Replacing Porsche 993 Third Brake Light Bulbs with LEDs

When I purchased Ella, she was sporting a gap-toothed look on the 3rd (middle, high mounted) brake light.  This is really no surprise as the design uses 24 (yes, you read that right, 24) individual incandescent bulbs.

A quick search on rennlist revealed several others had the same thought I did: replace the incandescent bulbs with LEDs.  Even better, several options had already been tried and validated.  I just followed their lead.  Read on for the details and lessons-learned in my install.

[Update 12-Feb-2016]  I recently noticed that Tore at Bergvill FX is selling a kit to replace these incandescent bulbs with LEDs.  While I haven't tried this specific product, my experience with Tore has been great on other products, and I would use his kit if I was to do this job again.

Ella's 5-year PIP (Porsche Improvement Plan ;-))

My back log of projects is nearly complete, so I started day dreaming of where to go next.  Based off a list I put together a while back, here's my "plan" for the next five years.  The only thing that is certain is that this project that won't go according to plan.  Have suggestions; please leave them in the comments below.

"Temporary" Rock Guard Replacement for My 993

The clear rock guards on my 993 are in pretty sad shape.  On both sides, chunks are missing and multiple rock hits have gone all the way down to the paint.  They are also anything but "clear" or "paint colored".

I have been wondering if re-doing them in black would lend a nice retro look, and I found the perfect way to give it a trial:  magnetic rock guards from MagnaGrafik (thanks to Bruce7 on rennlist for the pattern)..

I installed them over the existing stone guards so that I can go back anytime.  Someday I hope to get the paint fixed, but until then this is a very budget friendly way to improve Ella's appearance.  These looks so nice, we may even play with some additional magnetic decals :-).

Before                                               After

Porsche 993 Online Media Catalog

A simple list of links to my favorite online Porsche 993 media.  I will add to it as I go. Enjoy!

Articles

A sentimental story from Road&Track:  http://www.roadandtrack.com/features/magazine/features-magazine-features-breaking-promises-jack-baruth-porsche-911

Buyer's Guide from Car&Driver:  http://blog.caranddriver.com/1995-98-porsche-911-carrera-buyers-guide-econo-exotics/

Videos

Patrick Stewart narrating a Porsche Production

Porsche 993 - An Owners Perspective

Chris Harris's Review of the Singer 911

If you aren't familiar with the Singer 911, do NOT watch this video...you are better off ignorant ;-).

Blogs and Personal Websites

Jackal's Forge

Photos

Porsche's 50 Years of 911 Photo Stream:  http://50years.porsche.com/

How to Install a Strut Tower Brace in a Porsche 993 (and drill-out a broken strut stud!)

Installing a strut tower brace in Porsche 993 is really pretty simple, but I still managed to make it take forever.  The  brace discussed in this post is a TechArt model I bought used.  The seller shipped it with absolutely fantastic packaging -- I've received new items with less professional packing.

Read on for a few notes on the install.

Ella Has a New Stablemate

This weekend we bought a new car to replace the VW Beetle (bon voyage little green bug!).  It is a 2012 Ford Focus 5-Door (aka hatchback) in the terrific candy blue color. 

Why this car, you ask?  Because T. loved it, of course!

Seriously though, we were looking at Ford because we wanted to add an American presence to our garage.  The SUV options felt too big, and then we saw this hatchback.  Did I mention the color? I think T. would have bought a horse carriage if they painted it this color!  (Just kidding, honey ;-)).

Want to see it?  Click past the break...

Photo Scout Trip

We have been thinking of holding a car photo shoot at the Eisemann Center, so we swung by one evening to check it out (before dragging friends and family along).

Access to the fountain is limited to parallel parking on the street, and evening light is tough as it back lights the car.  With proper flashes, however, we might get some very nice shots.

There are also several walls with simple geometric patterns that might serve well, and a couple of nearby fields with beautiful spring grass.  We should go back soon!

Here's one shot we took on the scouting trip.

Side note:  my first "professional" employment was in the building on the left about 15 years ago...