97-2000 LED Tails Fabricated "A" Right Way
12-17-12, 07:20 PM
#17
Great idea going with the smoked lenses- I love it. Definitely top of the line setup- some of the coolest tails I've seen.
The origins of my murder tails (as they've come to be known) were basically the cost of a new set of perfect lights purchased from Shaitaan- something like $275 if I recall- never used; then sent to CinCity Designs when they were still functioning- Few hundred bucks, I cant remember. I got a pretty good deal because I sent them multiple lighting items as a group-deal.
They weren't LED like Ryans here, they just looked mean because of the tinted reverse lens/candy redded combo, and getting rid of the chrome trim of course.
The origins of my murder tails (as they've come to be known) were basically the cost of a new set of perfect lights purchased from Shaitaan- something like $275 if I recall- never used; then sent to CinCity Designs when they were still functioning- Few hundred bucks, I cant remember. I got a pretty good deal because I sent them multiple lighting items as a group-deal.
They weren't LED like Ryans here, they just looked mean because of the tinted reverse lens/candy redded combo, and getting rid of the chrome trim of course.
Last edited by GZZ-TT; 12-17-12 at 11:47 PM.
12-17-12, 07:29 PM
#18
I discovered clearcorners a few months back before you posted that you got yours done through them, and I really like their craftsmanship, as you've said, it's really top notch and would almost pass as OEM quality. The only thing that turned me off of them, is the amount of LED's in the tail lights, and considering how wide SC's tail lights are, this would more likely be how it looks from behind...
This pic is from the new Kia Optima. IMO, luxury tail lights should be subtle, and appeasing to the eyes, not this aggressive and irritating.
This pic is from the new Kia Optima. IMO, luxury tail lights should be subtle, and appeasing to the eyes, not this aggressive and irritating.
But damn do they ever look good. Plus that SC is done right and clean as hell.
12-21-12, 05:55 AM
#20
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Top notch quality for sure, and yes, its exspensive to properly mod tails or headlights. If you are a crafty guy with some mad skills and have a lot of extra time on your hands you can probally save yourself a grand or so, that of course means your time is of no value to you, LOL
Just assume you start with a new set of tails, you are already at $400, add supplies, $100-$600 depending on the level of modding you are going for, now you are at a grand, its all time from there unless you break a lense taking them apart (ouch). Then add another 50 hours time, (its a labor of love to do them right) whats your time worth, $20 a hour? Mines worth at least $40, thats $2K plus supplies, yep, they will cost.
Few projects I have done.
Custom DIY clear corners w/led
Custom frot headlights delined with HID, Halo, Custom city light.
Ultra custom 97/96 tail combo with LED bulbs.
Just assume you start with a new set of tails, you are already at $400, add supplies, $100-$600 depending on the level of modding you are going for, now you are at a grand, its all time from there unless you break a lense taking them apart (ouch). Then add another 50 hours time, (its a labor of love to do them right) whats your time worth, $20 a hour? Mines worth at least $40, thats $2K plus supplies, yep, they will cost.
Few projects I have done.
Custom DIY clear corners w/led
Custom frot headlights delined with HID, Halo, Custom city light.
Ultra custom 97/96 tail combo with LED bulbs.
12-21-12, 09:50 AM
#22
Great post Scott. My point exactly...And I have pretty mad DIY skills, but time...That's the issue, as Kohinoor stated earlier, the ClearCorners tails are not only top notch LED, but "Turnkey". That is a major plus. I did not have to spend anytime on trying to build something like they have already perfected, and I got the quality I wanted. For me, it was a "no-brainier".
Take a look at my headlights...I have over 10 hours of my own time in them plus over 15 hours of the fabricators time in them. I also have over $2,500 in them so far...I do not know how to do a custom one-off inexpensively, as my time is worth a lot as well, as time is money.
My headlight project:
Ryan
Take a look at my headlights...I have over 10 hours of my own time in them plus over 15 hours of the fabricators time in them. I also have over $2,500 in them so far...I do not know how to do a custom one-off inexpensively, as my time is worth a lot as well, as time is money.
My headlight project:
Ryan
Last edited by SC400TT; 12-22-12 at 09:31 AM.
12-26-12, 11:27 PM
#25
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Top notch quality for sure, and yes, its exspensive to properly mod tails or headlights. If you are a crafty guy with some mad skills and have a lot of extra time on your hands you can probally save yourself a grand or so, that of course means your time is of no value to you, LOL
Just assume you start with a new set of tails, you are already at $400, add supplies, $100-$600 depending on the level of modding you are going for, now you are at a grand, its all time from there unless you break a lense taking them apart (ouch). Then add another 50 hours time, (its a labor of love to do them right) whats your time worth, $20 a hour? Mines worth at least $40, thats $2K plus supplies, yep, they will cost.
.
Just assume you start with a new set of tails, you are already at $400, add supplies, $100-$600 depending on the level of modding you are going for, now you are at a grand, its all time from there unless you break a lense taking them apart (ouch). Then add another 50 hours time, (its a labor of love to do them right) whats your time worth, $20 a hour? Mines worth at least $40, thats $2K plus supplies, yep, they will cost.
.
12-30-12, 08:47 PM
#28
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Scott and SC400TT are exactly right. In the perfect world the products of Clear Corners would be affordable OR you could create something similar in your garage. Unfortunately that's not the case. 
Life and modding cars is all about choices: How much time do you have, how fat is your wallet, how many sponsors do you have, how skilled/technically adept are you, etc, etc. It's tough to have caviar tastes with Ford Escort money. As the aforementioned gentlemen astutely stated: Time IS money...and no, everyone's time does not have the same value.
I have a headlight project I've been working for...hmmm, let's just say quite some time. While I don't have the same amount of money invested as SC400TT, I have voluminous amounts of time invested in R&D. To create something "from scratch" is a total PITA; so you have to be driven (no pun intended) to be unique or really motivated to see it through. At which time real life sets in, eg: your job, your wife, your wallet, etc and that great idea may end up being deferred (at best) or worst case, shelved.
Clear Corners makes a great piece of kit. When I first saw them here (years ago), I said, "Wow, that's hot!"
Afterwhich, I immediately clutched my chest (In a Fred G. Sandford way), when I saw the price. 
They want a premium for their work...and that's ok, it will be what the market can bear.
I just hope Rideskinz can pull off this endeavour so I can finish my project in the way it needs to be. BTW, SC400TT, thanx for sending the Supermades...
Life and modding cars is all about choices: How much time do you have, how fat is your wallet, how many sponsors do you have, how skilled/technically adept are you, etc, etc. It's tough to have caviar tastes with Ford Escort money. As the aforementioned gentlemen astutely stated: Time IS money...and no, everyone's time does not have the same value.
I have a headlight project I've been working for...hmmm, let's just say quite some time. While I don't have the same amount of money invested as SC400TT, I have voluminous amounts of time invested in R&D. To create something "from scratch" is a total PITA; so you have to be driven (no pun intended) to be unique or really motivated to see it through. At which time real life sets in, eg: your job, your wife, your wallet, etc and that great idea may end up being deferred (at best) or worst case, shelved.
Clear Corners makes a great piece of kit. When I first saw them here (years ago), I said, "Wow, that's hot!"
Afterwhich, I immediately clutched my chest (In a Fred G. Sandford way), when I saw the price. They want a premium for their work...and that's ok, it will be what the market can bear.I just hope Rideskinz can pull off this endeavour so I can finish my project in the way it needs to be. BTW, SC400TT, thanx for sending the Supermades...
12-31-12, 10:51 AM
#29
Are clear corners DOT compliant?
I ask because we had a member on the RX7 club selling modified LED tails that look very good
Unfortunately it did not turn out well for him. An unhappy customer (who isa good freind of mine) made things quite difficult for that person. I cant recall the exact details but in the end after a letter from the NHTSA, the lights were not made anymore.
It wasn't a bad price for a $420 upgrade. The turn around time was extremely long however.
I ask because we had a member on the RX7 club selling modified LED tails that look very good
Unfortunately it did not turn out well for him. An unhappy customer (who isa good freind of mine) made things quite difficult for that person. I cant recall the exact details but in the end after a letter from the NHTSA, the lights were not made anymore.
It wasn't a bad price for a $420 upgrade. The turn around time was extremely long however.
