Iceshark,
I'm in especially if the bulbs are:
1) durable
2) decent life
3) don't melt the cases
4) don't kill our wires
5) decently cheap
6) BRIGHT

btw I wasn't trying to argue w/ you I just like to throw a lot of ideas at a problem. I definitely like your style of over engineering. In fact I plan on getting your light kit in the next month or two(whenever I get my friggin car on the road <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> )

 

Donald, I'm getting pretty good at customs forms and have now shipped stuff as far away as New Zealand and Australia so Canada is no problem. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Robert, I want the reverse all red just from a style issue. I think a white rectangle doesn't look good. If anything I would have thin horizontal white stripes. But if these more powerful bulbs test out OK, I'll go solid red.

John, no problem. I'm doing all this stuff to my car so these bulbs will have to make the grade.

I took apart my rear lenses to add a socket and bulb for the dead lens cell that Porsche never lit up, the lower middle one. VW dealers sell the bulb socket for $3 each, sort of expensive for a 10 cent part but what can you do? The part number is 111-945-265 for those that want to do this.

Anyway, as I was looking at the bulbs, most had thin black tungsten deposits on the glass envelope. If you set them on a white sheet of paper you can see it. While the bulbs still work the deposits cut down on light output more than you would suspect. Probably 50%. So, I'm just going to replace all the #1156 and #97 bulbs.

If you folks want to do this also I can order a bunch of these bulbs. For the 1156's a major brand will probably cost about 75 cents while the asian ones would be about 26 cents. 97's would be about the same. I will go with a major but I wanted to let people know the prices on the asian bulbs you see in Pep Boys.

 

Count me in ,please.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by IceShark:
<strong>
I took apart my rear lenses to add a socket and bulb for the dead lens cell that Porsche never lit up, the lower middle one. VW dealers sell the bulb socket for $3 each, sort of expensive for a 10 cent part but what can you do? The part number is 111-945-265 for those that want to do this.
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">How hard was this? Can I get a short little IceShark writeup on this, or is it just 'take apart light, add socket'? I'd like to do this. I assume you wired it in as another brake light?

 

Jason - I'd wire it in as another running light.

Iceshark - I need to try another dealer but the first VW dealer I called wanted $6.75 for the part!

 

I got my sockets from a used set of tail lights I bought. All you do is plug in the socket and splice one wire to the existing running lamp.

Hugh, I'll let you know if I have anymore sockets laying around. You hook me up, I'll hook you up.

 

Jason, as Hugh noted, I'm wiring these dead lenses as running lights with a 5 watt bulb.

If the tests work out OK, I'll have the 35 watt halogens in the brake light compartment, so that should be enough light on that front. They work fine for big rigs so likely good enough for me. But if you wanted, you could certainly wire up the dead cell for brake duty. Up to you and your tastes.

Hugh, Don't pay $6.75 for them! I'll just order some for those that want at no markup and toss them in the bulb package. I thought $3 was a rape job! $6.75 each, YIKES! There is nothing I can do on price since these are out of production and history, apparently. I even talked to Hella, who made it in the first place.

As far as wiring this, I can't really put together a kit the way I would want. To do this correctly, you need to splice into the other taillight wire. Best way is cut the terminal off, put a new one on, crimp and solder a new wire in. But I would need your back plates or you do it yourself.

If someone in MPLS wants to take a digital picture of how I did it, that would be fine. Maybe Thad will take this on.

 

Yup, put me down for a pair...maybe three! For that underhood light!

 

I'm in for the bulbs, I'd much rather go with the nice bulbs, not the cheap asian ones. I'd take the pic but I don't get home for 3 more weeks.

 

Well I'm interested in the nice bulbs also and the extra sockets as well.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">As far as wiring this, I can't really put together a kit the way I would want. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Damn I was looking forward to a run the taillights off the alternator kit.....

 

I didn't mean the entire white square was to not be painted...more like somethin like this:
<img src="http://www.toysforyourtoys.com/images2/ROTL_BLOW-up.jpg" alt=" - " />

You could accomplish that look by masking out a thin strip. Still stronger bulbs will help!

 

I would try some 1/8" strips, Robert. They have been done in current production cars and look pretty nice while giving a good patch of display area. I'm going to measure some cars in the parking lot that have this scheme.

Let's see how these bulbs work out, then play with paint schemes. Maybe I will do a Zebra first and let you guys see how it turns out. Need a digital camera owner though.

 

I'll take the extra sockets, good quality running lights and the brake lights. Thanks

 

Glen, if you are sure you want the bulb sockets, I better get them right away. These are going to be gone in North America pretty soon with me blabbing on Rennlist. Then it is off to the parts breaker.

Give me the word and I will order a pair for you in the morning.

I'm also going to buy some 4" cube boxes. That should keep the weight and shipping cost down for you guys down under.