by Hans Efde » Thu Nov 27, 2014 8:19 am
Here's the text I got from Joris:
My beautiful Midas needed a change at the back. The Ascona/Cavalier taillights annoyed me from the beginning. In a tuning magazine I saw a Subaru Impreza with after-market LED taillights. These were the lights I wanted for my Midas. They look like Lotus Elise (I'd love to own one of those!) taillights because of the clear center with a red edge. Funny that with the latest update they were changed to a LED style as well. Have the Lotus chaps seen my Midas driving by?
After some research I found the taillights for 299,- euros (about 200 GBP). A bit expensive for lights I was going to saw in pieces with the chance it wouldn't fit. After many evenings surfing on the internet I located the manufacturer. I mailed them with the question if I could buy the lights without the Impreza plugs. It was possible and for 140,- euros (about 100GBP) they were sent to me.
When I received the package it turned out that they had sent the complete Subaru units. So I still had to cut them loose. After having taken measurements the saw went in and I ended up with 8 pieces, 4 reflectors and 4 lights. Now it became clear if they would fit!
Quickly I discover the existing apertures in the body are too small. I need to widen the holes in order to fit the lights side by side.
Another problem is how I must build the plugs. Many attempts lead to nothing. After almost half a year of fiddling I decide to build the plugs from plywood with an epoxy coating. The same way boats are made. For me as a carpenter working with plywood is a piece of cake. The curves are made by bending an aluminum plate. When everything fits, I smooth it out with epoxy. I have no experience with this stuff, but it's quite easy. Mix the 2 components in the right order and brush it on. It flows out mirror smooth. After 4 coats (let it cure thoroughly in between) I am satisfied. Just a matter of using filler for a few small dents and sand it down. As the original Subary lights I spray the plugs in high gloss black. The apertures in the Mias are widened and the lights are installed.
Unfortunately there is quite a bit of rain leakage, but it's solved by installing several types of rubber strip. Then it's a matter of hooking up the wiring and finished!
I am very pleased with the end result. And I've got rid of the Ascona/Cavalier taillights that everyone recognized at first glance. In the mean time my Midas has passed the MOT with the new lights, so no problems with legal issues.