labidus

I was looking to buy new taillights but none of the existing on ebay or elsewhere doesn't look great (in my opinion) .

After looking on AliExpress and Ebay, I kinda have an idea to how to do my own taillghts from scratch. Since I have a 3d printer, I will design a plastic plate to put all the lights on and you just need to screw the plates on the C5 over the existing hole. Also the light will be more in the edge of the bumper, like a lot of peoples do for the C5 taillights.

Now, I will show you what I am thinking todo and how it will look over some image prototype, give me your suggestion if you have better idea.

When the project will be done, I will give the STL file so others will able to make their own taillights using their own 3d printer.



Here the lights I am thinking to buy:

HALO 45CM GREEN: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/30-4...999.264.8mDJuo

SMALL GREEN/WHITE LIGHTS:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/car-...999.271.8mDJuo

4" RED LIGHT:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Waterproof-4-...RY9Fya&vxp=mtr



MIDDLE LIGHTS



LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE

coia96vette

Cool idea. Let us see them when you are finished. I have a lot of led's laying around but no 3D printer. Might have to go shopping!

labidus

You can have a really good 3d printer for around 150$ US, ANET A8 is a really good printer for the price, it's a clone of a 1000$ printer.

Vetteman Jack

Interesting project - looking forward to seeing more posts on this.

FrankLP

mstromquist

I'll 3rd that comment. Should be interesting to see the finished product.

AndyDove

Very interesting idea. Coincidentally I also have an ANET A8, and always looking for inspiration on how to use it. Love this idea...

How would you 'ballast' the LED's so the flashing works correctly? PLA or ABS. I suspect PLA might be dangerous if parked on a hot day, would it melt? Why green light - surely red or amber would be correct for turning?

Are you thinking that the new back plate would sit behind the existing lens? Not sure about the reversing light, the ones either side of the plate work OK for me, but the red ones could use some modernization.

Could you share STL, and I'd be happy to explore this as well with you via PM?

/Andy

knewblewkorvette

Interesting so

labidus

I will use PLA but ABS is better, but where the PLA will be located, the sun will not really touch it, also I will prime and paint the PLA so it will be protected by the paint

I wanted to use green because with halo and stuff, that will kick *** more but not sure if the turning signal legal are only red and yellow/orange, can I use green? Anyway you can use the color you like, my vette is black, green will kick ***

I wanted the reverse light in it so I will able to remove it from the license plate and later I want to change the bumper with a new design without reverse light in it.

I have changed a little bit the design, I will need to make a drawing on paper with some color to show how it will look.

The stl is not final because I need to be sure of all the size, for example ordering the flexible light, I need to have the exact diameter, I cannot really guess and not much info about it when you buy it. Also I try to make the model using less plastic as possible to save PLa and print time.

I will put the file on thingiverse when done. (with openscad source).

If you need it to experiment, give me few days just to make the first prototype as best as I can.

Also if you have idea of the light layout etc.. post your draft. I was hoping to have idea from others so we can make the best custom light as possible.

labidus

Ok here the crappy paper draw design I have in mind right now.

Mickeyrx70

chasboy

I don't know every law, but I strongly doubt you can use green in any safety related light on an automobile.

knewblewkorvette

Tsumi

Yeah... green is not legal in any way. In fact, legally speaking, the only exterior lights you can have are white, yellow, amber, and red.

labidus

You are talking about light used for brake/turn/reverse light, if that the case I just need to change the small green light to red or amber/yellow.

I want the green for the halo all around the light and around the brake light, I think that is legal since this light will always be on and will not affect the others light (reverse, brake, turn signal)?

Tsumi

Doesn't matter. Again, the only lights you can legally have on the exterior of your car while driving is white, yellow, amber, or red.

labidus

That not make sense, a lot of car have blue/green light under the car or on the wheels or in the headlight.

Tsumi

They're operating the car illegally. Whether or not the cop would pull them over for it is up to the cop, just like speeding.

Also, red is illegal at the front of the car.

chasboy

Tail lights and other signal lights are not negotiable. Accent lights in other areas do not affect the warning/visibility/signaling functions of the tail lights. If you were to run with the ground effect or other decorative lights you can easily be pulled over.
As for the " effect " lights you see in some headlights they usually do not overpower or supplant the primary headlights.

labidus

that sucks.

But its for USA. I look now for Canada... The lights used for HALO sucks if its white on the taillight i think...