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I have a C3 that I took out the rear badge letter holes and fiberglassed the embossed corvette letters from a C5(did this so many years ago but just getting back in the project again).
Just curious if anyone seen an LED version of this? I'm not afraid to drill into each letter to feed some wires but can't seem to find any photos of anyone that has done this. It's a pretty shallow lettering so probably wouldn't work great but there's some weird LED options out there now a days.
The letters look good I would forget the LED. I is something in the future you will think why did I do that. Kind of like the guys with the LED underbody lights.
Cut them out and put a sheet of plexi and a red LED strip behind?
That would probably be better than what I was thinking.
Just figured if there was a kit or some known LED option I might have opted for that but without it I have far too many other issues with the car to be inventing it lol
Cut the letters out entirely. All the way through the panel. Mount a flat panel behind it. Surround that with LED strips. Place a mirror on the opposite side of the panel. Boom!
Cut the letters out entirely. All the way through the panel. Mount a flat panel behind it. Surround that with LED strips. Place a mirror on the opposite side of the panel. Boom!
This works except for the "O" which would need the center of it secured to the panel
If you were feeling extra handy, here's what I would do:
1) Get a 1/4" thick sheet of acrylic. Paint the backside of the acrylic the same color as the car bumper.
2) Cut ouf the letters making sure to save the inside of the "O"
3) Remove the bumper or this section of the bumper so it lays flat. Lay it on top of the non-painted side of the acrylic. Secure the acrylic to the backside of the section of fiberglas
4) With the insert of the "O" secured, pour clear epoxy into the empty gaps. It should adhere to the acrylic.
5) Sand down until flat. The letters will appear clear but have the backing the color of the car. When LED lights are applied to the side of the acrylic, the word "Corvette" will illuminate based on the body color.
6) For painting, you will need to cut a stencil to block the paint. You can use clear vinyl then gently cut out the letters leaving the epoxy clear protected.
7) Paint as many coats as you wish, then remove the vinyl.
8) Apply clear coat and buff until smooth.
This works except for the "O" which would need the center of it secured to the panel
If you were feeling extra handy, here's what I would do:
1) Get a 1/4" thick sheet of acrylic. Paint the backside of the acrylic the same color as the car bumper.
2) Cut ouf the letters making sure to save the inside of the "O"
3) Remove the bumper or this section of the bumper so it lays flat. Lay it on top of the non-painted side of the acrylic. Secure the acrylic to the backside of the section of fiberglas
4) With the insert of the "O" secured, pour clear epoxy into the empty gaps. It should adhere to the acrylic.
5) Sand down until flat. The letters will appear clear but have the backing the color of the car. When LED lights are applied to the side of the acrylic, the word "Corvette" will illuminate based on the body color.
6) For painting, you will need to cut a stencil to block the paint. You can use clear vinyl then gently cut out the letters leaving the epoxy clear protected.
7) Paint as many coats as you wish, then remove the vinyl.
8) Apply clear coat and buff until smooth.
The end result will be stunning.
I vote body color behind the acrylic but red leds to match whichever aftermarket brake lights for the surround.
Also.... because red lettering at night would look kind of badass. LEDs probably need to be somewhat bright so as not to be a mild glow or to fade into nothing between your running or brake lights at night.
Very cool! If you can work out a way to flood light them from behind with led's then ok, but if you had only pin-point led's making strings of dots for the letters, that would look blah.
How about just get some red reflective letters cut so they shine when a car behind lights them up? Plenty of sellers on ebay have pre-cut C5 letters, just find one that will custom cut reflector vinyl set for you.
C3 with the corvette on the back end.....very very cool!.
I've definitely never seen a premade kit for anything like this. However, I have seen LED illuminated Corvette door sills. If you look around for some of those, you might be able to adapt them for what you're doing.
With that said, I agree that it would be better not to light the letters. If you want some contrast, there's a pretty decent selection of inserts available.
Challenge accepted and finished last night! Been delaying it for a year off and on as I was nervous on using the dremel on it but happy with the finished product! Might still do red to match the brake lights then wire it to the brakes so it lights up! But yeah here it is!
I would definitely like to see what this looks like in the daylight. Having it light up red with the break light would be a cool idea. I'm guessing you cut out the original letters?
LED rear letters?
I would definitely like to see what this looks like in the daylight. Having it light up red with the break light would be a cool idea. I'm guessing you cut out the original letters?