Finally finished up one project I have underway, Corvette 3rd Brake light. I picked this unit up for just $40 from a Corvette repair shop just a block from my work. It needs a new base gasket as this one has shrunk some and it needed two new bulbs, $8 a piece, I also used some old free BMW parts for the wiring. First to mock up where it will go, Center of the top louver:
Tried under the louver idea but that would require two lights and would block some rearward vision:
After measuring center, I measured for the two M6 mounting holes.
After mounting was figured, I stripped the light down, sanded, primered and painted with SEM black. Now to wire it up. I got some high quality twin cable 18ga wire from a old BMW, its actually the rear speaker wires and comes pre-twisted, I also wanted to install a quick release waterproof connector up top so I dont have to cut and re connect the wires whenever the Louvers have to be removed ( granted that isnt often but whatever makes things easier in the future). The two pin connector is also from that BMW.
I drilled out a hole in the torsion bar finisher panel for the connector to sit in:
After installing the heat shrink in the right order, time to solder up the female plug end to the long wires.
I used a small hose clamp to secure the plug to the panel so it isnt pulled out when unplugged:
To allow more room for the plug and so the louvers don't hit the plug when shut, I trimmed down the male end of the plug and made the wire come out at a 90' angle, sealed with liquid electrical tape.
Cut down the excess wire, add heat shrink and this nice expandable mesh sheathing (again from a 90's BMW) and connected to the newly mounted brake light.
Plenty of room between the plug and louver, also added a clip to hold the wire from sagging into my field of view:
Wires are run down the passenger side quarter panel to the rear fascia and soldered into the taillight harness, I will need to come back and solder in another quick release plug needed during fascia removal. Not shown but I also added another ground to the tail light circuit since there is about 24 more watts being drawn.
Looks nice and hopefully it will save my ass one day!
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Originally Posted by jschatte
