DB7 Rear Lights - modifications
Discussion
I'd like to get the detail right and speak to other, more well informed people, about adhesives, fixing mechanisms and regs/law on what I'm covering area-wise and what it's going to affect from a safety point of view, so early days yet, but keep the comments coming. In particular, what do you guys think of the straight taper and how it ignores the curved top of the light body? Should the next one echo this curve and extend around the indicator a little more?
Thats quite a neat little mod......I would go with the partial taper than the full wrap around, might even be worth polishing one up to a high finish to match the boot.
The trick is to have variation for different likes, polished, brushed, body coloured.
Won't make you a millionaire over night but a nice touch
The trick is to have variation for different likes, polished, brushed, body coloured.
Won't make you a millionaire over night but a nice touch
XKRacer, the newer Astons have a body coloured tapering centre strip, so I hadn't considered having them buffed or polished. I have a tame metal finisher who I could ask, so that's a good idea.
After having positive comments on here and AMOC site I tried this set today (3rd attempt):
6mm thick aluminium 455mm long, 20mm wide at the boot tapering to 10mm with a bull nosed end.
I know the right hand one is slightly crooked, that's rushing between the downpours today with double sided tape. I'm more enthusiastic about making my 7 look a little more up to date from the rear, but I've one eye on making a few sets if others want them. I can't see there being a demand for more than that as mods are a personal thing and normally frowned upon on cars like these.
There's still a lot to sort, like adhesives/tape or mechanical fixings, so I imagine it's going to be a while before I can say 'Come and get 'em'.
After having positive comments on here and AMOC site I tried this set today (3rd attempt):
6mm thick aluminium 455mm long, 20mm wide at the boot tapering to 10mm with a bull nosed end.
I know the right hand one is slightly crooked, that's rushing between the downpours today with double sided tape. I'm more enthusiastic about making my 7 look a little more up to date from the rear, but I've one eye on making a few sets if others want them. I can't see there being a demand for more than that as mods are a personal thing and normally frowned upon on cars like these.
There's still a lot to sort, like adhesives/tape or mechanical fixings, so I imagine it's going to be a while before I can say 'Come and get 'em'.
Edited by DB7 pilot on Saturday 11th September 21:07
Mark, I think your third attempt is spot on. You could keep trying different width/taper variations but to my eyes I think it looks just right. If you do go into a small production run please put me down for a set. If you can sort out correct tape/ adhesive I think this would be preferable to any nuts /bolts etc
cheers LBS
cheers LBS
That's better feedback chaps!
Yes please Tony, bring that tape to Rick's place as I'm having the third set sprayed the following day and I'm going to use my car as the test mule for them. My car's outside all the time and used everyday so any shortcomings will be revealed quite quickly.
Mark D.
Yes please Tony, bring that tape to Rick's place as I'm having the third set sprayed the following day and I'm going to use my car as the test mule for them. My car's outside all the time and used everyday so any shortcomings will be revealed quite quickly.
Mark D.
Hi Mark,
I have just replied to the thread over on AMOC.
My own rear light work has been halted due to my water problems thanks to Autoglass. :-(
Once I have rectified the problem there I will return to my own rear lights.
They look 100% better now they are tinted slightly, makes the rest of the rear stand out rather than just the lights.
I have a few photo's which I will post showing the car in different settings and it just looks better!
When I have time I have a few internal mods I want to try also which requires me removing the actual lens from the light unit body itself, it's only clipped on and held with some silicone so should be easy to pop off, mod and re-apply.
It's a shame I have to arrange a super car meet on the 26th otherwise I would have been at Rick's myself.
I've also just fitted a DV camera mount to the front of my car, 99% invisible unless you know where to look ;-)
I have just replied to the thread over on AMOC.
My own rear light work has been halted due to my water problems thanks to Autoglass. :-(
Once I have rectified the problem there I will return to my own rear lights.
They look 100% better now they are tinted slightly, makes the rest of the rear stand out rather than just the lights.
I have a few photo's which I will post showing the car in different settings and it just looks better!
When I have time I have a few internal mods I want to try also which requires me removing the actual lens from the light unit body itself, it's only clipped on and held with some silicone so should be easy to pop off, mod and re-apply.
It's a shame I have to arrange a super car meet on the 26th otherwise I would have been at Rick's myself.
I've also just fitted a DV camera mount to the front of my car, 99% invisible unless you know where to look ;-)
Phil,
That tint does suit your car. Looking forward to seeing your modification photos. I think on my lighter car a tint may work, but not as dark as yours. If I go that way I'll mask of the reversing light section and put my 'Update 3' strip on it, I'm trying for a hint of modern DBS with that small clear section, but that's a one hit deal, wont be able to undo it, so an afternoon on photoshop may be in order before I commit to it.
That tint does suit your car. Looking forward to seeing your modification photos. I think on my lighter car a tint may work, but not as dark as yours. If I go that way I'll mask of the reversing light section and put my 'Update 3' strip on it, I'm trying for a hint of modern DBS with that small clear section, but that's a one hit deal, wont be able to undo it, so an afternoon on photoshop may be in order before I commit to it.
DB7 pilot said:
Phil,
That tint does suit your car. Looking forward to seeing your modification photos. I think on my lighter car a tint may work, but not as dark as yours. If I go that way I'll mask of the reversing light section and put my 'Update 3' strip on it, I'm trying for a hint of modern DBS with that small clear section, but that's a one hit deal, wont be able to undo it, so an afternoon on photoshop may be in order before I commit to it.
I too think the tint looks good - and also like the strip.That tint does suit your car. Looking forward to seeing your modification photos. I think on my lighter car a tint may work, but not as dark as yours. If I go that way I'll mask of the reversing light section and put my 'Update 3' strip on it, I'm trying for a hint of modern DBS with that small clear section, but that's a one hit deal, wont be able to undo it, so an afternoon on photoshop may be in order before I commit to it.
If I ever own a DBS I too would look into tinting the rear lens - the only part I dislike on the car.
I like it, I had a quick look at the DB9 I did and I see what you are trying to do, I get you can't go as wide as the later cars but then again the DB7s are narrower anyway and would look out of proportion.
Post up more pics once you have done it is obvious you have quite a few interested parties
Post up more pics once you have done it is obvious you have quite a few interested parties
Exactly what I arived at too XKracer. The narrower light body, but above all the safety issue of obscuring too much of what they're actually there to do, dictated a slimmer, less invasive taper.
As for posting more pics...I couldn't help myself today, so I went into my workshop and indulged myself with another set, this time a little shorter with the boot end 2mm wider to accentuate the taper a little more. This is attempt 4:
315mm long, 6mm thick aluminium, 22mm at the boot end tapering to 10mm bull nose. Others have asked for a shorter version as the view from the back on previous sets looks like the whole light body's split in two. On the new Vantage the rear view does give the view of the end of the taper, I wasn't that keen while making them, they just looked too short, but once on the whole thing came together. I still prefer set 3, but I'm warming to these.
Then for the hell of it, the 'bling wing', for those who don't know when to say 'That's enough':
As for posting more pics...I couldn't help myself today, so I went into my workshop and indulged myself with another set, this time a little shorter with the boot end 2mm wider to accentuate the taper a little more. This is attempt 4:
315mm long, 6mm thick aluminium, 22mm at the boot end tapering to 10mm bull nose. Others have asked for a shorter version as the view from the back on previous sets looks like the whole light body's split in two. On the new Vantage the rear view does give the view of the end of the taper, I wasn't that keen while making them, they just looked too short, but once on the whole thing came together. I still prefer set 3, but I'm warming to these.
Then for the hell of it, the 'bling wing', for those who don't know when to say 'That's enough':
Latest versions:
Attempt/Set 5.
324mm long, 25mm at the boot tapering to 16mm bullnosed end, 6mm thick aluminium.
Attempt/Set 6.
455mm long, 25mm at the boot tapering to 15mm bullnosed end, 6mm thick aluminium.
I like both of these and there's no complicated curves in them, so once I've cleared up some safety issues and checked the adhesives, I'll knock out a few sets if anyone's interested.
Attempt/Set 5.
324mm long, 25mm at the boot tapering to 16mm bullnosed end, 6mm thick aluminium.
Attempt/Set 6.
455mm long, 25mm at the boot tapering to 15mm bullnosed end, 6mm thick aluminium.
I like both of these and there's no complicated curves in them, so once I've cleared up some safety issues and checked the adhesives, I'll knock out a few sets if anyone's interested.
I like the last set #6
The first 3 photo's of attempt #6 seem to be perfect however, the last shot they appear to be approx 10mm short. I imagine the ideal end point to be where the indicator lens meets the orange reflector lens.
I'll photoshop an image up form your last photo to highlight my point.
I'll post the PS image shortly.
The first 3 photo's of attempt #6 seem to be perfect however, the last shot they appear to be approx 10mm short. I imagine the ideal end point to be where the indicator lens meets the orange reflector lens.
I'll photoshop an image up form your last photo to highlight my point.
I'll post the PS image shortly.
GTDB7, I think it's an optical illusion thing, the angle of that photo, looking through the transparency of the lens does make it appear as if it sits behind the dividing line in the indicator section of the lens. Here's one I took at the same time but didn't upload that shows it on the divider:
As for attempt 5's taper over the reflector and reversing light, I tried one with a parallel band up to that point and then tapered away over the brake/sidelight section, but it looked a bit too heavy over the section I'm most concerned about...the visible area over the brake light, but I understand what you're saying.
As for attempt 5's taper over the reflector and reversing light, I tried one with a parallel band up to that point and then tapered away over the brake/sidelight section, but it looked a bit too heavy over the section I'm most concerned about...the visible area over the brake light, but I understand what you're saying.
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