[E-Type] Third brake light for FHC (and OTS?)

I put this in a new thread so others with third nrake light
solutions can post them here, and so people interested in third
brake lights will know it;s being discussed.

In reply to a message from L.Lynn sent Tue 11 Feb 2014:

Lynn, I started with this:

Removed all the black parts leaving only the red clear channel.
Fixed up the wire so it could not pull out of the unit, then
covered the sides and back with black tape. Patched a wire in to
the brake light wire: there is a bullet connector over the fuel
tank that I replaced with a 4-point bullet connector and bulleted
in the new wire. Ran the wire (it can be very thin with LEDs) up
the hinge and under the window rubber to the right location. Ran a
ground wire up there too, well grounded. Connected a tiny socket
(from an electronics store) to those wires an a matching tiny plug
on the light unit. Plugged it in and VOILA!

I used velcro to fasten it, then made some clips that ride under
the window rubber and hold it firmly in place. I think I have to
adjust the aim of the LEDs as they light up the inerior a lot more
than the outside.

Photos here:

http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1392170249

Jerry–
Jerry Mouton '64 FHC 889791 ‘MIK Jaguar’
Palo Alto, California, United States
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

That’s where a third brake light should be.
Unfortunately on an OTS, we don’t have that luxury built
into the design of the car, so we have to find other
solutions that will give us added safety in the form of an
early warning of the drivers behind us.
I am looking into placing a third brake light on the body of
the car, between the boot lid opening and the edge of the
cockpit where the soft top is fixed to the body.
Granted that this will interfere with the design of the car,
and I may have to dril holes in the car, I prefer that if it
gives me added safety on the road.
Unsuccessful in finding a suitable third brake light on
Amazon and other internet outlets/shops, I have started
looking at what’s on the cars driving on the roads today and
maybe in the past. The Jaguar XJS had a third brake light
that would work, although an original Jaguar part, I don’t
think it suits the E-Type very well. I have therefore
looked further and find that the current Mazda Miata has a
slim stylish third brake light that I plan to buy from the
local Mazda parts store or find on line. I will also
include a flasher module that will strobe the diode brake
light some 3-5 times before they come on steady. The strobe
effect will not work very well if at all with incandescent
bulbs due to the relative slow glow increase and decrease as
the voltage pulsates.–
Ole-XKE1974
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Wonder if there is a magnetic light that can be disconnected and removed from the car after a drive? That should work well on an OTS, I would think.
tom---- Ole-XKE1974 o.wurtz@hotmail.com wrote:

=============
In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

That’s where a third brake light should be.
Unfortunately on an OTS, we don’t have that luxury built
into the design of the car, so we have to find other
solutions that will give us added safety in the form of an
early warning of the drivers behind us.
I am looking into placing a third brake light on the body of
the car, between the boot lid opening and the edge of the
cockpit where the soft top is fixed to the body.
Granted that this will interfere with the design of the car,
and I may have to dril holes in the car, I prefer that if it
gives me added safety on the road.
Unsuccessful in finding a suitable third brake light on
Amazon and other internet outlets/shops, I have started
looking at what’s on the cars driving on the roads today and
maybe in the past. The Jaguar XJS had a third brake light
that would work, although an original Jaguar part, I don’t
think it suits the E-Type very well. I have therefore
looked further and find that the current Mazda Miata has a
slim stylish third brake light that I plan to buy from the
local Mazda parts store or find on line. I will also
include a flasher module that will strobe the diode brake
light some 3-5 times before they come on steady. The strobe
effect will not work very well if at all with incandescent
bulbs due to the relative slow glow increase and decrease as
the voltage pulsates.

Ole-XKE1974
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

I posted this link in the other thread. Bob Skelly’s web
site has some ‘‘brilliant’’ ideas regarding mechanical brake
light switches, third brake lights, brighter tail lights,
and the pulsing flasher devices…all complete with wiring
and fabrication photos and instructions. DO NOT MISS A
VISIT TO HIS WEB SITE!

http://bob_skelly.home.comcast.net/~bob_skelly/–
Eric
DFW Texas, United States
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

I fitted the same high level brake light to my son’s
classic Mini and they are excellent especially for what
they cost. The only problem was because of the condensation
it lost it’s stick so had to screw it down to the rear
parcel shelf. They are shipped to the UK from China and
cost �4 inc postage with no VAT or import duty to pay.

For my E-Type I bought two 8’’ red LED self adhesive strips
and stuck them on the top of my number plate. You can’t see
them until the they light up.

I won’t go into details on wiring because its so simple.

Dave–
The original message included these comments:

http://tinyurl.com/l673hvn


'61 OTS
Pershore, United Kingdom
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In reply to a message from Ole-XKE1974 sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

Tom Felts gave me an idea !

There are quite a few wireless battery operated LED brake
lights available for motorcycles and trailers.
Check these out:

Fixed to the area mentioned in my previous post with magnets
or double sided tape, this could be a solution for the OTS.
And maybe a lot of other classic cars looking for some
added safety.–
Ole-XKE1974
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In reply to a message from Ole-XKE1974 sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

I added the same third brake light you did but left all the
original light in tact. I mounted it by the sticky stuff to
the glass of my S3 FHC. I did have to change the sticky
stuff to a piece of 3M double sided tape from the local
auto parts place. I added a flasher to mine also, if
flashes 5 times then stays on. I ran the wire under the
rear hatch rubber seal around the glass and from there with
the wiring for the heated rear window. Been through one
summer with the tape and so far so good.

I have pictures but could not figure how to get them small
enough to put in the archives. If anyone would like they
can contact me by email and I can send pictures.

Sonny–
The original message included these comments:

Fixed to the area mentioned in my previous post with magnets
or double sided tape, this could be a solution for the OTS.
And maybe a lot of other classic cars looking for some
added safety.


Sonny
Lake Charles, La. USA, United States
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

For Series III FHC owners, another mounting option is to use the
cabin vent opening just below the backlight; this is especially
appealing if the metal grill in the cabin vent is rusty, like most
of them seem to get over time.

Not quite 15 years ago, I opted to install an LED 3rd brake light
in this location, and it has worked very well ever since. At the
time, aftermarket LED lighting units were practically nonexistent,
so I had to adapt a 3rd brake light from a Ford SUV. Thankfully,
we are now blessed with a lot more choices!

When I did the install, I also wired in a TailBlazer flasher unit
that was popular at motorcycle shops at the time… I think it was
originally designed for the LED light bar on the back of a Honda
Goldwing.

One my photo albums shows how the finished product looks, and I’m
always amazed by the number of people who think it’s original to
the car. E-Type owners know better, of course! ;->

Jay–
'61 Mark IX, '67 E-Type 2+2, '72 E-Type FHC
Austin, Texas, United States
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

I’m afraid it would be kind of hard to mount one to an OTS.
I’m thinking maybe I could hire a passenger to hold up a
couple of these and just flash them on demand…

Ideally though I’d like to mount something really obvious
like a large stage sized spot light, red gelled of course to
conform to dot regs.–
Erica Madison Moss 64 3.8 OTS
Austin,TX, United States
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In reply to a message from Erica Moss sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

Erica, I found it quite easy to mount an LED strip on my ots
– made a simple bracket that puts it at the bottom of the
license plate, involved drilling zero holes in the car and
shows up plenty bright when the brake pedal moves about
3/16’'. Bought the strip on the internet for $27. Easy to
wire it into the right rear light, and move the makeup from
the picture frame to the pedal. Be glad to send you some
pics if you want’em.
Bruce–
The original message included these comments:

I’m afraid it would be kind of hard to mount one to an OTS.


Bruce Harless, '64 S1 ots
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Bruce, would you pleas send me a picture of that installation>
LLoyd @soothsayer1

Go blindly into nothing, should we not learn from the insects who passionately mate, and then eat one other? -LLoyd Nolan 2013----- Original Message -----
From: “BruceHarless” bharless@carolina.rr.com

Erica, I found it quite easy to mount an LED strip on my ots
– made a simple bracket that puts it at the bottom of the
license plate, involved drilling zero holes in the car and
shows up plenty bright when the brake pedal moves about
3/16’’. Bought the strip on the internet for $27. Easy to
wire it into the right rear light, and move the makeup from
the picture frame to the pedal. Be glad to send you some
pics if you want’em.
Bruce
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In reply to a message from LLoyd (a rithmetician) sent Thu 13 Feb 2014:

If OTS owners are thinking of third lights in the license
plate area, y’all really should look at what Bob Skelly did
(web site link provided above).–
Eric
DFW Texas, United States
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Link? Oh yeh, a link??
LLoyd :wink:

Go blindly into nothing, should we not learn from the insects who passionately mate, and then eat one other? -LLoyd Nolan 2013----- Original Message -----
From: “64etype” bittersc@netzero.net
To: e-type@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2014 3:06:24 PM
Subject: Re: [E-Type] Third brake light for FHC (and OTS?)

In reply to a message from LLoyd (a rithmetician) sent Thu 13 Feb 2014:

If OTS owners are thinking of third lights in the license
plate area, y’all really should look at what Bob Skelly did
(web site link provided above).

Eric
DFW Texas, United States
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In reply to a message from mouton sent Wed 12 Feb 2014:

Check my photo album. I have pictures of my third brake
light–
Gary Herzberg, 63 3.8 FHC 66 Series 1 OTS, 98 xk8
Montana, United States
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In reply to a message from LLoyd (a rithmetician) sent Thu 13 Feb 2014:

The Bob Skelly site link is in the fourth post in this
thread (above^^^^^).–
The original message included these comments:

Link? Oh yeh, a link??


Eric
DFW Texas, United States
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In reply to a message from 64etype sent Fri 14 Feb 2014:

It’s sexy looking, no doubt. It actually looks a bit like
it belongs there. I’m dubious that it really does the job
though.

It seems to be that the operating theory behind third lights
is to elevate it as high as possible to try and catch the
attention of soccer Mom’s in their urban assault vehicles
who rarely look down to see the actual signal lights.

This one is actually lower than the standard lights. The
flasher might help…maybe. I’d really have to see it in
action to know for sure. I have been reminded many times
just how low these cars really are when a truck or suv pulls
along side me and I’m eye level with their hub caps.–
The original message included these comments:

The Bob Skelly site link is in the fourth post in this
thread (above^^^^^).


Erica Madison Moss 64 3.8 OTS
Austin,TX, United States
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In reply to a message from Erica Moss sent Fri 14 Feb 2014:

That was the main reason for my adding one. If one takes a look at
the rear-ended E picture and draw a line of sight from the stop
lights to the windshield of the vehicle that hit it, you will see
that there is some distance when the stop lights are out of sight.
Worse for the S2’s with the lights below the bumpers. It was a
easy solution for my FHC, for an OTS I would think some sort of
bracket that could be elevated when the top is up might work or a
permanent or magnetized one to fit along the front boot edge seam.
Might even be able to utilize one from a current convertible. As I
mentioned in the other post, anyone that would like the write-up
for my FHC light install, just drop me an email.

http://tinyurl.com/mbs78kg--
The original message included these comments:

it belongs there. I’m dubious that it really does the job
though.
It seems to be that the operating theory behind third lights
is to elevate it as high as possible to try and catch the
attention of soccer Mom’s in their urban assault vehicles
who rarely look down to see the actual signal lights.


Ralph, 1970 FHC, 1R27295
Coastal NJ, United States
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