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I've been trying to design some custom tail lights... I've never liked the current halo option on the market.
My 3d printing abilities are limited, designing and printer size, so currently I have not messed with printing much. I may in the future.
For now I have focused on adding onto the already existing tail lights.
For this v1 design, it's basically this led strip I got from amazon hooked up to the 'low beam' tail light (so it turns on with center switch position, but it could be moved to high only I guess if you wanted it to only show when braking or blinking), but I wrapped the led lights in some tail light tint (it didn't have an exact % measurement, but it was dark enough to look black in daylight) and slowly heated them to an oval the best I could, but there are still some wrinkles in the result.
I'm may try also putting a tinted plexiglass cover over the whole taillight to see if that looks any better, that will be v2 I guess.
Let me know what you think! I'm looking for feedback, I honestly haven't decided if I like it or hate it yet, I think it looks slightly cheesy when lit up, especially near the top center, because it's a little uneven sadly. I think during the day time when they are not lit up it honestly looks alright, which was what I was most worried about during this.
TUTORIAL:
So I have decided to move on to 3d printing so here's a tutorial in case anyone would like to replicate and do this fairly cheap DIY LED halo addon.
Parts & tools list:
iNextStation Neon LED Strip Light 12v $22 (5m length is about enough for 7 or 8 taillights worth):
Instructions:
1. Cut the led strip to length, make sure to cut along the pre-defined spots. The strip I bought had a cut spot that aligned to about the exact circumference of the taillight, luckily.
2. Use exacto knife to cut back some of the silicoln on the led strip and expose wires on one side of the strip
3. Solder up the red and black wire to the led strip. Use the t taps and tap into the wires going up to the socket in your taillights. There are 3 wires. Black is ground, the other two were weird colors on my vette but one is low and one is for brakes/blinker, I put the tap on the low. Crimp the tap connectors onto the led light, the wire that is near the base of the strip is ground (black wire), and the wire near the light goes to the power (other wire).
4. Use the silicoln and the caps to cap off the ends of the strip on both sides, wait 24+ hours for it to cure
5. Cut a strip of the vinyl and lay it down and 'roll' the whole led strip in it to wrap it. You should start with the vinyl on the outside of the strip, which is the side with the thin red line, and wrap it around to make one layer the whole way around.
6. Slowly use the heat gun and bend the strip into an oval while applying heat to keep the vinyl from crinkling
7. Plug in the led light into your taillights, the wiring will easily slip in between the cracks of your taillight once it is screwed in, and just attach the led strip with the double sided tape.
Last edited by gopro_2027; Feb 5, 2021 at 11:06 AM.
Reason: Added tutorial
Nothing wrong with testing and seeing what you come up with. Never know what you can work your way into. Lots of possibilities here with these cars...MUCH unexplored potential in aftermarket is possible. I have a couple guys contacting me that are doing infinity taillights and various LED things. Lots of people out there trying things out.
I've been trying to design some custom tail lights... I've never liked the current halo option on the market.
My 3d printing abilities are limited, designing and printer size, so currently I have not messed with printing much. I may in the future.
For now I have focused on adding onto the already existing tail lights.
For this v1 design, it's basically this led strip I got from amazon hooked up to the 'low beam' tail light (so it turns on with center switch position, but it could be moved to high only I guess if you wanted it to only show when braking or blinking), but I wrapped the led lights in some tail light tint (it didn't have an exact % measurement, but it was dark enough to look black in daylight) and slowly heated them to an oval the best I could, but there are still some wrinkles in the result.
I'm may try also putting a tinted plexiglass cover over the whole taillight to see if that looks any better, that will be v2 I guess.
Let me know what you think! I'm looking for feedback, I honestly haven't decided if I like it or hate it yet, I think it looks slightly cheesy when lit up, especially near the top center, because it's a little uneven sadly. I think during the day time when they are not lit up it honestly looks alright, which was what I was most worried about during this.
They look great to me. Keep up the good work.
Originally Posted by K.I.T.T.
Nothing wrong with testing and seeing what you come up with. Never know what you can work your way into. Lots of possibilities here with these cars...MUCH unexplored potential in aftermarket is possible. I have a couple guys contacting me that are doing infinity taillights and various LED things. Lots of people out there trying things out.
Infinity taillights and various LED things? Please keep us posted
Infinity tail lights were what first inspired me. I might be able to do something like those now with my newfound plexiglass cutting skills
We'll see haha
Okay so I've removed them now with some things in mind to work on, so these are the last pics for awhile. This is probably the way to go, with a tinted cover over it to hide the ugliness of the strip behind it. I wish I could get my hands on a laser cutter, my handiwork on cutting out the plastic is not very good haha. I just cut them out with a dremmel and then applied tint. I also attached a photo of the wiring, you can see it's pretty simple, just spliced in. I think the led's use low enough current that it doesn't cause any issues with the circuitry. I'm not satisfied until they look better than an arts and crafts project.
Like you, I wasn't a big fan of the LED halo tail lights that were being sold for awhile. However, I finally decided to order a set to add to the upgrades that I've made to make my 21 year old car stay young looking . Of course, now that I decide to order a set of the current lights, it's getting harder to find vendors that sell them and the one's that do are back ordered. Maybe it's a sign to wait until something like you're working on takes off and becomes the new norm. Actually, I find its getting harder to find a lot of items for our cars that were plentiful just a year ago. I guess we're moving down the ladder of relativity as subsequent generations came out. Looking forward to what you come up with.
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DIY LED Halo Tail Lights addon + Tutorial
. Of course, now that I decide to order a set of the current lights, it's getting harder to find vendors that sell them and the one's that do are back ordered. Maybe it's a sign to wait until something like you're working on takes off and becomes the new norm. Actually, I find its getting harder to find a lot of items for our cars that were plentiful just a year ago. I guess we're moving down the ladder of relativity as subsequent generations came out. Looking forward to what you come up with.