• 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.

New LED taillights for California Special

bbeatty

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2003
Messages
143
I just saw that a company called Mustang Projects is making sequential LED light for the California Special taillight. They've been making them for the standard lights for some time now and I haven't heard of any complaints yet.

Yes, I know, our taillights aren't supposed to be sequential but the LED are so much brighter than the original bulbs I just might have to add this to my Christmas list. ;D

http://www.safecode.net/mustangproject/prod26.htm
 

CalPaul

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
120
I've noticed the same ad and it is tempting to try it out. My tail lights are not real bright, although mine are sequential (dynamite sticks were installed at some point).
Has anyone else tried this new LED set-up?
Also, how about a Pertronix ignition? :)
 
P

PNewitt

Guest
I went to that website, and although they look interesting, I think that the sequence--in six parts--takes too long to get across the taillight.

The original T-Bird/Cougar sequential lights were in three parts, and it was quicker (as compared to the animated gif on that website). The 1-2-3-4-5-6 timing looks too slow and would distract drivers following behind.

At $299, that's $50 per circuit board. WOW. That seems too high for something like that. I deal with circuit boards, and the cost of white LEDs has come down quite a bit--especially in quantity. So, I don't know why they are so expensive.

The "no sequential brakelights" idea is a good (and legal) one, but (in my opinion) this effect looks too "gimmicky", instead of the original look you get with the D. sticks.

Just my two bits.

Paul.
 

davidathans

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
703
Location
San Fernando Valley, California
I installed the Dynamite sticks on my GTCS and i have a few problems with them:

When i use the turn signals the outside bulb barely lights up because the sticks suck up too much juice. When i put on the Emergency lights its even worse, just the inside ones light up and the middles barely.

They work the best for my brake lights! The brake lights will light up all 3 on each side and then they stay lit until i take my foot off the brakes. So when i tap the brakes i can get them to repeat the sequential pattern.

Did anyone else have this problem? anyone have any solutions?
 

Jayscal

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2002
Messages
247
Location
Florida
David, I am willing to bet you just have a bad ground problem. These tailight setups had a poor ground set-up right from the beginning. After many years the sockets corrode and can cause problems like you stated. It is a quite simple fix, please check into it. I wrote a article about how to fix this problem, its called taillight repair, go back a few pages on the forum and you should find it.
 

davidathans

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
703
Location
San Fernando Valley, California
Thanks Jay, I didnt have this problem before installing the Dynamite sticks, but the lights would all light up at the same time.

Should the lights function sequentially with the brakes as well as the turn signals?

I will read the forum on the ground thanks for your info.
 

quicknick

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 20, 2002
Messages
344
Location
Michigan
I would have to agree with Jayscal. It does sound like a poor grounding problem. Reinspect the harness and check the connections where you tapped in the D sticks.
When applying the brakes, Both lights should sequence from the inboard lights, out. Nicholas
 

hookedtrout

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Messages
1,929
Location
Idaho
I kind of like the looks of the 3 segment light. What's everyone else thinK?

Hook
 

Sarge

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 22, 2002
Messages
333
Location
Folsom, CA
I like the three taillight look. My problem is that I am dropping a lot of volts (amps, whatever you want to measure) between the engine bay and the back of the car. What I really wish for is an original new taillight wiring harness so that I could do it right.
Santa C/S, are you listening???
 

mmarsalone

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
324
Location
New Orleans, LA
I like the look of the three segment lights. Reading the website, it looks as if there are no modifications to the wire harness. It looks like you replace the bulbs with the LED units and then replace your flasher and connect a ground wire. If that's it, it would be easy to go back to the original setup you won't have to splice your tail light harness like you would with the dynamite sticks.

Mustangproject, is this correct? If so, I think many of us would really be interested in your product.

Thanks,
Mike
 

davidathans

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
703
Location
San Fernando Valley, California
My question is this...

im the guy who has dynamite sticks already and for the turn signals the outside bulbs barely glow and for emergency lights its only the inner and the middle a little and the brakes lights make all them work...

will JUST BUYING this product make the tailights work properly..or am i going to have to replace some sockets/fixtures?

Do these new sequentials work with the emergency lights?
 
P

PNewitt

Guest
I like the idea of them doing a three-step light with LEDs. It's important to keep the brake and flasher signals separate--as they have done. For them to make a better and less expensive kit is great! (thanks guys for doing that!).

I think that for my new book, I should really get into this taillight harness and light fixtures rebuild. I need to look into how one would rechrome potmetal without ruining it. New reflectors would make a big difference, too, regardless of which light method used.

Mixing new and old might make for new problems. But when they work, it's pretty neat.

Paul N.
 

admin

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
Aug 18, 2002
Messages
2,049
[quote author=PNewitt link=board=1;threadid=1087;start=0#msg7310 date=1103824884]
I think that for my new book, I should really get into this taillight harness and light fixtures rebuild. I need to look into how one would rechrome potmetal without ruining it. New reflectors would make a big difference, too, regardless of which light method used.[/quote]

I saw a new chrome paint the other day that actually looks pretty amazing. Traditionally chrome paints have really just been bright silver, but this stuff actually looks like real plated chrome.

http://alsacorp.com/chrome.htm
 
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
7
[quote author=monkey_golf link=board=1;threadid=1087;start=0#msg7274 date=1103684536]
I like the look of the three segment lights. Reading the website, it looks as if there are no modifications to the wire harness. It looks like you replace the bulbs with the LED units and then replace your flasher and connect a ground wire. If that's it, it would be easy to go back to the original setup you won't have to splice your tail light harness like you would with the dynamite sticks.

Mustangproject, is this correct? If so, I think many of us would really be interested in your product.

Thanks,
Mike
[/quote]

Hi yes you simply replace the three bulbs with our new taillight modules and you don't have to splice up or modify an existing standard wiring harness at all! It really is that easy especially on the California Special. If you have retrofitted the car with dynamite sticks or something else you just need to remove these and restore the wiring to stock.

Its a great kit because it does no harm to the originality of the car but looks great and is much brighter than stock lights.

Regarding emergency lights you can leave in the old emergency flasher if you like . Of course the lights wont sequence in emergency mode just flash on/off. If you want to you can buy an extra flasher module and your lights will sequence when the emergency flasher is activated.

Yes they are just as easy as the appear! We provide a 4 year warranty and 100% money back guarantee.

www.mustangproject.com
 

case12

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Messages
1,450
Location
Crystal Lake, IL
Checked out the web site, and I was sold on the 3 light sequential, and the simplicity of the change (can change back to stock easy). I ordered a set and will let the forum know how it goes. Casey
 

PFSlim

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
1,546
Location
Weatherby Lake, MO
We have talked about this in an earlier post. A member posted a process of taking the rear tail lamp assy off and adding tin foil to the t-bird light assy to brighten the tail lamps. That is the process we did on ours and it seems to me that our tail lights are as bright as needed.

I am sure we can look through the archives to bring that back to the front if someone is interested. Once the tail lamps are removed, it is a very easy process and looks great once the lenses are installed.

Paul
 

68gt390

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2004
Messages
2,021
Location
Columbus, Ohio
I like the idea of the 3 light sequential setup without having to splice into the wiring harness like you have to do with the dynamite sticks. Makes it much easier to switch back later without having to buy a new harness.

Don :D
 

case12

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2004
Messages
1,450
Location
Crystal Lake, IL
Received the sequential lights from MustangProject today (I ordered the standard '3 light' version) and installed them. As advertised, they are very easy to install: just replace the turn signal relay, and then plug in the LED boards into the socket where each tail light bulb goes. That was it! No splicing, and I can change back to original in minutes. Tail lights are very bright with sequential turn signals and they look great! Don't know the reliability yet (just installed them), but the product is great - and you would have to take the tail light lense off to ever know a change was ever made. I had one question on right vs left boards - called them and they were very helpful. I am happy with the product. Casey
 
Top