LED Tail/Brake Lights

[Jman423]

I don't know about you guys, but I really hope to see something like this become available to us soon. These LED Brake/Tail lights are so sweet. I believe this is an older version of the SS from back in 2003, but I wonder if those will ever make it to the market. I am dying to get my hands on them.

http://www.camarohighway.com/Chicago2003/DCP_1216.JPG

http://www.fast-autos.net/chevrolet/blazerss2.jpg

Everyone has their secret little untapped resources, can anyone find these, or something really close?

[TBSS]

Are those like the tails on the Range Rover? If so, I agree, those are hot. :yes:

[Jman423]

Are those like the tails on the Range Rover? If so, I agree, those are hot. :yes:
Dunno, are they?

[OurZoo]

Those are bad ass.

[jimmyjam]

JMan why are you teasing us with the unattainable! I'll take a set of those brake lights along with Jessica Alba's home phone number. Its never going to happen!

[deathbynosleep]

I need to have them. Also the smoke turn signal lens...i need those as well.

[homertime]

In all seriousness, if you're really handy you can make them yourselves - it's just a matter of removing the lens to have access to custom make LED panels

I say if the asians can do that stuff to their mirror lights, we can do this!


Really it's a matter of getting a bunch of resistors, LED's and having a hell of a lot of patience.

The one difficult one would be the rear break light since it has 2 intensities

If anyone wants to donate a used/beat up tail light, I'd give it a shot

[jimmyjam]

The one difficult one would be the rear break light since it has 2 intensitiesWhat you would do is wire 1/3 of the LEDs to one circuit, and the rest to another. perhaps the LEDs on the outside of the circle, and use a larger resistance on them so they'll be dimmer, then the ones in the middle will turn on with the brakes and be on full bore. man you got me thinking....

In order to get perfect circles like that you'll need to get a piece of PCB milled. otherwise you'll have something that looks like a 10 sided polygon or something. man if I was still in college and had access to the milling machine I could make an AWESOME PCB, with traces on the back so no wiring necessary... and sell them to you guys.. hmm wow you may be onto something...

[jimmyjam]

ok.. so.. how many people would be interested in an LED brake light kit for their TB's?

I wouldn't bother doing this mod if it was just for me because without a custom PCB it would look hokey. not to mention, custom PCB would make stuffing the boards MUCH MUCH MUCH easier. If there was enough interest we could raise enough funds to overcome the inital costs of PCB fabrication. probably looking at $80-100 if 10 people pitched in.

Keep in mind that LED reverse lights aren't going to be as bright as incandescent bulbs probably.

anyone know where to get a used brakelight from? any condition?

[2002BlkLTZ]

The problem with custom lights jimmyjam is they would have to be certified to meet DOT standards, I think. They have to emit a specific amount of light visible clearly from a certain distance. I don't know if anyone would ever get pulled over for it, but it's certainly worth keeping in mind.

[jimmyjam]

thats why well you sell them you state "only for off-road use" like the westers tune for example

[Blulytes]

As long as they are obnoxiously bright... who cares...
Maybe we can have some fun with the wiring too... make all four reds light up for brake... then have maybe a staggered turn when utilizing the turns... that would be sick...
So many ideas... no clue as to make them happen!

Jimmy... whatever you need... I'm in... stay with the halogen reverse though.
Hmm... how about doing like the range rover... That would be sick... I'm calling the junk yard.

[homertime]

I'll take a 25% cut for royalties...

any help with design that you need let me know, honestly, if my 6 LED's in the front can blind people, I'm sure we can make some reverse lights that are brighter then a standard hallogen... too bad white LED's are the most expensive...

Another thought for you joe, as for the 4 brake lights, have the middle light mixed red/amber, so that the brake is red and the turn is amber... Or have the lights light up in an arrow pattern < or >

[FattyTBEXT]

So the LEDs would be clear until lit, right? I think I like the idea for an amber turn signal in the center of one of the lights. That way the turn signals would be stealth when not lit, but would match the smoked mirror signals when they were lit. I think I'm in for a set. Damn these colormatched taillight covers. :laugh:

[lt_xtrm]

I have my old taillights just sittin around. One of them is cracked on the outside and they have that spray tint on but they both still work fine. I have the custom taillights from TYC so I could ship my old ones to anybody who wants to mess with them and I'll pay for shipping.

[tblazin18]

i would those leds or anything you guys come up with. i think it'll look sick.

[jimmyjam]

I have my old taillights just sittin around. One of them is cracked on the outside and they have that spray tint on but they both still work fine. I have the custom taillights from TYC so I could ship my old ones to anybody who wants to mess with them and I'll pay for shipping.You've got a PM :yes:

[Dacomputernerd]

Sweet!:yes: Im in for a set if most of these criteria are met...

All four lights come on when breaking.
their are red (or yellow) arrows that appear with the turn signals on

[jimmyjam]

I'm slammed at work (I'll probably be workign through the weekend) but once I get some free time to sit down and think I'll lay out some schemes for how the lights will work.

Right now I plan on having circular PCBs with LEDs on them that sit inside the housing, before the circle becomes concave. I want to avoid having to cut the housing, it may be necessary to drill a couple holes but that sould be it. also want to use the factory harness without modification. top of the PCB will be painted black and the LEDs will be clear so should be pretty stealth

before I do any of that I have to get some LEDs in house and determine current draw and how I'm going to configure them. I don't think I'll need current limiting resistors if done right.

JMan if you have some free time this weekend you can meet me at Skycraft surplus (http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/) and I can lay out my plan muahahahah

definately going to keep the reverse bulb, bright white LEDs are like $3 a pop!

don't think i'm going to do the arrows because a) if the wiring layout I have in my head is right, it'll be too hard to draw the traces, there will have to be more room between the LEDs and b) it'll look queer. I think the running light "halo" will look soooo badass

[tblazin18]

jimmyjam ill pay you make me some of thoses. just figured it out and let me know

[Dacomputernerd]

I'm slammed at work (I'll probably be workign through the weekend) but once I get some free time to sit down and think I'll lay out some schemes for how the lights will work.

Right now I plan on having circular PCBs with LEDs on them that sit inside the housing, before the circle becomes concave. I want to avoid having to cut the housing, it may be necessary to drill a couple holes but that sould be it. also want to use the factory harness without modification. top of the PCB will be painted black and the LEDs will be clear so should be pretty stealth

before I do any of that I have to get some LEDs in house and determine current draw and how I'm going to configure them. I don't think I'll need current limiting resistors if done right.

JMan if you have some free time this weekend you can meet me at Skycraft surplus (http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/) and I can lay out my plan muahahahah

definately going to keep the reverse bulb, bright white LEDs are like $3 a pop!

don't think i'm going to do the arrows because a) if the wiring layout I have in my head is right, it'll be too hard to draw the traces, there will have to be more room between the LEDs and b) it'll look queer. I think the running light "halo" will look soooo badass

Ya turn arrows would be hard

HALO RUNNING LIGHTS? So the outer edges of the lenses would glow when the running lights were on? Like this?http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/1829000-1829999/1829310_167_full.jpg

[jimmyjam]

this is my inspiration
http://www.landroverusa.com/us/en/Vehicles/Range_Rover/Photo_gallery_media/Range_Rover_Photos_801C14E6-B17B-48D3-9CA3-E36141C930CA.jpg
colors/lighting sequences TBD

[itstrick]

Alright so maybe I could help out with this a little the halo running lights would look steller as well as the turning signal. But yeah most deffently Sign me up!

[OurZoo]

Hey, I thought you would say those are SEXY! :D

[FattyTBEXT]

Yay Senior Member Andrew. Congrats. Oh, and I'm really pretty excited about the prospect of these lights. :yes:

[itstrick]

Hope this link works but a little something I created:

http://myweb.cableone.net/savery/tb.gif

[Jman423]

Wow, I wanted something simple, you guys are really going nuts with ideas :laugh:

Here I though I was the only one that loved the look of that 02 SS concept truck's LED tail lights :eek:

JimmyJam, good luck with this, it looks tedious, but not as tedious as that mysterious device you made and posted pics of.

[FattyTBEXT]

JimmyJam, good luck with this, it looks tedious, but not as tedious as that mysterious device you made and posted pics of.

I thought we agreed not to speak of such things any longer. :x

[Jman423]

I thought we agreed not to speak of such things any longer. :x
<Poof> all is forgotten... :p

[jimmyjam]

I'm lost.......

[Jman423]

I'm lost.......
I'm lost, I have gone to find myself, if I should get back before I return, please ask me to wait.... Thanks!! :rotfl:

[Blulytes]

Oh boy... Do I have a very feasable idea... came to me last night:eek: ... I do not envision it to be too hard either... Anyone else have an old set of TB Taillights sitting around in their garage they would not mind to donate to the cause????

[DavidF]

I've seen some available off the shelf. Someone on here posted a link a while back, but here's a quick search on ebay that turned up something like what I was thinking of.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-05-CHEVY-TRAILBLAZER-LED-ALTEZZA-TAILLIGHTS-BLACK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33716QQitemZ80085 08722QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[FattyTBEXT]

I like the LEDs in a round formation much better than those lights on eBay. :m2: :m2:

Were we planning on tinting the lenses or am I gonna need some NiteShades?

[brochad]

If someone honestly wants to make an attempt at it I would consider "donating" my stock lights to the cause... I have the IPCW LED Tails.

[Blulytes]

brochad... sent you a PM

[brochad]

replied to PM... Good Luck! Hope it turns out well. Might even warrant a How-To article.

[jimmyjam]

lt_xtrm sent me his old brake light housings (thanks again!) and I've been trying to formulate a plan. I wanted to avoid cutting; I thought I'd be able to remove the lens from the backing part, but that isn't happening, the seam where the glue is can't be accessed. so I'm thinking about busting out the dremel.
:( not really happy about that.

[zamar]

Come on jimmyjam! You kahn dew it! Throw in a flux capacitor while your in there. :D

[tblazed]

You want ROUND LED tails? here's some to look at anyway. What was to be for the SS but apparently got cut before production.

http://users3.ev1.net/~epadget/tbsstail1.jpg

http://users3.ev1.net/~epadget/tbsstail3.jpg


Took these pics of a TB-SS in 2004 at the Texas State Fair, the same concept SS they had been showing around for a few years. Had a really nice DUAL exhaust setup exiting out grills in the rear bumper fascia too. Another good idea to the scrap heap.

[jimmyjam]

yeah thats what I want, I think that having to cut holes in the lights will cut down on the number of people interested in this, and thereby making it financially more difficult to get boards cut. Although on that picture there are not a lot of LEDs on there, not as many as I had in mind, so maybe we don't need boards cut? don't know, but I'd really rather have an assembly that can be returned to stock, if I hack it up there is no going back.

hey my post odometer is about to roll over!

[tblazed]

My crappy pics don't show all the details (1st gen camera phone) but pretty much all the area was filled with square LEDs. Too bad they didn't at least go to production with these as a GM accessory.

[Jman423]

You want ROUND LED tails? here's some to look at anyway. What was to be for the SS but apparently got cut before production.

http://users3.ev1.net/~epadget/tbsstail1.jpg

http://users3.ev1.net/~epadget/tbsstail3.jpg


Took these pics of a TB-SS in 2004 at the Texas State Fair, the same concept SS they had been showing around for a few years. Had a really nice DUAL exhaust setup exiting out grills in the rear bumper fascia too. Another good idea to the scrap heap.

Yeah, those are what I had in mind when I started this thread, they are really nice looking.
yeah thats what I want, I think that having to cut holes in the lights will cut down on the number of people interested in this, and thereby making it financially more difficult to get boards cut. Although on that picture there are not a lot of LEDs on there, not as many as I had in mind, so maybe we don't need boards cut? don't know, but I'd really rather have an assembly that can be returned to stock, if I hack it up there is no going back.

hey my post odometer is about to roll over!
JimmyJam is about to be a TrailVoy Alumni Member: CONGRATS

[Dacomputernerd]

hey my post odometer is about to roll over!


Congrats! :D

[Blulytes]

Jimmy... just for fun I am not going to tell you what I am doing to see about the different ideas we can come up with... All I can say is pretty friggin cool... and I am going to have to cut. However after looking at what one of our japanese counterparts did... should be pretty darn simple!

[Boilermaker-744]

I'll look to see if I still have Jon Moss' phone #, but why don't someone or better yet, EVERYONE EMAIL GM about these taillights.

[Dacomputernerd]

EVERYONE EMAIL GM about these taillights.

Just tell me their address and i'm on it!

[tblazed]

Boilermaker-744 .. it would be nice to track down whatever happened to the GM TB LED tails and get the story.

After seeing these at the fair, I had seriously contemplated doing something. Bought an extra set of tail lenses to play with, just never got 'round to it, and possibly using LED arrays from
http://www.superbrightleds.com/truck_lights.htm
There's more than just putting in LEDs too. You'll need to use proper loading resistors that will load the turn signal flasher with enough current so the flash rate will be right. The IPCW Bermuda black ones I bought have that all taken care of, built in, and work properly with the signal flasher.

[FattyTBEXT]

Jimmy... just for fun I am not going to tell you what I am doing to see about the different ideas we can come up with... All I can say is pretty friggin cool... and I am going to have to cut. However after looking at what one of our japanese counterparts did... should be pretty darn simple!

If you won't tell Jimmy, will you at least tell me? You don't have to worry about me telling him because I don't like him anyway. :rotfl:
Just kidding...

[Dacomputernerd]

If you won't tell Jimmy, will you at least tell me? You don't have to worry about me telling him because I don't like him anyway. :rotfl:
Just kidding...
LMAO!!:laugh: :D :rotfl:

[itstrick]

Boilermaker-744 .. it would be nice to track down whatever happened to the GM TB LED tails and get the story.

After seeing these at the fair, I had seriously contemplated doing something. Bought an extra set of tail lenses to play with, just never got 'round to it, and possibly using LED arrays from
http://www.superbrightleds.com/truck_lights.htm
There's more than just putting in LEDs too. You'll need to use proper loading resistors that will load the turn signal flasher with enough current so the flash rate will be right. The IPCW Bermuda black ones I bought have that all taken care of, built in, and work properly with the signal flasher.


If one could get the lights apart these could go in there right? Its an idea and a good one. not sure how strong of a bond and brightness it would be though

[jimmyjam]

I was messing with the spare set of tail light assemblies I have today, the middle light seems easy enough, but the top one has got me scratching my head because it kind of spills over to the side of the lens if you look at it. I've got to come up with a better idea for it or maybe just figure out how I'm going to package the circuit board to make it look clean... :confused:

[itstrick]

I was messing with the spare set of tail light assemblies I have today, the middle light seems easy enough, but the top one has got me scratching my head because it kind of spills over to the side of the lens if you look at it. I've got to come up with a better idea for it or maybe just figure out how I'm going to package the circuit board to make it look clean... :confused:


Awsome, Keep it up man. Thats what I was just thinking when you look at it is a little odd to work with.

[Blulytes]

I was looking at the housing last night...
I think regardless once we do this, there is NO returning back to stock.
There are alot of fancy ideas, just dependant on how difficult we want this project to be.

[jimmyjam]

I think regardless once we do this, there is NO returning back to stock.Definately, that was the reason why I was initially discouraged. separating the lens from the housing is pretty much impossible without serious hacking.

[itstrick]

I am game. If it dosnt work. well then, it dosnt work. but count me in. better bust out the dremel! :rotfl:

[Catfish_SS]

Holy 4 year old thread batman!!!!!!! I like what I see. Any info?!?!

[Blazernut]

Holy 4 year old thread batman!!!!!!! I like what I see. Any info?!?!

Check out Jetttstream on this thread. He is a first class vendor on our site :thumbsup:

http://forums.trailvoy.com/showthread.php?t=55055