Under hood light modified

[MrLightning]

Was just sitting here thinkin about the underhood light on my cutlass. Seems GM didtnt really do much (other than the minimum) when it comes to the size of the light they used under the hood. Not only was the bulb small for the amount of light projected across a very large area under the hood, but the placement of the light itself is horrible for its overall use. Im thinking about adding another one, on the passenger side in a bout the same location from side of hood, as on the drivers side. First off, has anybody done this? second off, can I splice another light into the one I already have? Both would have mercury switches, I just wasn't sure if two would overload the wiring being used for just the one right now.

 

[565bbchevy]

I bought a pair of later model GM lights from Ebay, they have a built in braided ground strap but otherwise look like the factory Gbody lights and are mercury switches.
I have both tapped into original wiring but have them wired to a on/off rocker switch on my inner fender so I can turn them off when I drive so they don't come on at full throttle.

 

[mebe007]

I don't even have one

 

[MrLightning]

I don't even have one

they were options, my car didn't have one either......................I added it, but one seems to be quite insufficient. Hence, my wanting to add another.

 

[BPTTONE420012]

or you could be lazy and just order that size bulb in chinese made l.e.d... those damn things are freakin bright, i replaced my dome light with a little 2" by 2" pad of leds, and its insanely bright... it reminds me of the flashy thingy in men in black... i'll have to take a pic and post it... its funny, someone next to me opens their door and a dim pale yellow light barely silhouettes the inside of their car, i open my door and my car glows bright white... the diffence from old to new is insane... i have been debating on running a light for under my hood, but i am going to be buying a cowl hood soon, so i figure i'll wait...

 

[MrLightning]

yeah I might do that also or instead. Those LED bulbs are super bright and half the energy usage.

 

[BPTTONE420012]

tonight, after it gets dark out, i will take a picture of my malibu with the stock bulb, and one with the led to show the diffence...

 

[Clutch_Grabwell]

I bought a pair of later model GM lights from Ebay, they have a built in braided ground strap but otherwise look like the factory Gbody lights and are mercury switches.

I installed a pair of lights 10 years ago and didn't bother to wire them up until a couple of weeks ago. And then they didn't work until a test ground from the hood to the rest of the body was added. The braided ground strap sounds like a good idea but what ever works...

 

[pontiacgp]

for obvious reasons I would think a ford product would have the best under hood lighting

 

[axisg]

for obvious reasons I would think a ford product would have the best under hood lighting

LOL I gotta remember that one !

All the Stock hoods I have seen are actually drilled with holes both sides to install the light. I have 2 lights, both stock on the same line. On mine I wired in a bullet connector so I can unhook the light when working underhood for a long time
I recall being told somewhere over the years the lights were only bright enough ( and installed ) the same side as the dipstick to check your oil at night. I find that the 2 lights installed its enough light for me. Otherwise I have an LED flashlight in the glovebox.