Where is my DOME light fitting ?!

Discussion in 'General Ranchero Help' started by lovejoy, Oct 27, 2020.

  1. lovejoy

    lovejoy In Second Gear

    Messages:
    68
    Hi guys, I have been trying to figure out just WHERE I can fit an overhead interior light in my 78 Ranchero ...
    It only has the two floor lights that are great for illuminating feet, or car mats, but I want to study a map or find something in a bag at night ( don't laugh!! ) , and wonder why they never fitted an overhead light, like is shown in this Continental Mk V video - car porn - warning !!!
    Is there any wiring or mounting flange inside the headlining anywhere, I don't want to go cutting it trying to find the location, the LTD must have been fitted with overhead lights too ??
     
  2. 1979 RANCHERO GT

    1979 RANCHERO GT In Maximum Overdrive

    Messages:
    1,108
    An easy fix is to use a pair of sun visors from a Mark V. Both visors have illuminated vanity mirrors and all they require is running a hot lead from the under dash lamp up the post to the visor mount hole. Instant dome light, no cutting or drilling. When I changed my headliner I looked into what it would take to add a rear overhead lamp, too much work for how little it would be used and the visors put the light right over top of you.
     
    HuevosRanchero likes this.
  3. lovejoy

    lovejoy In Second Gear

    Messages:
    68
    Hi, 79RGT , I will just pop down to Tesco's then,
    for a pair of Mk V sunvisors !!!
    I looked at your profile photo, your white 79 looks like its parked outside a church here in UK,
    - but I don't believe that!
    You must be over in the US of A, surely, hence the suggestion, I guess you went through the same thoughts about an interior lite.
    The best I have come up with, believe it or not,
    is an LED light display from Aldi, that is designed for cupboards or under kitchen cupboards, which I attatched with rubber bands
    to, guess where? The drivers side sunvisor
    My C4 vert has them built in too, sorry for swearing...
     
  4. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,003
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    Yeah, sadly, that structure the sedans and wagons that the light attaches to had to be deleted in constructing the Ranchero's roof. BUT, if you can find any of the modern Panther cars made after 1990 (Town Car), 1991 (Grand Marquis) or 1992 (Crown Victoria), their overhead lights are redesigned so that they don't get attached to the roof by the screws, they sit on a platform that's glued to the underside of the roof, and then a door switch power lead and a ground lead power it. It's bigger on the ones with the map lights, and a constant hot lead feeds the map lights as well as the vanity mirror lights. I'll post pics of the simple design in a couple minutes.
     
  5. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,003
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
  6. Jeff B

    Jeff B In Maximum Overdrive BRONZE MEMBER

    Messages:
    1,637
    Location:
    SoCal
    It has been discussed elsewhere here to install a Mustang or Cougar courtesy light in the "B" pillar. Looks factory and throws light where you need it.
    [​IMG]
     
  7. lovejoy

    lovejoy In Second Gear

    Messages:
    68
    Thank you guys, for all your replies,
    that mustang pillar light looks a good idea, I will investigate the possibilities of going down that route, maybe using something similar, cheers.
     
  8. 1979 RANCHERO GT

    1979 RANCHERO GT In Maximum Overdrive

    Messages:
    1,108
    That's the side of the garage. Mark IV visors might work also and the Lincolns use the same fabric as the Ranchero headliner. Mine has these visors and they work great at night.
     

Share This Page