Center garnish lights? Introducing the Vader Center Garnish

[Vernal]

I recently had this idea and was wondering if anyone has modded the center garnish to have lights/brake lights.
I have a cracked one after baking the reflector off it doesnt look bad imho:



If anyone is interested you can surely buy it lol.
On a serious note, I did end up breaking the reflector pullin it off but it wont happen next time.
I am thinking of some leds or 3 side marker bulbs. I put the reflector up to my ceiling fan and it shined through but there was some silver paint on the inside side of it that id end up taking off to help out since i will most likely be using dim bulbs cuz of clearance issues.
Like i said i dont know if this has been covered but shoot me any pics ideas or any de or con-structive criticism.

[Mikey McFly]

Do you mean that you want anything that is red to light up?

[Vernal]

Originally Posted by Mikey McFly

Do you mean that you want anything that is red to light up?

Yea and so you can distinguish the 240sx engraving!

[ta2maki]

There isn't enough clearance for regular bulbs. You will need to use multiple LEDs and/or a diffuser to eliminate hotspots, or else it will look like ass. IMO looks better if you only light up the 240sx and not the whole thing.

[Jlugo711]

That's actually pretty cool!

[ixfxi]

Originally Posted by Vernal

I recently had this idea and was wondering if anyone has modded the center garnish to have lights/brake lights.
I have a cracked one after baking the reflector off it doesnt look bad imho:



If anyone is interested you can surely buy it lol.
On a serious note, I did end up breaking the reflector pullin it off but it wont happen next time.
I am thinking of some leds or 3 side marker bulbs. I put the reflector up to my ceiling fan and it shined through but there was some silver paint on the inside side of it that id end up taking off to help out since i will most likely be using dim bulbs cuz of clearance issues.
Like i said i dont know if this has been covered but shoot me any pics ideas or any de or con-structive criticism.

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 428
Trader Rating: (0)

please, just stop. burbank fire department is over-worked.

[blueshark123]

Originally Posted by ixfxi

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 428
Trader Rating: (0)

please, just stop. burbank fire department is over-worked.

Do u have like a bat signal every time someone does anything with lighting on zilvia lmao

[ixfxi]

Originally Posted by blueshark123

Do u have like a bat signal every time someone does anything with lighting on zilvia lmao

its not that, honest pa

im just more concerned about the welfare of my neighbors. from the looks of it, he should clean off his general electric home oven and use it for cooking, not for baking lights, thats all.

[Vernal]

Originally Posted by ixfxi

its not that, honest pa

im just more concerned about the welfare of my neighbors. from the looks of it, he should clean off his general electric home oven and use it for cooking, not for baking lights, thats all.

wtf lol^ Anyway thanks for the pic posted. Definately looks good with only logo. What is a diffuser? I thought leds didnt get so hot or at least they would be mounted to far

[BOROSUN]

i dig retro appliances. before i sold my old house we renovated everything except the 2nd kitchen with the 20-30yr? old jennair stove. it was just too awsome to throw away. plus its was in great condition.

[Vernal]

Originally Posted by BOROSUN

i dig retro appliances. before i sold my old house we renovated everything except the 2nd kitchen with the 20-30yr? old jennair stove. it was just too awsome to throw away. plus its was in great condition.

Indeed Anyone else have the tail light mod in the second picture? Detailed write ups or stories?

[kornmanz]

Thats actually pretty sick man. I'd buy that.

[ta2maki]

Originally Posted by Vernal

What is a diffuser? I thought leds didnt get so hot or at least they would be mounted to far

Something translucent, so it lights the panel evenly. If you just stick 8 regular LEDs in there, you will only see 8 spots instead of the logo.

[Tantwoforty]

what if it was like just one strip vertical on the tail light sides.. so like.. when you have your ights on or breaking it will kind of look like the light is bleeding into the center bar..
like a fade inward sort of..
nothing crazy ricy bright.. just classy light.

haha idk it would be hard because you would need some sort of reflective backing and good defusing

someone try it lol

[n8RPS13]

I think it looks good! I would like to see a write up for this!

[Vernal]

Originally Posted by ta2maki

Something translucent, so it lights the panel evenly. If you just stick 8 regular LEDs in there, you will only see 8 spots instead of the logo.

Im guessing you're saying having a reflective piece behind the leds to direct the light to the logo. Just like headlights. If not, my comprehension skills are failing.

Originally Posted by n8RPS13

I think it looks good! I would like to see a write up for this!

Depending on the results ill post up pics.

[Mikey McFly]

[QUOTE
[/QUOTE]

It looks kind of rice to me. If you can get the reverse effect where the "240SX" part wasn't lit, but the rest of the garnish was, the I think it would be pretty cool. Then smoke the tails a bit to block that extra light noise so that it looks clean. Mmhm. I think that'd be pretty sick.

[Vernal]

Originally Posted by Mikey McFly

It looks kind of rice to me. If you can get the reverse effect where the "240SX" part wasn't lit, but the rest of the garnish was, the I think it would be pretty cool. Then smoke the tails a bit to block that extra light noise so that it looks clean. Mmhm. I think that'd be pretty sick.

photoshop it!

[blades13.5]

I'd buy it.

[240drifter1]

.... really

[waxball88]

3M sells led strips of varying lengths on ebay for cheap. My friend bought one to wire up as an underhood light, it is very bright, and they are waterproof.