|
|
Regular
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif. | Here's another project I wouldn't recommend to anyone, but being the die-hard electrician I am, I worked it out. I'm posting the text here because the caption portion on the Albums is limited. But I will make a new photo album called "509 LED taillights".
The original FMC has 3-fixture taillights, flush mount, and were made by Monarch. Monarch was aquired by Grote. Grote still makes the 2 fixture taillight in flush mount and surface mount but not the 3. A dealer search may turn up some New Old Stock (NOS) somewhere. Yankee made an identical fixture. Yankee was aquired by Signal-Stat, and Signal-Stat was bought out by Truck-Lite. Truck-lite does not make any of these fixtures any more. Finally, Peterson Manufacturing (now PM) makes a similar lens, but it is slightly oversized and won't fit in the fiberglass cutout on the FMC. And they don't make a full 3 fuxture light. As our styrene frames in the old Monarchs start to sun rot, as mine are, we will have to find a substitute.
Since I was going to try and replace the fixtures anyway, I wanted to make 4 improvements. First the anemic back-up light was useless. So that position was expendable. I will mount floodlights low and where they actually light up the ground I am backing to. Second, I wanted to use the ex-back-up light position for an amber turn signal as new modern cars do and as the Europeans have been doing for decades. I've always thought it was safer, smarter and looked better. This will require a bit of re-wiring, but I have done it before. Third, the stock rear red reflector that surrounded the ex-back-up light had all the reflectivity of a pail of water. I wanted something that would let people know I was there, especially at truck stops, where I pass out on long journeys. Lastly, I wanted LEDs.
By chance, Grand General makes a double sided front fender mount LED fixture for trucks. It is the squared off version of the circular "Mickey Mouse ears" that you seen on trucks for centuries. Each lens is a sealed unit unto itself and is the exact dimensions of the old Monarch design, right down to the screw mounts. Each sealed lens can be removed from the fender stanchion and has spade connectors in the back. Except for the spade connectors, it is totally sealed and weatherproof.
From there it was a matter of having TAP plastics cut a rectangle of ¼in f PVC (sun impervious) to fill the opening in the FMC fiberglass cut out. I then cut out the mounting holes for the LED fixtures. I lined the cutouts with Scotch 90% reflectance tape. Instead of a white border like the original has, mine will be a thin line of highly reflective red. I cut some strips of oak and sealed them to be spacers to make up for the curve in of the fiberglass cutout.
Finally, I bought two Truck-Lite ICC thin reflectors. Using the Truck-Lite reflectors as guides, I drilled through and bolted the whole assembly together. I've only done the right side so far, so I could judge the difference and see if it was worth all the trouble. It was. At 100yards, the right side reflects strong enough to look like lighted fixtures, even under low beams. As far as the brightness of the taillights, well, look at the pics.
Here's the bad news. To get 4 red and 2 amber taillights requires 4 Grand General fixtures. At $70 a pop, it's a bit draining. The PVC blanks were $10ea. The reflectors, $1.40 ea. Everything else I had in stock and was just a matter of making things work. When I decide to paint the 509, the assembly un-bolts and will make masking easy.
 (LightComparison.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 LightComparison.jpg (147KB - 44 downloads)
| |
| | |
Contributor
| Thank-you 4 a life saver, can I get a closer look? When TRUCK STOP was mentioned, my ears perked up. How about the parking overhead array, something that could be left on, low voltage. Would be interested in what a full led interior would take. Battery drain when stopped can be a milage drain, Led, great idea 4 upgrade... coach # 1038, Wheelsweep in Aptos | |
| | |
Regular
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif. | My hours are not regular, but you may come by at any time. I've replaced the interior lights with flourescents, but my other coach, an Aero Cruiser is almost fully LED inside, now. | |
| | |
Contributor
| Hi guys..led bulbs are avalible from super brite bulbs..My monarch frame is mounted from the inside and is still in good shape..I got lenses from NAPA..the bulbs are on the way I'll tell you how it works out..I just got ahold of 831which
has been sitting for the last 25 years in Erie County Sherieff's holding center from a 78 drug bust..only one bullet hole. NEED HELP IN GETTING 19.5 OR 20.5 BUD WHEELS...any ideas..zimrad855@yahoo.com or John Zimmerman 585-968-3437 Thanks | |
| | |
Regular
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif. | SUPER BRight has been my source for bulbs for years. They have a good selection. However I have never liked the "look" of led bulb conversions (1157s or 1034s). They tend to have a very bright hot spot in the middle and the rest ofthe lens is dark. I think the entire lens lit up is safer and more noticeable by other drivers.
The Grand General fixtures are killer..... no one is going to "not see" my read end.
I might end up using led bulb conversions in the side clearance lights, though, as no one makes a fixture to replace them. | |
| | |
Regular
Location: Clovis, Ca | Bair, this looks great! Any inclination to producing this for other FMC owners? | |
| | |
Regular
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif. | Not really. They were pricy and I had to carve the foundation frame for them. (A lot a dremel work on PVC). Possibly using a Grote frame might work. I will try and be at the work day next month where members can eyeball them up close. | |
| |
|