At the San Diego Auto show, there was a VERY nice display of past Pace Cars. It was really the only thing GM had on display that got my heart going...Sorry.
93 Camaro Pace Car - one of my favorite all time Camaros.
82 Camaro Pace Car - Gorgeous!
and lastly the 02 Brickyard serial #1 Pace Camaro...very nice!
Too bad they didn't have a 67 and 69 to round out the display.
There were some Vettes too.
Anyway, my question is, on the Brickyard Camaro there was a dent in each tailight in the red area. The dent was the same on both sides. Tailights do not bend/dent without breaking so it seems they were made this way.
What is the reason for this?
Thanks.
Posted by TimeLord (Member # 1389) on :
Ask 2002Z4CSS since he owns one he will be your best bet for an answer !!!!! Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by TimeLord: Ask 2002Z4CSS since he owns one he will be your best bet for an answer !!!!!
My 1999 and my 2002 did not have that concern but the 1997 30th Anniversary Z28 did. Seems that the tailight bulbs may have caused too much heat and warped the lenses at one time or another.Maybe these cars that had this concern was caused by their owners riding the brake pedal keeping the brake lights on an extended time. I have 2 90watt strobe light bulbs in each of my Brickyard 400's tail lights and have had them on for hours at a time with no warpage.Maybe these lenses were from a different supplier. Posted by Stealth Performance (Member # 1072) on :
yes better choice ask 2002Z4CSS
Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
quote:Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS: My 1999 and my 2002 did not have that concern but the 1997 30th Anniversary Z28 did. Seems that the tailight bulbs may have caused too much heat and warped the lenses at one time or another.Maybe these cars that had this concern was caused by their owners riding the brake pedal keeping the brake lights on an extended time. I have 2 90watt strobe light bulbs in each of my Brickyard 400's tail lights and have had them on for hours at a time with no warpage.Maybe these lenses were from a different supplier. [/QB]
Wow...I thought it was done on purpose for some strange reason. This really does surprise me.
Thanks for the response.
[ 04. January 2004, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: MMMM_ERT ]
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on :
You didn't want to listen to me. I told you it was crappy GM quality. Obviously, they can't even get tail lights to hold up to a parade. When will they ever get things right. I was thinking of changing out my tail lights with BMW lights. Think that would be a good Mod?
Posted by MM (Member # 1247) on :
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: You didn't want to listen to me. I told you it was crappy GM quality. Obviously, they can't even get tail lights to hold up to a parade. When will they ever get things right. I was thinking of changing out my tail lights with BMW lights. Think that would be a good Mod?
Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
(haahaa! way to go Dan!!!)
Yes...we weren't able to afford BMW tail lamp lenses!!!!
Actually, the strobes we use in the pace cars are very high powered, as evidenced by the heat sinks built into the rear of each car. (by the way, each of those cars were the real pace cars....) Because of the extreme heat from the bulbs, the plastic lens material will melt if the strobes are left on for an extended period of time....looks like we'll need to replace the ones in VIN #1 (Brickyard Anniversary Convert) The reason we didn't have the '67 there is that it's in one of the engineering building's lobby on display (the real 1967 Pace car is owned by Charley Lillard and the real 1969 Pace car is owned by Larry Christensen.) Unfortunately we didn't start saving pace cars until the 78 Corvette. For those of you who weren't at San Diego, we had the '78, '86, '95, and '02 Corvette Pace cars as well as the '82 and '93 Camaro pace cars as well as the '02 Brickyard Anniversary Convert and the Monte Carlo Rock & Roll pace car, the Silverado 250 Pace Truck, a Cavalier NHRA, and Dale Jr's Monte NASCAR.
Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
quote:Originally posted by Fbodfather:
Actually, the strobes we use in the pace cars are very high powered, as evidenced by the heat sinks built into the rear of each car. (by the way, each of those cars were the real pace cars....) Because of the extreme heat from the bulbs, the plastic lens material will melt if the strobes are left on for an extended period of time....looks like we'll need to replace the ones in VIN #1 (Brickyard Anniversary Convert
Thanks for the explanation Scott...
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Fbodfather: (haahaa! way to go Dan!!!)
Yes...we weren't able to afford BMW tail lamp lenses!!!!
That's funny! Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
Like I said before Dan...you and your cronies over here are hypocrites. Same as you were on SLP. Theres a lot of good people on this board...just like SLP...too bad theres the same "few" who act like they own the place over here again.
A couple facts for ya:
1.) Never once have I instigated an attack on anyone over here or maliciously flamed someone FIRST, my "reviled" comments are aimed at the manufacturer...never people. You and your buddies are all over me over here with free reign.
2.) I never PURPOSEFULLY jacked someones thread over here, my responses are almost always on topic
Today, you PURPOSEFULLY jacked my legitimate thread and got it locked, then you follow me around in threads to slam me and make snide comments. It doesn't bother me any, it just makes you look like an @ss and don't think for a second that people outside your circle don't notice it. However, you ARE jacking OTHER peoples threads by making antagonistic remarks toward me...the exact thing you CLAIM I am doing. I don't expect any respect from you or your buddies...but I would think that you all would have the sense to not ruin other peoples threads with your childish games.
Go back and see if you can find any antagonistic comments posted on this board by me like the ones you posted below during today. If you find any...you'll see they are in RESPONSE to the typical "old boys club" rhetoric.
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: Well if it is true you speak your mind, then you have a msall mind because you don't say much.
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: Actually, I have an idea. I see from a quick check that the old SLP member forum is a lot like the old SLP board. Why don't you stay there? That way you don't feel like we want to kick you out and we don't have to listem to the GM bashing that it is obvious the vast majority of us don't want to hear. Do it there and you will have an audience. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike you, I don't know you personally. But I can't stand your internet personality at all.
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: You should sell then both and get a BMW. Then you can have a perfect car with no shortcomings!
In fact you should give me the 68 because I am a GM lover. You shouldn't have either one.
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: You didn't want to listen to me. I told you it was crappy GM quality. Obviously, they can't even get tail lights to hold up to a parade. When will they ever get things right. I was thinking of changing out my tail lights with BMW lights. Think that would be a good Mod?
quote:Originally posted by DanA_F99_1977: Why watch it at all? The BMW commercial was on the tecno channel. You should send us links to the BMW commercials, I am sure that not only are the cars better, the commercials are higher quality too!
As for the Janitors comments in the LOCKED thread... Well...we all know where one of the old SLP mods is employed now.
Posted by killabee (Member # 860) on :
Not jumping on anyone but I was gone for awhile at some of the other boards, came back here solely to avoid this type of stuff that is all to common elsewhere. You guys know this is just going to keep locking threads until one of you is banned. Why not just let the other have the last word and don't direct each other in posts. It's only the internet.
Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
Thank you for "undeleting" this thread whoever you are.
I know my opinions are not popular here. I am sure most of you are also dissapointed "deep down" with where GM is currently.
I am NOT here to antagonize anyone contrary to what has been stated by some. I am a true enthusiast voicing my opinions. Sorry, but I am no diplomat..what you see/hear is what you get.
Posted by JeffY (Member # 120) on :
The janitor ( whomever it is) was never a mod on the SLP board - we had very few mods there. Since Dave and I lived on the board 24/7, we kept the mods to a minimum.
Posted by TimeLord (Member # 1389) on :
Is the pissing contest over yet
Posted by TimeLord (Member # 1389) on :
Yes,,,peace has returned to Middle Earth,now to continue with the Never ending Story !!!!!!!
Posted by el ess1 (Member # 1544) on :
quote:Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS: I have 2 90watt strobe light bulbs in each of my Brickyard 400's tail lights and have had them on for hours at a time with no warpage.Maybe these lenses were from a different supplier.
Perhaps, but aren't some of the strobe lights that you can buy for show cars made of LED lights? LED's are bright and considered "low-temp" in the fact they don't emit the heat like incandecent bulbs. Maybe that's the reason you can leave yours on for hours at a time with no damage. But I could be wrong.
If the dents were found on an import car's taillights, I'd think that they were factory hand-holds to keep your palms from slipping when you had to push that POS. Posted by Jim Mac (Member # 113) on :
The new GTO sucks: looks like a Cavalier!
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by el ess1:
quote:Originally posted by 2002Z4CSS: I have 2 90watt strobe light bulbs in each of my Brickyard 400's tail lights and have had them on for hours at a time with no warpage.Maybe these lenses were from a different supplier.
Perhaps, but aren't some of the strobe lights that you can buy for show cars made of LED lights? LED's are bright and considered "low-temp" in the fact they don't emit the heat like incandecent bulbs. Maybe that's the reason you can leave yours on for hours at a time with no damage. But I could be wrong.
If the dents were found on an import car's taillights, I'd think that they were factory hand-holds to keep your palms from slipping when you had to push that POS.
Mine are not a L.E.D. and they do get hot if you were to touch them.When the bulbs flash they actually make a clicking sound like a spark plug wire would if checking for spark.I have an invertor control box that handles the flash patterns.The bulbs use a shielded cable.Here is what they look like. I just made sure I had plenty of bulb to lens clearance before I drilled the 1st hole. Posted by SSHEETS (Member # 1989) on :
That's interesting Greg, They're probably a Xenon strobe. Not really an OEM quality issue since this is an alteration of the originally equipment that is signifigantly differant than the original design.
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by SSHEETS: That's interesting Greg, They're probably a Xenon strobe. Not really an OEM quality issue since this is an alteration of the originally equipment that is signifigantly differant than the original design.
I believe the other Camaro Pace Cars that actually paced the race have like bulbs.These do make more heat than a standard tail light bulb. Posted by 35TH ED/ed (Member # 1709) on :
So what "Pace Cars" Will be at the Detroit show Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
Part of this problem is that you have to understand that plastics are very poor thermal conductors. Of course, light bulbs of all types do not only output energy in the visible spectrum, but also heat as well. If you model the taillight cavity, bulb, and plastic panel as a system, you can track the thermal input of heat from the lightbulb as compared to the thermal output through the plastic taillight panel. If you dont bleed off heat fast enough, the internal temperature will rise to reach the melting point of the plastic. It is at this point that the plastic starts to melt.
Now, with standard bulbs, the level of heat put into this modeled system is generally low enough that the temperature is never raised high enough to melt the plastic, or the time for continuous operation needed to generate that level of heat is extremely long (say, like 80 hours). Since very few cars are driving for 80 hours straight, you would not expect melting tailights to be a problem.
However, strobe lights put out a lot more heat than conventional bulbs. As such, the time it takes to build up a high enough temperature to melt the inside of the plastic is much quicker. And of course, when that happens, you have deformation that results in the "dents" that have been described.
Just another interesting problem created by using plastics instead of glass. Older lights, that were made with glass lenses, would never have this problem. Kind of interesting.
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
I would have though LED's would have been a much better choice....less current draw, just as birght (if not brighter) and a lot cooler, but then again, I'm not an electrician. Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
quote:Originally posted by DanPazich: I would have though LED's would have been a much better choice....less current draw, just as birght (if not brighter) and a lot cooler, but then again, I'm not an electrician.
Actually, the lower power requirements, lower heat output, and comparable light output are the reason a lot of people are looking at LED light as the "wave of the future". I actually have a flashlight that is LED powered, the only downside is that LED technology is a lot more expensive than conventional bulbs, so its a trade off.
Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
also keep in mind that the strobes on a pace car must be VERY BRIGHT...Indy is one BIG track........LEDs are not bright enough, I believe for what's required......
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on :
quote:Originally posted by Fbodfather: also keep in mind that the strobes on a pace car must be VERY BRIGHT...Indy is one BIG track........LEDs are not bright enough, I believe for what's required......
I need to know where I can get my rear side marker strobe light set up like VIN #2 has.
The bulbs I have in my car are the same type that police and fire departments use so they can be seen during the day. You can't even look at them at night! Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
I'll vouch for that - ours stobes are very bright. I've not seen any brighter, and my lenses are fine - at least I think so - now I'll have to run home, lift the cover and check!
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