• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Lighted Sail Panel Screws

dunes_av

SM 2003
Full Member
Joined
May 31, 2003
Messages
4,185
Location
Arizona
Ok, much kudos to WesTexAvy, as this is his mod, I just thought that this mod deserved its own thread...

to see where I found this mod on his truck... click the link below

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=119;action=display;threadid=21409;start=;boardseen=1

I posed some info over in the other thread and so did WesTxAvy, maybe a moderator could rearrage the threads a bit...

Anyway...

You know how alot of members have replaced the screws on the inner sail panels with stainless steel screws?

Well why not change them out and add some lights on the truck at the same time?

Use the lighted license plate bolts, can get them at most auto parts stores..., and replace the plastic crews in the sail panels with them. wire them in with the 3rd brake light as I did, or into the turn signal/brake lights as WesTxAvy did. If you have everything you need when you start, this mod can be easily done in an hour or so...

WesTexAVY's Pic that started it all...

WTA_RearLED.jpg


My pics....

43913606.jpg

43913595.jpg

43913576.jpg

43913564.jpg

43913556.jpg

43913556.jpg
 
I think I'd like this for brake lights and turn signals.... just a little added protection and looks good to!
 
Are there any special instructions or do they just screw into the old bolt holes? They do look really cool though. I might install them this coming weekend!!
 
if you take a screwdriver and remove an existing screw, and pull the "sleeve" out you will see how the factory fasteners work.. I reused the outer "sleeve" to hold em... maybe not the best way... but the best I could see with how the truck is put together...



Grey
 
Grey,

I just bought mine today. A little help with install would make this mod even better. I can't wait to get started, but 17degree weather puts a damper on things. What size wire was used and how you connected them in series is good info. Thanks for your time and I hope you are enjoying your winter.

Fireeater
 
for installing the lights... with the 4 factory fasteners removed you can seperate the inner and outer sail panels. slide the one half of the factory fastener over the wires and fish the wire through the holes the bolt will go through.

Fish the wires to the top center bar and once all the wires are there, snap the sail panel back together... push the outer part of the fastener into the hole, rather then screw the bolt in, I pushed them in... as it is hard to turn the bolt with wires out the back of em.

then start splicing the wires.

I spliced the lights together with a wire nut, all the red wire under one, all the black under another, then pig-tailed of that connection with a single 16g wire that I had laying around...

as I said I hooked mine up with the 3rd break light wires... if you remove the screws from the center cladding, no need to destroy the double sided tape on the top.... look up in there and you will see some plugs on the factory wireing harness... on the line side of the connecor remove the tape and use the inline splice blocks... (can get them at radio shack). again I metered for power with the brake pedal pressed down at this plug to see which wire was my + and which was my -.

give a good tight wrap of electrical tape over all connection points to keep out moisture.

and put it all back together....


I did this mod with the AV in the garage... too cold outside today... we barely hit 60 degrees.... >:D

Grey


I will take a couple pics of this tonight when it gets dark out... should look awsome with my LOF as well...

Now no one can say they didnt see me brake... tail lights, 3rd brake light, LOF and now these... the back of my AV lights up wike a chirstmas tree when I brake now... >:D
 
update. My wife hate's it and said it looks tacky and stupid. She also said that she would not drive my Av or be caught in it if I put those lights on..... To bad AutoZone and Pep Boys are closed today. I would have installed them in the freezing weather.
 
Sicilianos Avy said:
update. My wife hate's it and said it looks tacky and stupid. She also said that she would not drive my Av or be caught in it if I put those lights on..... To bad AutoZone and Pep Boys are closed today. I would have installed them in the freezing weather.

I was worried about that initially... the tacky look, but now that they are in... I actually think they look classy.... my 66 year old father likes them as well.....


Grey
 
Sicilianos Avy said:
update. My wife hate's it and said it looks tacky and stupid. She also said that she would not drive my Av or be caught in it if I put those lights on..... To bad AutoZone and Pep Boys are closed today. I would have installed them in the freezing weather.

If that was the case, I would put those lights everywhere I could. JUST in case she changed her mind. >:D
 
Sicilianos Avy said:
update. My wife hate's it and said it looks tacky and stupid. She also said that she would not drive my Av or be caught in it if I put those lights on..... To bad AutoZone and Pep Boys are closed today. I would have installed them in the freezing weather.


Too funny brother. I just ordered them from superbrightleds.com
Cant wait for me and you to install them together.

Todd
 
All I can say is (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)I love it!! But have to wait till it gets warm.. Gives me time to find the brightest
bolt I can find.. Thanks for the Mod.. Glenn
 
Hey Grey looking good (y). Almost looks like a runway back there. Just drive like hell if you see any planes following you >:D. Just kiddin. Mike.
 
I'd be interested in doing this mod...but I'd love to tie it into the turn signals as well. Where would be the easiest place to tap into the wires for the turn signals?
 
anyone put the LED's on the rear license plate? If you are going to put them on the sails you might as well do the license plate too. (y)
 
StrobinAvalancheSS said:
anyone put the LED's on the rear license plate? If you are going to put them on the sails you might as well do the license plate too. (y)

That's exactly what I was thinking Strobin! (y)
 
GreyAvalanche said:
Ok, much kudos to WesTexAvy, as this is his mod, I just thought that this mod deserved its own thread...
Thanks GreyAvalanche ?:) but I need to give credit to member Entity5 for starting the Painted Sail Panel Screws thread and to member NBAV for coming up with the LED idea in this thread: LED Idea !

In the following pic #1 shows the difference in my 2002 which used T30 Torx screws (real metal) and I believe later 2002s and on use the plastic screw. The install with the newer plastic fasteners is a lot easier.

Pic #2 shows that I did not completely remove the sail panels. I just removed all fasteners and then just gently split open the seam and held open with a screwdriver handle. Insert the wiring for all 4 LED bolts and feed to the bottom first. Then you can secure the LEDs one at a time starting from the top. From the base of the sail panel I soldered extension wires to all 4 positive and 4 negative wires. This is fed through the side storage bin to the underside of the truck and finally to the trailer harness for the tap.
WTA_RearLED4.jpg

 

Attachments

  • WTA_RearLED4.jpg
    WTA_RearLED4.jpg
    96.3 KB · Views: 5,647
hmmmmmmmmmm.... might be a mod coming in the future. Where would I be able to tap into the turn signals? any way of making them come on with the brakes and still blink with the turn signals?
 
bonedog said:
hmmmmmmmmmm.... might be a mod coming in the future. Where would I be able to tap into the turn signals? any way of making them come on with the brakes and still blink with the turn signals?
I tapped into the trailer wiring harness, because on a trailer, one light (one wire) does both Turn/Brake functions. Example.... if you are at a stop w/ your right turn signal on....the left LED bank is solid red (stop) and the right LED bank is flashing for the turn signal.
I checked this for someone last night: the Yellow trailer harness wire is the Left Turn/Brake and the Dark Green Wire is the Right Turn/Brake on the 2003/04. I believe the 02 is the same, but I will check.
 
WesTexAVY said:
I tapped into the trailer wiring harness, because on a trailer, one light (one wire) does both Turn/Brake functions. Example.... if you are at a stop w/ your right turn signal on....the left LED bank is solid red (stop) and the right LED bank is flashing for the turn signal.
I checked this for someone last night: the Yellow trailer harness wire is the Left Turn/Brake and the Dark Green Wire is the Right Turn/Brake on the 2003/04. I believe the 02 is the same, but I will check.

Thanks Wes.. just have to pick these up now and install... need the weather to get warm first or at least stop snowing.
 
WesTexAVY said:
I tapped into the trailer wiring harness, because on a trailer, one light (one wire) does both Turn/Brake functions. Example.... if you are at a stop w/ your right turn signal on....the left LED bank is solid red (stop) and the right LED bank is flashing for the turn signal.
I checked this for someone last night: the Yellow trailer harness wire is the Left Turn/Brake and the Dark Green Wire is the Right Turn/Brake on the 2003/04. I believe the 02 is the same, but I will check.


thanks for the info... I may end up changing my wiring to this method at laughin while everyone else is modding on Saturday....

any way of using these on the grab handle screws too? >:D


btw, westexavy... gave you some karma for pointing me to this mod... (y)
 
Back
Top