Temporary 348 Fog light signals mounting

As some of you know I have removed my front fog/driving lights so I can have molds made for replacement lenses. The drivers molds are do and the first parts will arrive here at my place this week I hope. I am having the passenger side lenses created over the next few weeks as well. The replacements will be available for purchase when I am satisfied with the product. Anyway, over the past few weeks I have been going out of my mind not driving the 348. With the fogs out I do not have any working front signals so driving is a no, no. I was bored a few nights ago and decided I would remedy the problem by making a pattern for the holes where the lights used to be and just simply adding a signal light to each side. After creating the pattern and placing it back in the holes I decided that a flat piece of sheet metal was not going to look very good even if it was just to hold the signals. I looked around the garage and found a few lengths of aluminum doweling and then I went to Home Depot and went looking for a more suitable material to fill the voids. I came across galvanized gutter screen which happened to be almost exactly the same pattern as the read deck lid screen on the 348, so close you would not be able to tell actually. Its sturdy yet workable and would need a frame, which I made out of the doweling when I got back. I wanted the screens to use the stock light mounting bolts so I was very careful in forming the shape. After they were constructed and refit a few times I attached them using the stock bolts. It became apparent that I would have to add a bracket behind the screen to the outside on each side for strength and to keep the screens tightly in place. I will be working on those today. I found a nice set of LED amber turn signals to use and they should be arriving today. They are a nice design and 2.5 inches in diameter and should do the job. I will be adding the lights to the middle inside area of each screen and wiring them with plugs to the stock harness. I have also decided to paint the screens and brackets with a medium black paint so the appear more stock. These are only temporary and I will get my OEM lights back on when I get them back in late spring, still a few more products to make. I'll post more pictures when they are done. I think this is an elegant solution that will at least keep me driving for now

--Mike
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Not a bad idea depending on how the lights look when this is done. If i kept them I would have to add fogs back in. I'm sure there are some projector type units that might look good. I hope I make it this Sunday so you can see what I have so far.

--Mike

 

Fantastic Idea! I really like that. I may give that a shot in a week or two.

--Mike

 

They are getting painted black after the signal lights get put on. They are to bling bling now and need to look more OEM.

--Mike

 

Maybe...I would need to make a jig to reproduce the parts easier and keep things uniform and rework my templates a bit. Most of the fitting was done in small adjustments for this set. Might make a good product. After I finish the center section as suggested above I will give it serious thought.

--Mike

 

I worked on the screens a little more last night. I designed a bracket to support the middle part of the screen that would not be visible while standing within 10 feet or so. If you kneel down it is visible however. I also decided the screens were to flat and they are now bent at the last 3rd slightly to follow the front end body lines a little better. I will be starting work on the middle section next week.

--Mike
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I had time last night so I constructed a Jig and decided to make a few test mule screens. This really helped figureout where the issues would be and make a better part. It also cut the build time down to around two hours per side. After making two pieces I started to try and figureout light mounting and placement. I had purchased some cheap mini-fogs and LED DOT approved signal lights just to get things rolling and so I would have a working set if the weather was good. I will find some more stylish lights later. I have also sourced some longer aluminum rod in order to build the center screen this coming week. I think I may be willing to build unpainted, uncut (lighting), screens with brackets if anyone would want a set. Not sure sure how much I would charge, lets say $200.00 bucks. Keep in mind I am not manufacturing these on a large scale and do the work in my garage so it would only be a few sets. Let me know what you think. Here is what i have so far.
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Oh, I agree there...these are temporary. I need to check out a few different lights when I get time. There are a few cars that use long, slightly bent lenses that my work. I'm wondering if F355 turn signal lenses curve the way I need? Anyway, getting there little by little. They look really good in black, to bad my paint is so chipped

--Mike
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The front grill is happening this week. I can change the mesh type if I can find the correct screen. For the first version I'll use the current screen, but I'll make a few different ones to see what looks better.

--Mike

 

I thought of that, but I am worried about the turn signal visibility when behind the mesh. Not sure what the best over-all look would be yet. Keep posting ideas and I will see what I can come up with.

--Mike