Code 3 Code 3 XL 5000 Build

I'm in the process of rebuilding a Red/Amber/Red XL5000 bar. Making one bar out of two, one has the older powder coated grey aluminum frame where as the other uses a bare aluminum frame. This should be a fun project, my first code 3 XL Bar.

 

[Master X]

Moving right along, Frames cleaned, rotators & diamond mirrors cleaned and installed. Tomorrow Polish the Domes -Needed Badly-

Code 3 Force 4 XL - Side Cap Replacement Decals - Ordered.​

 

[Master X]

Domes are finished, Waiting for the stickers & wiring loom. The Novus polish really brought these domes back to life.

 

[Master X]

Wiring came today, still waiting for the decals. But here is the light bar in Action. I have a soft spot for red/amber light bars.

 

[Master X]

New end cap labels came, I'm pleased with the quality of the labels.

Also picked up another Code 3 XL 5000 for $20. This is a late model bar I would call the budget years. The rotators have some metal clipped off for cost savings, the diamond mirrors and cascade mirrors are ultra thin. The dome divider end plates are grey plastic as well as the strip on top. The frame is also super thin compared to the one above.

 

[JohnMarcson]

New end cap labels came, I'm pleased with the quality of the labels.

Also picked up another Code 3 XL 5000 for $20. This is a late model bar I would call the budget years. The rotators have some metal clipped off for cost savings, the diamond mirrors and cascade mirrors are ultra thin. The dome divider end plates are grey plastic as well as the strip on top. The frame is also super thin compared to the one above.

The cost cutting era at the end of the XL's production years was a lot more significant than I realized. Thanks for showcasing this, it's an interesting piece to display.

 

[Master X]

The cost cutting era at the end of the XL's production years was a lot more significant than I realized. Thanks for showcasing this, it's an interesting piece to display.

The photo with the serial number also show cases metal strips with pre punched holes sitting atop aluminum channels for the screws. At this point Code 3 was no longer paying to have the frame produced with drilling and tapping of the holes. The frame is simply aluminum extruded with channels and strips of metal with punched holes for bar lighting option mounting purposes. Here is a powder coated aluminum frame early generation, early aluminum frame, and final aluminum generation.

 

[Master X]

Finished this XL, I really like the cascade mirrors in the center really gives a great look. One of the few pluses about the late model bars are the molds that were created to make the XL domes must've been updated at some point as the domes have very small injection spots on the knife edge of the domes.

 

[tsquale]

That red/amber bar is saweet! I grew up in west central Wisconsin and remember several tow trucks running that setup.

 

[JohnMarcson]

Finished this XL, I really like the cascade mirrors in the center really gives a great look. One of the few pluses about the late model bars are the molds that were created to make the XL domes must've been updated at some point as the domes have very small injection spots on the knife edge of the domes.

Looking good. Great job! The XL was super visible even during the "cheap components phase" at the end.