tekdeus said:
Same here...the flat markers are the way to go.
If you produce a set of clear front markers, I'll be one of the 1st in line to grab a set
CLEAR REAR INDICATOR CONVERSION.......
- Thread starter wolfie308
- Start date
Same here...the flat markers are the way to go.
If you produce a set of clear front markers, I'll be one of the 1st in line to grab a set
lol...the amber lens on mine was falling off...I had to use epoxy to get it back on... Now I wish I hadn't.
Now I wish I hadn't.
johnathan1 said:lol...the amber lens on mine was falling off...I had to use epoxy to get it back on...
Specially when you see what I've come up with..... :evil2:
Due to the kindness and trust of a U.K owner, I received a complete rear unit today. After some consideration, I decided on the method , and without too much bother, I managed to separate the unit without any damage whatsoever (including prying screwdriver marks).
I really hope you like them as I 've put a lot of time(and money) into producing these on a hunch. I need to guage the reaction before I consider the late model inserts....and the side markers ...and the fronts ...and and.....
My major problem is that I am limited in what I can produce as I have no assistance, and every piece is cast and finished individually by hand.
Your comments and feedback will be much appreciated.
Damn......I think these are so cool, I need the car to fit them on :biglaugh:
wolfie308 said:
I'll take 2 complete sets shipped to California, 91387, btw I'm on the top of your list
You think it would be hard to redo the inside bulb structure to hold strips of LED's to get that LED type look? If not I guess we can just get LED cluster bulbs that fit in the stock socket types for brighter illumination.
born2drv said:
If you use LED's in the turn signals, they will "hyper" flash...the stock turn signal relay uses bulb resistance to get the correct flash interval. The best solution IMO is to get an after market relay made for using LED bulbs. As an alternative, you can add a resistor to the signal wiring. The problem is a resistor creates heat...not too much of a problem for blinkers, but you definitely do not want to use a resistor for the tail lights. They can get very hot.
wolfie308 said:Specially when you see what I've come up with..... :evil2:
Due to the kindness and trust of a U.K owner, I received a complete rear unit today. After some consideration, I decided on the method , and without too much bother, I managed to separate the unit without any damage whatsoever (including prying screwdriver marks).
I really hope you like them as I 've put a lot of time(and money) into producing these on a hunch. I need to guage the reaction before I consider the late model inserts....and the side markers ...and the fronts ...and and.....
My major problem is that I am limited in what I can produce as I have no assistance, and every piece is cast and finished individually by hand.
Your comments and feedback will be much appreciated.
Damn......I think these are so cool, I need the car to fit them on :biglaugh:
wow wolfie is that my old light lol, thats excellent, if you need any more just shout. (Suprasmitten)
JustAnotherVictim
Supramania Contributor
born2drv said:I'll take 2 complete sets shipped to California, 91387, btw I'm on the top of your list
You think it would be hard to redo the inside bulb structure to hold strips of LED's to get that LED type look? If not I guess we can just get LED cluster bulbs that fit in the stock socket types for brighter illumination.
Cheers guys, I didn't think they were bad for a first attempt. :naughty:
No surprise, I thought they might lend themselves to a possible LED conversion. I have a plan but I won't have time to put it together, so I'll post later and see if sombody wants to try it out. Should easily be possible with good handywork skills and cheap too. Only reason I don't do it is purely time.
Most is taken up with Celica ST202 and ST205's and Lotus Elan and Esprit work and I hope now with Supra projects too.
As a guide, I reckon the price will be around £80/pair inc pair of amber bulbs plus post at cost TBA + Pay Pal costs.This includes full instructions and pics to ensure(with care) a totally factory fit and finish result is achieved.
jdub's absolutely right about LED bulbs/hot resistors issue - it's why I didn't fit them to my 944 clear rears(and the angle of view issue)....I use silver bulbs cos the amber bulb is too obvious.
I'll post a pic tommorrow with one fitted -it's a 24 cluster bulb, but I think we'll find with this bulb anyway, the light dispersal won't be so good.... I might be wrong
What were the prices for these?
I would also like to see a set of clear side markers if your up for it Wolfie.
I would also like to see a set of clear side markers if your up for it Wolfie.
Those do look good Wolfie.
I think you would get a great response on a set of front clears that mount like the stockers. No one has made a set that is affordable. Most the ones I've seen were rear clear markers modified to fit the front...quite a bit of custom work to do.
I think you would get a great response on a set of front clears that mount like the stockers. No one has made a set that is affordable. Most the ones I've seen were rear clear markers modified to fit the front...quite a bit of custom work to do.
There is a mod to the flasher relay that will solve the fast blink. It involves replacing a current sensing resistor in the flasher relay with a 470 ohm replacment. I have not done this mod, so can't offer more info, but a guy in the UK has done it.
Can you ship out complete tail light assemblies, not jus the amber replacement peice? How hard is it to modify it? I don't mind trying to do it on my own, but I just have the inclination that I'll mess it up! I'd prefer a complete plug-and-play solution if possible. But if you're only going to ship out the plastic peices can you please give very detailed instructions and what types of tools to use exactly so we don't crack/break anything?
Thanks.
Thanks.
born2drv said:
Sourcing, converting and shipping complete units isn't viable for me. However, having split the cluster about half an hour after having one in my hands, I think my technique should be able to be used by most folk with basic practical skills and the right equipment.
This was a basic procedure ...........
Step 1. Using a Dremel mounted in a pillar stand/press, I used a 2mm HSS drill bit not to drill out, but heat up, the 6 little blind head screws round the rear of the casing, until they just started to spin as they melted the plastic. Quickly whip them out with a pliers or wire cutter before the plastic hardens again. It helps if you can expose the head a bit by trimming a little of the plastic away with the scalpel
Step 2. Time for the oven......Firstly, I'd be a bit concerned abourt doing this in a gas oven due to higher risk of melting. Also you need to know where the heating elements are in the oven. I'm lucky - mine are at the back but on some they will be at the sides too. In this case you'd need to be really careful or put the unit in front to back. I put side to side on an oven glove at set oven at 100deg. Check every few minutes, will vary a lot from oven to oven but about 10 mins should do. You must check every couple of minutes to make sure it doesn't overheat. When ready, it should feel quite warm, but not uncomfortably so.
Remove from oven and press firmly through the back of the unit and if hot enough, the lens should start to move.
The grey mastic tries to pull the lens back in the casing - you need to get a little wedge in to stop it. Halves of plastic clothes pegs work well. Also cut any stretchy sealant you can see with a scalpel. You will need to return the unit to the oven for a couple of minutes and then repeat the procedure probably 2-3 times, each time easing the lens a bit further out and wedging another peg in and cutting a bit more of the mastc as its exposed.
That's really all there is to it - don't know what all the fuss was about. ROFL
There is a light grey surround to the indicator lens which I was going to try spraying chrome - not sure it'll make much difference, but may give better reflectance.
Should be able to give final details of price/delivery early next week.
Just a thought, with the cluster apart, it might be worth considering masking off the rear lens and spraying the inside of the clear area with a 'frosted glass' effect spray. Could be interesting and further help to disperse the light.
I'll try the effect on a piece of clear acrylic sheet first - I think it can be removed with hot soapy water, but I'll check before actually trying it out on th lens.
What d'you reckon?....could look really good or crap - possibly how well it was done?
Looks like like I'm going to have to order that new Dremel workstation to be able to tackle the side markers - should be able to get by the end of next week.
Thanks to all for the comments, wouldn't expect to appeal to everybody but general consensus seems favourable.
80 British Pounds, that's like $150 USD right + shipping? That's a bit steep don't you think for 2 peices of plastic? Did I get the currency conversion wrong?
born2drv said:80 British Pounds, that's like $150 USD right + shipping? That's a bit steep don't you think for 2 peices of plastic? Did I get the currency conversion wrong?
Exactly what I thought. It's a steep price unless he drops it a bit. $150 could buy 3 piece tails if you wanted...
eric
I'd pay $300 for 2 complete L/R tail light assemblies installed and freshly refurbished/polished to a glossy finish on the outer section + shipping. I think that's reasonable but a little on the high side price wise for you to sell a lot of units. You can get tail lights on ebay for $40/pair. Or just charge a core charge and have us ship ours or something.
Or if you can't be bothered with all that, I think I'd pay $75 for 2 complete sets (4 pcs) since I'm assuming I'll end up breaking one set trying to install it myself and it would suck to have to pay shipping from england twice plus wait for it to get here if i did.
Or if you can't be bothered with all that, I think I'd pay $75 for 2 complete sets (4 pcs) since I'm assuming I'll end up breaking one set trying to install it myself and it would suck to have to pay shipping from england twice plus wait for it to get here if i did.
born2drv said:
Really sorry about how the price works out especially with the exchange rate, but hey...... remember these are all individually hand made by me and numbered, and as far as I'm aware, I'm the only company offreing these.
Maybe that's something to do with the fact that the volumes don't warrant manufacture by conventional injection moulding techniques?
Out of interest, there's a company in Sweden that sells clear rear lenses for the Lotus Esprit at $265 + shipping! Mine, are £120, approved and sold thru the e-Shop of Lotus Esprit World, the only worldwide site for Esprit owners.
Please take a look at my other bespoke lenses at....
http://www.esprit4sale.co.uk/Sale/pages/Parts.html
At the risk of doing myself out of some business, :biglaugh: having detailed how to dismantle the units, I have now given you the option to fit some some ceiling light diffuser instead for only a few $'s........:nono: as an alternative. Might look alright from far enough away and cheap too!
Richard
www.protocast.co.uk - Clearer by Design
For simplicity of shipping and install I think the side marker lights will be a quick easy sell. I'd buy a set right now it they were available. Also, I think the vast majority of people prefer the 89+ 3 pce tail lights (which are already red and clear) so the market is limited with the 87-88's.