Sliding Door Step Illumination

[mantaJim]

My van is a converted tintop and so doesn't have an overhead courtesy light and having seen some of the great pimps on BF, for quite sometime I fancied installing some nice "cool white" LEDs to illuminate the sliding door step.

Today I finally completed the installation (well almost - the switch needs a decent bezel ! ) .

It was probably about a year ago that I bought a "donor" step from ebay. The colour didn't match but that was ok (or so I thought at the time) because it was going to be a prototype.

I didn't really have a plan of what I was going to do but was given a reel of 12V "cool white" LEDs. When illuminated in the dark the LEDs looked great but I didn't fancy sticking them to the front face of the step and so the idea was put on hold.

Following various searches on ebay and the internet for translucent plastic strips, which I intended to somehow inset within the face of the step/in front of the LED strip, my dad said he had an idea... and so over Christmas I ended up drilling the step to align with the LEDs on the strip. I then sprayed the step in a nice flexible plastic paint (or so I thought) and then set about cutting up a number of cocktail stirrers which effectively comprised of a series of (approximately) spherical shapes which I lightly sanded to make cloudy/diffuse.

These were then super-glued into the holes in step and the rear faces ground flat with a dremel type device. Alas it transpired that the paint wasn't flexible and the "orbs" had to be removed and the step sanded and painted again with flexible bumper paint ... and new cocktail stirrers acquired ... and the whole laborious process of sanding, gluing and grinding repeated...

I installed a switch in the hole left in the C- Pillar trim where the original seat belt fixing used to be (I forgot to take a pic). The switch is wired with centre position as off - the other two positions are switched earth from the sliding door switch or permanent earth (I intend to install overhead LED strip soon).

I've added a few pics and whilst I'm not over the moon with the workmanship or the paint's ability to remain intact I'm reasonably pleased with the overall effect. Here's a few pics...

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/jiman ... .jpeg.html

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/jiman ... .jpeg.html

http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/jiman ... .jpeg.html


Jim

[mikeonb4c]

Looks good to me

[philpdr]

Second that.

[MX5Marc]

I love that!
Something else to add to my to-do list.... Is there ever an end to it

[paulinthetrees]

Hi I have a grey step in my van I read you painted one can you tell me what kind of paint you used as I have tried some but failed to stay on thanks

[mantaJim]

Hi

I used Halfords grey bumper paint and built it up with lots of thin coats. To be honest, though, I wouldn't recommend it without seeking advice from a professional - I didnt use any elasticisers or other additives which are probably required (but don't take my word for it) and it is flaking behind the jack access cover and picking up scuffs on the step itself too. I will probably just cheat and blow over the scuffs once they get to really annoy me.

I'd suggest taking the step to a specialist auto paint store - where you can get paint mixed etc and seeking their advice rebthe correct products etc - alternatively start a new thread on here - there are a couple of experts on this forum who should be able to help


Cheers

Jim