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-   -   LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/era-speak-bob-putnam/105854-led-upgrade-rear-rectangular-lights.html)

patrickt 08-29-2010 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas (Post 1074821)
So toil away pal-you're having fun and instructing the mass audience. You're thorough and well thought- out.

Let's just agree to disagree. :cool:

Yes, thorough and well-thought-out are my middle names.:cool: But let me ask you this, between three, four and five holes, which one do you dislike the least? Do you see any difference between them, or are they all about the same?

ERA Chas 08-29-2010 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1074826)
Y... But let me ask you this, between three, four and five holes, which one do you dislike the least? Do you see any difference between them, or are they all about the same?

I dislike them all equally. This is your baby, as I took pains to explain. Thames Ditton preferred no holes.:rolleyes:

Here's an idea: create a poll thread of 'hole count'-only for those that feel the need for this 'improvement'. It'll certainly improve your post count.**)

dcdoug 08-31-2010 09:22 AM

Four is the least attractive. Three is the best, five is second if you need more light.

patrickt 08-31-2010 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug (Post 1075123)
Four is the least attractive. Three is the best, five is second if you need more light.

Funny you should post... I just took my other light fixture over to my favorite machine shop (literally 15 minutes ago) with directions to drill three holes. Three is what I will be going with.

RodKnock 08-31-2010 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1075124)
Funny you should post... I just took my other light fixture over to my favorite machine shop (literally 15 minutes ago) with directions to drill three holes. Three is what I will be going with.

Patrick, maybe you can somehow hook up some sound to those lights too?


patrickt 08-31-2010 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodKnock (Post 1075128)
Patrick, maybe you can somehow hook up some sound to those lights too?

It's actually going to look really, really nice. The hardest part is just running the wire to feed it. It would probably be easier on both a Kirkham and a Shelby since I think you all have true brake wires running to the back. ERA cars have a "shared" brake/turn feed, so I had to tap the wire up in front of the brake box and then run the new wire all the way back to the license plate assembly. Honestly, that's the hardest part of this whole venture. If I had a true brake feed right there at the back of the car, the entire job (not counting dropping your piece off at the machine shop) is about an hour's worth of time.

patrickt 08-31-2010 01:50 PM

OK, the holes are drilled, the LEDs are mounted individually using clear silicone. The silicone actually gives it a "glassed in" appearance at the holes. They are not soldered up yet. Here's a macro shot showing what it looks like if you have your nose pressed up against it and it's in a sun beam. It's now at a point that if you didn't know that it wasn't normally there, you'd never notice it. Even ERAChas is going to say "dang Pat, you are absolutely amazing. ERA would be honored to have you come and fab for them.":rolleyes: The fixture is not cleaned up, so the macro shot actually shows the dust and grime that you can't really see with the naked eye.

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d.../3holes001.jpg

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d.../3holes002.jpg

ERA Chas 08-31-2010 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1075169)
Even ERAChas is going to say "dang Pat, you are absolutely amazing. ERA would be honored to have you come and fab for them.":rolleyes:

Uhhh-no he's not. Putnam is probably projectile vomiting onto Peter's desk...

patrickt 08-31-2010 03:17 PM

Here, I angled it so the sun would catch the LEDs, otherwise you can't really see them. This is the most you will ever be able to see of them, when they're not lit, that is. C'mon Chas, you know Bob's putting together the offer letter as we speak.:cool: Yessirreee, maybe they'll even let me answer the phone, too.;)

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...olessun001.jpg

rodneym 08-31-2010 03:28 PM

%/
Isn't there a saying about idle hands?
;)

ERA Chas 08-31-2010 03:39 PM

-Sure Bob is. And Nick Acton is preparing to close his fabrication shop.

Great photo-no visible roll barS.

patrickt 08-31-2010 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERA Chas (Post 1075190)
-Sure Bob is.

And if they do let me answer the phone, and the CallerID says it's you, I'll put on a phony spanish accent, like Seņor Wences, and regardless of what you ask I'll just reply "esta en el baņo.":p

RodKnock 08-31-2010 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1075199)
And if they do let me answer the phone, and the CallerID says it's you, I'll put on a phony spanish accent, like Seņor Wences, and regardless of what you ask I'll just reply "esta en el baņo.":p

I like Bernica's idea of a recessed air cleaner baseplate to fit a bigger air filter better. :)

This is the classic scenario of a "solution looking for a problem." :LOL:

patrickt 09-08-2010 10:33 AM

If You Can't Leave Well Enough Alone...
 
Remembering that I had the extra light fixture with the five holes drilled in it, I thought I would use it and take a crack at fashioning a rear third brake light that really looked like the other two rectangular lights (and forgetting the "originality" point). Of course, I still have the other "hardly noticable" three hole version, and it only takes a moment to switch between the original, the three hole, and my new "full light" version (it's just that one little screw and then unplug the wires). So, this is what I think it would look like had it been done at the time. You know, the pictures really don't do it justice (and just ignore the blue tape above the fixture and the wires hanging down).

http://208.255.159.239/newlight001.jpg

http://208.255.159.239/newlight002.jpg

http://208.255.159.239/newlight003.jpg

ERA Chas 09-08-2010 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt (Post 1076954)
... just ignore the blue tape above the fixture and the wires hanging down.

I was hoping you were on a long summer vacation to the Polar Ice Cap, but...:CRY:
I'll just ignore the whole thread.:cool:

RodKnock 09-08-2010 02:32 PM

Actually, I think the exposed wiring motif goes well with the exposed PVC insulation on the roll bars.

patrickt 09-08-2010 02:33 PM

OK, it's completely done now, and Chas. and Rod, it's friggin' beautiful. I know you won't believe me, but in real life it looks like it absolutely belongs there. My pictures really just don't show how truly nice it is. Even if it didn't light up, I'd want it there because it looks that damn good. Yeah, I know it wasn't there on the originals, but neither were my two.... oh, nevermind.:rolleyes: It really does look nice.:)

http://208.255.159.239/3rdbrakelight.jpg

RodKnock 09-08-2010 02:37 PM

Well, could you've shot the picture from the other side of the street? That may have been a closeup shot compared to the pic above.

patrickt 09-08-2010 02:49 PM

Here's a bigass closeup. As to brightness, I'm going to say it's a bit brighter than the regular brake lights with the fancy new LED bulbs in them. It really does look as it should for a 3rd brake light.

http://208.255.159.239/3rdbrakelight2.jpg

RodKnock 09-08-2010 04:59 PM

"You can't please everyone, so you, have to please yourself."

The crack between the LED bar and the part looks unfinished. Maybe a nice bead of silicone?

I really admire your ingenuity, but I get the feeling it looks like Rudolph with a red light on his butt.


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