DIY LED G50 TAIL LIGHTS

Well, I started this little side project last night. I did a lot of reading and research and admittedly I don't completely have my head wrapped around everything I need to know, but overall it seems pretty straight forward. This is an extremely useful thread if you are considering doing this and have never done it before: 
[url]http://www.ziptied.com/forums/index.php?topic=14205.0[/url]

Now, IMO the stock G50 tail have always looked pretty horrid. So I picked up a spare set from the junkyard for $25 :) 

Here's the stock tail light:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-62.jpg[/img]

Once you have the tail light removed you'll notice a rubber seal that goes around the light, you'll need to carefully remove this:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-63.jpg[/img]

Once removed you'll have access to 4 clips (two on top 2 on the bottom), and this is where it gets tricky, excuse the flash:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-64a.jpg[/img]

Now, you'll need to stick it in the oven at ~200 degrees on bake for about 5 min. This will help soften the goo holding the lens in the housing. Once nice and warm you'll need a small flat head screw driver and gently depress the locking clip while slowly (and i stress slowly) prying the lens away from the housing. You'll probably need to to reheat a few times to remove it without breaking it, this grey/white goo is not soft like the black goo that seals the housing to the chassis and takes some patience to get the lens free. 

Once removed you'll see this:
[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-65.jpg[/img]

There are two separate diffusers behind the lens. Be careful not to break these when pulling them out you will need to reuse them after some modifications.

[IMG]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-66.jpg[/IMG]

 IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BUILD A LED BOARD AND SIMPLY USE A LED BULB, STOP HERE! Simply leave the diffusers out of the tail lights and press the lens back in! You've got a great updated looking set of tail lights, just be sure to use a VERY Bright led replacement bulb. 

Here is what the tail lights look like without the diffusers! Such a huge difference! 
[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-67.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-68.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/g50-69.jpg[/img]


So, that's where I'm at. I ordered all of the supplies, led's, pcb boards, etc which will hopefully be in by the weekend. I'll update the thread as the project progresses!

subscribed! i've been looking into led taillights for years now. i cant wait to see this done.

Good start man, I think you're one of the only north Americans to tackle the G50 tails.

Glad they can be split in the oven, most tails need to be cut open :(

[QUOTE=4DGS;415003]Good start man, I think you're one of the only north Americans to tackle the G50 tails.

Glad they can be split in the oven, most tails need to be cut open :([/QUOTE]

Honestly, they are not easy to split. It took be about an hour just to get the lens off. I wanted to pull the lens off because I wanted to be able to remove the diffusers and it can't be done by cutting the back side out.

Use a little more heat.

I do a lot of headlights and I do them at 230 F for 10 minutes and they just slide a part.

When you seal them, buy some windshield sealant to make sure they close up nicely!

[QUOTE=4DGS;415022]Use a little more heat.

I do a lot of headlights and I do them at 230 F for 10 minutes and they just slide a part.

When you seal them, buy some windshield sealant to make sure they close up nicely![/QUOTE]

Ok cool! Thanks for the tip! :) I'll def give that a shot on the second one.

There really isn't anything in them that a little more heat can't help.

200 is pretty low so that's probably why they were tough to pull a part.

Great write up OP, tails look more modern witout the diffusers... bet they look even better once you put LEDs in'em.
 
Blain, thnx for the tip.

If anyone has headlight questions, just shoot me a PM. I've done a shit tonne of lights including some worth more than my car lol

damn this illy, i got mad props for someone willing to get down and dirty and do their own shit!

Right on!! I have plans to do the same with my kouki president tails, but will not be starting that mini project for some time to come. Im curious to see what you do as far as the LED placement, how many LEDs you use, shape of the LED board, etc. G50 turn signal area is perfect for sequential LED's. I plan to do mine following the style of F50 President LED's (as far as number and placement) and sequential turn signals. Good job so far!! Digging it!!! Dont forget to LED the 3rd brake lights! :biggthumpup:

Nice!! Subscribed!

Been wanting to do this to my extra set but have been so busy. Subscribed as well.

subbed!! :biggthumpup: and gl

yo, lemme get your stockies :D

i want

I got everything in friday.. all 600 LED's plus the PCB board however, I ordered the incorrect PCB board! The one I got has continuity between all of the holes, which is weird, I have no idea why you would want that.. but whatever. I'll order some new ones and get started once they arrive. 

I was able to cut out the wrong one to the shape of the tail light and start playing around with patterns. I'll get some pics up sometime this weekend :)

[QUOTE=jzz30tt;415983]I got everything in friday.. all 600 LED's plus the PCB board however, I ordered the incorrect PCB board! The one I got has continuity between all of the holes, which is weird, I have no idea why you would want that.. but whatever. I'll order some new ones and get started once they arrive.[/QUOTE]
Did I miss something...? Of course it will have continuity between all the holes, you just gotta draw the blueprint on it and dip it in acid.... I hope we're on the same page, 'coz last time I messed with PCB boards was back in -01 :shrug:

there are (at least) 2 types of "pcb". one is copper clad which requires etching the circuit and the other is punchboard where each hole is plated individually and you make your own connections.

ooooohhh.. LED's .. subscribed.. good luck man..

Ooh,that's the motivation i need rite there. Good luck with that,subscribed.

Subd! Thanks for the link also

Yay! Another person doing G50 LED Tailights!

I have been away from the VIP scene too long. 

Here are mine! Good luck man!

[IMG]http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k148/joseph240/DSC_0108.png[/IMG]

[QUOTE=jqnguyen8;418541]Yay! Another person doing G50 LED Tailights!

I have been away from the VIP scene too long. 

Here are mine! Good luck man!

[IMG]http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k148/joseph240/DSC_0108.png[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Very nice! Any other build pics? Also, what type of pcb board did you use? It looks reflective, or is it paint? 

Hopefully starting on soldering the boards this afternoon/evening. :)

look good, looking forward to the lights, and nice tails jqnguyen

[QUOTE=khanhdom;418610]look good, looking forward to the lights, and nice tails jqnguyen[/QUOTE]

Made a little progress this weekend, got the parking lights finished and tested on the pass side tail light. I'm trying to go for a little bit of a different design than just lines of leds. Hopefully it will look decent once put back together. The thing that is killing me is the built in reflector in the lens. It really distorts to light output, obviously. 

Parking lights are really bright too. 12k mcd is no joke... 30k for the brake lights should piss most people off behind me i think... haha

Hahahah well this is actually a really important thing to consider because with a 2J in there, most people will be looking at the taillights! :biggthumpup:

This thread is sweet

^  ROFL!    i  cant wait to see them finished.

I forgot to mention.. here is everything I am using to build these:

Parking Lights = 12k mcd, red, 5mm 

Brake Lights = 30k mcd, red, 5mm 

Turn Signals = 12k mcd, orange, 5mm 

You can use clear as well if your lens is colored, but from what I've read, red leds make the light out put more crisp vs white leds. 

Resistor = 330ohm (for 3 leds)


I decided to run these in parallel series (3 leds in series). 

Here is what it looks like, however I'm not sure why the resistor is on the - side, it should be on the 12v side. 

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/led.jpg[/img]

This website kicks ass and is easy to calculate the correct resistor needed if running multiple leds in series:
[url]http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz[/url]

I forgot my sd card at home this morning otherwise I would be posting pictures right now. :(

Ok, finished the pass side rear brake/parking lights, pics as promised! 

Here is just the parking lights:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0001.jpg[/img]

Rear:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0004.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0006.jpg[/img]

Parking Lights On:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0010.jpg[/img]


Starting on the brake light circuit:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0013.jpg[/img]

Finished:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_002.jpg[/img]

Rear:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0022.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0028.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0030.jpg[/img]

Parking Lights Only:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0031.jpg[/img]

Brake Lights Only:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0032.jpg[/img]

Both:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0033.jpg[/img]

Looking sweet. The finished pic isn't showing atm, all the others work? 

You decided to go with 4 rows in the center, thought you decided on 3?

[QUOTE=99 GS3;418918]Looking sweet. The finished pic isn't showing atm, all the others work? 

You decided to go with 4 rows in the center, thought you decided on 3?[/QUOTE]

I was gonna go with 3 but then I calculated it and 4 would work on the same resistor and I could physically fit 4 in the space (barely as you can see.. haha) 

Lemme check that pic..

Ok finished up the pass tail light tonight.. 

Pics:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0035-medium.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0038-medium.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0039-medium.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0040-medium.jpg[/img]


Installed back into the tail light:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0043-medium.jpg[/img]

Turn Signal plus Running Light:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0049-medium.jpg[/img]

Running Light plus Brake light:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0050-medium.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0051-medium.jpg[/img]

Everything On:

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0052-medium.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.dressupbolts.com/wp-content/gallery/q45-build/img_0053-medium.jpg[/img]

Great job on the LED's. Gonna look great as you pull away (hahahaha). I wish the reflector was in a different spot, kind of muffles the look (if that makes any sense, probably not) but what can you do. Good job brah :biggthumpup:

man looks great. some fuck decided my tails should be held with super glue and dont have goo to let the tail come apart. 

I would almost suggest putting the diffusers back in. just cause the leds look pointed in other directions, even though its not, but you can see it through the now crystal lens. I fogged mine, for a "glow" look

wow good stuff. i can't wait til you have them mounted on the car.

Hot shizz son.

[QUOTE=CrazyHawaiian;419162]Great job on the LED's. Gonna look great as you pull away (hahahaha). I wish the reflector was in a different spot, kind of muffles the look (if that makes any sense, probably not) but what can you do. Good job brah :biggthumpup:[/QUOTE]

The reflector sucks!!! I was hoping the JDM tails didn't have it but they do.. eh whatever. 

Imma mount them on the car and see how they look. The diffuser def makes them look different, but I hate how it looks during the day.

Just be like Vegas, only come out at night

[QUOTE=Kouki Monster;419170] I fogged mine, for a "glow" look[/QUOTE]

Got any pics? I've been trying to talk him into sanding/diffusing the actual leds while still leaving the diffusers out to soften it some.

There is pictures in his [URL="http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20749"]build thread[/URL]. Lots of different looks you can go for, also check out Brokey's build, another style of LED conversion. LED lights are the shiz!!