
Then feed the EL through the tube and snap the trim back in place.
I'll try it and take pictures.

I guess I'll go to the trouble of taking the door panels off and exposing the rest of the light tube in the door, so it goes all the way to the dash also.
This is a lot of work for a little bit of extra lighting, but I think it's worth it.

I was thinking of doing the same thing. I just couldn't bare to put a drill to my dash.....that's why I didn't want to get the GM LED's and light tube.....also having to drill holes in the corners.

I figured with this kit I could get away without having to drill any holes with all of those square slots already there.

[bkwagonss]

Originally Posted by kga10734

The sanding is a bitch, but trying to get the El wire down the tubes is worse unless you had a trick to do it.

When sticking the antenna wire down the tube on an RC car we used to drip a drop of oil down the tube. It helped the wire slide down the tube easier.
I would think you could do the same for this.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by camarorick

Sorry to hear that Tag.... Yeah the Dremel is a great tool, but it can be dangerous. The sanding is the most critical part.

EVERYONE, start with 400 grit.... work your way to 800, and finish off with 1000. Be prepared to be at this for a few hours, take your time or you'll be ordering new dash inserts.


By the way, I've added two daylight photos of the trim on the first post

Passenger side is $80 and the driver side is $40!

...I went ahead and checked it out today. The paint is called Graphite Silver, if I remember correctly. I'm going to see if I can find some matching paint, re-tape the back (but from the opposite side) so that I get a cleaner line when painting over the pre-painted surface.

FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD.....


TAKE YOUR TIME SANDING AND DON'T RUSH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Do just what is said above with starting out with the 400, to 800, and eventually go to the 1000 grit. You'll be fine.

DO NOT USE THAT D@MN DREMEL TOO!

Here's a couple pix. When I used the dremel, I went back and retaped the back of the panel. It looks PERFECT at night. But, you can see how jacked up it is with daylight hitting it. A little paint and it'll be good as new. If not, I'm buying that new passenger side panel. The drivers side is perfect.