Mounting Driving Lights/bullbar on L Wagon ?

Esubie · Post by **Esubie** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:19 pm

Hey Guys,
I went for a night drive in the country (where I live) recently. The standard headlights weren't anywhere near as bright as I'd like. Can't see much of anything.

What's the easiest way to mount some driving lights on this thing. I can't see anything obvious.

Option is to get some kind of front bar and mount to that. I figure the bigger the front bar the better but don't want to weigh the poor old thing down.

I see there was/is a 'nudge' bar. Doesn't look like it would keep many 'nudges' off the car but would be a lightweight thing to bolt lights to.

thanks for comments.

60766244 · Post by **60766244** » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:24 pm

Sit on gumtree for a bit and you should see an alloy bar pop up for anything from free-$50 to suit your L-Series. Paint it, cut it or leave it aluminum.
You needn't worry about weight, the one on my Brumby can be easily held up by one hand.
There's also generic, very small alloy bars that fit to the Number Plate mounts that you can buy from auto-shops.

Esubie · Post by **Esubie** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:47 am

Thanks for the comments.
More actual Gumtrees around here than Gumtree listings but will keep a watch.

From looking about the site it looks like the full bumper replacement bar is different between the Brumby and L Series.
But then I see advertised the bolt -on (leave bumper on) bullbar as 'suitable for Brumby and '80's wagon'. Is that right ?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:38 am

Easist is to drill holes into the front plastic bumper - mine came pre-drilled by pre-vious owner. You will also likely need some electrical help to wire the buggers up - all that is in here too - more Subaru specific way with the earth switching etc.

You got the lights ? Was looking at the light bars LED on ebay - they are all listed as off road but look like they give off teriffic light, only need up down focus as not likey to swivel left right - may be why not ADR'able.

Seen one 4WD with LED light bar on its front - the plastic lens has gone all yuck yellow from our harsh sun is my guess and thinking some cheaper chinese sourced stuff is not as UVed as it needs to be here.

L and MY.Brumby bull bars are generally not interchangeable between the models easily. The ref to 80's models would be 81,2,3 and 4

Esubie · Post by **Esubie** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:59 am

Thanks Steptoe.

Yeah. Drill thru the big bumper and put some little plates top and bottom was a thought. Don't fancy making holes in things unless I have to tho.

There might be one or two sets of lights in the shed. I'll have rummage later.

Will be giving it to a pro to wire up. Found the thread with a very nice diagram. Might have a discussion with the printer when the time comes.

Bullbars NOT interchangeable is what I thought. So "ALLOY BULLBAR SUIT SUBARU BRUMBY / WAGON. Alloy bullbar suit subaru 79 to 89" on Gumtree means suit Brumby and the 'pre L' 'Brumby Wagon' ?

Newbie Question : what is the Brumby/pre L wagon called ?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 4:12 pm

You may wish you never asked. The common Brumby is really second gen Brumby. Firsts gen Brumby, wagon and sedans same shape and engines etc EA71 1600cc were dubbed the Ugly series, the common 2nd gen Brumby and its mates with EA81 1800cc are known as MY don't ask ...think MY came out before the abbreviation for Model Year came into wider use. The 2nd gen Brumby is really an MV ! MV1800 in UK

Esubie · Post by **Esubie** » Sat May 04, 2013 10:16 am

^^ yeah, I don't want to know any more than that thanks. That's bad enough, but at least I know why a MY isn't a my.

60766244 wrote: There's also generic, very small alloy bars that fit to the Number Plate mounts that you can buy from auto-shops.

Now have one of those from Supercheap thanks. Also bought a switch/bracket to go with the lights I found in the shed, but then found I already had exactly the same thing. Would take them back for a refund but it's a 70km round trip where I live.

So I have all the hardware to get more light but now the drivers door window won't do it's thing right so that takes priority.

Completely offtopic but any tips on getting the doortrim off ?

60766244 · Post by **60766244** » Sat May 04, 2013 12:36 pm

Esubie wrote:^^ yeah, I don't want to know any more than that thanks. That's bad enough, but at least I know why a MY isn't a my.

Now have one of those from Supercheap thanks. Also bought a switch/bracket to go with the lights I found in the shed, but then found I already had exactly the same thing. Would take them back for a refund but it's a 70km round trip where I live.

So I have all the hardware to get more light but now the drivers door window won't do it's thing right so that takes priority.

Completely offtopic but any tips on getting the doortrim off ?

Buy a $5 "10 in one trim tool" or find a photo of one on the net and make it out of some steel sheet.

Makes trim removal 100x easier.

Esubie · Post by **Esubie** » Sat May 04, 2013 1:20 pm

Thanks for the tip. Did you buy yours a while ago ? I'm only finding them for about $15 + post. Not sure that's such good value for one door trim.

60766244 · Post by **60766244** » Sat May 04, 2013 3:00 pm

Esubie wrote:Thanks for the tip. Did you buy yours a while ago ? I'm only finding them for about $15 + post. Not sure that's such good value for one door trim.

Found mine in the bargain bin of the local AutoOne - I've seen them in those "$10 Tools" bins in servos/autoshops also.