• Welcome to the CaliforniaSpecial.com forums! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all our site features, please take a moment to join our community! It's fast, simple and absolutely free.

    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

    Please Note: If you are an existing member and your password no longer works, click here to reset it.

1968 Playing with light blubs..errr-light bulbs

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,744
I've been experimenting with tail light bulbs; LED's/incandescents. Here's the left rear light with a 19 LED (white), a 30 LED (red), and a 30LED (red) Spider. All came from SuperBright LED's.
The 1st photo shows the 3 different LED bulbs.
The 2nd is the left tail light (brake applied) with the 3 LED's.
The 3rd is the right tail light (brake applied) with incandescents.

The 19 LED would be a waste of money.
The 30LED (red) appeared OK ($8.99)
The 30LED (red) Spider was a little better ($19.95)
The incandescents worked the best IMO for brightness & evenness.
With the small amount of driving I do per year, I don't believe the LED's are worth the cost. If it were a daily driver then I would consider the 30LED reds to minimize the current draw thru the T/S & H/L switches. But that's $54 to $120 for light bulbs!!
I just installed a new Scott Drake T/S switch (Thanks Ron), and all is working well.

Neil
 

Attachments

  • Green GTCS 249.jpg
    Green GTCS 249.jpg
    70.1 KB · Views: 40
  • Green GTCS 258.jpg
    Green GTCS 258.jpg
    88.9 KB · Views: 44
  • Green GTCS 259.jpg
    Green GTCS 259.jpg
    104.8 KB · Views: 36

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,037
Thanks Neil for the investagative report. I think my trailer queen will be fine with the incandesents. Marty
 

66hcs-conv

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2007
Messages
362
On our '66 I replaced the two console lights and the shifter light with white led's.

They are such a pain in the (*&%(&$ to change, I thought I would do it once and hopefully be done with it.

Have fun, Dave
 
OP
OP
franklinair

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,744
Actually, I've installed LED's in the interior (instrument cluster, console) and was quite pleased with them.
Exterior, not so much.

Neil
 

dalorzo_f

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
I'd did some similar looking around.

Once I added up the cost of LED's and noted the "spot" brightness provided by most LED's I decided to stick to OEM style incandescents...
 

390gtmustang

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2012
Messages
108
Location
Rockwall Texas
Neil,
what is the part no. 2nd led bulb and where I can get it? Im having problems with my stang at night while on idle the lights would flicker on and off. I think or hoping by changing it to LED lights would help it or fix my problem. Do you need to replace anything to make this bulbs work? Like any special flashers? Thanks in advance
 

dalorzo_f

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2006
Messages
1,886
Location
Brisbane Australia
Install a relay to eliminate the flickering. Some LED's required a different flasher can as the load is sto low to trigger the OEM style.
 
OP
OP
franklinair

franklinair

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2007
Messages
4,744
As Richard said, a headlight relay is a popular fix for headlights. The LED's won't help your flickering problem. I'd opt for a solid state VR for that.
The 30 LED bulb ($9.00) is from superbrightled.com. IMHO, the incandescent bulbs are more practical & cost effective. The LED's draw less current. That's the only advantage I see.

Neil
 
Top