Front Off Road Light Options Help

[dedgar]

So I bought a set of KC Highlighers 130w for the front of my bronco with a vintage cactus pusher style guard on it. It has two brackets drilled for lights, but the KC's are too big to fit. It's only a little over 5" between the top bar and the bottom bar where the brackets are.

What vintage looking options do I have? I think I can drill holes in the side of the pusher and mount them sideways but that might look odd.

Who has what? and what works?

 

[FordBronc]

Can you flip the brackets over so they drop lower behind the bar? You can do that on the full size Ford truck OEM cactus bar. Or move the tabs to the top bar and then mount them? Or that might look odd also?

 

[dedgar]

here's what I"m working with

 

[Sporto]

I had the same bar on my Bronco in the 80's, and I ran into the same issue. I drilled holes in the side near the lower bar and mounted the daylighters sideways. It looked okay, I may be able to find some pictures if you want to see what it looked like. Those were the old sealed beam type of Daylighters, so I had to rotate the bulbs 90 degrees to get the light pattern the right way. I also mounted a set of KC Series 57 lights on the tabs, and they did a great job of giving me useful light while on the road. The kit came with three lenses, to adapt them to different driving conditions. All of them were great lights and lasted for years in PA when I used to drive my Bronco during the winters and to the shore in the summers. I can look for pictures if you want me to.

Rich

 

[Crush]

thats not a cactus smasher, that is a push bar. must mount a 4" or 5" round light or a square light in that bar. or you can cut off the tabs and grind smooth then mount the tabs to the bottom of that bar and hang them next to the license plate. Or you can drill a hole in the upright and mount them sideways on the upright just below the marker light

 

[dedgar]

I had the same bar on my Bronco in the 80's, and I ran into the same issue. I drilled holes in the side near the lower bar and mounted the daylighters sideways. It looked okay, I may be able to find some pictures if you want to see what it looked like. Those were the old sealed beam type of Daylighters, so I had to rotate the bulbs 90 degrees to get the light pattern the right way. I also mounted a set of KC Series 57 lights on the tabs, and they did a great job of giving me useful light while on the road. The kit came with three lenses, to adapt them to different driving conditions. All of them were great lights and lasted for years in PA when I used to drive my Bronco during the winters and to the shore in the summers. I can look for pictures if you want me to.

Rich

I thought about going sideways but I'm wondering if it will look odd. My other idea is to get a tube clamp from KC and mount it upside down on the bottom bar facing forward and just have the light outside the bars for the most part. I think it would fit.
Or is there a bar out there that looks vintage to the truck but fits the bigger lights without issues?

 

[Rustytruck]

Back in the day I had a push bar like that and used either Rally or Hella rectangular driving or fog lights in those mounting tabs. For a while I had 2 white driving lights on top and 2 yellow fog lights on the bottom using the same mounting tab.

Some people used Cibe or Marchal or some other thin round lights that fit between the push bar and the grill.

Drilling the side of the push bar to run KC lights was pretty common but they usually blocked the turn signals on the small Bronco push bars.

 

[DirtDonk]

There are some grille guards/push bars that have taller spacing, but finding them might not be a walk in the park.
What about the actual Cactus Smasher style (here's our version: https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Cactus_Smasher/bronco_stock_bumpers) that are out there?
I'll see if I can get a measurement for you, but maybe Andrew (BajaBroncos here) will know what fits his Stroppe reproduction: http://bajabronco.com/Products.shtml

Both are virtually the same, but there could be a slight variation on the spacing.
If the outside facing tabs are not wide enough for your Daylighters (aren't they just the standard 6" version?) then an alternative on both types of grille guards is mounting the lights underneath the bottom tube.
On yours you could still try that, but it looks like you'd have to fabricate some sort of spacer thingy to let the stud reach the hole.
The best way of doing that of course would be to cut the tabs off and re-weld them lower on the tube. But in a pinch some sort of adapter could be made to work at least temporarily to see how you like it.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[BajaBronco]

Yeah, I think you need to go back a few years before KC. I can set you up with a pair of Lucas that will fit. I also have Marchal and a pair of CIBIE fog that will fit. They didn't sell at the swap meet so I have some available. Especially with that Walker Buerge plate frame - you dont want modern stuff on there. Cool pushbar

 

[BajaBronco]

Lucas and Marchal would fit.

 

[FordBronc]

X2 that is a more common, cheaper and easier to find/reproduce push bar (no offence I like it none the less). I'd just get some what ever light that fit the space or just cut the tabs off and re-weld to the top and or very bottom of the bar and mount up what you have light wise.

FYI if you swap tabs to the bottom, some off road light do not like to be mounted upside down, the upside down position makes them NOT so water proof.

 

[House]

Sic plate frame! An older friend of mine bought his first new car from them.
I think a rectangular light would look better in that square pushbar anyway...

 

[Crush]

Here is a shot of mine. Very similar. I believe mine to be a Jackman branded one. There are 4” and 5” lights on ebay that look just like the kc’s and will prolly fit. 6” would not fit mine either. I forced a set on there and they were just too big. A buddy of mine had these 4” warn units he’s letting me use until i get another set and they look great

 

[Crush]

Foundd a closer pic

 

[TDubya]

I have a Smitybuilt push bar that I had on my 75 in the 90's with 6" Daylighters mounted to it. It has about 9" space between the bars. Its still in good shape if your interested. PM me..

 

[.94 OR]

I have some old KC type light housings that I put 5 3/4" Halogen Hi/Low headlights in so I have Hi/Low off-road lights depending on where I want the light.

 

[71broncman]

If a 5" will fit between the center and top bar you could get a pair of Pro Comp's from Summit that are reasonably priced and have the old school look that you want. I haven't looked for a while but I think you can get them in spot, flood, and fog beam patterns.
Mark.

 

[Mmflpa]

I have the same bar. What did you end up using?