Pod lighting/mounting..

[alosix]

Has anyone stumbled across other options for something like this:

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=1223

I'm looking @ grabbing one of these:

http://roadraceengineering.com/lightpodinfo.htm

and I'm trying to figure out how to mount lights to it effectively.

[UP2MTNS]

Not sure, I'm interested to see what you do though.

A little more money, but here's a complete kit:
http://www.nickygrist.com/900-super-rally-lamp-pod-kit-449-p.asp

[bfrancis827]

I got mine from an ad on special stage, but it turned out that it was from Davenport Racing (http://www.davenportracingusa.com/flash/). The ad was just for the pod, but they gave me a good deal on a pod with lights and painted it too! (Note: I am not sponsored by them nor do I have any affiliation. Just passing along the deal I got)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4861067727_0656bcbde5_z.jpg

[dirty]

Depending on how crafty you are (or want to get), you could make your own rings to attach the lights to the pod. They use pretty standard hardware that you could source locally or from an online supplier like Pegasus Racing (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/)(get a catalog sent to you, its a lot easier than stumbling around the site) or McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/). For the ring you could go exotic (carbon fiber) or basis (sheet metal). I don't think you need the springs. Mine are rusted and useless.

I own a RRE universal pod and it will require a lot of trimming/ fab work to mount, but shouldn't be that hard. The easier (and more expensive route) is to buy a specific to your model pod and then it's just a matter of drilling holes mounting quick release clips. I use Dzus (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=4660) clips on my pods.

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[UP2MTNS]

I got mine from an ad on special stage, but it turned out that it was from Davenport Racing (http://www.davenportracingusa.com/flash/). The ad was just for the pod, but they gave me a good deal on a pod with lights and painted it too! (Note: I am not sponsored by them nor do I have any affiliation. Just passing along the deal I got)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4861067727_0656bcbde5_z.jpg

Brian, it really is a shame that your fully built, beautiful rally car has been sitting around for as long as it has....GO ENTER AN EVENT W/THAT THING!!!:rofl:

[UP2MTNS]

Depending on how crafty you are (or want to get), you could make your own rings to attach the lights to the pod. They use pretty standard hardware that you could source locally or from an online supplier like Pegasus Racing (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/)(get a catalog sent to you, its a lot easier than stumbling around the site) or McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/). For the ring you could go exotic (carbon fiber) or basis (sheet metal). I don't think you need the springs. Mine are rusted and useless.

I own a RRE universal pod and it will require a lot of trimming/ fab work to mount, but shouldn't be that hard. The easier (and more expensive route) is to buy a specific to your model pod and then it's just a matter of drilling holes mounting quick release clips. I use Dzus (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=4660) clips on my pods.

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Jason, how do you aim/adjust w/o springs? Or do you just have them straight forward? Are there replacement springs that are stainless steel from mcmaster or whoever?

[alosix]

Depending on how crafty you are (or want to get), you could make your own rings to attach the lights to the pod. They use pretty standard hardware that you could source locally or from an online supplier like Pegasus Racing (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/)(get a catalog sent to you, its a lot easier than stumbling around the site) or McMaster Carr (http://www.mcmaster.com/). For the ring you could go exotic (carbon fiber) or basis (sheet metal). I don't think you need the springs. Mine are rusted and useless.

I own a RRE universal pod and it will require a lot of trimming/ fab work to mount, but shouldn't be that hard. The easier (and more expensive route) is to buy a specific to your model pod and then it's just a matter of drilling holes mounting quick release clips. I use Dzus (https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=4660) clips on my pods.

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What year car do you have that pod on?I've been trying to find some pics of one mounted to a GD body (ideally a bugeye) but have come up short.

I don't mind fabbing some rings. I've also found that the IPF 985s are available in a ready to mount setup. The downsides to those appear to be $$ and a lack of US distributors.

If anyone has fab'ed mounting rings for anything else I'd love to see some pics.

[KevinWelker]

My suggestion would be to forget about pods and use a light bar. Much better: rigidity, strength, durability and cost. Just throwing out a different viewpoint to stir things up.

[dirty]

Jason, how do you aim/adjust w/o springs? Or do you just have them straight forward? Are there replacement springs that are stainless steel from mcmaster or whoever?

John, I still have springs on mine, but have been meaning to just double up nuts behind the light. I think in theory the lights could have a little movement in them with the springs, but mine are pretty rigid and the springs tend to break right when you need them. Just an added extra PITA. I had to use a zip tie and some wire to get the lights back in shape at Rally WV between stages. BTW, I highly recommend adding some bendable baling wire to your tool kit, I've used and loaned it out on 101 occasions between stages.

alosix, I run a GC so I have the two pod PIAA set up. I bought the RRE pod because 1) it was used (but unused) for dirt cheap and 2) I wanted to minimize the crap I had to carry to events. I haven't switched over to it yet.

Light pods sucks no matter how you look at it (IMO). You don't use them enough that you want to spend big $$$ on them, but you use them just enough that you need a good set up.

I would also explore a light bar set up. Not as cool looking, but it would be a cheap and easy solution to a lot of problem (you could bottom mount almost any light). Sam Albert has a pretty nice set up that I believe Kyle (Jackson) built for him. Best pic I could find here (http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showpost.php?p=193501&postcount=102). Would also be less expensive if you had a small off with the pods on.



_

[dirty]

Another point (slightly off topic) is make sure you consider where you want to be lighting up. For me (east coast) I want to be lighting up the tree line (hood mounted/ higher up) so I can get a sense of where the road is going, but for west coast event (from the little experience I have) I would want to lights to be lower (bumper or low mounted hood pod) so I could see the sides of the road and be under the dust. Plus if you don't have trees to light up why aim them up there.

Nice bright light is cool, but make sure it's where you want to look (and not making you look where you don't want to be) when your on stage.


_

[bfrancis827]

Brian, it really is a shame that your fully built, beautiful rally car has been sitting around for as long as it has....GO ENTER AN EVENT W/THAT THING!!!:rofl:

I know, I know. It's killing me! :pissed: Flight school has been getting in the way of everything. I only have 1 month left and then I will be headed back your way. Too bad the only event left will be seed 9. I am planning on doing as many events for 2012 as possible (that is until the Army takes over my life again and I deploy in October 2012:shootsself: )

[alosix]

The cost of the RRE pod isn't all that bad, and I haven't had to play with something like that in fiberglass before so that could be a fun project.

Doing a metal bar is still an option, and wouldn't be all that hard to fab up with the tools at hand.

How many aux lights are we allowed? I've been over both RA and Nasa books and can't seem to find that number.

With 4 in a pod, I'd still have the option of running something in the fog holes of the bugeye bumper. That does assume I have better luck @ keeping a bumper than Mr Burke.

[geekguy]

Check out my photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/104810508594902595174/RallyCarPrep

Got more pictures than you can shake a stick at. I did a LOT of trimming to get it to sit as low as possible to get max airflow into the IC and not have the lamps (w/ wiring and bulbs) rub on the hood.

For example (with the same RRE pod):

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PCDj9L2MvOs/S6b4LdnBamI/AAAAAAAANWg/T5dUBwUf6Gw/s912/rally%252520pod.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fw5rNmEYlf4/S9ee0g5PZQI/AAAAAAAAOiQ/4Qzz06y_Hcc/s912/IMG_20100427_215237.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ufuMRQglbVg/S6b4a-JhlVI/AAAAAAAANa4/mbFuqFGcDfw/s640/pod%252520support.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-e-RzyY4fgrs/S6b4hQ2CmZI/AAAAAAAANcs/DXLQ9b2ACCo/s912/inside%252520pod%252520reinforcement.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0wQ_W5lXhks/S7vr-kXVjpI/AAAAAAAAOEY/7yFDvobKUc4/s912/2010-04-06%25252020.44.38.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jkYRKKJM-JQ/S7vspfks3SI/AAAAAAAAOFI/qPvpV_zASso/s912/2010-04-06%25252020.43.59.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MWb6pTz_KJk/S7vq9kqrG6I/AAAAAAAAOEA/hYBP9Sy6aNI/s640/2010-04-06%25252020.46.16.jpg

[alosix]

Dude,

FAWESOME!!!

Are the hella's worth it?

[geekguy]

Dude,

FAWESOME!!!

Are the hella's worth it?

Yep. Run the hellas w/ 6000k HID kits and up-rated ballasts. Pretty slick.

[alosix]

Guessing those are the rallye 4000s?

Hella HID or ebay?

[geekguy]

Neither . Got a retrofit kit from some reputable place ages ago. Can look it up later.

Eric

[alosix]

Cool.

I've found just the bare lights + a mounting kit available from rallylights.com for the 4000s and 3000s.

3000s are a bit cheaper each, and at 4 it ads up a bit.

Not really sure how much difference there is between the 2 though.

[geekguy]

they had to import mine from europe. hella keeps having to do special runs of the line because the pod lamps aren't always available.

Eric

[alosix]

That's good to know. I guess I should call to see what they have in stock before committing to the pod setup.

[spiwrx]

I made my own, wasn't that hard. Just bolted to the hood, and used screw/springs for aiming. Worked great, but didn't survive the rollover...

http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18453&page=2

[sammyk]

@ geekguy a bit of the subject but how do you like the Monit? I was just looking at them this week and am concidering getting one, thanks!

[spiwrx]

I haven't purchased the Monit yet. Still using my 303+. It will probably be one of my next purchases though.

[russellmn]

Just curious, has anyone tried something like this??? http://www.rigidindustries.com/product-p/eseries40.htm

I know $1200 seems pretty expensive for one light, but if it'd replace 4 HIDs plus the pod, that's about $1k savings! I know the offroad/baja racers use 'em, not sure if anyone's tried them for rally...

[alosix]

Just curious, has anyone tried something like this??? http://www.rigidindustries.com/product-p/eseries40.htm

I know $1200 seems pretty expensive for one light, but if it'd replace 4 HIDs plus the pod, that's about $1k savings! I know the offroad/baja racers use 'em, not sure if anyone's tried them for rally...

We've definitely been looking into them. John tested a 10" @ Prescott last year, results are around here somewhere. It was decent, but didn't really throw light quite far enough.

I've been wanting to try the 20, seems about the perfect mix. Heading down to Koh next month so I'm guessing I'll be able to check some of those out.

I'm not sure a 40 will actually fit on the front of these cars very easily.

[russellmn]

I had been thinking of putting a 40" bar above the windshield, but then read the rules some more and found that the base of the light has to be below the lowest part of the windshield. :( Not sure I understand the reasoning, but whatever. Them's the rules!

I think a 30" would do very nicely on the hood, with a 20" on the bumper...

eta: upon further research, it appears the part in red above ^^^ was from the FIA rulebook, not the rally-america book... so putting a 40" light bar across the top of the windshield APPEARS to be legal??? If so, this is a RIDICULOUS amount of light that can be tossed forward!!! 40" bar on top, 30" on hood, and 20" in grill, plus a couple small square LEDs for cornering... the guy ahead of you wouldn't need lights either!!! LOL

[russellmn]

another option... 5" LED w/11,000 lumens!!!!!!! :bow:

http://www.scorpion-led.com/proddetail.php?prod=S0700

[spiwrx]

Don't know if it's still in the rule book but there was also a limit to the number of lamps. Considering the LED bars are multiple LEDs, I wonder how they count that?

I've only ever seen 1 person run lights higher than the lower windshield in competition and it was something interior of the car mounted where the rear view mirror is. Didn't look like it was super effective though.

[DoWork]

I got mine from an ad on special stage, but it turned out that it was from Davenport Racing (http://www.davenportracingusa.com/flash/). The ad was just for the pod, but they gave me a good deal on a pod with lights and painted it too! (Note: I am not sponsored by them nor do I have any affiliation. Just passing along the deal I got)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4861067727_0656bcbde5_z.jpg

If I EVER had second thoughts about putting a pod on my car, they are now gone.....

MUST. HAVE. :drooling:


Would you by chance have any side shots, or just more shots of the pod in general? Im in love.

[alosix]

If I EVER had second thoughts about putting a pod on my car, they are now gone.....

MUST. HAVE. :drooling:


Would you by chance have any side shots, or just more shots of the pod in general? Im in love.

Well, until you have a gentle roll on stage and trash it.. or it comes undone and you run over it :).. One of the neons had that happen @ gorman last year. It fell off, he ran over it. Then his main competitor ran over it about a minute after.

That would make me cry if it was that pretty.

But then.. I still would kinda like a pod as well. The std bug eye pods I've seen kinda make the car look like some sort of alien though.

Those 109w leds look interesting. I might just have to hit up sema this year to checkout the new developments.

Jason

[DoWork]

Yeah, I know, and I have thought about it. Thing is, if I roll the car at any point, I think the pod will most likely be the least of my concerns. Running away from my fiance so she cant kill me would be #1 priority at that point :rofl:

I have been reading a lot about the "lost foam" method of fiberglassing. I found a thread where a guy with a Legacy made a pretty nice pod. I went to school as a body tech, so I have prior experience with fiber glass. It doesnt look that horrible to do...just time consuming. With foam, resin, and cloth, I dont think I will be out much more than $100. The lights from my current bar will be mounted in the pod.

[omahasubaru]

another option... 5" LED w/11,000 lumens!!!!!!! :bow:

http://www.scorpion-led.com/proddetail.php?prod=S0700

I'd bet they still don't throw the light far enough forward, but would probably work great for spreading out some bright light! ;)

[DoWork]

OH, my input on LEDs....A good friend of mine just dropped like $1000 on a LED bar that spans the width of the roof of his wagon. While it IS bright, I am really not sold on it. My Hellas seem to throw better light(maybe its because I can aim them where I want them), and the HiD retro'd Hellas were equal to, if not better than the LED bar.

[alosix]

OH, my input on LEDs....A good friend of mine just dropped like $1000 on a LED bar that spans the width of the roof of his wagon. While it IS bright, I am really not sold on it. My Hellas seem to throw better light(maybe its because I can aim them where I want them), and the HiD retro'd Hellas were equal to, if not better than the LED bar.

Yeah.. that seems to be about the deal with the current bars. The array of 3-5w LED's just can't seem to toss light as far out as HID.

wondering what the 1 109 Watt led can do, that setup would allow much more traditional optics.

now.. 2 10" bars look about perfect for fog/cornering.

[russellmn]

I'd bet they still don't throw the light far enough forward, but would probably work great for spreading out some bright light! ;)

Well, if nothing else, they could make for some badass corner lights!!!! :thumbsup:

[DoWork]

Heres a video my friend that I was talking about before with the LED bar shot. It gives a great perspective of the beam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSvjAb5wQfo&feature=youtu.be

[russellmn]

How wide is that light bar??? Seems to throw the light out there pretty well... was lighting up the trees way out there...

[DoWork]

Ummm, however wide a WRX roof is? lol.

I dont know how long it is offhand, but, heres a pic of it on his car to give you an idea of size:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407777_10151200798760198_575940197_22842500_134789 0745_n.jpg

[kold911]

Looks like about 30".

I still like the Baja designs stealth light bar, as it has a high/ low power option for snow and fog.
Just waiting for my mount to be built...

[racerinside]

I have used a 42" led bar on a desert race truck and it was an awesome amount of light. I bought a 22" for my car but I think I am going to go with a bigger size at bumper level when I finally install one.
http://img.tapatalk.com/441bc06e-5f4d-4a83.jpg

[acco205]

Hmm... I've learned two things from this thread..

1. I dont want pods (anymore)

aside from being more unstable and susceptible to damage (which I knew), they would put the light higher than desired for racing on the west coast.

2. I dont want LED's.

seems like one of those "if it aint broke..." things...

Though if I keep my current bumper there is a nice little recess that would fit some 10" LED cornering lights in very nicely...so we'll see...

I do like pods though....

[kold911]

^^ the problem is, there's no ideal situation.

HID's, stock or retrofit, are prone to ballast failures, and cost $$$ for the proper racing ones. And you usually can't fix it at a service.

Halogens', they're good, but frankly they suck alot of power from the alt. Especially if your running four 100w.

LED's, less parts than HID's. If a bulb blows, you still have many more working, Less drain on alt, Poor long distance lighting (supposedly). The beauty of LED's are there is less shadows on the road due to having multiple bulbs.


I personally think the ideal setup would be an LED bar ~20" and 2 driving HID's.

I'm starting with a 20" bar, and we'll see what else (if anything) I need to supplement it with.

My issue is, I've got ALOT of electronics running while doing course opening (HAM, Siren, blinky lights, monit, etc), and the less I tax the alt, the better.