New RX-7 FD LED Rear Tails Conversion
 

Greetings everyone. I am starting this thread in response to another thread which was centered around a unique set of LED tail lights seen on the Yahoo Japan Auction site. (the original thread is below)

Original LED Tails Thread

Since I found out those were one-offs from the seller, I have decided to attempt to re-produce what they have done. I am an Electronics Engineer by trade with some experience in fabrication. Although I do have a friend who knows fabrication very well to help if necessary.

The goal of this project is to replicate what was on the Yahoo Japan auction. I noted a few suggestions by some members as to how the design could be improved / changed to appeal more to them. These are listed below, but note that due to time restraints, tool selection, and other factors involved in this project, some of these things may not be possible or reasonable. So, for all intents and purposes, it would be best to assume for the time being that these lights will mimic the ones from the Yahoo Japan auction.

Please note that while I am excited to tackle this project, I will be doing this as a side project. Maybe getting in 1 - 2 hours per day on it. I currently run a small business, and have a family to tend to as well, so I will make progress when I can. However, I am dedicated to making this a real option for those of you that want this conversion. And once the final prototype is completed, I will have dedicated time to do the conversions for anyone that sends their lights in. You will be quoted a time for completion which will be adhered to.

Disclaimer: I will NOT be producing these as a complete light set. I will be offering this as a conversion service only. This is because I am not going commercial with these. I am mainly doing this as a service for the rx7club.com boards exclusively. Also, because this is a conversion service, this will require anyone who wants this done to send in their tail lights. I HIGHLY suggest purchasing a second used set of lights to send in. Once this conversion is completed, it will not be reversible. So if you need your stock lights for any reason, you will still have a set.

Currently, I am still awaiting some material to be delivered. This should happen in the next couple days. The current operating circuit is complete. Also, the design portion is sketched out based on the stock light structure. So, all that's left is to implement what is on paper to the lights themselves. Once a prototype is complete, the lights will be lit on a bench, which will probably yield the first official pics of what the initial prototype looks like. Once the final revisions are applied to the design, the lights will be installed on my car and tested there. More pics will follow with them operating on the car. Once I am comfortable that the design passes some quality testing, I will then post a price point for the service for any of you who are interested. The price will be based solely on material cost and how much labor is required. However, I don't see it being too bad in the end based on the initial write up.

I currently have a list of those who have sent PM's already that are interested. If you would like to be added to the list, please send me a PM. It will be first come first serve on the service.

Below are the list of things "considered" for the final design as suggested by others via thread or PM:

1) Diffuse the light pattern (rather than definable LED look)
2) User changeable LED's (in case of a burn out)
3) Less "chrome" look when lights are off
4) Black instead of carbon fiber backing to the LED's

Please feel free to leave feedback on this thread on this project. For the sake of keeping this thread clean, please don't leave feedback on how ugly these lights are, or how "ricey" you think they are....or variations of. Also, I know there are a couple of other forum members that are attempting this same type of project, so there is no need to point that out in this thread as well. That stuff was already covered in the original thread. Please keep comments to suggestions for design modifications, or general interest posts. Positive input is appreciated. This thread will be updated as progress is made on this project. And one more note before I post this up, I have named this conversion as the Sivion's "ION-7" conversion. Why that name? Because I like it and that's what i'm calling it. :icon_tup:

Don't forget to get a vendor subscription before selling so you won't get in trouble.

A vendor subscription? :dunno: I have been a member of several automotive forums in the past. I have sold things on said boards. I have never heard of this. I did a search on the subject with no real success. Can you link a thread that would point me in the right direction? Also, my actual business has nothing to do with automotive. So, I won't be providing the service under my actual company name. Does that make a difference? Please give me more details if you can. Thanks.

RX7Club.com - FAQ: RX7Club.com Forum Rules

I am sure you can show off the prototype but when you start mentioning prices thats when you need one. You will have to contact a mod for specifics.

Here you go:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...inside-897023/

The easiest thing for you to do is offer these as a 'group buy,' which entails a very reasonable $75 one-time charge for a three month long GB. Any questions please PM me :)

Thank you for the link! :)

Good to know! Sounds like a good plan.

Subscribed

i'm in man i want those lights!!!

Please send me a PM and I will add you to the list. :)

for a reasonable price it would be something i may consider!

Good luck with ION-7 taillight.

I'd be interested pending actual product samples.

im in to see the final product also...

good luck with the project.

UPDATE: Ok, have most of the material in hand. My buddy is stopping by today so we can start coming up with some configurations for the design. We are also going to look at the overall structure of the lights once disassembled to determine the best structural design once the modding starts. The goal is to not only have a nice looking set of LED tail lights, but also have the lights withstand harsh road conditions / shocks / vibrations.

Judging from what we have on hand from the original design by the seller in Japan, we already identified one design flaw they had which may have had an effect on the overall longevity of their design to be used for everyday road use. This is something we are addressing first so these lights don't "fall apart" when under normal daily driving activities. I don't think anyone wants to go through that. :nod:

im interested.

Great to hear this is progressing, can't wait!

I want those lights!!!

UPDATE: Ok, so my buddy and I have put together a few different design ideas. Tonight will be the night we commit to one for the LED layout. Then on to the fun (and probably frustrating part)...the beginning of the prototype fabrication process. It might be time to think about stopping by the store for some drinks before beginning that part. :beerchug:

I am also interested, depends on final product and price of course.

-AzEKnightz

Definetly subscribing to this thread

UPDATE: Ok, so one side of the tail lights is about finished with the fabrication portion. So, hopefully in the next day or two I can have a picture to share with all of you. The pic will be of the right tail light assembly complete with the LED fixture already in place. However, it won't be functional yet. But at least you can see what the light will look like when it's not illuminated. I do have to say though, that it's looking to be quite stealthy when off. It won't have a bunch of silver showing everywhere as that Japanese set had.

Have had quite a few hours logged on the fabrication this weekend so far. More than I thought I was going to be able to devote to the project this weekend. I have to say, it was a lot more work than I anticipated initially. But, I am hoping it will pay off in the end. The design looks solid, sleek, unique (it has some characteristics from the Japanese set, but different enough to know at first glance it isn't that set), and it's definitely stable as an assembly. I do hope most of you will like what's being created here. :)

here is a vid...i know its a bit over the top, but it may give you some ideas.

UPDATE: Ok, so got most of the right tail light completed. I went ahead and temporarily placed the pieces together for a quick and dirty photo of what the light will look like when off. Please remember, the pieces are just sitting together for the pic. So, if something looks slightly mis-aligned or off, it's because nothing is attached by it's hardware yet. If anyone has any questions, let me know.

Making good progress. I am going to see how quickly I can get the light to a working state, so I can show what the LED's look like lit up. Hopefully I can get that to happen in the next few days. I have a busy work week this week, so I will put more time in when I can. The weekends are when I have most of my free time. And it's also the best time for my buddy to help out when he can. :)

Anything new?

I am very interested as well.

I am interested.

Good luck with this. Please, please, please ensure these are equal to or greater than the stock OEM lights. That was the biggest issue with the last GB, they were not very bright and the brake lights couldn't be seen from behind.

I've still got my light meter box that I used for testing on the last GB ones and am happy to test and verify these for you if you'd like.

I'm intrested depending on the price

Nothing new to report yet. Been having some time allocation issues for the project. Got slammed at work, and had some family issues to sort out. Plus, kinda scrapped the first design idea to go with something new. Hopefully i'll have something to show in the next couple weeks.

holy shit!

Any updates on these?

any update!!

some good stufff..................

I am very interested pls txt me 3479854878 or email me inoufeelme@yahoo.com

something like this would look sick on my '93! Did this project die?

Subscribed

led rear lights on a fd is like cherrys on top.

I think you can assume this is dead. The last time the OP posted on this forum was in this thread back in October.

I found a manufacturer who might be able to produce one for us. I am yet to see the finished product and I will keep you guys posted on it.

So far, this is what I have been told;

Its a plug and play

3 Piece

and we dont need to send our housing to be modified

Of course it will be manufactured in Japan so it will still be a little on the pricey side. If everything works out, I can negotiate for a good price so that we can save more money.

I think the point of this was to make them cheaper than what they already are. So seeking a manufacture to make them for pretty much the same price is well a waste of time.

At least better than having nothing, and I hope that the price will be within reach.

They are already available the reason the OP made this thread was to make them cheaper.

Do you mind pointing us where to get them? The original thread did say it was a one off so it was never mass produced. The original goal for this was to replicate it so we can have an updated look for our FD.

You have experience modifying the rear tail light to LED. Please tell us how it worked out for you? Is it really that much cheaper to do one yourself? Considering the time, money and effort involved in making one?

Not everyone has the time, money and equipment to tackle such project. If everyone is so handy like you, nobody should've lined up to get their taillight converted to LED by one of our forum member. $425 to get your light converted, plus the actual cost of the unit that will be converted permanently (99 spec tail=$400) amount to $825. Not really cheap is it?

You are right they only made a few sets but the labor cost was too much to mass produce them according to one of the post.

I can break down the cost for my led tails.

Tail lights and 99 spec conversion was free since I already had the lights and paint.

Two tubes of led's were about 70$ and I still have a lot left over.

Two PWM's were about 100$ I could of done it a lot cheaper if I didn't buy my componets from radio shack they are way over priced but I didn't want to wait from online ordering.

So a total cost of 170$, of course labor was free since I did them.

Everybody wanted Theorie's tails because they looked good he basically converted your tails to 99spec for free and did most of the labor himself. The only thing he outsourced was the rings which were not a one off production. They were basically angel eyes stringed together.

Now going to a manufacture to make a total new design is expensive especially if they are doing everything. If they can make them for <500$ to the end user then I will say go for it. But remember we have a lot of lighting gurus on here who can notice a cheap led from a mile away.

You can build the theory LED's with off the shelve stuff. Its just a matter of time to do it. Its been documented very well in a previous thread. I will admit not everyone is able to do it for themselves, but it is totally doable.

Search for my name on this forum and you will find a very detailed tutorial on a DIY build for the Theorie lights. Your cost will be around $250 for materials and it will take a few weekends of work, with a lot of time spent waiting on adhesives to dry. You will end up with a very high quality taillight conversion that has wicked bright light output.