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Posted by: Literati914 Jul 8 2024, 11:32 AM

I've got a couple extra horizontal targa trim (brightwork) pieces on hand and I ran extra wiring for a 3rd brake light during my wiring harness refurb. I was hoping to find a slim LED strip and neatly cut away some of the metal trim piece to fit it behind - for a clean simple look.

I've read up on 3rd brake lights here on the forum - so I know what all the other options are, and basically I'm not interested in doing any of those.. however, I'd consider mounting one on the outside face of the trim IF there was no way of getting it behind the trim.. but that's not ideal.

Two things wrong with the ones I'm seeing w/ google searches.. they seem to be only adhesive mountable and that adhesive is on the backside obviously. I want a screw at each end if possible, so some kind of flange around the perimeter would be nice. Also, they tend to be way too long.

I found an old post from @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=7300 showing the set up, but it was just a pic, no details to it. Anyone done this and have any recommendations?

.

Posted by: friethmiller Jul 8 2024, 01:33 PM

Ok, if this isn't what you're looking for @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=7222 , I apologize. My light mounts behind the trim and is pretty low profile, IMO. I fashioned two brackets to hold my LED brake light that I purchased off Amazon. I drilled two holes and used two pop rivets to secure the brackets and then attached/wired-in the light. I then relieved the chrome piece to clear the brackets (minor adjustment). Finally, I "sistered" in the hot wire to the driver side tail light and, of course, grounded the other.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 8 2024, 02:29 PM

I already have the light and the concept on how to put this together. I just have not found a spare trim piece.

Clay

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 8 2024, 02:35 PM

I can hook you up with that!
Trade you for intellectual property ?

Posted by: StarBear Jul 8 2024, 02:51 PM

As noted in a prior thread, I used an L piece of 1.5” aluminum roof edge flashing, painted to match car and secured vinyl magnets on the outside of the L and mounted a thin LED strip (AutoZone) to the other outside edge. Whole thing just mounts under the trim and comes off as/if (never yet) needed.
No drilling or extra trim.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 8 2024, 02:56 PM

Sure. Let me know when you want to get together.

Clay

Posted by: Spoke Jul 8 2024, 07:42 PM

Got this one from Jegs. They come in 6, 9, 12 inch. This is 9 inch. Mounted it on the chrome trim so it hangs below the trim. Can't see it in the mirror because of the roll hoop padding.

Posted by: friethmiller Jul 8 2024, 08:10 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=3031 - That looks a lot like mine but I think I like your solution even better. Nice job!

Posted by: Spoke Jul 9 2024, 05:04 AM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=22863

Thanks. Here's the entire installation of the 3rd brake light. Just realized I had the 12 inch light and I got it through Summit. I grabbed brake power from the rear light assembly with a Y-spade so I didn't have to cut/splice any wires.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&showtopic=79442&view=findpost&p=2074084

Posted by: emerygt350 Jul 9 2024, 05:41 AM

20 dollars at Walmart. Self adhesive. Not exactly pebble beach but very effective and invisible from inside. No damage to the car.
I don't think this is the solution you are looking for though...

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 9 2024, 10:26 AM

Thanks for suggestions guys, but I'm trying to stay dedicated to putting one behind the horizontal targa trim.

I've seen mention of the rear window mounted light from a Ford GT working but can't find it done ..or any dimensions of this light. On the other-hand I'd be surprised if there's not a slim generic LED strip that would work too.

Posted by: friethmiller Jul 9 2024, 12:07 PM

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=7222 - I'm confused. Two out of the three solutions above go behind the horizontal trim. Can you clarify? Thanks.

Posted by: technicalninja Jul 9 2024, 12:10 PM

I want to do "inside the trim" too!

I want to go all the way across and down the sides as well.

A WIDE upside down "U".

I WANT the monkeys behind me to go "WTF!" when I hit the brakes!

I'm figuring the trim itself will not be able to be used.

I'll have to make something to house the lights and replace the trim.

I'm planning on the "Murdered Out" look on my current trim anyways due to the damage they already have. Semi flat black or grey "Titanium" will be the color choice.

The black would be EASY to do on a 3D printer.

They just look black until they light up RED.

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 9 2024, 12:24 PM

Yes, inside of the trim, sandwiched between trim and pinch weld area.

.

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 9 2024, 12:28 PM

Yea, that's what I've done with the trim on this current car.. it was not that nice to begin with, so I don't mind cutting into it for experimentation. I have better that I could transfer to later if I change my mind on the black, after getting the 3rd light set up figured out.

Posted by: technicalninja Jul 9 2024, 12:41 PM

It's SO HARD to modify "perfect concours" and SO EASY to modify trash.

I actually prefer the trash...

Allows me license!

Posted by: friethmiller Jul 9 2024, 01:02 PM

Ok, yeah I thought of that too when I did mine but the width of the light, if I remember correctly, was more than the width of the chrome piece. I'm sure this can be done just need to be mindful of the dimension, of course.

Posted by: burton73 Jul 9 2024, 02:09 PM

The one that PMB decided was what I wanted on my 6. I do not know what brand it is but you will notice the black plastic covers for the ends. A very clean set up.

Best Bob B

Posted by: JmuRiz Jul 9 2024, 02:29 PM

Bob, looks similar to the old trailblazer/envoy unit I bought for mine YEARS ago. I was planning on mounting to the top or underside of the engine grill (I think it has a slight curve to it that might fit better there). If I wasn't so damn slow with my car I'd have photos of it installed long ago.

Posted by: euro911 Jul 9 2024, 02:56 PM

I never did get around to doing the upper rear targa trim modification that I planned for HOWARD. I did the '86 Corvette convertible brake light on the engine lid grille on the 'BB'.




I have a nice spare upper rear trim piece if anyone's interested in it

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=367873&hl=


Also have some nice lower sail trim pieces available ...

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=367896&hl=

Posted by: East coaster Jul 10 2024, 05:42 AM

I had trouble finding anything that would fit inside the trim. There much less room inside than it appears. Even LED tape was a no-go when you tried to fit the trim to the body. I ended up with this.

Posted by: bandjoey Jul 12 2024, 12:40 PM

24 of stick on LED strip from Autozone. Run the wire under the chrome down to the brake lights. This is now 5-6 years old and still working. Drilled the center of the chrome strip and put in a rubber grommet for the wires.


Attached image(s)

Posted by: mb911 Jul 13 2024, 08:25 AM

That’s what I should do. Very simple and ai have an extra trim piece

Posted by: Literati914 Jul 13 2024, 11:47 AM

That's probably about as simple as it's gonna get. So, no issues with the adhesive after it gets wet?

I've played with the idea of getting a strip like this ^^ (cause they're probably gonna be the slimmest option), adhere it to a thin strip of metal that's longer than the cut-out opening, and the metal strip formed into a bracket shape. Then a sheetmetal screw on either side of the cut-out opening goes thru that LED adhered metal bracket, to hold it tight to the back of the cut opening. That way the LEDs are recessed.

.

Posted by: Geezer914 Jul 13 2024, 05:26 PM

86 Corvette third brake light also.