sw02z28

So I went junkyard hopping last week... You never know what kind of random ideas come out of that. I found a rear panel, the one between the rear tail-lights (I think it's called a finish panel..?) for 20 bucks. I have been thinking of trying to figure out how to light up the camaro on the back, screw painting it, that's boring. BUT, I really didn't want to learn how to do it with my car. Projects are fun, driving them on a daily basis is not lol..
Anywho, I got it, brought it home and started the project. It's a VERY rough draft right now, i need to clean all the edges of the cuts up, and do a good finish sand.. Unfortunately, the place where I'll be getting the lighting isn't open until Friday.. so.. that sucks.
Once I get all the "technical details" with this junkyard piece, I think I'll take mine off the car and get it cut out with a water jet.. really clean, precise lines.
Here are some pics of how it's going so far.. Once I get off my butt and assemble the rest I'll put those up as well.
Hope I can finish it for Saturday...

JeremyKrauss

I'd vote brakes, as you'll actually be able to use it while on the road. Multi-colored, depending on the colors, can get you in trouble if you use it when on public streets.

Good idea, looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

sw02z28

I like the brake idea more.. It's just going to be interesting to find a combination of materials/lights that will match the stock red lenses. The color changing ones have a few different reds, and I could wire those into the brakes as well... Just have to pay real close attention to what color it's set to before I actually get on the road

sw02z28

Update... Very impatiently awaiting the store opening in the morning so I can get the flex LED panels for the finish lighting..
Side note - white lights make the "camaro" part barbie pink lol... Red LED's it is.
Hopefully tomarrow I'll have pictures up of it installed on the back.


If anyone has any crazy ideas of doing this yourself, get the letters professionally cut out with a water jet or something like that.. You will appreciate the money spent. Either that, or 10 hours with 360 grit sandpaper cussing yourself for being cheap.....

sw02z28

ahh... I am so glad I didn't use my actual piece off my car to learn on lol...
Here are updated pictures.. Should use actual lense material on the back, and probably fiberglass resin on the front..? That way it would be able to be sanded to a perfect smooth and clear-coated.. Finished piece is probably 3 months out, I'll keep posting updates as they come. This particular piece is almost done, it just needs the LED's wired up and the reflective backing put on..

JeremyKrauss

So are you putting the LED strips underneath, instead of directly behind the letters? It seems like it would make sense, to help prevent random bright spots, but wouldn't you want more strips along the top, too, to keep it even?

Hopefully someone else will come in and have some ideas about what material to use

sw02z28

Yeah, I'm using 3 more strips along the top.. Bottom set will be running lights and top set will be for the braking system. Once I find my @#$& soldering iron, it'll be finished up.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

so how do you join the wiring on the LED strip?

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

This is a good idea. Great job!

DaRReLL

iTrader: (4)

looks good so far...

sw02z28

sjsingle1 - each strip has 3 "cut lines" on it. On either side of the cut line is a solder point for positive/negitive. Peel the covering back from the solder point, solder it together, cover the connection in strink tube and a dab of silicon to ensure no moisture gets in.
- Still looking for the soldering iron... About to just go buy a new one...

- side note - the poll up top says "multi colored".. I found an LED strip like the ones I'm using that has a remote control and you can cycle between 64 different colors. It wouldn't be a crazy multicolored look, you could still have the drivability of red, but if you wanted to show off a bit (don't lie, we all do it... ), flip between say blue/green or something..
Reason I went with the basic red was a combo of cost, and eventually, I would drive it around with the other colors either on accident or...

sw02z28

Well, it's as finished as it's going to be until after Christmas. I want to get a piece professionally painted and cleared, which would make it look good during the day too lol...
Here are some finshed pics

Paules94Z

iTrader: (1)

Nice job man! Looks great. What is the red translucent material you used?

sw02z28

Red lense repair tape, although im sure the actual lense material would be better imop

loudblack97z71

iTrader: (2)

Thats awesome! I had the same idea, but never executed it. Now I can use this as a guide. I bet you could sell these no prob.

sw02z28

On the inside(i didnt put any pictures of this part), i built a small fiberglass box n lined it with reflective window shade material, cut to size and plati-welded to the box. Helps to diffuse the light, reducing bright spots. I bet DOT red tapr would work well also

johnp94

iTrader: (12)

That is an awesome idea. How do you cover the holes where the letters are cut out ?

sw02z28

Christmas is over, but it's still too cold to use what I want..
I covered the front of that panel with clear flowable silicon (horrible idea btw).
It looks nice @ night, but that's it... It's a gummy surface so it attracts dirt.
I plan on using a 2-part crystal clear casting epoxy, but I need 3 days of 72 degrees or above.. Thankfully, I live in Houston, so that could be tomarrow lol...
I've talked to a bunch of people, and the best idea I've heard is to make a rubber mold of a filled in back panel, then cutout the CAMARO letters, put the rubber mold on the front of the cutout panel, and fill w/epoxy..
This stuff is sandable (1000 grit +) and paintable. Once I get a panel that's filled in the front, I plan on spraying a fairly thin layer of clear over the top, so it'll look as "factory" as I can make it. We shall see...
any ideas would be helpful.. i banged my head againt the wall for awhile before i actually tried one

sw02z28

Ok, use actual red lense material instead of tape, i used a 2 part platic weld to hold it together. clear silicon to seal on the inside, then wire up LED's like shown in the previous posts and build a reflective box around it. MUCH more permanent, and it does damn near look factory.
I've got a finished panel sitting at my buddy's shop... Whenever he actually answers the phone, I'll get photos of the finished product.

AmDWs6

can you do it without the panel?
like a separate kit, ppl cut their own panels and have different led color options if so
i'm interested in a blue one for my brother's 99z28
pm let me know please