making rear lights...

[Davi]

I have a hankering for some really "different" rear lights on my car, i.e. not something off a fiesta, and not something round that usually goes on a trailer / ferrari.

so... anyone know of a process for making your own lenses? never tried anything like this before, so dont know if there is a "home" process that can be done or if it's really something you have to have manufactured. I have seen some front and sidelight lenses that have been home made before but I thought they looked a bit milky and rubbish.

Simple options, or should I just forget it?

Alternatively if you know of a production light that's about 3-4inches high tapering to a sharp point over about 12 inches with a chrome ringed circle in the middle, that goes outside the boundary of the taper, let me know, cos thats what I'd like

[tribbles]

I think that the lights have to be E approved (unless you're able to show that they're able to scatter light in the correct pattern).

Using existing lights are the easiest option - although I can't think of any like you describe (a picture would help though!)

[LotusNova]

Davi,

No 'E' mark is definately an SVA failure (if you have to go that route). I don't know if they check this for the standard MOT. If you simply want something different, I know a few folks who've used production lamps, but mounted them opposite side/upside down. Can look nice & makes 'em less easy to identify.

I'm using round lamps on mine, but mounting them vertically instead of the usual horizontal layout (not finished yet, so don't tell me the rear end looks ugly - I know it does).



The '59 Chevy Corvette had unusual rear lamps a bit like you describe (sort of a stretched triangle with the taper at the bottom & chrome trim surround & vertically through the middle).
Hope this helps,
Jon.


>> Edited by LotusNova on Saturday 1st April 08:23

>> Edited by LotusNova on Saturday 1st April 09:00

[johnem]

Try this link www.totalkitcar.com/tkc_article_130.php
and scroll down for a number of Lighting links. Yes make shure it has an e-mark for SVA.
John.

[Davi]

Thanks for the replys.

Well, looks like I'm boogered on the DIY ones then, so mainstream it is! I'll be having a look through those links, thanks! See if I can find anything I like the look of. Failing that, I have had another idea I reasonably like with a couple of different sized LED round lights which I could add to a triangular reflector piece for a similar effect.Pressume they are E marked but will check.

I cant picture the 'vette lights but will certainly have a look for those as well, they certainly sound similar!

[tribbles]

LotusNova - I made my own lenses for my first kit car (which was pre-SVA), and that passed several MOTs.

I made a template out of steel, and used a fluorescent tube filter (which had a lot of diamond-shaped tips) which I gently melted in an oven over the template. I then cut it with a jigsaw to fit. Took a few attempts to get it right though.

[Kiwi XTR2]

Have you read 'Driving Ambition' ?

The bit about the tail-lights on the F1 . . . obviously

[annodomini2]

Do the clear style (lexus) lenses require an E mark? (i know they're chavvy, but you may be able to make your own from components which already do have an E mark)

[Flossythepig]

Have a look at the rear lights on any current TVR. They must use E-marked units behind the acrylic cover. They used to use Fiesta light units behind an acrylic cover.

[dino ferrana]

Lights must be E-Marked and this is one of the great struggles for low volume manufacturers. E-marking your own light design apparently runs to £500,000 ish I believe! Personally I would not want to play about with making my own lights anyway, they are far too important to safety.

There are far too many cars on the roads with lighting faults and driving on just their side lights anyway before people start making their own!

[Davi]

Kiwi XTR2 said:

Have you read 'Driving Ambition' ? The bit about the tail-lights on the F1 . . . obviously

no, I haven't, care to share the jist of it?

flossy said:

Have a look at the rear lights on any current TVR. They must use E-marked units behind the acrylic cover. They used to use Fiesta light units behind an acrylic cover.

Pretty much exactly what I was trying to avoid really, I cant find any units that would be suitable to fit behind really anyway.

dino ferrana said:

Personally I would not want to play about with making my own lights anyway, they are far too important to safety.

TBH, as I'll be constructing 90% of the components on the car from scratch, this is the least of my concerns, the wishbones and mounts are about the only bits I'm worried about on that front, and am getting those checked very thoroughly!! the units themselves are very simple to make, it's only the covers that would have caused me any difficulties, but from the look of it the E mark requirement has put a stop to that anyway.

I think what I'll try and do is find a small round unit that has all the major functions on it, then just make the reflector unit the triangular shape I wanted with the round unit in the middle.... I know that'll be kind of hard for people to picture, I'll post some pics a little further down the line once they are in CAD!

[Davi]

Interesting... have just been doing a lot of further reading of the pack of bull that is known as the SVA handbook, and there is mention that the lights do not need to bear any markings at all, as long as they are capable of providing the luminescence as stated in the regulations - only mentions beam pattern for the front as well, nothing about it for the rears.

so... I'll be giving the SVA chaps a ring for clarification of how they test luminescence so I can test in the same way, and looks like I can knock up anything I like! (well, within reason, and by sub paragraphs 3 to 15 (i to iiiiii.....))

Groovy.

[member8888]

Davi, do you honestly believe that TVR etc have been incorporating Hella units into cluster for years cos they lack the creative genius of yourself or maybe they do have to be E marked. Try to keep it real.

[member8888]

I felt I should explain..... Your right but you'll need a 10K budget for bespoke lighting. The testing of bespoke units is a lengthy and expensive process, so like I said, Keep it real and consentrate on your aesthetics. Making a lightwieght, cheap and quick car is easy. So is making a foul one as Lee Noble has just proved. I recommend that you should stick to your day job unless you want to lose a lot of time and money. Sorry for being honest, I don't take any pleasure from saying this and your obviously free to accuse me of being just some other iddiot that talks sh''ite. Best wishes.

[Davi]

member8888 said:

I felt I should explain..... Your right but you'll need a 10K budget for bespoke lighting. The testing of bespoke units is a lengthy and expensive process, so like I said, Keep it real and consentrate on your aesthetics. Making a lightwieght, cheap and quick car is easy. So is making a foul one as Lee Noble has just proved. I recommend that you should stick to your day job unless you want to lose a lot of time and money. Sorry for being honest, I don't take any pleasure from saying this and your obviously free to accuse me of being just some other iddiot that talks sh''ite. Best wishes.

yeah thanks for that, as you dont know me, my background or abilities I'll not take that as a personal insult. I rebuilt my first engine at the age of 5, have been working on and driving (real) cars ever since, built my first custom car at 17. I was also a designer for 10 years, and am designing this car to look how I want it to, without compromise, therefore even if you or any other person thinks it looks foul, it will be exactly what I want or it wont be built.

There is a major difference in the research and testing of "bespoke" anything for personal use, and for production. Although I obviously need to continue research into exactly what the regulations are, from what I've read in the SVA handbook regulations are not that strict - something born out by the amount of cars that have completely clear lenses with led lighting on the back of the car.

I haven't said it's definitely possible yet, but if I were the sort of person to give up and make compromises before fully researching a subject, I wouldn't be scratch building a car.... or at least, not one worth having. 99% of the time, there is a cheap and simple solution to any problem, just depends if you are the sort of person that likes solving them or the type to give up at the first hurdle.

[RushV8]

Davi

have you looked at the bootlid mounted "inner rear" lights on BMW / Mercedes uberwagens from the last ~8 years production. They have rear wing mounted main rear cluster and then a pose-value inner sewt of rear lights on the boot lid which line up with the main cluster when boot is shut.... Many are of diamond or trapizoidal shaped, and thus by using one or more of them on each side you might be able to get a "tapers to a point over ~ 12" " type effect.

You'd have to go to specialist BMW / Merc breakers to get 'em (if they turn out to be a fair starting point for your creation), but I used to have an E25 series BMW 325i sport, and spares for that from BM repro / breaker specialists were no more costly than parts for Ford or GM mainstream cars.

Another way to achieve the look you want is to choose a flat / big van style unit (like Ford Transit Compact or similar)and then cut out a hole the shape of the light you want in the rear tub of your kit, and bolt the light to the inside of the tub by GRPing some captive bolts to the inside of the tub, and some black foam tape stuck to the fibreglass for it to seat on. Then make up a clear perspex cover that exactly fits in the recess of the shaped hole, and sikaflex or wurth adhesive the cover in to the hole for a flush / neat finish (and to keep water out of the boot / rear tub). I've seen this done to good effect on both a Hensen GT , and a GTM kit car in the past.

Good luck.

[Davi]

Some nice idea's there Rush, thank you

I've been told to look at some MPV's as well, particularly those with lights that go up the rear pillars, but I like your idea, I could even mount a generic round unit between a couple of shorter triangular ones... I'll look into that