Fog lights

[Pomorza]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of getting a set of fog (driving) lights for my 280z. Does anyone have a set of these, and where did you mount them?

Thanks

Jan

[TQs30z]

You could mount it under or above the front bumper or mount it on the grill. Whatever you like best.

Ed

[boyblunda]

Last time I looked in my home state of Western Australia there were different definitions for spotlights, fog lamps and driving lights even though they may be identical in appearance and mounting - the differences lay in the operation and wiring of the lights.

However, I think this is an aside to my perceived intent of the question which is seeking suggestions as to how additional lights might be mounted a a Zed.

One of Zeds had two rectangular lights mounted under the bumper and I thought they looked fairly appropriate in that location. I have seen many owners mount lights on the bumpers but others do not want to drill holes in the bumpers to do so, particularly if their bumpers are in good condition.

One alternative to mounting lights close to the bumpers is to have brackets fabricated that mount onto the bumper brackets.

We do not have the 280Z in Australia but I would imagine that the mounting of lights would not be allowed to obscure vision of the grill mounted indicators.

The early works Zed rally cars had additional lights mounted on the bonnet / hood and the fenders but I would think that is not really an option for a nice road car.

For those owners mounting round lights such as the Hella 500 which have a slim profile, I have seen brackets fabricated that mount the lights between the grill and the radiator. They are not as efficient in that location but they are out of the way, better protected from stones or debris from oncoming traffic, less prone to being stolen, and do not alter the external appearance of your vehicle.

I have four additional lights on my daily driver, two (Hella 500) angled off the road to illuminate the sides of the road, and two (Hella 2000) shining straight ahead. They are mounted on an alloy nudge bar and look bloody awful but this is a car I drive on dirt roads in all weather and where kangaroos can cause mayhem so I can live with it on this particular car.

My black refresh project car has two rectangular Hella lights that will be mounted under the bumper by brackets that share the bumper brackets. I have new fibreglass bumpers and want to avoid a vibration or strength of mounting problem. I think the rectangular lights with their light covers on look like they were meant to be in this position.

Some statutory authorities might have regulations restricting the height of your additional lights relative to the position of your headlights. This would be worth checking out before you decided to do anything at all.

FWIW

Dave

[Powderkeg]

Jan,

I got a set from Summit Racing: Optilux 1450. It came with Fog lights and relays and easy to follow instructions.

I also got an On/off LED switch from Autozone: Pilot Rocker Switch PL_SW22B.

I relocated the License plate to the center and placed the lights under the bumper on my 76 280Z.

John at H4 Lights.com sells quality lights as well.

Dave Ruiz

[Pomorza]

Thanks guys,

Dave, I would like to see a picture of that Z of yours, sounds like it might be interesting. Here's the only problem. I no longer have the original bumper on my Z, as well they weighted a ton and I got rid of em. I searched around today and found this does anyone know what lights those are as that's the bumper I have.

Thanks

Jan.

[TomoHawk]

Traditionally, fog lamps, usually with yellow or orange light, should be very low and wide to spread the light across the road just ahead of the car, to illuminate the edges of the road, so they should go under the bumper near the ends. Driving lamps are traditionally mount higher, and closer together to illuminate the road more brightly and further away, so they should go at about the same height as the headlamps, and closer together, but can be tailored to give light as desired.

the S30 has a problem with the mounting position for driving lamps, because the later models have the turn signal lamps in the place where you would probably mount the driving lamps, so you will need to compromise. Alternatively, the rally cars put the driving lamps in the best position, across the hood, but that's not a good idea for use on public roadways.

Edited April 14, 2011 by TomoHawk

[boyblunda]

Hi Jan

Links to some photos of my Zeds with additional lights mounted.

Both Zeds, front view

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=1.jpg

Black Zed with rectangular lights

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=2.jpg

Gold Zed with horrible light mounting bar

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=6.jpg

Sorry about not having the skills to edit and upload photos properly.

Tomohawk, I agree with your comments although the classic rally photos of the works BDA Escorts often show 4 driving lights with a two above , two under configuration. A lot of people mount driving lights in a less than best lighting position to preserve the lines and appearance of their car.

Where I come from fog lights are those that can be switched on independently of the head lights while the parking lights are on. This stops the head lights from illuminating the fog and the additional lights get the light on the ground. Driving lights are wired into the light system to only be allowed to operate in conjunction with the high beam. A spotlight is a light that operates independently of the others eg a rear mounted reversing light on a rally car or even a roof mounted light for some other vehicles for non driving purposes - hunting, taxi drivers looking for street numbers etc.

Jan, in the galleries I think I noticed both Jackhammer and 280Z turbo had lights mounted similar to those in the photo you posted.

Regards

Dave

Edited April 15, 2011 by boyblunda
Searching for clarity of statement

[Pomorza]

Hi Jan

Links to some photos of my Zeds with additional lights mounted.

Both Zeds, front view

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=1.jpg

Black Zed with rectangular lights

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=2.jpg

Gold Zed with horrible light mounting bar

http://wazregister.com/membercars/daveb/images/imageviewer.php?filename=6.jpg

Sorry about not having the skills to edit and upload photos properly.

Tomohawk, I agree with your comments although the classic rally photos of the works BDA Escorts often show 4 driving lights with a two above , two under configuration. A lot of people mount driving lights in a less than best lighting position to preserve the lines and appearance of their car.

Where I come from fog lights are those that can be switched on independently of the head lights while the parking lights are on. This stops the head lights from illuminating the fog and the additional lights get the light on the ground. Driving lights are wired into the light system to only be allowed to operate in conjunction with the high beam. A spotlight is a light that operates independently of the others eg a rear mounted reversing light on a rally car or even a roof mounted light for some other vehicles for non driving purposes - hunting, taxi drivers looking for street numbers etc.

Jan, in the galleries I think I noticed both Jackhammer and 280Z turbo had lights mounted similar to those in the photo you posted.

Regards

Dave

Thanks for the tech lesson there. I actually never knew the difference between the two. Those two Z's look awesome btw, and that bull bar (light bar) looks killer, even if it doesn't really fit 100%.

Jan

[H4LIGHTS]

Last time I looked in my home state of Western Australia there were different definitions for spotlights, fog lamps and driving lights even though they may be identical in appearance and mounting - the differences lay in the operation and wiring of the lights.

FYI:

Here's a beam chart that may be helpful for future reference:

The low (dipped) is for an Emarked LHD headlight. If RHD just reverse the dipped beam pattern.

[boyblunda]

H4Lights, that is an excellent chart depicting the beam patterns for lights.

The quote you took from my post should have been written by myself as "the statutory differences lie in the operation and wiring of the lights". However, this legal definition ignores the functionality of the lenses and the patterns that match the relevant terms described in your chart.

On my own car the upper larger lights are clear pencil beams for long range open road driving and the lower lights have a medium spread beam (as distinct from a fog beam) to illuminate the sides of the road and the insides of the bends in the roads.

If drivers want a genuine fog beam they need to choose a lens that suits the shorter range pattern on your chart.

People purchasing and mounting additional lights on their vehicles would do well to carefully consider their driving environments and purchase lights with lenses with light patterns from your chart that best suit them.

Edited April 15, 2011 by boyblunda
spelling

[TomoHawk]

Not only that, but you have to take into account the topography of where you are or will be driving. Long range beams do very little in a hilly area.

[TomoHawk]

Has anyone considered any of the domestic styles of lamps? The newer Mustangs and others have a fog/driving lamp that is long and narrow. Aside from the peculiar way it's mounted (to the Mustang's lower bodywork,) it looks like it might work under the bumper on an S30. If I knew how to remove one easily, I might try to get one from a JY and see if I could make a mounting bracket with some adjusters.