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Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 08:00 PM

got a 3rd brake light bar from a 993. The curvature is almost exactly that of the underside of the targa bar. Ran the wires thru the trim down the left side and back to the left tail light for ground and brake light signal.

not too bad for about an hour...


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Posted by: plymouth37 Aug 12 2010, 08:35 PM

That is pretty slick, Nice work!

Posted by: Kirmizi Aug 12 2010, 08:38 PM

Hell yeah! Have any pics of "how" it's mounted?
Mike

Posted by: tradisrad Aug 12 2010, 08:48 PM

Nice.
I've been thinking about doing that too. I also like the idea of mounting it on the engine lid; it's hard to choose where to mount it. I always fear someone rear ending my car and this certainly could help others to see the brake lights.
How did you mount it? Silicone adhesive?

Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 08:50 PM

pics really won't show you anything for the mounting....
pretty quick and easy....since the curve of the light and the targa bar are so close, I just used some double sided foam tape....about 2 inches of tape at about 1/3 left and right....
I may do something a bit different depending on how I like it in the next few weeks...
Just wanted to get it mounted and see how it works out...
If I like the general position I can always mount it with some self tapping screws. The light bar has two holes in it where it was mounted to the 993. I would use a couple of black offset rubber blocks and then screw it to the targa bar...we will see how the foam tape holds up.

Yep, I didn't do this as a styling excercise...this was specifically to increase my rear visibility to other cars.... I was thinking of mounting it to the engine lid since it would have made running the wiring a bit easier, but I decided that I wanted the light a bit higher so it was more in the sight lines of other cars, since our 914s sit so low.

Posted by: Tom_T Aug 12 2010, 09:28 PM

QUOTE(DanT @ Aug 12 2010, 07:00 PM)

got a 3rd brake light bar from a 993. The curvature is almost exactly that of the underside of the targa bar. Ran the wires thru the trim down the left side and back to the left tail light for ground and brake light signal.

not too bad for about an hour...

Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 09:32 PM

well Tom, that is just about as high as I can get it with out mounting it on the roof, or getting a BAW out back to mount it to.

Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 10:13 PM

wow, just went out and tried it in the dark......that should get their attention from behind.


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Posted by: championgt1 Aug 12 2010, 10:39 PM

That is very cool. Seems pretty damn easy too. How much did the light cost?

Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 10:43 PM

$30 with all bulbs working.....then I just taped off the front area and then painted the back portion all black.
Rest of the stuff (wiring, connectors etc) were in my supplies/parts stash....
so the only cost was the light bar itself....
This is a sealed, waterproof piece direct from the factory for 993s

It is very slim and does not block site out the rear window. As a matter of fact it really doesn't hang down any further than the inside targa pad......

Posted by: Montreal914 Aug 12 2010, 10:44 PM

QUOTE(DanT @ Aug 12 2010, 07:00 PM)

got a 3rd brake light bar from a 993. The curvature is almost exactly that of the underside of the targa bar. Ran the wires thru the trim down the left side and back to the left tail light for ground and brake light signal.

not too bad for about an hour...

Posted by: DanT Aug 12 2010, 10:50 PM

the shop I have been dealing with since I started in Porsches over 20 years ago...he had about 4 of them up on the shelf and I pulled one down and looked at the curve. I had been looking for a light to use for a 3rd brake light and this looked nice...lots of light in a sealed, slim package...
He thought they all had some bad bulbs in them so I was planning on replacing the burnt out ones....
Well, I hooked it up to a 12V source and low and behold all the bulbs worked on the first one I tried

Posted by: realred914 Aug 13 2010, 12:47 AM

nice, smart idea. i likes it!!!
good job, stay safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my car was killed by a rear end smash up, got to be seen better. ford explorer at 45 mph vs stopped 914, ouch!!!!

Posted by: jim_hoyland Aug 13 2010, 08:39 AM

Nice install ! I've installed the '87 Corvette 3rd brake light on the engine cover previously sold by Engman. The targa installation beats out the engine cover installation for visibility, great idea !

Posted by: DanT Aug 13 2010, 11:15 AM

thanks to all for the positive comments.

I have always been a bit concerned about rear contact when driving any of my 914s, but of recent, I have read so many times here about folks that have been rear ended, I decided I needed to try and make the rear of my newest DD as visible as possible.
This was a quick and easy solution...and even a genuine Porsche part

Posted by: realred914 Aug 13 2010, 11:19 AM

been rear ended three times while at red lights, all at fairly high speed, three cars totalled. i put big trailer brake lights inside the rear windows of my car some twenty years ago, well beofre the mandatd third brake light.

I guess I am safer running red lights, hate waiting there at one to get hit!!!

Posted by: SirAndy Aug 13 2010, 11:22 AM

I think i'm going to copy that. I like it ...


And we all know we need all the help we can get out there.
Andy

Posted by: PThompson509 Aug 13 2010, 11:27 AM

I'm getting ready to install my 3rd brake light - using a LED strip that has side-facing LEDs. VERY bright stuff. The strip I bought is 1m long (39 inches according to the website). They have some nice supports for the flexible strips, or you could just glue it. I'll post pictures once I get time to do it.

You can find the strips here:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FSWFLS.htm

Cheers,
Peter

Posted by: DanT Aug 13 2010, 11:44 AM

I looked at those, but this was readily available and fit quite well....all sealed and done in no time....
Anything we can do to help increase the rear visibilities of our cars is a plus.

Lots of ways to skin this cat...

Posted by: narino Aug 13 2010, 02:08 PM

I think this is the part number if others are looking for it.

993 631 060 00

Though it was almost $300 bucks on PP. yikes! If someone finds a cheap source please chime in.

Posted by: abayer1969 Aug 13 2010, 02:49 PM

Yeah I know I got all excited only to find out the real cost. I am going to weigh the pros and cons of this one

Posted by: DanT Aug 13 2010, 03:36 PM

check with some local Porsche dismantlers...

I got mine for $30, although I have known this shop and mechanic for over 20 years....