Yes sir pm me

That is real nice, but real expensive for what it is. I think I would pay $150 max to relocate the 3rd light.

any word on whether you're going to be making a few of these id be down for one asap

Compared to the japanese kit, I like OP's setup better!

Sorry I've been absent for a while guys. When I sold the car I didn't take the third brake light I made out (because I'm an idiot). So I don't have the original and stupidly didn't take any measurements. I don't really have a way to make these anymore, and I'm not sure I have the motivation I had when I owned the car.

Thanks for the compliments, and good luck to anyone whole wants to make one of these for their 86. It's really not that difficult or expensive and I would encourage anyone who is the least bit inclined to try to build one.

:cry:

finally done
 

Followed OP's example and got it finished and and installed yesterday.
Attachment 90431

I don't suppose you would be willing to send me the templates you used for that, or sned me a rough diagram?

I will take measurements and pictures of mine in a couple of weeks when I drop the headliner to add some soundproofing.

hope this helps
 

I did everything as I went along with out any plans. hope there is enough info in the pictures to help.

They sell an almost exact replica of this on FT86Speedfactory...OP I hope you're involved because if you're not I'd be PISSED.

if you're referring this one http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/inte...ight-2005.html. Actually it's from intec in japan, https://www.intecjapanstore.com/prod...product_id=116

Yep...someone check and see if Intec is subscribed to this thread

It's not a unique idea.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72225
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75887

Ideally I too would like the light up the top but as a simple compromise,can anyone see a problem with taking the LED-array
and its diffuser out of the housing and just putting it at the base?
I tried just laying it to one side of the housing and it is under half the height and 3inches/75mm closer to the glass making the view
out the back much better. It can actually be pushed in the crack for a simple friction fit.
Possibly a section could be cut out of the shelf to lower it more.
I tucked a bit of black felt under and up over the back and over the top and meeting the glass to stop reflection in the glass
and it will not rub or rattle. It looks neat and would match black felt covering the holes left in the shelf.

The wiring was not long enough for me to try driving around in that temporary position but it would reach if centred.

Any comments before I detach the three-legged monster?

@notout86

There is a lot of regulation on the third brake light that I would be afraid of infringing when lowering the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Lamps). "High Mounted" is in the name because it is supposed to be a certain distance higher than the other two brake lights for the purposes of individual distinction and visibility. The entire reason it has UFO landing gear might be to satisfy these requirements. Raising the light only increases the satisfaction of these rules, but lowering it might break them.

Also, this is how I understand it in the US. It may be different in 'Stralia.

My concern with that would be making sure that it's still high enough to be easily visible over the trunk / spoiler (if equipped). I don't think it should be an issue, but that's definitely something to be considered before you do anything you can't easily reverse.

If you do it, we'll need pics :D

Thanks Rosticles and codesplice. Yes I guess there is some legal height requirement to explain the OE design. I gave that more thought. I checked with our State automobile club technical advice people and they think it would be ok. As you know, the whole idea of those lights is to allow following drivers to be able to look through rear windows of cars in front and get prior warning of braking.
In the case of lowered cars, the light could be lowered more than I have in mind and I do not think that is ever taken into account. In many cases, up at the roof line is often higher than ideal and cannot be seen.
I am safety conscious (rear view camera fitted etc etc) and the high OE design itself is something of a safety hazard, and when it reflects in the glass, the effective height as seen by the driver is doubled! My proposed lower mod, with black felt sounds like a win-win.
As for re-locating at the top of the glass INSIDE our cars, that is great for view restriction BUT introduces a small rear-passenger head banging hazard.
Compromises wherever you look. I am concluding it would be best to have TWO such lights ...... one low and one high or just stay at home.:sigh:

Further thoughts ..... I will not know until I get the shelf out, but it may be possible to make only two slits in the shelf and push the bit between down to make a cavity for the array and make it flush with the shelf and simply lay one bit of felt over the shelf and light. Also, a magnet may be able to be attached below the array and use it to clamp to the metal. Then it would be easy to get it out for window cleaning. I'm getting excited.

I have just removed my shelf with the help of the posts in this thread and here are my notes which complement.

See the links which have photos. ALSO scroll down for info re a "hook" on the underside of the shelf, directly below the "space ship" that hooks under the metal.
It is NOT necessary to remove trim panels.

For future use I have made slits in the edge of the shelf DIRECTLY opposite the clips. They are virtually invisible and will normally be concealed behind the rear seat rests. These are for insertion of a clip-release tool ,but note the clips will tend to pop back so slip something in under the edge to keep it raised. I found slipping my slender hand under the shelf difficult.

Put a newspaper against the glass to protect the heater wires.
Remove the 4 black clips along the edge of the shelf.
There are 4 white clips in a line, about 50mm in from the rear edge and about 40cm apart.The tips of the clips are visible from up in the boot.

Go along the edge of the shelf and gently bend it up. . Lift the RH end and push you hand in to locate the clip about 30mm in from the end. Using the panel clip remover, slide it up and under the panel from the front and feel around until the tool gets ahold of the clip. Pop out the clips, but note that they are going to want to snap back into the hole due to the pressure of the panel being stretched into place so stuff something in to hold it up .
When all 4 clips are popped, pull the centre forward enough to release the hook in the metal below the space ship. At each end of the shelf there is a tab with a hole in it. The tab goes along underneath the plastic trim and the hole locates UP to a protrusion in the trim. While pushing down on the extreme end of the shelf to release at the hole, pull the end of the shelf forward.Do the other end and remove the shelf.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72225 and http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61533
and
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10002 <<-- This has useful pics but includes
removing trim which is not necessary.
__________________
GTS86 Auto (Australia)

Job finished. I extended the wiring and test drove with the array lying on the shelf. No problems so I removed the shelf and space ship. Ignore the slit in the shelf idea above .. it achieves nothing. It would be possible to hack into the shelf and make a recess and I may do that. At present it is only held by being pressed into the shelf/glass crack and black fabric to the glass. Although there are no rattles and it seems secure I will add a magnet... it is so easy to get out.

If black felt is draped over it, forming a gentle curve across the back of the shelf you would hardly notice it in the rear-view mirror.

COST: zero, nil, zilch. Effectiveness: 5 stars. Appearance: unobtrusive. Weight saving: 150grammes . Ease of future maintenance improvement: 50%. Environmental impact: zero

p.s. Yesterday I noticed that if the sun was such that the space ship was reflecting in the glass the height is actually TRIPLE that of the light alone.

Went for a 150km spin over poorly made road at 100kmph. It stayed in place so I do not expect to use the magnet idea.

PICS http://www.gt86ownersclub.co.uk/foru...121_page3.html

Here is the start of my 3rd brake light relocation. I have to figure out some parts of the frame, but I am excited for the final product

What light led strip did you go with? have been wanting to do this for awhile now.

It is a '98 Cadillac STS brake light

Holy crap dude, this is almost exactly what I am wanting to do with mine. You don't happen to have pictures and measurements of the housing you built, do you?

It isn't finished yet, but i can send you what i have

Could you send me what you have also?:D

That would be awesome! There are a few '98 STS's in my area. Was going to pick up a few of the lights this weekend, weather didn't cooperate...

MatchstickMan PresiO.

Sorry for such a tardy reply :(. I have uploaded a photo with measurements and one with out. All you should have to do is some math, or print it out to scale.

Hope this helps,
MemphisR :thumbup:

P.S. I added one of what my current light looks like. If you want to follow along and see it when it is finished first, then you can check out my instagram: andrew.jb

How's the light bleed?

Not sure yet. I still have a few small things to finish before I install it.

Don't want to totally derail this, but I do have a quick question:

How did you get all the brake lights to be on without anyone pressing the pedal?

Please enlighten me, as I am a car noob

Thanks!

Brick, or I use a windshield scrubber (like the ones at the gas station) put it on the pedal. Wedge it in front of the seat and move seat fwd to push on the brakes.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I was going to be sending a parcel back, as it was faulty, and it was the right size to fit between the seat and brake pedal ;)

Ohh gotcha! Thanks for the response!

Wasn't sure if I was missing something and there was some way to enable all the brake lights without the pedal being depressed..which would definitely come in handy if I want to, say, check to make sure none of the lights are burnt out.

Guess I will stick to having a friend help out!

Basically done. Figured I would snap a few pics and show you guys can get some closure and I can stop feeling like there are guys dying to see what it looks like :P hope you guys enjoy it. I will post more pictures when it gets wrapped and fully installed.

People interested in brake lights may be interested in a recent project in "Silicon Chip" magazine. The project causes the brake lights to come on sooner if it detects your foot coming off the gas pedal hastily i.e. before your foot hits the brake pedal.

:popcorn:

@MemphisR it looks awesome!!! what did you use to make it? was it wood and how thick and did you paint it or wrap it in the carpet stuff or did you what did you use to secure it to the headliner?

I'm so exited about this, I can't wait to find a junk yard that has one of these to just pull out for cheap.