CUSTOM LED Grand Am GT Tail Lights

timka86 · 03-02-2006, 11:14 PM

My new totally custom tails. Done by me. With about 150 LED's in each, all soldered by yours trully. i'll have night pics posted in the next couple of days. Otherwise here's what it looks like. There's more pics of the tail light in progress on my cardomain.

Braves299 · 03-02-2006, 11:21 PM

Props. for the work, but that just looks wierd to me. Doesn't match the car at all.

coupe · 03-03-2006, 05:42 AM

Not feelin it

Exodus · 03-03-2006, 07:28 AM

thumbs up for originality but like others said, doesn't flow.

timka86 · 03-03-2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coupe

Not feelin it

Yeah i was more impressed with them without the tinted lense. I'll have both of them on tonight and take pictures at night, i think it'll look better at night time. I think it would have looked better on a non-white car. any suggestions on how to make it look better? btw the light isn't clean and the car is DEF not clean.

freakydeaky · 03-03-2006, 08:24 AM

blah, blah... nice work bad design

timka86 · 03-03-2006, 08:57 AM

well give me a better design. I got another pair of tail lights. would horizontal lines be better?

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 09:02 AM

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showp...60&postcount=1
they arent THAT different...

Ajaxus · 03-03-2006, 09:33 AM

think about it like this, those led's look like pin pricks, you need something more bold because the grand am is a large bold car in shape and design. group the led's more maybe.

to rescue these you might try tinting the tails darker, but it will only help somewhat.

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajaxus

think about it like this, those led's look like pin pricks, you need something more bold because the grand am is a large bold car in shape and design. group the led's more maybe.

to rescue these you might try tinting the tails darker, but it will only help somewhat.

+1 the LED's are too small a cluster..

timka86 · 03-03-2006, 09:49 AM

Well my mistake with that was that i painted the inside of the lense white too. to keep the light from diffusing and making a bigger spot of light. I should have prolly left that back unpainted. I guess there's two options

1. i could paint the outside lens on the outside/inside so that the leds project onto the white paint and it would look bolder this would in turn make the tails all white when none of the lights are on.

1a. then i may have to leave the reflector strip unpainted, i'm not 100% sure but i think they're required by law.

2. I can put a light coat of paint over the lens with the leds that way the paint will diffuse the light.

any opinions? i'm leaning towards the first

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timka86

Well my mistake with that was that i painted the inside of the lense white too. to keep the light from diffusing and making a bigger spot of light. I should have prolly left that back unpainted. I guess there's two options

1. i could paint the outside lens on the outside/inside so that the leds project onto the white paint and it would look bolder this would in turn make the tails all white when none of the lights are on.

1a. then i may have to leave the reflector strip unpainted, i'm not 100% sure but i think they're required by law.

2. I can put a light coat of paint over the lens with the leds that way the paint will diffuse the light.

any opinions? i'm leaning towards the first

cant you just replace the LED clusters with bigger ones?

timka86 · 03-03-2006, 10:15 AM

we'll really what they are is just 3mm leds, and especially towards the center, they're very closely spaced. The other thing about LED's is that they're focused, so they're bright when you're looking at them. And since the lens is rounded. they're not all facing the rear. if you look at the picture the side of the tail light closer to the trunk is brighter. I think painting the outside of the light and having them project onto that painted surface will work good. cuz the farther something has to project, it looks bigger. as the angle of light increases the father the led is from the surface it's projecting on

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timka86

we'll really what they are is just 3mm leds, and especially towards the center, they're very closely spaced. The other thing about LED's is that they're focused, so they're bright when you're looking at them. And since the lens is rounded. they're not all facing the rear. if you look at the picture the side of the tail light closer to the trunk is brighter. I think painting the outside of the light and having them project onto that painted surface will work good. cuz the farther something has to project, it looks bigger. as the angle of light increases the father the led is from the surface it's projecting on

IMO ide just redo them and space them out to fit mini clusters
http://www.theledlight.com/led-clusters.html

ultima_chi · 03-03-2006, 10:46 AM

The design is horrid, but the work is great. Reminds me of a ferris wheel for some reason. It's actually making it kinda fruity. Is that just with the brakes engaged? What does it look like with your lights on and the brakes disengaged? You see where I'm getting at? More of a safety hazard. If I was going to be driving at a high rate of speed at night, I probably wouldn't see you until it was too late.

I think the stock GT tails look great. There's no need in changing them. But if they had to be changed, maybe fill the whole taillight lens with LED's?

pyro · 03-03-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graxall

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showp...60&postcount=1
they arent THAT different...

wtf, i know you didnt just say that.

tim- nice custom work, i know it took you a long time to do because i know mine is less intricate and it took me a long time, but like the others said, it doesnt flow well.

coupe · 03-03-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyro

wtf, i know you didnt just say that.

tim- nice custom work, i know it took you a long time to do because i know mine is less intricate and it took me a long time, but like the others said, it doesnt flow well.

Yeah dude i dont why he said that, yours look nowhere near like his.

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyro

wtf, i know you didnt just say that.

tim- nice custom work, i know it took you a long time to do because i know mine is less intricate and it took me a long time, but like the others said, it doesnt flow well.

dude he has a circle with smaller LED's

...

pyro · 03-03-2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graxall

dude he has a circle with smaller LED's

...

i meant it sarcastically, geeze...people cant take a joke... but seriously, they are pretty different.

Graxall · 03-03-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyro

i meant it sarcastically, geeze...people cant take a joke... but seriously, they are pretty different.

Yea they are but you know he has the same general idea, led tails, both of u get A+ for effort/creativity but he gets a D for style..

03-02-2006, 11:14 PM	#1
timka86 6 Speed GT AKA: Tim Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Glendale Heights, IL Age: 35 Posts: 645 Vehicle: 2005 G35 Sedan 6MT	CUSTOM LED Grand Am GT Tail Lights My new totally custom tails. Done by me. With about 150 LED's in each, all soldered by yours trully. i'll have night pics posted in the next couple of days. Otherwise here's what it looks like. There's more pics of the tail light in progress on my cardomain. Attached Thumbnails

03-02-2006, 11:21 PM	#2
Braves299 WVU owns you AKA: David Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Derwood, Maryland Age: 36 Posts: 2,170 Vehicle: '99 GA SE 3.4, '06 Ram	Props. for the work, but that just looks wierd to me. Doesn't match the car at all. __________________ Carl Lee Combs July 8, 1944 - February 20, 2002 "Gone for now, never forgotten"

03-03-2006, 05:42 AM	#3
coupe lick it AKA: Rand Join Date: May 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi Age: 40 Posts: 7,347 Vehicle: 99 GAGT/96 Z71/05 R6	Not feelin it __________________ CarDomain.com http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=31690558 he has asserted his dominance over competing males with the loud masculine sound form his exaust system, Females searching for a potential mate will be driven away by weaker exaust systems and attracted to his SLP.

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03-03-2006, 07:28 AM	#4
Exodus Down Rodeo AKA: Minchione Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Marlboro/LBI, NJ Age: 39 Posts: 1,734 Vehicle: 12 Altima \| 08 TL/S	thumbs up for originality but like others said, doesn't flow.

03-03-2006, 08:24 AM	#6
freakydeaky Go Hogs! AKA: Speedy Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Arkansas Age: 45 Posts: 938 Vehicle: 07 Eclipse GS	blah, blah... nice work bad design

03-03-2006, 08:57 AM	#7
timka86 6 Speed GT AKA: Tim Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Glendale Heights, IL Age: 35 Posts: 645 Vehicle: 2005 G35 Sedan 6MT	well give me a better design. I got another pair of tail lights. would horizontal lines be better?

03-03-2006, 09:49 AM	#11
timka86 6 Speed GT AKA: Tim Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Glendale Heights, IL Age: 35 Posts: 645 Vehicle: 2005 G35 Sedan 6MT	Well my mistake with that was that i painted the inside of the lense white too. to keep the light from diffusing and making a bigger spot of light. I should have prolly left that back unpainted. I guess there's two options 1. i could paint the outside lens on the outside/inside so that the leds project onto the white paint and it would look bolder this would in turn make the tails all white when none of the lights are on. 1a. then i may have to leave the reflector strip unpainted, i'm not 100% sure but i think they're required by law. 2. I can put a light coat of paint over the lens with the leds that way the paint will diffuse the light. any opinions? i'm leaning towards the first

03-03-2006, 10:15 AM	#13
timka86 6 Speed GT AKA: Tim Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Glendale Heights, IL Age: 35 Posts: 645 Vehicle: 2005 G35 Sedan 6MT	we'll really what they are is just 3mm leds, and especially towards the center, they're very closely spaced. The other thing about LED's is that they're focused, so they're bright when you're looking at them. And since the lens is rounded. they're not all facing the rear. if you look at the picture the side of the tail light closer to the trunk is brighter. I think painting the outside of the light and having them project onto that painted surface will work good. cuz the farther something has to project, it looks bigger. as the angle of light increases the father the led is from the surface it's projecting on

03-03-2006, 10:46 AM	#15
ultima_chi GAGT - Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 17 Vehicle: 2001 Grand AM GT Sedan	The design is horrid, but the work is great. Reminds me of a ferris wheel for some reason. It's actually making it kinda fruity. Is that just with the brakes engaged? What does it look like with your lights on and the brakes disengaged? You see where I'm getting at? More of a safety hazard. If I was going to be driving at a high rate of speed at night, I probably wouldn't see you until it was too late. I think the stock GT tails look great. There's no need in changing them. But if they had to be changed, maybe fill the whole taillight lens with LED's?