LED insert for JDM taillights, still on development but almost done ! Options

[Culpable04]

I've been working on this for a while, I just have one more thing to do and this will go into production just enough for me and some others interested. once done it'll be a drop in LED panel, as of today I have one side with the LEDs and another with regular stock bulbs, to see how they compare and how they perform, so far no electrical problems, they work as they are suppose to, I just have to slightly change the shape of the panel so it'll get closer to the lens, right now is a snug fit so, it doesn't go as close as I would like to.

The pictures are not that great cause I took them in cold / wind / rainy weather so I rushed to it.


feedback is needed / appreciated

[Slick]

Nice! Keep us posted!

[BloodyStupidDave...]

More shots please - some distance shots and any shot of the LED array itself? Did you have to open the housing to drop in the panel, or did you just make the aperture bigger? Anyway, looks really good. I'd definitely be interested in a kit.

This post has been edited by BloodyStupidDavey: Dec 27, 2007 - 3:09 PM

[Culpable04]

More shots please - some distance shots and any shot of the LED array itself? Did you have to open the housing to drop in the panel, or did you just make the aperture bigger? Anyway, looks really good. I'd definitely be interested in a kit.

I opened the whole back of the taillight just to find out that I could just make a little opening on the top of the taillight and slide it in.

I'll take pictures of the panel itself later and some more / better shots of it. I'm gonna take pictures of the whole back of the car so you can see the difference.

[wolfie308]

More shots please - some distance shots and any shot of the LED array itself? Did you have to open the housing to drop in the panel, or did you just make the aperture bigger? Anyway, looks really good. I'd definitely be interested in a kit.

I opened the whole back of the taillight just to find out that I could just make a little opening on the top of the taillight and slide it in.

I'll take pictures of the panel itself later and some more / better shots of it. I'm gonna take pictures of the whole back of the car so you can see the difference.

I'm curious......did you cut right through the backing case all round to get it apart? If so, I think there's a better although a bit trickier way. You should be able to use the oven technique to prise the lens from the backing.

I haven't done it on the Gen 6 rear cluster, but I have done the Supra Mk3 which is a similar construction, as are the Lotus Esprit(Corolla AE86) and the MR2 which I've also converted. If you want further details let me know.

[Mangozac]

IMHO if you're going to go to all the trouble of hacking the lights and installing panels with LEDs, you should at least have the LEDs arranged in a circular pattern or something, otherwise there's not really a big enough difference to warrant all of the work...

But that's just my opinion.

I would do two concentric circles, the outer being the taillight and the inner being the brake light.

[celicamike]

IMHO if you're going to go to all the trouble of hacking the lights and installing panels with LEDs, you should at least have the LEDs arranged in a circular pattern or something, otherwise there's not really a big enough difference to warrant all of the work...

But that's just my opinion.

I would do two concentric circles, the outer being the taillight and the inner being the brake light.

Did you use the word "concentric"? LOL. Don't you love it when you find the perfect word for the job.

[wolfie308]

IMHO if you're going to go to all the trouble of hacking the lights and installing panels with LEDs, you should at least have the LEDs arranged in a circular pattern or something, otherwise there's not really a big enough difference to warrant all of the work...

But that's just my opinion.

I would do two concentric circles, the outer being the taillight and the inner being the brake light.

Did you use the word "concentric"? LOL. Don't you love it when you find the perfect word for the job.

I agree. A U.K owner has done something like that to MR2 tails, and it looked the camel's conkers - I'll try to find the link

[thespacepanda]

I agree. A U.K owner has done something like that to MR2 tails, and it looked the camel's conkers - I'll try to find the link

Camel's conkers. Is that like the dog's bollucks?

[wolfie308]

I agree. A U.K owner has done something like that to MR2 tails, and it looked the camel's conkers - I'll try to find the link

Camel's conkers. Is that like the dog's bollucks?

Yeh....same as the mutt's nuts

[thespacepanda]

You crazy brits and your slang.

[Culpable04]

it's all about taste, everyone can get circular panels at their local truck auto parts for ~ 25 bucks a piece, so no need for me to get those produce, with this mod I'm not looking for a different design but a newer look yet stock looking, some may agree that our celicas look great in stock form, so no need to make drastic changes to it, but again it's all about personal taste.

the technique of the oven is a great idea, but I'm trying to do this as friendly as possible, I know most members don't feel comfortable about putting their JDM lights in an oven right next to the turkey lol, I was gonna do mines like that, but It would be a bad practice to tell everyone, " you can just cut a little slice on the top and slice it in " when I didn't experience the actual process.

[Mangozac]

Did you use the word "concentric"? LOL. Don't you love it when you find the perfect word for the job.

I do indeed

And Culpable, I can understand your intentions. Fair enough.

[Culpable04]

I just need to take pics of the LED panel, those will co9me later, here are some a little better ( but not perfect ) pictures,

[kCed]

hey culp can you pm me yoru shipping address gotta send you my broken hids..

[Culpable04]

hey culp can you pm me yoru shipping address gotta send you my broken hids..

sure I can, next time either post this on the HID GB, or wait for me to reply your PM.

[joehernandez]

is looking great men!!!!!!!
if you finish them and have them for sale,,, i will buy em!!!

[MrAyasli]

is looking great men!!!!!!!
if you finish them and have them for sale,,, i will buy em!!!

x2

[malpaso]

looks really good mate... REALLY good!

[njccmd2002]

this was 2 years ago brothers.

[Culpable04]

yeap, still have them installed and working properly, it's hard to belived this was 2 years ago already lol.

and no, I will not have any for sale, there were only 4 prototypes made, one was shipped to Greece, one installed on my car, shannon has an improved version of mine and there is one more waiting the right time to be installed on another celica.

I did have a Feeler thread long ago, and people didn't like the price of this, so the idea of making more was kick to the side.

I did however work on a LED panel for the 3rd brake light as well, also have it on my car, and looks great, but again not on the market due to people not liking the price.

[MrAyasli]

Aww...

[Wolf_tm]

[bloodMoney]

Nice Job Wolf!

Do you have pics of the parking lights versus the brake lights? (sorry, it all kinda looks the same to me) Also, how are you ensuring the 12V source across LED panel?

[johnnehh]

That looks amazing.

[MrAyasli]

Wolf do you have more pics please !
and are they for sale?

[Culpable04]

that looks great, hopefully you get people interested who are willing to pay what a job like that actually worth.

I'll contacting you for turn signals soon

[joehernandez]

i would like to see some night pics wolf...
kind of wondering how they look at night

[Wolf_tm]

Nice Job Wolf!

Do you have pics of the parking lights versus the brake lights? (sorry, it all kinda looks the same to me)

Because I didn't connect brake lights yet!
They are the 10 leds switched off under the parking lights...

Also, how are you ensuring the 12V source across LED panel?

I broke stock lamps to get the sockets I weld to the leds... very simple...

[Wolf_tm]

Wolf do you have more pics please !
and are they for sale?

Ok, let me finish the job!

I won't sell them... it would be WAY too expensive:
around 100 high power leds for the 2 lights, custom made aluminum led housing plate, and A LOT of time to open the JDM without broken the glass, modify the taillights housing, insert/glue/connect/weld the leds, close the JDM...

I will do them again only if someone will send me the JDMs already opened , and with some money $$$$$: it took 5 days to me for ONE light!

This post has been edited by Wolf_tm: Jan 2, 2010 - 7:29 AM

[MrAyasli]

Pics !