custom LED signal marker progress PICS

[urban yan]

I really wanted to finish my bi-xenon and HID projector foglights with some LEDS, so here's a glimpse
of the next project. My buddy Greg's been hard at work retrofitting my signal markers with custom led
boards. The project is probably a few months away from being in my Jeep, but I though I'd share

The lights will be ready once we resolve the complication surrounding the lens texture. There are currently
3 different generations/versions of clear markers floating around (second photo). I wanted to go with the
original version because I wanted something with a texture close to that of the original amber markers and
taillights. The problem with those markers, unfortunately, is that they have a rectangular texture (not square)
which unevenly disperses the light. The second gen marker had horizontal lines, but again, it had too
many of those lines that dispersed the light badly.If you look at the first photo, you will notice how the
first and second gen markers allow some leds to shine brighter than others. The only solution now is to use
the third generation marker which uses a liquid clear lense.

 

[POLAR_JEEP_04]

NICE!

 

[Slo-Sho]

Can you tell us how you achieved the Hi/Lo intesity?

 

[kennzz05]

well i thought i was hot shit with my led bulbs i hate you lol but ya rarely see anyone with leds at all so guess im somewhat unique would like to see pics of your fogs i also have hids but went for the single filiment ones ive been thinking of trying to frankenstein some projectors in some old crappy plastic backed headlights i have. butyour stuff looks good. i went with white bulbs for side and turn signals didnt know about all those other types of clear turn options there cool if ya could could you post where there available? thanks

 

[urban yan]

Can you tell us how you achieved the Hi/Lo intesity?

not sure, since these boards are being put together by my buddy. I'll ask him next time I catch up with him.

well i thought i was hot shit with my led bulbs i hate you lol but ya rarely see anyone with leds at all so guess im somewhat unique

haha. don't hate me. I'm not just doing this for myself; I'm doing this for all the XJs out there lol. If these markers work out properly I will get my buddy to give my tails the LED treatment, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. Right now we're still working out the kinks in these markers.. the goal is to keep things somewhat OEM. My buddy plans on vacuum forming an ABS plastic shell over the LEDs followed by a paint or chrome treatment (whatever looks more factory).

ive been thinking of trying to frankenstein some projectors in some old crappy plastic backed headlights i have. butyour stuff looks good. i went with white bulbs for side and turn signals didnt know about all those other types of clear turn options there cool if ya could could you post where there available? thanks

I remember seeing a guy retro Hella 90mm projectors into his XJ, but he completely ditched his headlights in favor of custom plates. I think he also had to cut into his header panel (which is allot of work for something that isn't really street legal). In the end it was easier (and probably the same price) to buy a bi-xenon kit like mine (Hella mini HID projectors are hella expensive)

Keep checking my tri-xenon thread.. I'll try to keep it updated with photos, advice, and merchant links
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=940046




.

 

[cjd_1986]

I have the 2nd Gen clear ones on mine /w orange bulbs no LED's though. I <3 them! Neighbor actually bought them for me for Christmas 2 yrs ago. I still have my old stock orange ones in a box in my closet if anyone needs them for a replacement? Used 3 of the 4 clear bulbs that were used in those for my break lights and stuff. Think I saw a post about that somewhere on here that someone was looking for some of the stock orange ones for a replacement. I'd gladly send 'em to u.

 

[urban yan]

Alright, here's another progress pic of the markers.. this time with the vacuum formed abs plastic covers. This is
the same process my friend uses to mold covers for custom HID retros (like the 350z projector retro in my WJ).

We're going for a near oem look, so don't pass judgment if you don't like them (yet). We're going to have the
covers painted silver first; if that doesn't look right than they're are off to the chrome shop. I'll keep everyone
posted.

 

[aparke4]

um thats awesome...

any plans on selling a few sets with wiring kit?

 

[seanyb505]

x2^ I would buy some if they look snazzy

 

[XJ01-08]

These might make a good solution to my where to put strobes up front dilema, just need a led flasher

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

Wow those look really neat! I'd like a set!

 

[urban yan]

Ok. Here's another update. The liquid clear lenses arrived, and the abs plastic was painted silver. I think the
markers look good, but I'm betting they'll blend in better when they're chromed (I have a chrome grill, and
my bi-xenon headlights are chrome as well). The only major problem with chrome is that it will add $40 to
the project cost. So.. any opinions?

 

[NCjeepgirl83]

I like the way the clear ones look, but it's your car, so it's your choice really.
That's just my .02 cents.

 

[urban yan]

I was referring to chroming the abs plastic covers.. NOT the clear lenses. Currently the covers are painted silver (in the above picture), but I find the color is too dark. If I get the covers chromed, I'll have less contrast between them and the LEDS... right now you can pretty much count how many LEDS were used in my retro.


.

 

[XJ01-08]

go get some chrome spray paint, they have it at Wal mart

 

[urban yan]

Chrome paint isn't what it's cracked up to be... I tried it once on my rear license plate light cover with lousy
results... and the stuff smells like hell.I spent enough on this project... it's almost too late to back down on
professional chroming.



.

 

[hollyxj]

Alsa paint mirra chrome paint just as good as chrome, but requires a gloss black paint with a cc before applying a little bit of a pain in the ass but it works

 

[XJ01-08]

The krylon chrome paint i bought from wally world worked fine for me looked shiny and it smelled like regular spray paint to me

 

[Ben824]

wish i had a set of those. did u do the same to the markers on the side?

 

[urban yan]

No. I had my side markers professionally shaved-off, but I added a set of Hella oval markers further down the header. Here's a picture of the Jeep to give you an idea. BTW. I still don't have my LED boards. My buddy was taking them to the chromers, and he got t-boned (one of the boards broke, so he has to redo it); thankfully he's ok.