3rd Brake Light *Low Profile Carbon Fiber (OMG CARBON) (GB OVER- see link)

[wheelhaus]

GB is finished! A while ago actually... But this thread is still going with info. I am now making them for sale in a new thread:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87886

Here' is my attempt at a 3rd brake light mod, full carbon fiber. Tooling and fabrication are on the professional level (some of you already know I do composite aircraft repair/modification), and final parts turned out just a little better than I expected. I used the 18" LED bar and wiring extensions from www.superbrightLEDs.com and the rest is sourced from my workplace. I was influenced by the final product of this thread but wanted easier fabrication, and was also influenced by this thread but wanted a better final product. So I sort of combined the ideas and made my own. I wanted something very low profile, enough that it couldn't be seen in the rear view at all. The final version is slightly visible in the mirror, but only a very, very thin sliver. Please note, the gray tape is temporary. I am working with our 3M Rep to try out some black tapes to make it more invisible. I only have factory tint, so, almost none.

Anyways, let me know what you think. If there's enough interest I can fabricate more and sell them as-is (carbon shroud only), or ideally as kits with instructions and everything included.

Here is the tooling for the master forms and the final mold.

In process:


Ready for production mold:


Production mold finished:




First layup under vacuum. The spots are excess resin that are being squeezed from the part through the release film. The vacuum bag comprises four layers, peel ply, release film, breather/bleeder, and vacuum bag. The benefit to vacuum bagging is much better part integrity, the layers are compacted together to make the part as light and strong as possible. The only next step would be an autoclave, but that's WAY beyond the scope of this part... As-is, it's made of three layers, 0°, 45°, and 0° orientation using plain weave 3K fabric, BMS9-8, Boeing spec. The shroud weighs almost nothing when it's finished. Aircraft grade.


I wanted the skin facing the interior of the car to have the nice carbon finish, this image explains why. The bag-side is less attractive, and through even untinted glass it can barely be seen. The bag side also gets painted with matte black Plasti-Dip to protect from UV and eliminate any possible glossiness.

Final part after trim and cleanup:




Ready for install. I am using felt across the top edge because I want it to gently wedge under the head liner, I left gaps to ensure air could still circulate.


PLEASE NOTE: The gray tape is temporary. I'm working with our 3M rep to test out some black tapes that are also UV resistant. I want this shroud to be hardly visible at all.

First installation and test fit:




UPDATE rear view shots:




I will post updates when I get the new black tape and try a couple ideas to ease final fitment and make it almost idiot proof to keep it square.

Again if there's enough interest, I can make more. I love how it turned out. Thanks for checking it out!

[wheelhaus]

Final design! I have measurements for final trim dimensions using black 3M 4949 1/4" wide tape and will include it in the production mold ASAP to ensure consistency and speedy fabrication.

Request:
I would like to send a sample piece to someone who is a tint guru and could test it for me on a piece of test glass left in the sun for a few days. I will include a small piece of carbon, sprayed with black Plastidip exactly like the production piece to mimic similar conditions.

Please note: the smudging on the carbon shroud surface in the pic below is from me handling it after removal and not cleaning it thoroughly...

[Jolaessss]

@ck-GT86

[MemphisR]

Would you be willing to sell these?

[Mexorcist]

I love this!

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by MemphisR

Would you be willing to sell these?

Absolutely, I need to calculate time and materials, anything laid up by hand can be time intensive. I'll look into my costs and see what's reasonable if I were to make one or two vs 20 or more. Maybe a group buy if enough people can commit.

[TONYpepperon1]

Id be interested. How much are you thinking

[aegisdrgn]

That turned out really nice!

Interested in a group buy as well.

[ZOMFGAARON]

Interested if the price is right.

[8R6]

that looks badass. clean too. unfortunately, the cost it'll require for you to produce a bunch probably won't be worth for many to spend on that mod... but who knows. either way, that's a clean looking custom mod!

[continuecrushing]

whoa! Looks great!

[DAEMANO]

+1 for additional fabrication. Very nice.

[Skorov]

Very nice!

Have you, by chance tried putting some low frequencies through it to see if it rattles? One of the main reasons I did my own version of this install was because the stock light rattle against the glass very heavily after I installed a sub.

Cheers

[wheelhaus]

Originally Posted by Skorov

Very nice!

Have you, by chance tried putting some low frequencies through it to see if it rattles? One of the main reasons I did my own version of this install was because the stock light rattle against the glass very heavily after I installed a sub.

Cheers

Yes, aint no thang. I have two JL 8W3v3 and they don't hit quite hard enough to cavitate the cabin and crack the windshield, but the light shroud is solid, no noise whatsoever. I specifically wanted to avoid rattles, so the LED bar mounts to the forward-most face of the carbon that butts against the head liner, which has a slight curve that's not very apparent from the photos. This curve adds a slight preload and keeps it from rattling. It sits about 1/4" off the bottom face (large surface) and from the glass, so there's no chance for rattle.