The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Unity Spotlight Cowl Mount Template 1959

Unity Spotlight Cowl Mount Template 1959

Asking for a friend on another site.


Does anyone have the Unity cowl template or can give me a close-up pic of the outside hole location on the cowl and the inside hole location? I searched the web and found 47-54 and 60-66 but no 55-59. UnityUSA does not have it either.

It appears to me that it either needs to be vertical or horizontal to better adjust the beam direction correctly.

There is a 57 one-ton wrecker on FB that has a spotlight thru the cowl but at present he will not just sell the light but I may end up trying to get better pics on it.
Figured some of you fire truck guys might have one.

I have a 1970 American LaFrance that I am thinking about parting out and scrap. I would rather sell the whole truck complete, where it sets for, a little more than scrap value price. You pick it up as is.
It has a spotlight on both upper corners of front windshield.
Let me know if you may be interested in one, and I’ll get you a few pictures after the holidays.

Don

Don - I don’t think hcb3200 is looking to buy a spotlight, just asking for help finding an installation template or pictures of an installed cowl spotlight.

Take some pictures of your spotlights and post to try and help when you can.

Others may be along to offer help soon.

Thanks Dan, I did read that wrong. I’ll see if I can get some pictures tomorrow.

Don

Thanks H -- thank all for the responses. The proper mounting kit (110) that is discontinued from Unity for a 55-59 chevy would have had a template. There are a couple of 110's for sale on ebay but they have old Ford car templates and are very pricey. I have a working spotlight that has a flex mount bracket that I will be using or create my own, When I do get it done, I will post detailed picks of the locations installed spotlight on both forums.

Why --- it fits the theme of my 59 GMC 100 Fleet Forest Service truck.

dennislbrooks on 67-72.

In a nut shell looking for Unity 110 or 110RH install instructions
Driver Side Installation Kit 110
Passenger Side Installation Kit 110R
or
Template Pattern B-286

Just the left side - 110. A 110R just sold on ebay for $3. But wrong side.

Good template info- will look around. -----No go.

Yea a 110RH bracket will not work but the template is the same Just inversed so if you can find either instructions or someone willing to copy them and send them that would work.

Another method would be to use a string from two prominent points (say the wiper mount and the edge of the cowl) to each bolt hole on an existing installation. With the length of the string you could locate the mounting holes for a new installation without a paper template. I did that on my rear fender patches to locate the holes for the running board attachment. I just used a couple of marker dots on the sheet metal that was not cut away, and got the new holes exactly where the originals were.

I want to say, Unity has those templates on their web site. I could be wrong, it's been a while.

From H's info on the other forum, I have ordered the correct mount bracket 110 from Rescue. I still have not found a template from Rescue or Unity. But if nothing else for the outside I will see what best fit of the mounting bracket on the cowl is for a general location.

Unity seemed to magickly find them when I asked with some specific details and holding my finger to the left.

hcb3200 - Outstanding effort and success in getting these from Unity and posting to share with the collective!

If possible, can you repost the files with a file name change that identifies exactly what the templates apply to? I think your first file is the passenger (right) side template set - Yes/No/Maybe so??? Understood the second file notes the "Template Pattern B-286" designation, same as you mentioned above for the drivers (left) side, so that is recognizable for what it applies to.

Changing the file names though will make the information pop up in Stovebolt searches quicker for folks to find in the future.

hcb3200,
Thanks for taking that extra step in obtaining the files. I'm sure others besides your friend will benefit, big time.

Updated file names.
Fits multiple makes and model years of Trucks, cars etc
for this group 55-59 GM Trucks

Templates fits either side you just flip it over

Thanks for updating the file names. Since the info provides multiple vehicle applications and templates, I took a screenshot of the instructions/chart with the make/model info and which template applies to the 1955-59 Chevy and GMC trucks. I rotated and edited the pic as an extra pointer to make it easy to track which template (B-286) to use for the trucks.

i thank Hcb3200 for the B-286 template on the cowl. I will post pics once I have the template in place. I am not sure which hole to use yet and maybe the Unity 110 mounting bracket will help with that determination. I am glad we can save this kind of info for others future use on the forums.

It does print out on a full 8 1/2 x 11 landscape. It appears to place it high on the cowl and on the inside dash -- must be correct. I cannot have both edges of the template B-286 where it says to put them. ???


I think I would use left hole position. I will see where the bracket lays best when I get it.

How does one insure that the template prints out in the correct size?

The cowl curvature in that example isn't anywhere near correct. How would you know which end should be at the edge of the cowl?

I suppose if the hole spacing matches the light it's ok but it leaves a lot of room for error up and down

The template as I understand came from Unity. If you look at this 57 wrecker, it may be correct.

I printed and put it on my 56. It was the same as your picture.

off a little if you lined up with door edge and off on door if you lined up the cowl line.

When the real bracket comes in that will be the real tell when you see all the alignments.

But it is the one unity said use.

I wonder if you took a picture annd sent it to them what they'd say?

I got the Unity bracket kit 110 today. It has about 10 templates for Ford, Freightliner, Chevy but not anything for GM truck 55-59. I will take pics of that and post them in a generic forum on here for keeping on the web.

I placed the bracket to best fit the cowl contour where it is parallel and was aimed thru the dash. Both a high and lower position ( I have seen both) and where they may come thru the dash. Final position before screwing down the bracket then drilling will need tweaked further. The length of the spotlight shaft and headlight switch and knees will have to be considered also. Will ponder....

The door gains separation as you open it. I do not see a problem high or low. Storage position which needs consideration so it cannot be stored over the cowl | door separation seam. From what I have seen, knees would not be an issue in top position for sure. But I will be considering all I can think of.

Drilling holes in the body is scary.

Here are 2 wrecker trucks. One using the lower position and the other using the higher. Both also have inside pics.

Getting closer to drilling scary holes. I will make a template and hopefully I will not have to adjust the template after I already placed the spotlight. The bracket has about a 1/16" gasket. This is about the best lay for the bracket trying to keep it somewhat level. You mount the bracket (2 metal screws) with its 1/2-inch bushing for drill alignment. The attached pics shows my choice outlined in orange and where it appears the inside hole will be. I need to check my wiring under the dash. I will place a newly drawn template on the cowl for reference.

Spotlight installation is complete except for fuse and 12v but is has been tested - it lights. The spotlight has 2 motions and that is turning it side to side and also turning the whole unit like an owl turning its head upside down. Placing perfectly level allows fewest adjustments but you can tolerate a little angle.

Drilling thru 3 not flat (at angle) surfaces makes a challenge to keep the bits from walking. A jig helps and starter holes and a long center punch also. I used a combination of bell hanger bits and short bits-- 1/4 to 3/8 to 1/2". I find taping paint and using a small pilot hole then a step bit works pretty well to prevent paint chipping.

The template is a pdf file and should print out to scale for use. I did not use location "A" as there is a tray inside up the column that I thot it might interfere with. I used "B' and it looks good and functional. But if I had to do again, I would use try "A".

Thanks to Hcb3200 for locating the Unity 110 bracket and for others input. It made starting/completing the spotlight installation easier.

Wow. Drilling on a finished paint job like that would scare me into not doing it.

Here is the final look of the spotlights and the west coast junior mirrors. The mirrors really improved the rear view.

It all looks fantastic! The mirrors are perfectly proportional to the truck. Thanks for sharing!