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René R. Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2015 Posts: 1705 Location: No. Calif.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:59 am Post subject: Third brake light |
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I worry about drivers behind me seeing small, low-mounted tail lights like the hearts on my 1954, or the even smaller lights I had on my last split about 12 years ago (sadly, I sold it a while back). I had a few close calls with that car when people behind me simply didn't see the brake lights go on. I decided to mount two small red lights inside the space behind the vents below the window. I just reached up to either side from inside the engine compartment and mounted one at each end. When I'd hit the brakes they would illuminate the entire vent area in red. Hard to miss, even if it's a bit of a weird type of stop light.
For my '54 I'm considering using this LED lamp marketed for Model A Fords. I wish it were curved so that it could line up with the bottom of the oval window. I'm afraid mounting it straight at the lower part of the window will look funny. But it could very well work behind the vents, and would be easier to do than my previous one. And presumably a lot brighter.
If it could fit okay in the window it could also serve as an additional turn signal. Clever design.
Has anyone done this? Or have other suggestions? |
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OLDveedubs Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2003 Posts: 602
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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Also interested in this. For a cleaner look I was thinking on top of the license plate. Easy to run wires there. Just wondering if it is high enough to attract attention. Look forward to opinions! _________________ -Ryan
Restoration Updates
www.my59bug.com
"Perfection through inspection." |
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René R. Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2015 Posts: 1705 Location: No. Calif.
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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I think the license plate might be a bit too low for most people to notice in modern traffic. That said, given the brightness of LEDs, that might possibly work adequately.
I will order one of the 12" wide, 5/8" tall units next week and see how I can best get it to do the job. For sure, over the license plate would be the simplest solution. |
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Snort Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005 Posts: 1957 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe you could come up with a stylish way to fit some LED lights behind the air intake grill. |
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66brm Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2010 Posts: 3676 Location: Perth Western Australia
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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Otherwise slip it into the louvre space if it will fit _________________ Aust. RHD 66 Type 1
Aust. RHD 57 Type 1 Oval
modok wrote: |
I am an expert at fitting things in holes, been doing it a long time |
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56bugdan Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2008 Posts: 250 Location: NEW JERSEY
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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Well, that specific brake light is pretty long but I know they make similar lights that are only about 6" long. I'm considering using the shorter unit and mounting it at the bottom of the back window inside the car. The ones I've seen always seem to be made with billet aluminum so I would paint the aluminum black to keep it less visible until you're actually braking. Their thin enough and short enough that I don't think they'd be obnoxiously visible until lit. I put one in behind the air intake grill on my 67 years ago but that required cutting access into the vent and being able to access it later for bulb replacement since that wasn't an LED light. It's an excellent and discreet location for the light but I really don't want to go that route on my 56. |
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h~moto Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2008 Posts: 316 Location: Northern Virginia
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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I'm considering using the shorter unit and mounting it at the bottom of the back window inside the car |
I put a third brake light at the bottom of the back window inside my `66. I used a Hella bumper mounted reverse light. I replaced the clear lens with a reproduction 1957 and older type II brake light lens. Mine is a big window but I think it would work well in an oval. It did not take any drilling or cutting to mount it.
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66brm Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2010 Posts: 3676 Location: Perth Western Australia
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 12:21 am Post subject: |
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56bugdan wrote: |
Well, that specific brake light is pretty long but I know they make similar lights that are only about 6" long. I'm considering using the shorter unit and mounting it at the bottom of the back window inside the car. The ones I've seen always seem to be made with billet aluminum so I would paint the aluminum black to keep it less visible until you're actually braking. Their thin enough and short enough that I don't think they'd be obnoxiously visible until lit. I put one in behind the air intake grill on my 67 years ago but that required cutting access into the vent and being able to access it later for bulb replacement since that wasn't an LED light. It's an excellent and discreet location for the light but I really don't want to go that route on my 56. |
Have a good look at the 56's raintray behind the louvres, no cutty, cutty, weldy, weldy. Just slip it in either end _________________ Aust. RHD 66 Type 1
Aust. RHD 57 Type 1 Oval
modok wrote: |
I am an expert at fitting things in holes, been doing it a long time |
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Ovally Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2014 Posts: 476 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I used this third brake light from Hella behind the rear window.
No LEDs but 4 regular car lights.
The shape fits very well with the oval window.
Best regards, Armand
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Joe 20 Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2005 Posts: 655 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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This is my extra high mount rear brake light in the window |
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olo Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2008 Posts: 133 Location: australia
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streetworkstech Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2014 Posts: 12
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vw54john Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2004 Posts: 147 Location: Cheshire, CT USA
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:37 am Post subject: |
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I used this on my '54 and I love it. It's black, real slim, mounts to the rear window with suction cups and BRIGHT!
http://jandlenterprise.com/products/brakelighter.htm _________________ Regards, John
'54 Strato Silver Oval |
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René R. Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2015 Posts: 1705 Location: No. Calif.
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:58 am Post subject: |
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Same one as I linked in my opening post. Glad to hear it worked out well in a VW. Thanks for that input! |
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dc Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2004 Posts: 1426 Location: Kitsap Peninsula
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 5:41 am Post subject: |
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I used an LED flexible rope/strip and it slipped in without much fuss in the vent area of my '61
_________________ 1963 Karmann Ghia |
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56bugdan Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2008 Posts: 250 Location: NEW JERSEY
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2015 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Ovally wrote: |
I used this third brake light from Hella behind the rear window.
No LEDs but 4 regular car lights.
The shape fits very well with the oval window.
Best regards, Armand
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I like this one and it does go well with our oval windows. I'm not against LEDs completely but they just seem out of place on older cars. I would even consider the one with suction cups if it were maybe 6" long rather than 12". |
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jdub63 Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008 Posts: 225 Location: Azle
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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56bugdan wrote: |
I would even consider the one with suction cups if it were maybe 6" long rather than 12". |
That's what she said?? |
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rdwood Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 175
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:36 am Post subject: |
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I used the one you linked to in your original post and mounted it in the vent area below the window on my '57. I designed holders that use rare-earth magnets to mount the light in place; using paint sticks through the slots to position the light in the center. Works well and the 6V unit wires easily to the terminal block for the rear light wiring. I wired it so it works with the left and right turnsignals as well. |
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OLDveedubs Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2003 Posts: 602
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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rdwood wrote: |
I used the one you linked to in your original post and mounted it in the vent area below the window on my '57. I designed holders that use rare-earth magnets to mount the light in place; using paint sticks through the slots to position the light in the center. Works well and the 6V unit wires easily to the terminal block for the rear light wiring. I wired it so it works with the left and right turnsignals as well. |
It is thin enough to fit through the vents and turned to slide into position? _________________ -Ryan
Restoration Updates
www.my59bug.com
"Perfection through inspection." |
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rdwood Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 175
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2015 1:14 pm Post subject: |
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Yes it is. I'll try to take a picture of my car and post the results tonight. |
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