KBlair

Personally I like the second style posted originally by BC, the 3 round with the smoked cover. I don't think the S4 style fits the OBs lines as well as a round light does, especially the S series with the original S style spoilers (front and rear).

PorKen

If an LED version was made, it could be done along the lines of the Megasquish system.

Create the board traces, then source and solder yourself.

The covers should not be that difficult to make, if it is not too complicated a design.

It's the labor cost that gets ya.

KBlair

Did you mean Megasquirt? The name is bad enough already, let's not make it worse! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Big Dave

There are companies out there that are making LED tail lights already which could be incorporated into a replacement cover. We'd just have to create a new lens cover capable of receiving this pre-made taillights and plug them in to where the current sockets are plugged. I may be oversimplifying this, but it doesn't seem to be all that difficult to make a custom unit using other pre-made parts.

<a href="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/product.asp?selcategory=23&p_gpID=74" target="_blank">Pre-made LED Tail Lights</a>
<img src="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/images/2_Pete_Piranha_4_flange.jpg" alt=" - " />

Big Dave

Even more from that same place:

<img src="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/images/7_in_LED_2.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/images/4_in_white_LED.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/images/4_in_Round_LED_flange_large.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/images/2_red_amber_flange_cat_banner.gif" alt=" - " />

PorKen

Big Dave - that's a cool site you found: <a href="http://www.buytruckstuff.com/" target="_blank">BuyTruckStuff.com</a>

For the round crowd, that would be plug and play; make a bracket, slap those babies up in there.

I'm still holding out for a rectagonal shape, but I'm sure that there's got to be square LED array makers too.

Big Dave

I'm pretty sure they've got rectangle shapes on that site, but I may have seen them somewhere else. Just do a search for LED taillights on yahoo.

I'm considering whether to just bite the bullet and try making a set of lights for myself....whenever I get the time.

928ntslow

I was crindging a bit when the topic went to LED's, but I will have to admit, something can be done with these...they don't look too bad.

I still favor the enlarged OB lense, but I think if a design can be made to mount the LED's on a flat black or paintable frame and then a clear lenses over that, it may just work. You could paint the black frame to match the car.

Keep in mind that the OB tail light is basically on a 45 degree angle from the side and rear...obviously for visibility from these two angles. I think of LED's as directional, so they may need to be angled more towards the rear on a mounting surface that would be stepped.

It would be interesting to see how it should be wired and mounted...what to do with the old assembly?

Keith Widom
SOCAL 928
...still waiting for someone to enlarge an OB lense to cover the indentation!

Shark_gts

We had the same thoughts for the lights - to use "standard" round lamps, machine deco-style aluminum bezels and put under clear polycarbonate. Housing or plates made from aluminum.

Quality parts. Make them in Canada. We've got reasonably skilled labor here for $10 an hour!!

Will a 4" round fit?

I've had my nose on the ricer/Altezza parts they are kind of cheap when examined up close.

PorKen

Normy/928ntslow - quit'cher wynin'

ebs3349

I too would like to be added to those in favor of "sprucing-up" the shark. Count me in and keep me posted.

Abby Normal

I probably have some some donor housings for this project if needed. I have already removed the wiring though to put the Jacquemond tail lights in, so no wires.

Normy

Thanx PorKen!

I did some of my own last night on my laptop, using Photoshop 2.0, but they came out kind of average.

I was in Ontario over X-mas, and when to the mall there. They had drop-in LED bulbs to replace the standard tail lights...I think I posted something then, and someone responded that they wouldn't fit the reflector housing. I'd still like to try this out- I like the way the LED's come on instantly. I'm just trying to find a place that has them on the cheap- I found them in Orlando, but they wanted like $21/pop.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Normy-
'85 S2 5 Speed

Quaz

Well I made some phone calls yesterday and I did some more poking around the internet. That place JKL place is just an importer of Asian junk so that was a no go. Basically to do this right and be able to reproduce it a mold has to be created to get the correct reflector configuration. The mold can run from $5-10K, but after that you could make the casts pretty cheap. So the first run of them would be faily expensive $300-400 per set, but then after you recoupe your costs the price could come down.

Chuck is nice enough to send me a set of junk tail lights. I think what I am going to do is first blueprint them and make a 3d model. From that the new housing design can be made. Once I have a 3d model I can send it out for quotes and get some firm numbers. It is going to take a little while, but I think it is doable.

Anyone here a machinest or have a cnc in their garage?

Chucker

I am mailing the lights (lenses and housings) to Kevin in one hour. So we are moving forward. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />