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unity spotlight install?

C

CoorsK5

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Oct 2, 2008
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Murderapolis, MN
hey everyone just wondering if any of you have installed a unity spotlight on your k5's before? theyre the spotlights on police vehicles mounted on the windshield pillar for anyone who doesnt know what they are. also if i buy one off ebay do i need to buy an install kit or do they come complete? ive seen on a ford forum where a guy mounted his on the top of the fender and used a 90* bend for the handle because he thought the pillar was too small, anyone done this either? thanks guys!
 
You will need to find a Unity dealer and order the mounting bracket specific to your year vehicle. It will have a template for the drilling and placement. They ground to the vehicle via the mounting and you only need to hook the wire to a hot source.

NOTE. The shaft length is important as to if it will interfere with steering wheel.
I looked it up once online and it showed the numbers for light and kit.
 
i was looking into buying a used one of a squad car because as much as id love to get a new one my funds wont exactly allow for it. so has anyone mounted one that came off a squad car? im just curious if the shaft would be too long or be in an inconvenient place or something, thanks for the input thus far
 
I should tell you go leap at a rolling donut!

for a 1987 the light would have to be: 5" model 325GM LH mounting kit 24. NAPA used to be able to get mounting kits.

9 inches for measure A
14.5 inches for measure B

Exposed%20Shaft%20Pic.gif


http://www.unityusa.com/Default.htm
 
I'm curious too. Now that I have some spare cash, I'd like to get one to compliment my Streethawk lightbar. I know there is a storm chaser guy around here with a remote spotlight on a newer Burb. He's got his mounted on top, but I couldnt tell if it was permanent mounting or the suction cup/magnet setup. One could probably get one of those remote spots for a decent price nowadays.
 
I finally threw away 2 spot lights about a month ago. I couldn't seem to sell them cheap enough so in the trash they went.
 
The site posted above has some nice stuff. http://www.unityusa.com/Default.htm

I'd like to see some pics if anybody has them mounted up. I've got several police pals and know of several shops where I can get one. I just haven't seen many pics of one on the Almighty K5...

I think they'd be just kickass altogether. But especially great for chasing varmints around the pasture. I've never been on the giving end of one of those lights but they can't be that hard to use...:rolleyes:
 
A buddy of mine put one on his 86 pickup. After a year or so, he said it wasn't worth the time or money. You are higher up in the air than a Crown Vic, they aren't much use for anything on the right side of the vehicle, unless you do both sides like a patrol car, and they weaken the pillar. After watching his project, I stuck with a hand held one that plugged into the cig lighter. If you are chasing animals, you are going to be one hand driving and one hand operating whatever light you have anyway. The handheld light gives you more options and you don't have to run fixed wiring. If you want it for lighting up a campsite or another vehicle, regular driving or fog lights will accomplish the same thing, you just have to point your vehicle in that direction.

However, if you are hell bent on getting one, just call and ask a small police or fire agency where they sub-contract out there fleet work. Large departments do their stuff in house. Small departments use somebody local for the install. They can probably get you used stuff and provide some advice on install, if not do it for you.
 
I have them on mine. I like the idea but they are somewhat of a nuisance as they always seem to have problems:

The screws that hold the bracket start to come loose as the screws open up the holes. I will fix this before I repaint by welding up the holes and redrilling. I have to figure out some other way of reinforcing the holes.

My son likes to play with them and now they don't always go aim where I want them to without getting out of the truck and aiming them by hand.

I do like that they aim where you need them to and stay there. On the passenger side I have it wired to a switch so I can turn it on remotely instead of having to get in the passenger seat.

I wish they would work like there supposed to because when they do work, they're awesome.
 
89yimmiJ said:
I have them on mine. I like the idea but they are somewhat of a nuisance as they always seem to have problems:

The screws that hold the bracket start to come loose as the screws open up the holes. I will fix this before I repaint by welding up the holes and redrilling. I have to figure out some other way of reinforcing the holes.

My son likes to play with them and now they don't always go aim where I want them to without getting out of the truck and aiming them by hand.

I do like that they aim where you need them to and stay there. On the passenger side I have it wired to a switch so I can turn it on remotely instead of having to get in the passenger seat.

I wish they would work like there supposed to because when they do work, they're awesome.
Click to expand...

Any time I have to mount something in sheet metal I use threaded inserts. That way I can use machine screws & loctite.

like these, but I don't recall them being that expensive
 
89yimmiJ said:
I have them on mine. I like the idea but they are somewhat of a nuisance as they always seem to have problems:
Click to expand...

Ditto on that. Most police agencies have somebody at the garage or on standby to fix screwy spotlights as they are always having issues. The handles come loose, the handle is too tight or too loose, the bulbs go out a lot, and they are not nearly as durable as you would think they would be for a public safety piece of equipment. You also catch a lot of branches with them as you go by....
 
Ours were always a pain in the butt. I preferred hand helds. Our city yards did most of our repairs. They spent a lot of time trying to fix them.
 
I have two complete lamp sets,(new, in boxes ) Napa sells the mount kits.
I sold the truck they were meant for......
 
i got one on my lowrider and i use it all the time with no problems just mount the bracket nice and tight and make sure theres no lateral binding on the shaft and your good to go..... now i am using a 07 model unity that was new when i got it .....
 
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