License plate light

Snitzler · 04-05-2020, 12:32 PM

I am trying to get my plate lights going again. The only wires I found in the back are two weird cloth covered wires from the passenger side. I checked the schematic and shows grey but these wires are orange. I assume that these wires are cloth covered for heat being adjacent to the muffler. Am I on the right track?

tirwin · tirwin's Garage

Yes, the cloth is to protect the wiring from exhaust heat. I just did this job last week. I ordered 1/4” Insultherm made by TechFlex to replace the old damaged insulation. Got it from Summit Racing because they have a local store but there are other places that carry it.

One of the two wires is + and the other -. The only way to tell which is which is to put a meter on it and check for 12v with the parking lights on.

My ‘83 has a pair of wires for each side.

Snitzler · 04-05-2020, 07:20 PM

Success!

WPOZZZ · 04-06-2020, 12:41 AM

Your plate is illuminated from the top? Is it a custom job?

Snitzler · 04-06-2020, 09:14 PM

I got the hardware and led strip from superbrightleds. I modified an under cabinet light bar (!) with a 12 volt light strip. I think I am going to paint the bar white so that it doesn't look so obvious. It is about 1/2" square.

dg567 · 04-06-2020, 09:26 PM

Why not something less obvious?

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-wired-bolts/miniature-led-license-plate-bolt/1685/3942/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxLCTtLzV6AIVxJyzCh1mHg-UEAQYASABEgJpIvD_BwE

Snitzler · 04-07-2020, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dg567

Why not something less obvious?

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-wired-bolts/miniature-led-license-plate-bolt/1685/3942/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxLCTtLzV6AIVxJyzCh1mHg-UEAQYASABEgJpIvD_BwE

Tried them, as many have mentioned using the leds on the top holes causes the studs to hit the bumper. Using the leds in the bottom position had wire routing problems. The ones that I had were of really poor quality so I might try them again one day but for now good enough.

dg567 · 04-07-2020, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snitzler

Tried them, as many have mentioned using the leds on the top holes causes the studs to hit the bumper. Using the leds in the bottom position had wire routing problems. The ones that I had were of really poor quality so I might try them again one day but for now good enough.

Ah, good to know.