psu_Crash Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 (edited) Well here it is! Inspired by Derek (D_Venable) Still a LOT of work to do but I am getting there slowly The pcb strips are from lunaraccents.com LEDs are 3mm 6000 MCD white from Ebay .. scary I know, but much cheaper The strips are able to be cut into any length at 1.8 inch intervals. Very happy with them. I'll be sure to update as I make progress After a few days of long hours I got 4 of the strips populated ... hmm ... looks like this strip has one in backwards. 288 LEDs 142 resistors installed and only one backwards ... I can live with that. Easy fix http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6500/onebackwardssq9.jpg Video clip making sure they all light Video Got one of the tails apart! http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/102/tailapartgb2.jpg One UGLY Cracked lens .. I will get some new tails once I figure out everything with ones I don't care about destroying. http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3316/crackedtaillenskp0.jpg And Finally a test run trying to see how it's all going to work and look behind the red lens. Parking lights, brakes, then turn signal I may end up putting 2 rows of LEDs together for each one you see in the video. That's still up in the air. ok finally got around to getting some pics up of my new setup. I know the car is filthy and in desperate need of a paint job. What can i say .. 6 years in a barn and dirt roads aren't friendly. I am also aware the the pass side pipe hangs about an inch lower. Gotta love the local shop. Check out the rear end though, One day soon she will relive her former glory Anyways here they are parking lights http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1026/78870904.jpg parking lights with brake lights http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/50/24630295.jpg Backup lights. Waited too long for this one and it got dark on me. I blame St. Patrick http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/359/83121811.jpg short video, parking lights with 4-ways, without brakes, prop rod was giving me issues so I wansn't able to get a pic with all 3 sets lit. But you get the picture Edited March 17, 2009 by psu_Crash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwadd85 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 lookin pretty good! how do you take the tail lights apart? is it hard? i wanna experiment with taking the colored lenses out and stuff Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silkdagger05 Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 sweet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 lookin pretty good! how do you take the tail lights apart? is it hard? i wanna experiment with taking the colored lenses out and stuff Graham It's not bad at all to get the lights apart. I just used a heat gun and went around the edges from the back side while slowly pulling the front lens off. The only problem is making sure you don't get a spot to hot and warp it. That's why i am practicing with my beat up lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAD Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 looks sweet, i can't wait to start my set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted February 9, 2009 Report Share Posted February 9, 2009 Cool, the oven works well too. 225-250 for about 3 minutes. Wear your oven mitts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 nice, glad those strips are working out well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) Yeah the strips worked out very well so far. I am definitely going to put 2 sets of 2 rows because I don't think the single is bright enough and I have plenty of pcb and LEDs left yet. Hopefully tomorrow i will get some more progress and get them test fitted on the car. Edit: Just got my car out this morning for it's first run since fall ... without tail lights Now that it's getting warm enough for the roads to be half way decent and record highs scheduled for tomorrow I am sure that will motivate me to get these done ASAP! Edited February 10, 2009 by psu_Crash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starquestJOE Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 lookin good mike! when you goin to make me a set? keep up the good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks Joe! I gotta tell ya in have put crazy amounts of time into them to get this far. I will be happy when it's done! Finished product will have over 400 LEDs! I can give you some pointers on parts though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwadd85 Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 so after you split the lights apart, do need to reglue them before final remounting?? Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 so after you split the lights apart, do need to reglue them before final remounting?? Graham YES you do. BUT I recommend getting some silicone sealant/glue, or clear silicone RTV (can find any/either of them at either your auto parts store, or places like home depot/lowes/walmart with all the other glues/epoxies) Using the silicone will seal them back up, yet remain flexible and allow you to easily pull them back apart again if you decide to change your setup. Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 I was wondering about the best way to seal them back up. There is quite a bit of glue left in the rear of the light assembly so I may have to hit it with a heat gun to get it back flush. If all goes well I may have them done tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 I recommend scraping all the old glue out, it's 20+ years old, and could use replacing with newer/better silicone glue Heat gun and a flathead screwdriver work great for this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 Well I took a video of them in the car but my cable for the camera is missing ... Anyways i have a question for you D. How did you wire them to the car? I'm a little confused with only 3 wires plus a ground as to how I get 4 functions from it. I remember that you added an extra pin in to the connector, but can't seem to find it as I look through your post. Could you give me a little more details please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_Venable Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I used extra pins out of a spare set of stock connectors I have. But you have to separate the brake and turn signals. this requires cutting a wire up at the fog light switch plug under the gauge cluster hood (can be found on this site) From there you have to run a new signal for the brake off the 3rd brake light. you can tap into that on the driver's side hatch strut. (also found in above site) Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 (edited) Excellent! Thank's! Now if I can just find a free day to get this done. ... sooo close Edited February 15, 2009 by psu_Crash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psu_Crash Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 I have my LED tails all done and installed, with crappy cracked lenses .. Took some pics/video but I can't find the damn cable to get them from the camera to the comp. When I do I will be sure to update this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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