Reply to "Back to Work on 9203"

Step 4 - EXTERIOR LIGHTS

I got brand new front turn signal lenses from Larry - no more cracks and burns! I also got some new side marker lenses. So all these will be like new for this season.

However I have been unhappy with the brightness of the rear taillights. I went from hi power blubs, to super clean housings and lenses and still they weren't bright enough.

So a few years ago I ordered John Taphorn's LED bulbs. These were pretty cool and a huge improvement. They are very bright, but unlike light bulbs, which diffuse light in all directions, LED light is only emitted from the front face of of each LED. So they were great for smaller areas, like the reverse light. But I was still looking for more from the turn signal and brake lights.

I finally found the perfect truck brake taillight assembly with a million red LEDs (ok, about 60) in a single sealed assembly. I cut and ground away most of the sealed housing to get to the board and the LEDs.

It was a lot cheaper and easier than drilling my own and wiring it all! With a little work I got it to fit my existing Pantera housing.

The turn signal was more complicated. I could have just repeated what I did with the brake lite unit, using an amber LED board for the turn signals, but I found a very cool sequenced signal board with very bright amber LEDs.

To see the sequencing, check out this short video.

I cut its big housing into 2 parts and after much grinding and melting I figured a way to fit it all in. But in order for all to fit nicely, I would have to cut the rear light housing. This was something I didn't want to do. Not because I'm a purist (ha, that's a good one!) but because I have so much faith in the durability of these Chinese LED jobs, especially given my amateur electronic abilities.

I want to keep my originals, with Taphorn's LED bulbs, unmolested and as a standby so I am ready to switch over in a minute without redoing any wiring. I asked around and Mark C suggested I contact Andy (Carbo) who had just bought some new lights. Sure enough he didn't need his old ones anymore and gave them to me! I also called Larry who sent me some old housings without any of the bosses. Thanks guys!

I have reworked and cut the old housings and will use my existing GT5 lenses and rubber gaskets. So when these Chinese parts crash and burn, I can do a quick switch in under 5 minutes!

Ok. Enough talk. Back to work. Thanks to Larry and all my Canadian Pantera friends for their valued help and support thru this.

See pics below.