2012 Impala Slicktop Traffic Units

[C2Installs]

I recently completed two 2012 Impalas for a regional agency. These are going to be used for traffic/aggressive driving enforcement, mostly during daytime, I think. They wanted a lot of visibility when lit up and for the cars to leave an impression. I spec'd all SOS products for warning and they turned out great. Please forgive the pic quality, I used my iPod Touch and Android phone for pics. Pics show both the black and silver car interchangeably. Hope you like them and the detail work.


Videos first: (Sorry, no night shots and low quality from cell phone. I really got to get a camera.)


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Now the nitty-gritty:


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I knew from the start that I was NOT going to do HAWs in the headlights in these cars. Just not worth the PITA! Instead, I sold the customer on my own version of the "Stealth" license place bracket...two white SOS LED3s on 45 degree brackets. I simply mounted them against the LP holder using fender washers and 10x32 machine screws. The result was impressive and really nailed the 45 degree angle. They do not add much straight to the front due to the TIR optics. Overall, I really like how they came out.


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While the front was off, I went ahead and mounted the speaker, a SOS 100H unit. The SOS bracket is my favorite for the Impala, and it's stainless steel construction is lightweight and plenty solid. And it won't rust to crap like the other brands. It bolts up easy and just works.


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I also knocked out the grille lights while the front was off. Two SOS XP63s worked well, but it took a bit of time to get them positioned correctly for max output. They work well, even behind the grille. The XP63's built-in mount was all that was needed and I used screws and spring-nuts to hold them in place. I still think the XP63 is the least-appreciated product in SOS's line-up. It is an excellent lighting choice at a great price, and is very versatile.


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The SOS Impala Plug-n-Play Flasher was utilized for the wig/wags. No drama, and uses the Impala's wiring.


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Here is the front tie-in for the grille & LP LEDs. I used standard butt connectors and good heatshrink. Should be easy enough to access if needed.


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I put Intersectors on the mirror. Very simple and straight-forward. Impalas are the easiest mirrors to install these on by far. I thought I took more pics than this, but apparently not.


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Additional side warning was accomplished using SOS Ghost Rock lights mounted to the doors. Cables were run externally for ease of install and servicing. I secured the cables using plastic clamps. The Rocks work well here, as they swivel to allow for best viewing angle and the bracket helps reduce flashback somewhat. They also look cleaner than other choices, IMO.


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The rear deck got a Pinnacle interior bar. It is stunning in its output. To mount it, first fit the brackets loosely to the bar. Set the bar on the deck tight to the window. Check the fit. Again. Now mark the mounting holes for the bracket. Now remove the rear deck covering and drill the holes. Loosely mount the bar to the deck using a fastener that will not require you to hold the blind back side. I made a simple metal plate with two 1/4x20 rivet-nuts (nut-serts) in it as a backing plate. Now, re-fit the deck cover to the deck and secure it. Finally, fit the Pinnacle bar tight to the window and bolt it down. It really isn't hard, but for best results, take your time. As an alternative to using bolts to mount the bar, you could use 1" long interior trim push fasteners (fir tree fasteners) to pin it down, allowing for easy removal. You would still need to remove the deck cover and use extreme care in making 1/4" holes for the fasteners, but it would work and be plenty secure, IMO.


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Red SOS LED HAWs were added to the rear taillights. Simple.


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SOS 385 Remote Handheld siren amp was mounted in trunk behind side-cover on driver-side. I added a PDC block taken off a Tahoe.


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Kenwood radio amp and wifi download interface module for Safety Vision camera were mounted under deck. Took some time and was aggravating, but worked out well.


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I used the seat back's lower mounting plate to aid in routing the wire run and protecting it.


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Here is Setina's MUCH improved mounting system for the Impala. One simple plate and three easy holes to drill versus a bunch of cuts in the plastic trim cover.


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Some shots of how I mounted the PITA speaker, PITA mic cradle, and PITA rear seat camera. You do know what PITA means, right?


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Ok, the customer provided a Galls radio rack to use in this install. I hate them. But, they did not want a console and did not want the communications equipment just screwed down somewhere...this is because their old upfitter plain sucked and did a lot of crappy work. I played with the rack and realized I could invert it and fasten it to the console's center drop. It works well and looks pretty good. Really simplified the interior and made the customer happy. You can also see the Havis docking station. It was a PITA to install, too, due to the Impala's goofy front seat hook-in mounting system.


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I wanted to mount the 385 RHH controller high on the dash to allow for easy of use by the officer. It took a bit of figuring due to the airbags and limited dash real estate and contours. I finally found a solution in a XP63 bracket. With a bit of fitting, I was able to use it to mount the siren controller's cradle to the dash. I think it turned out pretty well.


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Some shots of how I made the Safety Vision camera and monitor work with the Pinnacle Interior Windshield bar. It was not fun. I will only say I am not a Safety Vision fan. The monitor is huge.


That's about it. I really thought I took more pics...Oh well, you get the idea. Lots of details and two cool Impalas.


Thanks for looking!

 

[KFRDtondout]

Good deal I like the look alot.

 

[Core Public Safety]

Very nice! That's a lot of hard work right there. Thank you so much for taking the time to document it so thoroughly!

 

[philyumpshus]

That looks great, it's nice to see more SOS equipment. Great job on all the pictures, too! :thumbsup:

 

[twodogs603]

Great job.


ProGard uses the same design for their prisoner partitions also. I dont like it. I like the other install kits better. Im not a big fan of drilling those 3 large holes in the B post cover. And I dont think the current design would give the same protection in a rollover. I prefer the partitions where the legs go all the way too the floor.

 

[Fast LT1]

One of the best installs i've seen in awhile. Love the impala, this is my dream POV!

 

[rsmartin]

If I mount lights on the rear doors like that ( awesome btw ) the wife would behead me. Did you put LAWs/HAWs in the headlights?

 

[FireEMSPolice]

Looks great!


That isnt a 9C1 or 9C3 is it? Doesnt look like it from the grille, though I wish Chevy would offer that grille for the sake of seeing lights better.

 

[5309]

Looks good

 

[lafd55]

Very nice. Nice patterns, one color, and effective all around. Great Install!

 

[twodogs603]

Looks great!

That isnt a 9C1 or 9C3 is it? Doesnt look like it from the grille, though I wish Chevy would offer that grille for the sake of seeing lights better.

I looks like a 2012 LTZ model. Not 9C1 or 9C3.

 

[firefightin6]

:inlove: Wow dude you really took lots of pics. Great job dude. :hearts: Love it. :hail:

 

[mjberryjr]

The lights look awesome. Great install. I wonder if I could get a grill like that for my 07 Impala. The only thing I don't like is that ugly huge antenna thing on the roof. It looks like a can of peas on the roof! :yes:

 

[C2Installs]

This is the "detective" or street-appearance police Impala. I came with all the wiring usually found in the police variants.


Regarding the partition, I haven't seen one that mounts to the floor or front seat's rear outer mounting bolt...but I haven't installed every manufacturer's Impala offerings yet. The older Setina style for the Impala mounted similarly, but was a bit more of a PITA and had several parts which never seemed to line up just right. The trim cover cuts sucked as well, IMO. I'm not sure mounting to the Impala's front seat rear outer mounting bolt would be a good idea in the Impala. First, the seat rail's rear mounting bolts are the only bolts holding the seat...the front of the seat rails hook into the floor pan. The bolts are external torx, short, and fit very closely to the rails. It would be hard to design a bracket that would be substantial and fit. In fact, the seven new Chargers I'm building now are using a Jotto Desk Space Saver partition that mounts to the front seat rail's outer bolts and even when tight, there is significant side-to-side play in the partition. Not as rigid as I'm used to from Jotto/Patriot's other offerings. In addition to the limited space for a seat rail mounting bracket, I would be concerned about screwing up the seat rail's alignment and integrity. Overall, I think the roll bar feature in these Impala cages will work well enough and certainly reinforce the lateral crush strength of the car. I get where you're coming from, but I think it's the best that can be done in this car.


Thanks all for the compliments!


-Matt

 

[FireEMSPolice]

This is the "detective" or street-appearance police Impala.

So its a 9C3

 

[Storm4200]

looks great!! NO split fail, NO purple light, Perfect patterns, NOT overkill, PERFECT amount of light in ALL the right places. Great Job!! :thumbsup:

 

[EVT]

Wow well done!! I've been waiting for those pics! I love how detailed your work is. That rear bar is indeed bright!

 

[julietbravosierra]

I;m usually not a conformist.. but I agree with the consensus here.. NICE work. Thank you for documenting everything so thoroughly! I love the look of the new 9c3.. but it looks almost like it's lifted! haha

 

[bill98579]

The grill is the standard grill for the 2012 Impala. GM used the grill/fascia from the Impala SS, presumably because they need more cooling for the new motor they started using.

 

[FDNY 10-75]

Excellent work. I would slow down the patterns.

 

[RL1]

They look great! Did you get a chance to drive them much? I'm just wondering how the new engine is compared to the old one.

 

[Radarcop290]

Very nice install. Incredibly "clean" in appearance. I have a 2008 Precision Red Chev Impala Police Package (Street Appearance) that I was assigned brand new. I was a Sergeant in charge of our Traffic Unit at the time. It was the best unmarked car I had ever had in the 13 years I was in Traffic. Fortunately when I was promoted to Lieutenant, two years later, I was able to keep the car, even though I was moved from Traffic to an administrative position (I've since been moved back to Patrol and still have the car!). The Impala Street Appearance cars are some of the best for Traffic Enforcement. They retain such a "civilian" look that most people drive right by you and don't even take a second look. I have caught so many violators with mine. I never even needed the radar. I was too busy without it. I also added the Impala "SS" Grille to mine as your installs have so the led lights would shine through much better than the standard "slat" type grille that comes standard. That sound off lighting is very impressive. I also have the "Pinnacle" in my back window exactly like these do. I will now be adding those "rock" lights you describe for the side windows (thanks for the idea). I also like those canted 45 degree lights you have mounted to the front tag bracket. Very useful idea on that and something else I am going to do for front warning. That Sound Off Lighting looks incredible. I was also impressed with the radio rack you created by turning the normally floor mount rack upside down, it looks like it was designed for the Impala center console.

 

[11b101abn]

Excellent work. I would slow down the patterns.

Agreed. I would alsolike some uniformity in the patterns, but that's a peeve of mine and not a reflection on your work.


The lack of a center console is not good. IMO.

 

[C2Installs]

Agreed. I would alsolike some uniformity in the patterns, but that's a peeve of mine and not a reflection on your work.

The lack of a center console is not good. IMO.

First, on patterns...I tend to prefer simple, but the customer wanted to jazz it up a bit. The patterns are effective in person and at distance. All angle and side warning is synched on a "heartbeat" pattern and this gives almost 100% on-time from any angle. The rear deck was kept fairly simple in modes 1 & 2. The grille lights are set fast to match what the customer's other cars have set. The window lightbar was set to match the grille lights in mode 1 and then a bit more random in mode 2. With the number of available lightheads and patterns, the possible combos are nearly endless and I don't think a consensus could ever be reached. In the end, the customer is happy and I wouldn't feel unsafe if I was using the lighting as configured, so I'll call it a day.


Center console really is not needed in this car. In fact, the customer went to a hand-held siren specifically to get away from consoles. In the Impala, console options are limited or expensive due in part to the "crush box" located between the front seats. In these two cars, a console also wasn't an option because they came with a full-width front seat (ordering snafu?) that had an armrest and built in dual-cupholder. I removed the upholstered lid for the cupholders, but otherwise left the seats alone.


I feel the Impalas and Chargers are already tight enough without a console taking up hip/holster and knee room. I strongly believe like the industry needs to stop looking at consoles as a solution for mounting and instead look at smaller components...simplified controllers, horn-ring controlled sirens, smaller video systems, remote radios, etc. A huge part of the PITA of installing is trying to fit equipment that is really too big for the application into the smaller spaces we now work with, not to mention when a laptop is added. I know agencies like to re-use old equipment as much as possible to save money, but this legacy equipment is not going to work in every application...at least not without sacrificing performance, safety, comfort, and/or appearance.


What I'm seeing now is that consoles for newer vehicles are severely lacking in depth for equipment. For example, I have four more Impalas here that are getting a Jotto Contour console. Great...except the angle of the console won't allow for flush mounting of the equipment due to depth at the lower 6" of rail. I am not yet sure what solution I will come up with, but the whole point of the console is to mount equipment in it. The customer is using legacy radios and video which needs 7-10" of depth. And it's not just Impalas. How about the new Caprice? I've seen some goofy consoles that are sitting nearly level with the dash to get depth for equipment. The NGPI isn't looking too much better. Many of the new Charger consoles lack depth and will require remote-head radios and sirens to allow enough mounting depth. If that's the case, do we really need a console to hold lightweight equipment? We won't need to hide a bunch of wiring in it either. Adding a console just to get cupholders and an armrest is expensive.


Finally, I think about the seven new Chargers I just wrapped up...a full Jotto Desk console was used. The console is so heavy-duty and solid, stands up 6" or so above the seat, and literally fills the center of the car-up, touching each seat back through to the seatbacks. The console's box structure is reinforced by the face-plates and bolted to a massive floorplate that is anchored to the car at eight locations. If one of these cars is involved in a major collision, the console simply ain't gonna move. Which means the officer is gonna have to give. I can see an officer's hip being crushed to powder against that console in a side-impact. Food for thought.

 

[BigWil]

I love this setup, with the exception of the exposed wires to the lights on the rear doors. I was ok with it at first, until I saw the cage. No point in putting anything in the rear of a car that the occupant could easily damage.

 

[RES347CUE]

looks good