Lucibindle Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 My 55 century has blue port hole lights but I'm missing one of the blue lenses. Anyone know where I can get one or some Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Have you thought of having some made by a 3D printer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 I've never seen these.. Is this a kit or something homemade!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Must be a car that FELL from outer space, huh? Do they BLINK randomly? Look under the seats for LITTLE people toooooooooo! Dale in Indy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Falabella Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Wire them to the ignition wires and have them blink in firing order! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttotired Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 You will have to re make one I think, That said, has anyone actually made something for their car with a 3D printer? Lots of people say "make this on one or make that" but I have never seen anyone (over lots of old car forums) actually make something and show its manufacture, the other thing I would be concerned about if you were able to "Print" a lens; is that the plastic is a thermal plastic and I imagine that the nice new lens would turn into a nice new blob soon after the light was turned on That said, look up (google) silicone mold making and see how to cast your own lens and you can then experiment and make your lenses whatever color you like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Look at a truck stop.......it looks like the bottom has been trimmed (it is rough) and the slots may be to clear a gusset or to give them some flex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Of course, YOU COULD THROW THE OTHERS AWAY, it's YOUR call, huh? Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick5563 Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 I love those! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoboBuick Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Personally, 3d printing is a viable option. As noted above, you will be 3d printing in a thermoplastic (not 'thermalplastic' as stated above). The most common material printed is ABS plastic. Its usable working range is up to around 170°F or 180°F. So basically, you would be fine if you dont use a bulb of over 25W. On a side note about thermoplastics: it is a very broad term. It includes such plastics as polycarbonate plastic, which houses headlights for today's modern cars. These do not melt when the lights are turned on... With that said, I have had parts printed for a car, just not my Buick. It was for a racecar I helped build years ago in college. We printed an intake runner/manifold system. It never melted. It leaked because we had to print it in segments due to the size of it vs the size of our printer. Just my .02 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttotired Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 I am yet to personally see a printed part, especially directly off the printer, so I am measuring my comments, but I do not believe you could print a lens and have any sort of clarity to it without a lot of work. Simple casting would be so much easier I looked into getting a 3D printer, just because I like messing with stuff and I think it would be interesting, but I do wonder when people suggest "just print one" wether they have done it, seen it or know anything about it, most have not (I expect) Pictures I have seen of printed parts are far from smooth (as you would expect from something that is built up in layers), so for a lens, it would require a lot of sanding and polishing on all its surfaces to clean it up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Jay Leno prints lots of parts, you should see his printer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoboBuick Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 Not that I want to turn this into a debate, BUT, I based my response on the statement that it would melt, and its relevance to being a thermoplastic... If you are speaking of clarity, that is a whole different situation. You then need to look at the material matter (crystaline vs amorphous for example) and many other aspects. There are companies who specialize in printing clear parts. You really dont need it to be crystal clear, as the glow will still appear even if it is semi opague. It's not like they are going to be headlights! haha And as far as 'casting' one, keep in mind that material choice is key, as is the processing of it. I design production injection molds for thermoplastics, as well as molds for thermosets and silicone. At the end of the day, material choice and processing always wins. Ps, we also have a 3D printer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialEducation Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 "3D printing" is also a pretty generic term as it can be applied to a variety of different processes. We've had metal airplane parts "3D printed" using a spray aluminum process... I agree that your best bet for finding something close is probably going to be a big truck stop. If you can't pull off a match, you may be down to making an all new set. As as far as making them blink goes, my biggest problem is that we've got 6 portholes and 8 cylinders. My best guess has been to use inductive triggers from each plug wire, and simply skip one on each side. That would result in a missed beat, which may actually be cooler at high speed, but I'm not completely sure. My next option would be a 6 cyl. distributor driven off the fan belt... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-car-guy Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Look whats up for sale: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-56-BUICK-PORT-HOLE-LIGHTS-NOS-/262002773398?hash=item3d00950d96:g:JaoAAOSwHnFVy6-X&vxp=mtr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialEducation Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Aw, but it doesn't make them blink! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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