Help Please /LED lights in engine bay

[kinpin]

I originally put this thread under the ZL1 forum but I have not received any responses so I am putting it here as well in the hope to get some sound advice . > I would appreciate it if you could take a look at the photos attached. I used 3m tape and installed a nice heavy duty LED light strip under my strut tower brace on my ZL1. The LED light strip sits a half inch over the super charger and looks great when it lit up. The only problem is when I drive my car for a while, the heat causes the strip to heat up and it bows down and separates from the tape in one spot right over the super charger. A friend recommended to use apoxie cement or glue to hold it in place, but I am afraid that would make it permanent. I am now also worried that it may get to hot and start to burn or melt. The longest distance I have driven since I have install the lights has been about an hour and it seemed fine, but it was not the middle of the summer with heat and humidity. Any suggestions or comments from people who have put lights under there strut tower brace of their ZL1 would be greatly appreciated. I know many others have put these lights on and I can’t be the only one who has dealt with issues and concerns . Thank you

[Kendall421]

You may have to go to an epoxy. A bit more permanent, but will hold up to the heat. If you ever need to replace them, you will have to pretty much grind them off, but at least it is on the underside.

[OldJedi]

Did you use 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape?

[Squillo]

I'm assuming when you say "apoxie" you mean epoxy?

[Carmikaze]

Did the LED strips have adhesive tape on them already? If so you need to take that off before the 3M tape.

[habunow1]

Originally Posted by OldJedi

Did you use 3M VHB (Very High Bond) tape?

Do some research on VHB tape. This stuf might be a little harder to find but it is used in industrual applications and hold up to high heat and heavey weight applications. Just watched a show on the discovery channel where it holds windows in on a sky scraper in the MiddleEast.

If you fix this you might want to think about the heat effecting the led itself. I messed up a led that I was grinding the metal casing away on and got it to hot.

[oldfriend]

I would try and use the same caulk/silicone used to install windshields , or GE 795 silicone , this is the silicone used to seal glass to glass /metal on the exterior off those big tall buildings
Other than that I would try epoxy and deal with it if and when the time comes to replace/remove , it like kendall421 said above , or what Oldjedi recommend

[BIO-HAZARD]

I used 3M tape on my old lights I had in the engine bay. Even under the strut tower brace . It never fell off. I just installed all new leds a few days ago also . I used the heavy duty 3M tape again. You also need to prepare the area to apply the tape. Clean area with soap & water. Then clean area with alcohol , let dry. The light strips have 3M tape on them already . I take a lighter and heat up the tape ,this melts it a little and makes it really sticky . I then take the 3M tape and heat that up with a lighter , then bond them together , Press firmly . Then again heat up the 3M tape before putting it where you want it. .once you got it in place apply pressure for a bit. This should make a good bond. I have never had any fall off. It also helps to do on a nice warm sunny day. You can set the 3M tape and light out in the sun to heat them up. Like I said I just put in 8 strips of 20 inch RGB leds in my engine bay . Checked two days in a row and all of them are stuck hard in place..If you put anything on plastic you can use the 3M promoter. I used this the other day to install my radio bezel . This stuck like a rock . I couldn't move it at all. Hope this helps. Good luch..

[kinpin]

Originally Posted by Squillo

I'm assuming when you say "apoxie" you mean epoxy?

yes

[Knockoutpie]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006QY...zQL&ref=plSrch

I buy this stuff from eBay , 3 rolls for 10$, works like a charm.

[rebelyell22]

Originally Posted by habunow1

Do some research on VHB tape. This stuf might be a little harder to find but it is used in industrual applications and hold up to high heat and heavey weight applications. Just watched a show on the discovery channel where it holds windows in on a sky scraper in the MiddleEast.

If you fix this you might want to think about the heat effecting the led itself. I messed up a led that I was grinding the metal casing away on and got it to hot.

Same stuff that comes on GoPro mounts

[ChevyCamaroGirl]

Get 3m VHB (Very High Bond tape, I had to order mine on Amazon), 3m adhesion promoter (got from Amazon also), clean and prep both contact areas with isopropyl alcohol, and it will stay.