Project Deimos: An LS Coupe Build - Opinions needed on 3rd brake light

[JimStone]

Mounted the AC condenser.

Lots of talk on the forum about interference with the hood hinges. Its kind of hard to wrap my head around right now without attempting to mount the hood, so I've just followed general advice of mounting the condenser as far to the driver's side as possible. Trimmed that side of the condenser to try to reduce hinge interference. The bottom hose fitting routes easily to the inside of the radiator tunnel (another general recommendation).

I've purchased some 0.185 inch thick steel perforated plate to make a shield for the bottom of the radiator that I'll be confident will withstand the inevitable chunk of asphalt or racoon carcass that I run over. That lower radiator is practically the front bumper of this car, 3 inches off the ground.










Mounted the AC unit in the footbox. Some say it can be mounted square to the frame, but I couldn't figure out how to do that without making the fittings/hoses more difficult to route. I'm fine with it diagonal.













Used 5/16" Rivet nuts and long button head screw/bolts to mount the Tilton 3 chamber reservoir to the frame. I'm using nylon braded hose with AN fittings to run to the master cylinders because I really don't like rubber hoses - just don't like the look. I'll be trying to minimize rubber hoses, or cover them up with nylon covers.









Made some hood rollers based on Paul's diagrams. I wanted to do these early and get them mocked up before doing any panel powder coating. Glad I did, because the footbox panels needed trimming. I misremembered what thickness of aluminum Paul used and made mine out of quarter inch plate (Paul used 1/8") so making the bend was kind of a difficult, but I got it done. I'll drill the final bolt holes after I try them out with the hood on to set depth.

[JimStone]

Made the trunk box lid using 0.06 inch aluminum, a stainless piano hinge, a little 4.4lb gas strut and a boat locker latch.










Have been practicing with my Eastwood flaring tool and Rigid bender, preparing to make stainless steel brake lines, and eventually fuel lines.

My practice double flares on the kit steel brake lines look great. But my stainless flares don't look as nice. I can't seem to avoid either having tiny cracks or pits in the flare surface. They have gotten a bit better, but I'm still not confident they won't leak.








Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Kbl7td]

I could not get my hood to close properly without the rollers. My hood has an extreme cup to it and wants to turn inwards. Definitely a necessity to keep the paint from getting destroyed.

My unsolicited advice? Ditch those lines and go Nicopp, cheap, easy to bend by hand in the car and they’ll outlive that car. And perfect flares every time with that tool. I didn’t have a single leak afterwards.

[JimStone]

I could not get my hood to close properly without the rollers. My hood has an extreme cup to it and wants to turn inwards. Definitely a necessity to keep the paint from getting destroyed.

My unsolicited advice? Ditch those lines and go Nicopp, cheap, easy to bend by hand in the car and they’ll outlive that car. And perfect flares every time with that tool. I didn’t have a single leak afterwards.

You're probably right about the Nicopp. Hell, the steel lines from the kit probably would be fine too since this car will never see rain.

I already bought the stainless lines, so I'll keep practicing and see if I can get better. My idol, Mr EdwardB, just makes everything look so easy. Haha

[burchfieldb]

I had the same issue and an old timer told me to use the single flare with the stainless tube sleeves and nuts. They worked out well.

Mike Brake explains it well in this recent post.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...ht=Brake+lines

[JimStone]

I had the same issue and an old timer told me to use the single flare with the stainless tube sleeves and nuts. They worked out well.

Mike Brake explains it well in this recent post.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...ht=Brake+lines

If I can't get my double flares better, the 37 degree single flare and AN fittings is what I plan to do. What's another $150 of fittings at this point anyway?


I forgot to mention, I am using double annealed, 0.028" walled tube from In-line Tube in 6 foot straight lengths

https://www.inlinetube.com/products/ss3166

[burchfieldb]

I used the same, as well as trying multiple different flaring tools. I even purchased preflared lines and one of the ends on each tube had the same cracking issue. At that point, I was so far down the rabbit hole that I went with the 37 degree fittings.

[JimStone]

I used the same, as well as trying multiple different flaring tools. I even purchased preflared lines and one of the ends on each tube had the same cracking issue. At that point, I was so far down the rabbit hole that I went with the 37 degree fittings.

Dang guys, not giving me much hope here!

[JimStone]

Okay, I give up. Another dozen trial double flares, another dozen cracked flares. I've tried a bunch of different methods, including following EdwardB's rec's to the Tee, but no success.

I'm committed to the stainless lines, but I'm going to pivot to the 37 degree single flares and AN fittings.




While I figure out what fittings I need to order, I finished making my nylon braided hoses for the reservoirs to the master cylinders. This was my first time doing AN hoses and it went pretty well. Actually was a lot of fun. I'm using all Fragola products. I'm not exactly sure why, but this website https://eliteracefab.com/ seems to have most Fragola stuff 50% off what you'd pay at Summit. I've made two purchases from them and they've been great.









I wanted to make the fuel pump actually accessible. The tiny little access panel was never going to do after changing out to the Pro-M hanger, if I ever did need to change out the pump. So I made a larger access.

[460.465USMC]

Great progress, Jim. Some good ideas--thanks for posting them.

This week I made the decision to back away from my planned 3/8" SS hardlines for my fuel lines (I'll explain in a future post). Not sure if I'll stay with my plan for SS for the brake lines either (Ni-Copp is looking better and better). Unfortunately, I already have a 25' roll of SS 3/16" tubing. Looking forward to seeing how your 37 deg. option comes along.

[JimStone]

Great progress, Jim. Some good ideas--thanks for posting them.

This week I made the decision to back away from my planned 3/8" SS hardlines for my fuel lines (I'll explain in a future post). Not sure if I'll stay with my plan for SS for the brake lines either (Ni-Copp is looking better and better). Unfortunately, I already have a 25' roll of SS 3/16" tubing. Looking forward to seeing how your 37 deg. option comes along.

I'll be interested to hear why you decided against the stainless fuel hardlines.

I received my AN/37 degree fittings for the brake lines.

I've been reading (or trying to - there is very little info) about using the Eastwood tool for 37 degree flares. I bought the 37 degree die upgrade, but I've been reading some opinions that it doesn't produce very good flares and that I should get a Rigid tool. I really don't want to spend another $150 on another tool

Anyone have experience with the Eastwood tool doing 37 degree flares?

[burchfieldb]

I started with the Eastwood tool and then returned it since I could not get it to produce the double flares. I ended buying the Rigid tool and it works well.

[JimStone]

I started with the Eastwood tool and then returned it since I could not get it to produce the double flares. I ended buying the Rigid tool and it works well.

I wish I had done more research before sinking $300+ into the Eastwood tool and 37 degree die pack. This was an example of "follow the leader" without doing my own research. I would have gotten the Rigid tools straight away if I had.

Lesson learned.

I'll practice some with the Eastwood tool and see how the 37's go

[PNWTim]

I wish I had done more research before sinking $300+ into the Eastwood tool and 37 degree die pack. This was an example of "follow the leader" without doing my own research. I would have gotten the Rigid tools straight away if I had.

Lesson learned.

I'll practice some with the Eastwood tool and see how the 37's go

I never tried to do double flares with stainless, only nicop and they worked great (using my K Tool flaring tool). For my AN flares I used the Rigid tool and have no leaks 5 years later - it works great. I am not sure I even realized I could get the 37 degree dies at the time so maybe ignorance was bliss?

[wedel456]

Regarding the seats, I actually won't have to modify the cockpit aluminum or cut off the seat belt tab. To make the seats fit back far enough for me (6'2") I was able to trim the reclining mechanism to gain an inch, then bent the seat belt tabs out some. I've been working on some custom seat mounts.

@JimStone,

Ordering these seats today. I was looking at these when I ordered by Coupe due to the reported issues with the Corbeau.

Can you advise what you did to "trim the reclining mechanism"? I have ~6' 1" so I am a little concerned, too.

Thanks,

Justin

[JimStone]

@JimStone,

Ordering these seats today. I was looking at these when I ordered by Coupe due to the reported issues with the Corbeau.

Can you advise what you did to "trim the reclining mechanism"? I have ~6' 1" so I am a little concerned, too.

Thanks,

Justin

I think you'll be happy with the Braum seats. They look great and seem to be well made.

I used a die grinder with a 3 inch cut off wheel to trim the plastic housing for the reclining mechanism. I did have to get a little into the steel part of the mechanism, but not too much and certainly wouldn't compromise any significant strength.




The trimming allowed the seat to sit back another inch or two. For me, at 6'2", this was necessary.

But with the seat mounted you can't even see the backside of the mechanism, so it does not show.

[JimStone]

I'm working on my brake lines, which is going well now that I pivoted from 45 degree double flares to 37 degree single flares. The Eastwood tool is working well for this on the stainless lines.





Based on some recommendation from this board, I got the Koul Tools lapping tool to clean up the flare as best as possible. I'd like to do everything I can to reduce the chance of brake fluid leaks. Unfortunately, this is the size for brake lines only. The one that would work on the 3/8" fuel lines is only included in a package that is $150 (!!!) so I'm not getting that. I'm less concerned about fuel leaks since it's low pressure.












I'm almost done with installing the brake lines. Just have to redo one line because I screwed up a bend and put a kink I don't like.





The above bend was me attempting to make a last minute adjustment with a line already installed in the car with one of those pliers type tube bender, which was a bad idea.



The rest of the bends I've used the Rigid bender, Model No. 403, which is awesome

[JimStone]

Opinions needed! Which one third brake light?!

[PNWTim]

Interesting. I like the diode pattern on the top one but prefer the size of the bottom one. The middle is a non-starter for me. I am going to be doing the same but haven't gotten that far along, Did you look at edwardB's light he installed? I believe he used a Maxxima light bar.

[Namrups]

Choose the one that suits you but do choose one. IMO, these cars sit so low that you need something up high. I agree with PNWTim.

[lewma]

Jim

Here's mine lit up for reference:

20240212_205042.jpg

[JimStone]

Thanks to Amazon Prime Free overnight delivery, I added a 4th option (2nd from the top)




I think it's your's, Lewma - United Pacific 38947B 12" 14 LED.




So we have the following options:

Top: 17" Trunk Tailgate Light for Trucks from iJDMTOY.com. (Which I now see is probably rebranded United Pacific LED Taillight Bars 37090)

2nd from top: United Pacific 38947B 12" 14 LED

2nd from bottom: United Pacific dual function GLO light bar, 12" 24 LED

Bottom: United Pacific 38943B 9" 10 LED

[lewma]

United Pacific 38947B 12" 14 LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UYVVTN2...p_mob_ap_share

[Slow and Slightly Angry]

I like the 2nd from bottom. More of a solid across look. I'm not sure it would be the best with whatever brake lenses you choose though.

[M. Townsend]

I am also in the camp of the solid bar look

[Skuzzy]

Out of those options, I like the Glo bar best.

[UpNorth]

Mine
Image1.png

[JimStone]

Thanks for the opinions guys.

I think I've settled on doing one of the two 12 inch light bars.

The 17" is too big, and 9 inch maybe not bright enough. I didn't try a 15 inch, which I think is what EdwardB has, but I think I've bought enough brake lights for now!


Completed running the brake lines and nearly finished with the 3/8" SS fuel lines. Much easier now that I have the hang of flaring and bending. Will post pictures when complete.

[edwardb]

Have watched this series of comments with interest. I think a third brake light on Coupe builds is important. They are very low and many people have commented to me how much easier it is to see with the higher third light. I don't think the exact one is critical. Whatever your personal tastes dictate. As mentioned, mine is a Maxxima, specifically M63319R, 15" wide, embedded into the spoiler. What I like about this one is that it's partially lit with the running lights. Then fully lights with the brakes. For even more visibility. Maybe others do the same thing. Did this YouTube during my build.