Lighting the shark fin (1950 Champion)

[Lothar]

Now that I've re-wired my Champion, I'm starting to think about accessories and customization. Has anyone ever seen or set up lights to illuminate the "shark fin" lexan hood ornament on 1950 Champions? I got to thinking that it might be possible to drill a hole up from under the hood and stick a a 6 volt LED in it. No functional purpose, I just think that it would look cool. Any ideas, cautions or other input would be appreciated.

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[KGlowacky]

Go for it!!!!

[N8N]

do it, I think that would look cool too. wire it in with the parking light circuit.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Lothar]

I actually figured that I might hook it up to the interior light switch, but I can work that out later. An LED or two shouldn't draw enough current to overload any of the circuits.
Does anyone have ideas about whether it would work to have an LED below the lexan to "up-light" it, or do I need to drill into it and have the light inside it?

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[N8N]

LEDs are very directional, I think you will want a "wide angle" LED pointing forward for anyone to notice.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[rockne10]

A bright light up there could be distracting and reduce your night vision, unless you're looking for the occasional WOW factor. You may want to consider a subtle incandescent micro-bulb. That could be wired with the headlights. If you go bright, I would put it on a separate switch. I've seen fender spears wired to the turn signals; no distraction there.

[BobGlasscock]

You just trying to show up all us Champion owners or what??! that sounds (and will look) SO cool. I'm going to do it too.

edit -- oooo, how about a glow ring around the center bullet?

'50 Champion, 1 family owner

[mbstude]

Put a backlight behind the grilles too. [8D]

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[Lothar]

I hadn't thought about it, but a white light could be distracting to the driver at night in the country. I don't think it would be a problerm in town. Maybe I should use a red taillight LED?
I think Matthew is onto something with his idea of lighting the grilles, too. You could put different colored LEDs in every square! Hook 'em up to a laptop computer and you could have a light show worthy of Las Vegas! In fact, Vegas Paul needs a set-up like this on his Champion, so he can stand out in the "City of Lights".

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[PlainBrownR2]

quote:

edit -- oooo, how about a glow ring around the center bullet?

One thing that could be tried is look up how to assemble Angel Eyes(Trust me theres a ton of DIY installations on this on the Net ). Now, instead of finding an object the diameter of the headlight, find an object similar to the diameter of the bullet on the end of the nose, and go from there .


[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left]
[img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=left]

[Chris Pile]

It all sounds neat as can be, but you might want to check local laws about colored lights on your Studebaker. Blue & red lights are usually verboten.

Chris Pile
Midway Chapter SDC
The Studebaker Special

[mbstude]

As far as the grille, I was thinking of something more along the lines of this...

http://www.videoranch.com/html/jaylenosbuicklarge.html

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[Lothar]

Thanks for the reality check, Chris. I just checked the laws in my state. In Nebraska, any lights on the front of a vehicle other than headlights and "auxiliary driving lights" (fog lights) or spotlights must be less than 25 candlepower, they can't be red or green, and they can't strobe or flash. I would doubt that many LEDs exceed 25 candlepower? Maybe someone knows how they rate? Theoretically, therefore, I could have a blue, purple, white, or amber LED. Since my car is blue, a blue LED would be ideal.
By the way, Matthew, the Jay Leno video was funny! It must date back to the 1980s. I see now what you meant about backlighting. You would probably need to have some sort of translucent panel behind the grille to get a more even light.

1950 Champion 4 Dr.
Holdrege NE

[PlainBrownR2]

Indeed Chris, around here strobes, red, blue, and/or amber flashing lights are a no no unless you're specifically an emergency vehicle, which makes sense. They don't look to kindly on auxiliary lights or spot lights within city limits either(lol but try telling some of the kids with the underframe neons that). That's usually why if I'm in a municipality I keep my behind the grille retina burners off until I arrive at a car show, private property or its middle of nowhere where I can see for a mile or two ahead of me. They could be considered off road lamps otherwise.


[img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201950%202r5%20Studebaker%20Pickup%20with%20turbocharger/P1000137-1.jpg[/img=left]
[img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=left]