DIY photo guide for dashboard ABL

[bkwagonss]

Great job on the work and the detailed pictures.
I'm very curious how Chevy did the dash ABL on the pre-production cars.
I find it hard to believe they drilled holes and some of the other cutting you did to make it work.

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by ElManny

so correct me if im wrong but you used 3 of the gm connectors?

yes

[ElManny]

Originally Posted by KTCAM

yes

sweet just ordered mine should have em in a week

[TJ91]

GREAT JOB! Really, thats great work and a great write up. Will be doing this soon!

[TJ91]

Sorry if i sound like a noob, but how exactly do you use the t connectors and how did you run the wire for the third light by the passenger side? Just snaked it through?

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by TJ91

Sorry if i sound like a noob, but how exactly do you use the t connectors and how did you run the wire for the third light by the passenger side? Just snaked it through?

The T -Tap or connectors( see pic 2nd to the last on instalment 2) are the blue things that are clamped to the wires. They are I believe the "female" component. Think of a mouse trap thats opened up. Opened up ... there is a tiny piece of metal which you place your wire that you want to connect to...then you clamp/fold the the blue tap using pliers & they snap shup. The the red wire you see with the the shiny silver colored flat thing @ its tip is the "male" component. You insert the "male" part into the "female part" and the connection is made. The back wires you see are already connected. You can plug or unplug @ will.

To run the wire thru the opening... I use a wire coat hanger, grabbed one end of the connector ,taped it to the wire & snaked it thru

[jose1003]

sorry to bother everybody, but how do I star taking of my speedometer. i dont want to damage my speedometer? can anybody help me? Thanks

[95droptopZ]

Just a thought, but if you put a dab of black paint on the end of the light tube going to the passenger side, would that help keep the light from fading? In other words, it would not allow the light to go out the end and make it diffuse outward. Just thinking out loud. Great work on the write up!

[5thGen]

so hows the drive at night ? tell me its worth it

[TJ91]

Originally Posted by KTCAM

The T -Tap or connectors( see pic 2nd to the last on instalment 2) are the blue things that are clamped to the wires. They are I believe the "female" component. Think of a mouse trap thats opened up. Opened up ... there is a tiny piece of metal which you place your wire that you want to connect to...then you clamp/fold the the blue tap using pliers & they snap shup. The the red wire you see with the the shiny silver colored flat thing @ its tip is the "male" component. You insert the "male" part into the "female part" and the connection is made. The back wires you see are already connected. You can plug or unplug @ will.

To run the wire thru the opening... I use a wire coat hanger, grabbed one end of the connector ,taped it to the wire & snaked it thru

Thanks soo much. Im defintily going to do this mod soon

[CaMuzzy]

...do the newly installed ambient lights dim up and down with the door panel lights??? Do they use the same dimmer???

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by 95droptopZ

Just a thought, but if you put a dab of black paint on the end of the light tube going to the passenger side, would that help keep the light from fading? In other words, it would not allow the light to go out the end and make it diffuse outward. Just thinking out loud. Great work on the write up!

DO NOT put any black anything on it. it will NOT make it brighter or "redirect" the light. ...also if you use hot glue to hold the tube ...BTW which you do NOT need to ...it will diffuse the light in such a way that when you put it all back together it look like an isolated island of light brighter than the rest of the line of light going down thru the tube

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by CaMuzzy

...do the newly installed ambient lights dim up and down with the door panel lights??? Do they use the same dimmer???

they do not dim that i am are of ..but even so theres not that much light that you need to do that anyway ...remember its a lighting eefect ..not to be interpeted as a source of light when you cant see anthing

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by 5thGen

so hows the drive at night ? tell me its worth it

that like asking me " Was it worth it waiting for 10 months on a pre order of the car, waiting to get my stripes, waiting 2 weeks to get my car back because of the supercharger install, waiting to install the ABL & not being able to drive all that time?........what do you think???????

[d69chris]

YES

[franknbeans]

hummm. I thought it would dim with the door lights since we were using factory connections...

[CmB]

Ok so the question is why run new wiring instead of T Tapping the door lights to gain the benefit of the dimming? I would think this would be easier than figuring out how to get the dimming to work on this mod.

Thoughts?

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by CmB

Ok so the question is why run new wiring instead of T Tapping the door lights to gain the benefit of the dimming? I would think this would be easier than figuring out how to get the dimming to work on this mod.

Thoughts?

you could tap into the door lights ...but i dont think the door lights dim either but i could be wrong.... i have not noticed that mine dim....its also easier running a tap from the light from the back of the speedo than taking the door apart

[Michael_Js]

The door lights DO dim! Mine do...tapping into those would be the way to go. I'm surprised the existing 2 connectors don't use the same circuit... :(

You shouldn't have to take the door apart - well, I'm going to since the ABL doesn't run to the top of the door - since the wires go INTO the door from under the dash to begin with. Just gotta find where they originate.

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by Michael_Js

The door lights DO dim! Mine do...tapping into those would be the way to go. I'm surprised the existing 2 connectors don't use the same circuit... :(

You shouldn't have to take the door apart - well, I'm going to since the ABL doesn't run to the top of the door - since the wires go INTO the door from under the dash to begin with. Just gotta find where they originate.

Thanks for the info...Yea I agree it would be the way to go if all do the same trick of on/off, dimmimg ect.

Again thanks for headsup since i still haven't put back the speedo in yet

[TAG UR IT]

I can't wait to get my ABL parts...have the tube...but GM needs to hurry up w/ the blue lights!!!

[TJ91]

What would happen if you uses the foil tape to cover the whole expanse of the dash where it is hidden by the trim pieces, and the have the rod in fron of it so that it is just reflecting the entire light would this maybe make the whole panel glow?

[vuduman67]

The plugs in the dash are on the same circuit and everything dims properly.
Driving is fine at night and everyone who has seen mine thinks it came that way and are amazed that it is a mod. Definatly worth the time and money! I would think it would be a pretty daunting mod for someone who does not do this type of work though. I have been in the colllision industry for over 20 yrs and it took me 4 hours to get it right. Not to say it cant be done, its not hard just takes some time and patience.

[SEXYRED808]

I HAVE I 1SS, SO IS THIS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO IF I WERE TO CHANGE OUT TO THE PAINTED PANELS?? AND IF SO, AM I ABLE TO ILLUMINATE THE DOORS AS WELL??

[KTCAM]

Originally Posted by TJ91

What would happen if you uses the foil tape to cover the whole expanse of the dash where it is hidden by the trim pieces, and the have the rod in fron of it so that it is just reflecting the entire light would this maybe make the whole panel glow?

Although I didnt do it the entire panel ..only about 1/2 of it & it did not make a difference where there was foil or not...light output was equal all the way across