^^^Yup, if I were a passenger in your car I'd expect the ceiling of the car to start glowing and then you tell me I'm in the Cash Supra. 
My LED tail light design so far. Opinions?
- Thread starter tekdeus
- Start date
mmmmm, somoeone needs to do a photoshop of my tails with those red led's....
either will look fugley as all hell, or completely bad ass....:biglaugh:
other thn that, they look really good man
Will
either will look fugley as all hell, or completely bad ass....:biglaugh:
other thn that, they look really good man
Will
OneJoeZee said:
Agreed.
I dont like he look of seperate light "blips"
I would rather have it ambient light, Would looks sooooooo much better.
I for one, say no
Load resistors would work, but I'm not going to use them. There are flasher modules that can replace the stock one, and I'll just remove the bulb failure lamp in the dash. I've already destroyed one tail center trying to get the paint off, it is SO difficult. I'm not sure I want to risk another one, especially if it won't make it look better.
Another interesting point is that there are thin horizontal lines/spaces in the center reflector part of the tail, and if I put a row of LED's right up agains the lens, it shines straight through, otherwise the reflector blurs the light and does not match the rest.
Another interesting point is that there are thin horizontal lines/spaces in the center reflector part of the tail, and if I put a row of LED's right up agains the lens, it shines straight through, otherwise the reflector blurs the light and does not match the rest.
I've always thought of putting the LED's from the 89+ wing in the center section for a third brake light if you're wingless and don't wnat the dorky box on your back window...
removing the paint off the center section is easy, use Castrol Superclean and get to scrubbin... Cover up the holes in the back plate behind it and it's the same color all the way across. Much cheaper than getting JDM tails...
removing the paint off the center section is easy, use Castrol Superclean and get to scrubbin... Cover up the holes in the back plate behind it and it's the same color all the way across. Much cheaper than getting JDM tails...
I tried the Castrol Superclean, and it got some of it off, but it seemed that I would have to scrub for a week straight to get all of it off. DId you use a wire brush or what?. I'm amazed that you did it that way!Poodles said:
Cool!!! So you started!!! From the two designs you posted here, I would choose the second one with just the tail lamps without the center piece. I have been working on my dash and once I get that done, I'm doing the tail lights, just a bit different than yours
Well, you asked for opinions............I don't like any of them. I drive my car, and never see my tails. This will give your car a "Look at me" look, and the MKIII just doesn't need that. It will get plenty of attention if you just make the car very clean , and put some not so flashy wheels on it. "Look at me" cars tend to be the victim of vandalism.
ForcedTorque said:
I never understood why someone would not make their car the way they wanted to because it "might get stolen or jacked up someday." You might as well never go out of the house, never know when a piano is going to fall on your head or get hit by a bus.
He asked for an opinion, and I gave mine. I didn't tell him not to do it. As for your last sentence, I live my life preaching the same thing you are saying. I hate when people are scared to do something because of what "might" happen. But, you can INVITE trouble........and get it
tekdeus said:
yep, more than a week LOL
I got a stiff nylon bristle brush and scrubbed like crazy, I didn't get ALL the paint off though, ran out of time.
Been thinking of buying a new one from toyota and hope that it's not an NOS part and was made recently, 20 year old paint doens't like to budge...
What LEDs are you using? I have been experimenting with a few and like the OPTEX OVSPxBCR4 Series. The red is 26 lumen at 1 watt. But now I am having second thoughts that they are too bright.
http://www.optekinc.com/pdf/OVSPxBCR4_Series.pdf
http://www.optekinc.com/pdf/OVSPxBCR4_Series.pdf
Meh stock is best I think. If you really want to change the tail lights, tint them. Thats the only tail light mod I would run at least.
I went with Lumileds Superflux from Future electronics. I'm running them at 65% of their current capability and they still burn my eyes. I think they are the same as the ones in the Toyota Prius, which has only 9 or so per tail.
Thanks for the opinions guys. The car is currently undergoing a widebody makeover with huge rims so the LED tails will work with the street/show car theme. I will also be heavily tinting the red parts of my tails but leaving the clear bars, for that monochrome late-model look.
Thanks for the opinions guys. The car is currently undergoing a widebody makeover with huge rims so the LED tails will work with the street/show car theme. I will also be heavily tinting the red parts of my tails but leaving the clear bars, for that monochrome late-model look.
I think you should do that small too big line and the sides and then do a circle thing around the centers on the 89 and up. Kinda like a skyline. I think that would be bad ass.
3p141592654 said:
Too bright?
No way, you want them to see you from Airplane cruising height!! And anyway, red does not affect night time vision
masterchief819 said:
Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I think they look awesome!
Can you take pictures of the inside of the lens so we can see how you are attaching them to the lens???
I especially like the first mock-up with the led's running through the center section. It really updates the look of the car. I am running led's but just the bulb replacements. They were a bit of work because the tailight inner mounts had to be reworked so the led's would face out. They "react" much quicker, are more directional as far as the light goes and are brighter to boot. However, they're not nearly as cool as what you're doing. I can't say enough good things about the look!
sidenote: Guys that don't like them probably are purist types who aren't going to like anything like that. Do what you want. Totally Awesome!
Keep us updated, please.:icon_bigg
I'm still sitting on the fence as to whether i like these or not, but i applaud the effort you are putting in! Can't wait for more pics/updates!