Who has a brake light in their rear licence plate?

Someone on this forum has one...can't remember who.
Ron

Ron: I have one, though it's on the frame not built into it. The frames I found with the lights built into them went for $75.(too much)
I think Jerome has one. You can see mine in my file. BillD.

BD

I have a light, I think its a backup light. I shouldn't be too hard to convert it to a 3rd brake lite. Sounds like a good idea.
ed

I tapped the brakelight circuit into the back-up light and use the back-up light as the third brake light (I used the red lens repair tape, easily found at Pep Boys). It was safer to have an extra brake light. The back-up lights the brake lights in reverse (a diode would fix that) but I don't mind the extra attention.

Bill, Ed & Joe, thanks for the replies. Bill, where did you get your LED light bar and how much did it cost? I agree, $75 for a licence plate frame and LED light is too much (I've kind of over spent on my baby this year).
Ron
(Message Edited 10/5/2003 10:34:56 PM)

I got mine from Ron Francis Wire Works, www.wire-works.com

I couldn't find it on their online catalog. I can't remember exactly how much it was, I think it was alot more than $75.

Jerome

There IS third brake light made especially for 356s including a Speedster version. I'll look up the site if anyone is interested.

Jim Ward

www.thirdbrakelight.com/

Jim
I think you could get a row of LEDs and mount it under the grill on the engine cover. I should be out of site and work better than the shine up lite.
ed

The street rodding industry has a number of options available for third brake lights. For example, I found one that works if you have a rollbar. You can see it in my file in this photo: www.speedsterowners.com/files/view.asp?sf=mdspeedster&f=P1010140%2EJPG I attached it to the underside of the rollbar (oblong shape), ran the wire down through the inside of the tubing and just tapped into the brake light wires so it lit at the same time I hit the brakes. I liked this solution because it was not visible on the body, is up high and shows through the rear window when the top is up.

Check JCWhitney.com and search for brake lights. Cut and paste this huge address: { jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=10101&langId=-1&productId=228285&mediaCode=ZX&appId=387008 }
It cost about 10 bucks but you will need to build a little mounting bracket. Put it under the engine grill. It workes well. A third brake light should be mounted a high as possible to be more visible. I'll post a pic or two in a day or two.
(Message Edited 10/6/2003 12:45:52 AM)


(Message Edited 10/6/2003 9:16:41 AM)

I posted two pictures of my 3rd brake light in my file "Dale" first two pictures. It is mounted on a piece of aluminum right angle using black automotive trim tape that can be purchased from a auto paint supply shop. The angle is mounted to the engine lid, under the grill, and then the aluminum is bent so the light shines backward parallel to the road. That makes the light move visible. A piece of lexan painted black (or your car's color)keeps the sun from washing out the light and makes the lamp much harder to see from above. Looks good, works great. I used the LED lamp I referenced above. Thats the basics, you guys are smart and can figure out any details specific to your speedsters. It is wired magically. I think that Henry runs the wires to the engine lid hinges above the engine and then the light wires are mounted to the engine lid hinges inside the air openings.
(Message Edited 10/6/2003 9:29:06 AM)

If you want to add a third brake light Henry at IM has some that he fits under the rear decklid cooling grill at the top. You hardly notice them when looking at the car, but they work very well.

I kind of like the idea of an LED light mounted so as to be visible through the engine grill - keeps it authentic-looking but adds the additional safety. I know for a fact that these LED lights are bright! I have one mounted on the dash and one on the rear package shelf of my Fire Dept car, and when they are on at night, and you walk up to the car, you can't look directly at them. Come to think of it, they might be too bright for brake light application! One source for these lights, and one that caters to the Fire and Police market, is www.galls.com. You might have to check around, however, as these units usually have several flash patterns built in, and may not just switch on and off with the brake pedal.

Another advantage with LEDs is that their current draw is next to nothing.

Ron: I got my led bar from Whitney. It has 3-M Adhesive strip on the back. I got a nice black METAL frame with plastic cover at Pep Boyz. I
drilled a small hole in the frame for the wire to go thru. I used a metal frame as my plate is warped from the vanity plate stamping. The plastic frames I tried warped along with the plate so I used them on "her" car.
The light bar was about $15. The frame was about $10. It don't look to bad for $25 and time.

BD