Hey everyone.
I have a question. Well, a statement followed by a question.
I want to re-register my currently unreg'd 74 camper. It's taillights are in pretty poor shape. No breaks but full of crazing and one's orange has faded to clear. The backing bulb holder bit is porpus and not too good either.
There is an idea I have been playing with for a while now which I want to run past you.
You all know those big taillight clusters that can be purchased for trucks, utes, caravans etc?
Would there be any legal reason stopping me from blanking off the current taillights and installing the truck style ones?
I know I'd love to put the properly backed ones on a mount protruding upwards from the bumper. If that's too legally challenging, ounting them in the place of the old lights?
I'm considering this for a few reasons:
1: My lights may not pass rego
2: The truck style ones are cheap
3: The truck style lights are very visible
4: It would add an extra bit of individuality to my 'almost rat' van
My logic is that if trucks, trailers, caravans and utes can have them, why not my van?
Appreciate any ideas on the matter.
Thanks everyone!
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
A new tail light lens will only set you back $25ea if you buy from the right place
Yeah, but the thing is the body of the taillights have practically turned to dust. Not 100% sure I can remove the lenses again without the whole lot crumbling.
edit:
How much are the taillight bodies? May not need them, but just in case.
[Edited on 10/6/2005 by General_Failure]
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
Most of the truck stuff would be 24 volt, those LED tail lights would look good tho
sent u a u2u
field wrote:Most of the truck stuff would be 24 volt, those LED tail lights would look good tho
I agree. I wasn't referring to the LED ones but I was secretly thinking it.
I've actually considered making my own LED boards to put in the existing mounts. Just make them out of trackboard. Goodbye dim taillights! It shouldn't be too hard to figure out the right circuit to run them. Thankyou dicky smith catalog for providing the resistence equation for LEDs.
I know you can buy the little LED boards that you can attach to an old bulb base, but I want big ones!
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
Try the VW shops like Mick Motors for the tail light lenses and bases, the originals will look one hundred percent better that tacking on truck lights ( you will regret it in the long run)
LED's behind the original lenses would be good. QuickCamper on here has done that, but used something like 250 LED's in each light.
65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
68 Baja Bug
76 Baja Kombi Twincab
field wrote:Most of the truck stuff would be 24 volt, those LED tail lights would look good tho
I thought about putting LEDs on the oval tails too, but couldn't find one small enough and I am very good at breaking things.
I am using truck LEDs for my rear indicators though, I was told by the salesman that they run on multi-voltages. I believed him and they work, but I don't know if all truck LEDs are like that
good luck!
speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge
Wont Torana lights fit????????????
Cheers
Dave
I think you're right.
250 per light? is that for each bit (brake, indicator, reverse) or for each side? That's a lot! I was thinking of using the 1cm LEDs Maybe the 5mm is better? I don't know.
Hm. i guess 250 is a decent figure isn't it. LEDs are dirt cheap and reliable, so I thought it would be a good avenue to pursue.
I'll have to try some businesses for the asemblies. There's a VW wrecker right near me and VolksHome is close too.
I'll address getting the motor running first. Besides the lenses and the motor, I can't see any reason why I can't get it regd. Sure it looks rough, but the little rust it had was repaired, and all other mechanicals/electrics work fine.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
LEDs in an oval. Interesting. It'd be the best way to get a bright light at 6v
Torana lights are awfully similar, arent they.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
Thanks vwtyp2. Those were the bayonet style ones I mentioned.
That's right, you can buy the mostly complete ones now. I remember the little circle board alone they were selling for stupidly high prices.
I was thinking of making my own nice big squarish ones to fit in each section of the taillight. And have the bayonet connections on flying leads so it is easy to install/remove them.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
woulnd't it be ideal if you can find a truck LED tail light that is the same size as the kombi tails.
There are these ones I've been seeing around lately, that are 2 thin strips. one strip is the brake light and other is the indicators! I've been seeing them on Landcruiser utes etc, I wonder how they'll look on a bus?
Those LED globes don't work so well in my opinion... the LEDs' viewing angle is just too narrow. my friend had them and although the reaction time have decreased, these lights are not as bright and they don't look any different behind standard tail lenses. not cheap either!
Maybe some of these would fit!
http://db.hella.com.au/cgi-bin/catalogue.pl?flcmd=showsection&flrecsection=Signal
[Edited on 12-6-2005 by Lams]
speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge
I haven't seen those taillights. Have to keep my eye out.
Ooh, thanks for the search. There are some nice lights in there.
So there's a problem with viewing angle. Never thought of that.
I spotted 20mm LEDs in one of my catalogs. Their output was pretty crummy though. I liked the look of the 5000+mcd LEDs.
I saw a new car recently. No idea what it was. Had clear taillights. The lights were a ring of LEDs. Very weird.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
hmm sounds like a Mazda 3 SP23 hatch!
Narva also offers LED tail lights
http://www.narva.com.au/LEDLighting_Index.html
something like this may fit perhaps?
[Edited on 13-6-2005 by Lams]
speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge
That's the car!!
And that taillight intrigues me. That taillight would look so good! Just going to look at the link now.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
any update on this pal?
speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge
Well, There is a sort-of update.
A couple of weeks ago I saw a cream coloured bay at northlands shopping centre that has done pretty much what I was suggesting.
It had the standard width pickup/trailer taillights oriented vertically on it. You know the lights that are about 25-30cm wide and about 8cm high (rough guess)?
When I first saw the van I knew something was different. I had to take a closer look to figure it out. If the lights were chunkier it would have been really effective. Didn't look too bad as it was though.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.
