Zuke's D.O.A - 89 Chevy Ambo Build

[zuke]

I've actually got some bulbs I'm going to try fitting into the current fixtures;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZE1UT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

At $1.25 if they work it would be great, But if they don't work out, those ones will be next one my list!

[97 Crestline]

Let us know how the bulbs work out. I've seen the issue addressed many ways.

In another thread it was pointed out that the $15 ones are not a cool white and could be harsh on your eyes... depends on their purpose though.

[Ryan Adams]

Love all the info very helpful since I will be swapping everything to LEDs to save amps

[Mike]

I've heard the original overhead lights can be huge energy hogs. Good call to go LED.

[zuke]

A few things accomplished last weekend and last night;

I installed a heat duct register in the back corner of the ambulance, this corner is open to a vent hood on the back of the ambulance, and by using the lowest profile register I could find at Lowes, I can now open and close it when I want. The Blue Glow from the cabinet above is a set of twelve volt plugs and a usb charge port I installed in the cabinet, that along with the coat hook next to the register will allow me to place the fan clipped to the cabinet in front of the register to move air in or out if I need to.




I Got a set of 1157 LEDs from Amazon;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MDOE5EB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(Sorry for the fuzzy picture), Original interior Incandescent on the left, new LED on the right;



If you're interior lights are using standard 1157 Bulbs (These are automotive Tailights) I Highly recommend this solution at $1.40 a light...

Fixture on the left has one of the LEDs, and the two fixtures on the right still have the incandescents;



And here we have the lights on "High" with all the LEDs installed.



These are not quite as bright as the incandescents, but I think that's actually a good thing, They are plenty bright on high, and comfortable for reading or relaxing on low.

This reduces both power use and heat output from the lights significantly, Going from 216 watts down to 12. Using a targeting thermometer, I checked heat, With the ambient temperature at 62°, The incandescents at 5 minutes were 83° and at 30 minutes were 124°. The LEDs on high at five minutes were still at Ambient, and at 30 minutes were 72°

[97 Crestline]

Very interesting. Now I'm going to need to check what kind of bulbs mine use... those seem far superior to the original bulbs.

[Mickeymouse]

Great looking Ambo.. I would have really liked to have 4x4. that is going to be a great feature when you need it.

[zuke]

Great looking Ambo.. I would have really liked to have 4x4. that is going to be a great feature when you need it.

Yup, I've been towing my crawlers with vans for the last 7 years or so, and if it had rained at all, we left the jeep off the trailer to recover the stuck van before loading it up! Gonna be a relief to have a tow rig that can get itself out

[Mickeymouse]

Great looking Ambo.. I would have really liked to have 4x4. that is going to be a great feature when you need it.

Yup, I've been towing my crawlers with vans for the last 7 years or so, and if it had rained at all, we left the jeep off the trailer to recover the stuck van before loading it up! Gonna be a relief to have a tow rig that can get itself out

It is surprising how slippery a grass field can be when it starts to rain. The slightest incline is a challenge when towing a couple buggys. I do not have 4wd but I am hoping the limited slip and dual rear tires will help a little bit.

[zuke]

Well, I've only had it to our favorite crawling spot once so far, (Going tomorrow though!) and it is exactly like that, we park in a grass field that you have to go up about 4 degrees to get out of... and the extra weight of the module, dual rears and limited slip pulled me right out without 4wd and the TJ on the trailer, so I'm happy so far! It's gonna rain there tonight, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow