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LED Taillights?

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Posted by: 1993_M75

Has anyone actually done a true LED taillight conversion on a Mark VIII (specifically looking for a Gen1).

And no, I don't mean LED bulbs.

I'm talking about cutting / prying open the housing and mounting hundreds of LEDs in the housings.

What I've been thinking about doing is designing a PCB (using Eagle Cad most likely, though I do have access to Cadence at work) to hold however many 5mm LEDs it will take to fill the housing and having a discount board house like SparkFun make the bare boards. The board house has a $10 setup fee and charges $2.50 per square inch.

5mm LEDs seem to be the brightest per unit area... and through-hole LEDs are a lot easier to solder than surface mount.

Of course there will be a bit more circuitry than just the LEDs... I figure I'll put some voltage regulation in as well.

Anybody else done an LED conversion?

Posted by: evillally

Not on a Mark VIII, but a Mark VII owner did a true LED conversion and it looked badass. I've been contemplating LED's myself; and it would look great on a Gen-I!

Posted by: MrWilson

theres a pic floatin arround on here of one, and omg it looks sooooo good.

Posted by: MediumD

(from this thread)

Posted by: 1993_M75

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediumD

(from this thread)

Too bad that is only a photoshop.

Also, I'm planning on mounting these behind the original lenses. Having new, clear lenses molded would cost WAAY too much and would also mean the LED assembly that is mounted in the housing would have to be cosmetically appealing.

I'm looking to do this for under $100 in parts.

I've found plenty of sites where people have done this type of conversion to other cars and some even have pre-made conversion kits available.

So, I ask againe:

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1993_M75

Has anyone actually done a true LED taillight conversion on a Mark VIII (specifically looking for a Gen1)?

Posted by: MediumD

I'm aware that's just a photoshop. I was just showing a possible option of what it might look like if someone did it that way - forgive me. Mounting LEDs behind the original lens is definately the easiest plan, I went as far as designing a circuit board and buying LEDs to do this to my Eldorado but haven't gotten around to mounting them yet.

Posted by: 1993_M75

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediumD

I'm aware that's just a photoshop. I was just showing a possible option of what it might look like if someone did it that way - forgive me.

I figured you knew it was a photoshop.... Did not intend to snap at you or anything.

Posted by: devilchild

did anyone notice anything else wrong with that pic??... like the HONDA license plate frame !!!

Posted by: poniesviii

Nice pic even though it's a photoshop, however they'd look nothing like that unless there was a clear non-reflective lense..

I have considered this pretty heavily. I think there'd be an art to making it look right, some sort of pattern with the LED's. I've been staring at alot of different newer model cars trying to decide and think of what would work best.

Our housings aren't very thick, in fact without the stamped holes in the sheetmetal of the decklid the factory bulbs wouldn't even fit. If they would they'd be right up against the lense. You'd need to fabricate a new back panel for the lamps to set up against/bolt to on the decklid. You'd prob be alright on the corners.

Also, the LED 'bulbs' trip the "check exterior lamps" warning on the message center in the 1st gen mark from what I've heard from a good source.

There's more work to it than just taking the lamp apart and securing LED's in, by alot, actually.

I doubt any of you will do it. It's probably right up with a 6 speed swap in the thinking and modification category. Now get mad and go do it so you can make me one too.

Posted by: 4.6powa

Quote:

Originally Posted by poniesviii

Nice pic even though it's a photoshop, however they'd look nothing like that unless there was a clear non-reflective lense..

I have considered this pretty heavily. I think there'd be an art to making it look right, some sort of pattern with the LED's. I've been staring at alot of different newer model cars trying to decide and think of what would work best.

Our housings aren't very thick, in fact without the stamped holes in the sheetmetal of the decklid the factory bulbs wouldn't even fit. If they would they'd be right up against the lense. You'd need to fabricate a new back panel for the lamps to set up against/bolt to on the decklid. You'd prob be alright on the corners.

Also, the LED 'bulbs' trip the "check exterior lamps" warning on the message center in the 1st gen mark from what I've heard from a good source.

There's more work to it than just taking the lamp apart and securing LED's in, by alot, actually.

I doubt any of you will do it. It's probably right up with a 6 speed swap in the thinking and modification category. Now get mad and go do it so you can make me one too.

since im lucky enuff to have a parts car, i think i just might take your advice, and play with this idea. what could it hurt?

or we could always go with neon, which might be easier...

Posted by: MediumD

Quote:

Originally Posted by poniesviii

Also, the LED 'bulbs' trip the "check exterior lamps" warning on the message center in the 1st gen mark from what I've heard from a good source.

I came across this problem with my Eldo as well - the turn signals would flash incredibly fast with LEDs due to their decreased current draw. My solution was a different flasher unit that had a constant rate regardless of current draw, but
I could've just thrown some resistors in there.

Posted by: 1993_M75

Quote:

Originally Posted by poniesviii

Seeing as how I am employed as an EE, I think I can handle any electrical issue that may arise.

As far as the back of the housing, I was figuring on the PCB being the new back of the housing.... only leaving the mounting points for the housing-to-body intact.

The main thing I need to figure out ahead of time is how big of a PCB I can fit (so I know how many LEDs will fit). Reckon it's time for me to hit up ebag for a spare set of housings.

From what I've found... the wattage of the stock bulbs is 27/8 for the tail and 3.8 for the side marker, and that is at a design voltage of 14V.

So obviously, I'll need to either trick the lighting module with load resistors (easy, but could be expensive at $10-15 per bulb), or crack it open and modify it (possibly cheaper, not for most do-it-yourselfers).

Posted by: poniesviii

You have to seal it up to keep moisture out, every time it rains and you open your trunk you'd have water running on your LED's and that'd look like crap from the outside after dust gets wet you'd have some ugly waterspots.

Another thing, you can clip a wire under your glove box to stop the check exterior lamps message. People who convert non HID 1st gens to HID have to do this in order to get rid of it. The how to might be on markviii.org, not sure though. But it's free. How often do you need that anyways right.. I check my bulbs regularly anyways. Keeps the cops away.

I think neons are too '90's. .. if you're gonna upgrade go with LED.

Posted by: Dominus

Quote:

Originally Posted by MediumD

Yes indeed. Resistors are the easiest way to do it.

Posted by: MediumD

Well you must account for the heat a large resistor can generate and watch where you mount them. It was easier for me to simply use the other flasher.

Posted by: Dominus

Oh, I know it. Those suckers can get pretty hot. I went with a different flasher as well, simply because the lights on 60's cars leave VERY little room for much of anything.

Posted by: MarkVIII93

It would be a waste of time, money and research IMO. Lights are lights... stockerooskys do just fine for me.

Posted by: Dominus

Yeah, because you Gen 1 guys don't have to worry about your brake lights being in sync with the neon, and the flashers being in sync with the mirror flashers.

Posted by: MarkVIII93

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominus

Yeah, because you Gen 1 guys don't have to worry about your brake lights being in sync with the neon, and the flashers being in sync with the mirror flashers.

N'SynC!!!

Posted by: Dominus

LOL. That was such a gay group.

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