ideas for turnsignals after bumper removal

[mbouse]

which part? driving lights or the headlights?

Driving lights.. removal and reinstallation of the grill seemed to be the most difficult part. i eventually changed the timing of another project (manifold swap) to create a reason to remove the radiator so i'd have some room to work. then, since those hella lights are so big...they leave little room for adjustment. i am still not 100% satisfied with the angle of the beam, too close to the nose of the car. smaller driving lights might have resulted in less adjustment issues, but DANG .. the removal of the radiator was the real key to a successful install in these tight quarters.

Headlights..i chose to run LED turn signals up front and stock incandescent bulbs in the rear. that creates a unique situation all its own. the circuit had to be 'faked-out' to think that there were incandescent bulbs up front by buying and installing a separately ordered resistor (one for each side). then, the aforementioned issue with marker light brightness had to be ironed out. and, the kit did not have wires long enough, so i needed to lengthen the wires. and, i received zero technical specs for the LED bulbs, and zero support from the clueless distributor (hey..i just sell 'em, i don't design 'em). Fortunately, i found a great resource in the CHI-FLU chapter that talked me through all the tech jargon and helped me source the voltage changing resistors and helped me experiment with the load resistors. what i thought would be a 30 minute plug-and-play project turned into several weeks of on-again off-again research and experimentation.

if you have little patience for things electrical, steer clear of these modifications. patience and determination were my #1 resources. however, as you can see, i disturbed no sheet metal in their installation; which could be a bonus if you aren't able or interested in paint and body work because of a lighting project.

[azygoustoyou]

Can we count on you for help if we decide to go with this set up

[maytag]

the circuit had to be 'faked-out' to think that there were incandescent bulbs up front by buying and installing a separately ordered resistor (one for each side).
........ helped me source the voltage changing resistors and helped me experiment with the load resistors. what i thought would be a 30 minute plug-and-play project turned into several weeks of on-again off-again research and experimentation.

Curious: Why did you decide to do it this way, instead of a simple electronic flasher to replace the solid-state one?

[mbouse]

i think i have a few of those diodes left that reduce the voltage to 9 from 12... the load resistors came from superbrightleds.com

i can most likely put you in touch with the guy that guided me through the process.

i honestly thought that it was going to be a plug and play process once i had the load resistors. little did i know. once in, i didn't look at getting out. never wanted to change the rear lights, thought that stock was just fine, and besides..i was fearful of damaging the unobtainium circuit board in the rear.

why do we do what we do? wouldn't buying a used Miata be simpler?

[maytag]

why do we do what we do? wouldn't buying a used Miata be simpler?

funny: My wife thinks that I am the only one cursed to doing things the hard way.... she doesn't understand sometimes when I do stuff 'just cuz it's right'.......

[Tappy]

why dont adapt the car for pré 74 indicators , i like them alot (even have 2 sets) if you going to leave the car bumperless ?
I did the heavy to chrome bumpers conversion and dont have enough space left to put in the old ones otherwise this would be my first choise (the chrome bumper brackets i fabricated from the shok absorbers put the new "old" bumper right in front of the square holes in the front fender , leaving not enough space to fit in the indicators )

Then i wanted the kind of setup mike has , but i was afraid when the light are on , the indicators wouldn't be visible
but before i write of this option , mike do you see any chance to fit in heavyer bulbs ?

I'm thinking to just use the lenses from the "old" style indicators and fabricate a very flat led circuit behind them

kind of this :

but shaped the print circuit into the lenses form

[mbouse]

as Tappy suggests, there are a huge variety of ways to go when making this particular modification. some aren't available locally, others are overlooked .. about as many different ideas as there are guys and gals dreaming them up.

[nettxtra]

What about this solution?

[fiasco]

nettextra - that's the solution I like, but I prefer the small round motorcycle signals like Racydave used over the larger rectangles. Though I imagine the larger ones are easier to see.

-- se

[kurtiswayne78]

nettextra,

What type of bumper is that in the pic you posted? I'm working on a 78 and want to get rid of the bulky ones that are one it. I like the simplicity of the one you've shown.

thanks.

[nettxtra]

Harrington Bumpers, http://www.groupharrington.com/bumper/fiat_spider.asp

[JDOliver]

L brackets and bullet lights, no stinkin bumpers..... several have gone this way.

[pope]

I like the icicle grill!

[mbouse]

had to look twice... that car looks like it is shivering.

[Mirabelli78]

http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb18 ... dixie2.jpg

HEy RacyDave....I love the look of the single bumper. I imaging you modified the stock one by removing 1 bar and removing the black rubber.

Really looks great, and I love the color.
Rob