[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

find a rectangular lens to put behind the cover

I've been looking at options on the junkyard; however, every one had some sort of disadvantage.

- '89 Crown Viv: easy to install, but angled for a fender that curves inward more, i.e., on my car the beam would point upward too much.

- GMC Envoy: hard to install and uneven curvature.

- Circa 2000 Deville: hard to install, but a useful shape overall. This one could work.

Unable to look at '89 Thunderbird. I think I could fit those fairly easily, but they're rare in junkyards.

If you painted those silver like a LE

Nah...

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

@XR7-4.6, I'm also considering other options entirely. Many modern cars place cornering lights inboard next to the grille. Somewhat similar to that, I could use small LED spots pointing sideways from behind the license plate bracket.

I was wondering if anything installed in front of the lower bumper grille would affect cooling due too possibly inadequate air flow to the radiator.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Since these appear to be on the low beam circuit, does the added load require a different fuse? Assume normal incandescent bulbs.

Which fuse are the low beams on? Has the amperage changed between '89 and '97?

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Installation in progress. Don't judge the chrome; I will Plasti Dip the frames black - just not a priority today. Units are from '90 Crown Vic.

 

[Kenz]

You really cut into your bumper.

All joking aside it looks mostly factory, nice job! I'm sure it will be very functional and help quite a bit at night since your are in the city!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

You really cut into your bumper.

You only live once.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Initial comparison. Just some quick snapshots. Extremely satisfied with the result.

(The left side photos give a less accurate impression due to the curvature of the road.)

Low Beams

+ Left Cornering Light

Low Beams

+ Right Cornering Light

 

[supergordo]

Please provide insight into your wiring that you used.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Please provide insight into your wiring that you used.

In the diagrams you provided, I went to connector C208 and used the two unused pins. Sorry, I didn't note which is right and which is left.
I got an old connector from a junkyard and removed two female pieces from that. You simply push those into your connector (with the red piece removed); they click into place and you have a secure connection.

Then I fed the wires into the engine compartment to the cornering lights. I grounded them to the fenders.

It's a simple but somewhat tedious mod because you have to take so much apart (dash, splash guards, etc.). On the plus side, going through the firewall was very easy because I already had a channel in place from an old supplemental hood latch.

 

[supergordo]

Are those the 2000 Deville lights?

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Are those the 2000 Deville lights?

No, these are '90 Crown Vic. The advantage here, as you can see on one of the pics, is that they screw in securely from the outside (three screws), then the frame goes on top (two screws which you can't see because they go into the upper edge of the frame from below) and covers the cut lines in the bumper.

Initially I was concerned about the angle of the Crown Vic lights. However, by mounting them as low as possible, they actually create a flat beam of light parallel to the street surface (i.e., they won't shine into other drivers' eyes).

I liked the Deville ones, but it would have been much more difficult to mount them and cut a perfect hole.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Good bye, chrome.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Voilà. The authentic no-chrome 90s look. I'd say this can pass for factory-ish to anyone unfamiliar with the car.

 

[supergordo]

Pretty cool! I enjoy that you keep coming up with out of the box projects AND finishing them!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

out of the box projects

Thank you! This one is definitely a mod I'd recommend to anybody for the improved visibility. For those who don't want to alter their bumpers, one could conceal LED units under the bumper to get a similar effect.

AND finishing them!

Once I set my mind to something...
This one was personal though: years ago I owned an '06 Crown Victoria. Seemingly everybody else's Crown Vic on crownvic dot net was pre-wired for cornering lights directly at the connector just behind the fender. Mine wasn't; and back then I wasn't prepared to feed wires through the firewall, etc.
It was particularly annoying because installation of the actual light fixture on the Crown Vic is extremely easy: you simply swap in front corner lights from a Grand Marquis. I still did that, but I used the cornering light bulbs for supplemental side turn signals.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Those look alright! I’m surprised, I did not like them with the chrome bezels, at all, but the black makes them look like a period accessory.

I have a set of cornering SC cornering lights with body colored bezels(though I’m not sure they’re a perfect match) I’ve toyed with installing at least once every year for the last, like, 8 years but I just can’t bring myself to cutting the bumper for them. I still cringe at drilling the trunklid to install the perfectly installed perfect color match sport wing I added in 2010 lol

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Those look alright! I’m surprised, I did not like them with the chrome bezels, at all, but the black makes them look like a period accessory.

I settle for "alright"...lol. They'd be perfect if the frames were more rounded to match the car's overall design better. Yes, the chrome had to go.

I just can’t bring myself to cutting the bumper for them.

Wait, yours is a '94? So your bumper actually has the cut lines already there on the back. You'd have to remove the bumper, but the actual cutting is error-proof. In my situation ('97), it required a whole lot of measuring, aiming, etc.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Yes, but its not about margin of error it’s that I have a real aversion to cutting into perfectly good bodywork lol

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

it’s that I have a real aversion to cutting into perfectly good bodywork lol

Think of it as cosmetic surgery.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Think of it as cosmetic surgery.

That’s the problem, I do lol