My next project will be to replace the taillight panel on my 85GT with something more modern looking. Over the years I have only seen two custom options buy many nice DIY creations. The Driven Visions taillight panel made by Joe Ophoven was discontinued about 10 years ago when Joe Passed away. Its very nice looking but I am going with the Pisa Euro panel. Today you can find LED unit lights that fit this panel and I may go with 3 Red and one clear backup light. Or go with four red tailight/stoplight/brakelights. This panel is still being made by Marty at Pisa Corp and the cost is about $250-$265 shipped or $195 picked up. Pisa has been around for at least 20 years and they make all kinds of custom fiberglass panels for a Fiero. If I may be allowed to steal a picture that I found in the archives; this is look that I am after. I think that the owner here did a beautiful job and added the Pilot Navigator N803 back up lights in the reflector slots. I will do a build thread when all the parts arrive.
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 07-14-2020).]
I like it. I like those squarish exhaust tips, too....they fit the rectangular openings in the bumper better than dual round tips.
Ernie
I think this car looks great as well but its not mine-LOL. The guy who owns it did a really great job modernizing the rear look. I just posted it to show how this panel will look when installed. It was ordered from Pisa today and delivery is two to three weeks. Please remember to post pics of your Driven Visions panel install when its done but a how to is always nice.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
I think this car looks great as well but its not mine-LOL. The guy who owns it did a really great job modernizing the rear look. I just posted it to show how this panel will look when installed. It was ordered from Pisa today and delivery is two to three weeks. Please remember to post pics of your Driven Visions panel install when its done but a how to is always nice.
I will post my "how to" on the panel. Unfortunately, that will take a few more days, as I've had to sand off the topcoat I applied, reprime and prepare to recoat. Why? Because I shot the paint in the sun on a hot day, and the resulting orange peel was so bad and deep that color sanding was not enough. Had to start all over. Not happy with myself.
Custom notchback Euro style taillight panel arrived from PISA today. The fiberglass work was very good quality. Now the challenge is to find those 2 3/4" motorcycle taillights that fit the 3" openings in the panel. Still looking but nothing found as yet. Anyone know where to find 2/3/4"- 3" universal round taillight/stoplights?
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 07-30-2020).]
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: ... Anyone know where to find 2/3/4"- 3" universal round taillights?
Is JC Whitney still in business? Otherwise, I might just go to Amazon, and search "round tail lights", "motorcycle tail lights", "trailer tail lights" or just "tail lights". Enter whatever qualifiers you want. The worst that will happen is that you won't find anything useful.
I would be really surprised if something in that size isn't available in a multi-LED package, similar to the larger ones, that are used on semi trailers, etc.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-30-2020).]
Is JC Whitney still in business? Otherwise, I might just go to Amazon, and search "round tail lights", "motorcycle tail lights", "trailer tail lights" or just "tail lights". Enter whatever qualifiers you want. The worst that will happen is that you won't find anything useful. I would be really surprised if something in that size isn't available in a multi-LED package, similar to the larger ones, that are used on semi trailers, etc.
The Pisa panel was designed maybe 25 years back and used a Hella Motorcycle 2 3/4" round x 2" long universal taillight. The Whitney links on the Pisa website no longer work and whitney doesn't seem to carry anything similar. . With the advent of LED's the cylindrical 2 3/4" taillights were discontinued and the round lights shrunk to a mostly available 1/2" thin 2" diam size. I have been looking and so far found a United Pacific round LED light 3" in diam. Not crazy about the front profile so still looking. Overall I am very pleased with the quality of this piece.
Well, while you're searching, Dennis, you might want to keep these in the on-deck circle. They're 2.5", so a tad narrower, and they might be shallower than the motorcycle lenses.
Well, while you're searching, Dennis, you might want to keep these in the on-deck circle. They're 2.5", so a tad narrower, and they might be shallower than the motorcycle lenses.
Thanks for the info but those are single purpose LED lights We will need a two section LED to accommodate the taillight and stoplight circuits as in the 2057 bulb.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 07-30-2020).]
I'f I was to ever swap out the factory taillights on my Formula, i've always wondered what a notchie would look like with taillights from a '65 Chevy. (There's probably something similar from that era off a Pontiac.)
Thanks for the info but those are single purpose LED lights We will need a two section LED to accommodate the taillight and stoplight circuits as in the 2057 bulb.
In a pinch, you could duplicate that functionality with two diodes, one from each side, or if you want bright/dim, a diode on one side and a diode + resistor on the other. More work, I know, but sometimes a bit of electronic customization really makes a project snap IMO. (Says the guy with Arduino-powered turn signals, so take that with a bag of salt )
In a pinch, you could duplicate that functionality with two diodes, one from each side, or if you want bright/dim, a diode on one side and a diode + resistor on the other. More work, I know, but sometimes a bit of electronic customization really makes a project snap IMO. (Says the guy with Arduino-powered turn signals, so take that with a bag of salt )
On the notchback three separate functions using two circuits are incorporated into a 2057 bulb for tail/signal/stop lights. If we look at the GT they used three separate circuits for T/T/S that all operate independently. AFAIK, the notchback taillight filiment is always lighted with lights turned on and the stop/turn function is shared all the time. On second thought your diode idea will not work with LED's. To power LED's the positive and negative leads are fixed to those signals.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 08-13-2020).]
On the notchback three separate functions using two circuits are incorporated into a 2057 bulb for tail/signal/stop lights. If we look at the GT they used three separate circuits for T/T/S that all operate independently. AFAIK, the notchback taillight filiment is always lighted with lights turned on and the stop/turn function is shared all the time. In the case of stop/turn function the bulb is always fed a positive signal but it is switched to either one or the other. While I can see your solution working, using only a one LED light rather than a two section light may result in loss of brilliance and if you lose that single light, the lens will go dark. For the sake of simplicity and performance, the way GM designed it to work may be the best. However, I do appreciate the ingenuity that some come up with..
Roger all, but in my opinion finding the right lens is the challenge. The bulbs are the easy part. So what do I mean by that? If these 2.5" trailer sidemarker lenses look close enough to the 2.75" lenses the panel is designed around, then another option is to simply gut them...yank out the LEDs, and then mount the 2.5 lenses over the OEM bulbs and sockets. On my DrivenVision notchie panel, the OEM sockets simply mount to the panel from the backside, and the lenses are separately mounted to the panel from the outside.
Was able to find some cylindrical shaped empty 3" motorcycle taillight housings at a local shop and the guy made me buy the entire lot of 16 @$4 if I wanted them. The plan is to mount 2" round 24 LED T/T/S surface mount red taillights in these housings. If this works I will be able to help out anyone else with cheap product that decides to purchase the Pisa Euro panel. It appears that as with my C4 Corvette style panel install on my 87GT I will need to go with the Pilot Navigator back up lights that fit nicely in the reflector area.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Now onto the taillights. Was able to find some high quality 3" Hella Taillights (made in Germany) that fit the Pisa panel with some slight mods. They really look nice. I found some 2" LED Taillight/stoplights on eBay and these are placed inside to supply the light, again with some mods. You could do it another way but the light is bright. I turned them on to test them and I am really happy with them
For the 2" LED "disc" lights to fit, the back end insides of the new lighthousings must be ground smooth with a Dremel, then the 2" LED lenses notched to fit. Finally the outer edge of the rear piece of the Hella housing is trimmed to the lens diameter. The disc 2" LED's are held in place with silicone. Not a hard job but it takes a bit of work ------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 08-21-2020).]
Coming from a long time Fiero enthusiast, I'll take that compliment any day!
Eight LED lights have been modified and are ready to go.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 08-23-2020).]
I think those are gonna look and work great. I assume backup lights will be Pilot Navigators in the bumper?
Ernie
Yes need backup lights. Don't want to hit anything backing up. The pilot Navigators work well and at $20/pr are a good value. They are a bit tricky to install but you can get that install done in an hour or two. . The German made Hella lights are really high quality and I expect them to look bright with the LED disc lights inside. Your Driven Visions panel looks super, a bit nicer to my eyes but it hasn't been made in over 10 years so I used the still available Euro style PISA panel. With real European made lights that panel gives a different look but I like it.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Update: Decided to put the backup light in the forth position in on the panel. Found great lenses manufactured by Chris Products and Made in The USA. I'll use the smoke lens on as the back up lights and the Red on the tail lights. P/N DHD2S Smoke/Clear P/N DHD2R Red They are DOT and make the install very economical. They are only $6.35 on eBay Here is what they look like
You can install this custom panel with all the parts for about $250. Not bad for a nice new look. Will need to paint the panel but will wait for the warm weather
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 12-24-2020).]
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