Knight Rider's da bomb!

[Skids]

Hey all, I just wanted to get some opinions on the mod that I've started working on this week.

Many of you probably remember the 80's TV show Knight Rider and it's star automobile K.I.T.T. (forget David Hasslehoff, the show was really about the car!). Anyway, over the summer I designed and built a small electronic circuit using basic IC chips that in essence will control an LED light bar to look similar to K.I.T.T.'s scanner. Puttin' those ol' college classes to work

Now realize that I'm not trying to make my P5 look like a 1985 Firebird, but I thought an oscillating light on the front similar to the one that K.I.T.T. had would look kinda cool. The biggest reason that I've undertaken this project, however, is just to see if I can do it. As I'm sure all of you know, it's really satisfying to work on an original project like this and see it through to completion.

Currently, I have built the test circuit that controls 8 LED's that oscillate back and forth. The speed that they oscillate at is controlled by turning a knob. I have also removed my front grille and mounted in the 40 LED's that will eventually be controlled by the final version of the circuit. Even though they don't light up yet, the grille still looks pretty sweet with the lights just chillin' in there!

I'll get a digital camera and post some pics hopefully this weekend. Maybe I can even get a movie of the test circuit doing its thing.


Someone has to have some comments about this one! Hey, I wonder if this will be considered rice?

 

[slug420]

knight rider is the bomb......but that little oscillating light thing has been out for a while in a few different flavors from streetglow & friends

 

[ZoomZoomH]

hehe, when i was a kid, those oscillating leds were everywhere...

 

[YellowBaggedP5]

I think thats very cool that you made them yourself and stuff but i would not consider them "original" considering you can buy them anywhere now. As far as them being rice i will just say (rice)

 

[JasonH]

When you turn on the LED scanner you need a speaker under the hood to make the "vrooom.....vrooom.....vrooom" sound like K.I.T.T. did.

 

[Skids]

Hmmm, I know they're available for commercial purchase (usually for several hundred dollars) but I've never actually seen a car that had one. Ah well...

Like I said, the main reason I'm doing this is for the experience of making it. By the time I finish I'll only have spent about $30 on it, so if it ends up looking bad I can always take it off and not have lost that much.

 

[low_psi]

heh, i've had my mx-3 and protege in knight rider mode for over 3 years now. i have a Varad LED scanner that i mounted to the grills. The LEDs fit right in between the mazda logo on the grill so it looks quite cool at night.

KNIGHT RIDER OWNZ J00!!

 

[Sir Nuke]

skids...what color are the led's? red? if so...you better check with your local laws before you hit the streets and turn on your KITT...as in every state that I know of....RED lights on the front is a NO NO...and you will get a ticket, and sometimes they are pretty steep.

check into it...and possibly save yourself some hassle.

(stash)

 

[Skids]

Very good point Sir Nuke!

I have thought of this myself and agree that it will likely be illegal to have the thing running while driving. I almost considered making it with white lights just for this reason, but I just don't think it would have the same effect. Plus white LED's are 10 times the price and not as bright as the red ones.

Do you think yellow would be legal? I guess I should check, eh?

I guess if the cops see me with it on, I'll just have to switch into 'pursuit mode' j/k

 

[Protege5 kid]

We have a K.I.T.T car in my club. It's to this date the only Tubo'ed P5 in Ontario...i know why do we only have one? Cause Turbo's are mad expensive...3000$ will only get you custom headers and the tubo and computer upgrades...no intercooler, no exaust. If i can find pics of his car i'll try to post them. No LED yet but he wants too....so you will be the first no doubt about that.

 

[mypfizzle]

i saw a p5 when i was at the mall that had a red scanner all across the windshield that went with the guys alarm. when i caughthim leaving i asked him about it and he said he mad it out of parts from radio shack and his great itt tech schooling. it was pretty sweet. i asked him if he would make one for me and he said no simply because it was too time consuming. he also could change the way the lights "danced" very cool.