need input rear lights idea.

warwickben · 08-05-2008, 04:54 PM

hey guys i just wanted to know what you guys think.
i was thinking of making my own custom rear lights from my sa.
iam a metal worker by trade and know body guys so i wount have any problems making this work. just want to knwo what you guys think.

i was thinking of useing these led lights for tail lights.

i was going to bend a sheet of metal to match the current rear light lenses ,and to hold the new lights. iam going to make it so the sheet of metal will be flush with the rear end of the car not sunken in.

so my questions are these.

1st should the light lens be flush or Frenched( for people who dont know rat rod terms it means they would be set in to the car 1 inch or so.

2nd how legal is this. they are dot approved. the light pictured is a break turn and tail light. i know i would need 2 white back up lights. is this legal?

3rd for one side should i have 1 red and one white. or 2 red and one white ie 1 red would be for break and turn, then a red for tail light. or have one red one yellow and one white per side.

Phoenix7 · 08-05-2008, 04:59 PM

I don't think it's DOT legal but you can go around it by having a set of LEDs with a good beam spread. Some LEDs don't spread enough to be seen at an angle so watch out for those.

I don't know about your laws but CA Vehicle Code states that cars MUST have either an AMBER turn Signal or RED turn signal (so I think you might be OK with 2 reds per side).

Post pics of the SA tails please. I can't picture them.

warwickben · 08-05-2008, 05:11 PM

best pic i could find so fast lol.

the lights i want to buy are dot legal. every rat rod guy makes there own light system so i was not sure if it would be legal or not with our cars.

ok so i wont French them so the beam will be able to spread out.
i can buy one red led light that works as a break,turn, and tail light. so i could just run 2 reds and 2 whites. but i think it mite look better as 2 reds and 1 white each side.

Phoenix7 · 08-05-2008, 05:27 PM

I have a friend that does a lot of LED work on older volvos and he's using some nice LEDs. I'll ask him about it since he knows a lot more than I do.

warwickben · 08-05-2008, 05:34 PM

i all ready replaced my break lights with those after market plug in led lights. you cant even tell there led. i was thinking of using these for a new look for a the rear end.

ROTOSPEED · 08-07-2008, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwickben

i all ready replaced my break lights with those after market plug in led lights. you cant even tell there led. i was thinking of using these for a new look for a the rear end.

could we get some pics of what that looked like??

and yes i like the idea of the new LED lights.

-xlr8planet- · 08-07-2008, 05:30 AM

I like it. I would go for it

$100T2 · 08-07-2008, 09:28 AM

I think you have to have some sort of reflector, as well. I wouldn't french them, I'd put them flush.

warwickben · 08-07-2008, 03:34 PM

iam going to have a single red and single white on each side. the lights are dot approved so i don't have to worry about any laws. iam going to have them flush mounted. i wount be able to start on this till my car is off the road.

to answer ROTOSPEED. the led lights i have in my rear lights dont look like leds when iam stepping on the breaks ect. they are just brighter and don't put out alot of heat. you can buy them at advance auto,auto zone.

08-05-2008, 04:54 PM	#1
warwickben sa rat rod Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: tewksbury ma iTrader: (4) Posts: 408 Rep Power: 17	need input rear lights idea. hey guys i just wanted to know what you guys think. i was thinking of making my own custom rear lights from my sa. iam a metal worker by trade and know body guys so i wount have any problems making this work. just want to knwo what you guys think. i was thinking of useing these led lights for tail lights. i was going to bend a sheet of metal to match the current rear light lenses ,and to hold the new lights. iam going to make it so the sheet of metal will be flush with the rear end of the car not sunken in. so my questions are these. 1st should the light lens be flush or Frenched( for people who dont know rat rod terms it means they would be set in to the car 1 inch or so. 2nd how legal is this. they are dot approved. the light pictured is a break turn and tail light. i know i would need 2 white back up lights. is this legal? 3rd for one side should i have 1 red and one white. or 2 red and one white ie 1 red would be for break and turn, then a red for tail light. or have one red one yellow and one white per side.

08-07-2008, 05:30 AM	#7
-xlr8planet- RCC Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina iTrader: (4) Posts: 679 Rep Power: 17	I like it. I would go for it __________________ www.rx7club.com.ar RX-7 Forum in Spanish I make custom decals. Yes, you can ask me

08-07-2008, 09:28 AM	#8
$100T2 Big Daddy Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (2) Posts: 419 Rep Power: 17	I think you have to have some sort of reflector, as well. I wouldn't french them, I'd put them flush. __________________ Hell hath no fury like a rotor blown.

08-05-2008, 05:11 PM	#3
warwickben sa rat rod Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: tewksbury ma iTrader: (4) Posts: 408 Rep Power: 17	best pic i could find so fast lol. the lights i want to buy are dot legal. every rat rod guy makes there own light system so i was not sure if it would be legal or not with our cars. ok so i wont French them so the beam will be able to spread out. i can buy one red led light that works as a break,turn, and tail light. so i could just run 2 reds and 2 whites. but i think it mite look better as 2 reds and 1 white each side.

08-05-2008, 05:34 PM	#5
warwickben sa rat rod Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: tewksbury ma iTrader: (4) Posts: 408 Rep Power: 17	i all ready replaced my break lights with those after market plug in led lights. you cant even tell there led. i was thinking of using these for a new look for a the rear end.

08-07-2008, 03:34 PM	#9
warwickben sa rat rod Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: tewksbury ma iTrader: (4) Posts: 408 Rep Power: 17	iam going to have a single red and single white on each side. the lights are dot approved so i don't have to worry about any laws. iam going to have them flush mounted. i wount be able to start on this till my car is off the road. to answer ROTOSPEED. the led lights i have in my rear lights dont look like leds when iam stepping on the breaks ect. they are just brighter and don't put out alot of heat. you can buy them at advance auto,auto zone.