Installed LED's tail lights on my 1960
01-27-2007, 03:03 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Installed LED's tail lights on my 1960
In case anybody is interested , I bought really bright LED's for my taillights on my '60. The outside of the car looks all original except
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
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R713k228 (03-25-2024)
01-27-2007, 05:08 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Interesting! I'm not quite sure how you handled your flasher. Do you have seperate flashers ... one for the front blinkers and another for the rear low current LED lights?
Thanks, John
Thanks, John
01-27-2007, 05:47 PM
#3
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In case anybody is interested , I bought really bright LED's for my taillights on my '60. The outside of the car looks all original except
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
01-27-2007, 06:44 PM
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
LED bulbs
John, I took the original flasher out, and put a electronic flasher in its place, thats all that has to be done there, and thats all that has to be done for any older car or truck. I'm guessing but I guess the older type of flasher works on heat[heat trips the switch, and if you hook up a trailer to your circuit the increased amp draw triggers the flasher faster or sooner] The electronic flasher doesn't work by heat.
01-27-2007, 07:36 PM
#5
Race Director
I like the idea of the LEDs.
The original lights are real wimpy, especially if you are in traffic they won't get noticed well.
Doug
The original lights are real wimpy, especially if you are in traffic they won't get noticed well.
Doug
01-27-2007, 08:55 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
Good Info.. I was thinking of doing the same as the lights are pretty bad in the back. The relay for the headlights is the way to go..
Interesting on the front parking /indicator lights. but then again, they are not as important as the rears.. Whenever I am driving at night and I turn and look at them, they seem REAL DIM.. I will pick up a set.
Thanks again for the info....
Interesting on the front parking /indicator lights. but then again, they are not as important as the rears.. Whenever I am driving at night and I turn and look at them, they seem REAL DIM.. I will pick up a set.
Thanks again for the info....
01-27-2007, 10:59 PM
#7
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How does this look when you step on the brake with the headlights on? Also.. How about Brake on, headlights on turn signal on? (Really sounds great just need to know what to expect)
Did you leave the inside (white glass) lenses in place or did you remove them?
Do you know the manufacturer and part # of the flasher (Don't have Advance Auto near me. Would like to order somewhere on line)
Thanks,
Vinny
Did you leave the inside (white glass) lenses in place or did you remove them?
Do you know the manufacturer and part # of the flasher (Don't have Advance Auto near me. Would like to order somewhere on line)
Thanks,
Vinny
01-28-2007, 11:13 AM
#8
Racer
Thread Starter
How does this look when you step on the brake with the headlights on? Also.. How about Brake on, headlights on turn signal on? (Really sounds great just need to know what to expect)
Did you leave the inside (white glass) lenses in place or did you remove them?
Do you know the manufacturer and part # of the flasher (Don't have Advance Auto near me. Would like to order somewhere on line)
Thanks,
Vinny
Did you leave the inside (white glass) lenses in place or did you remove them?
Do you know the manufacturer and part # of the flasher (Don't have Advance Auto near me. Would like to order somewhere on line)
Thanks,
Vinny
http://www.tricoproducts.com/brochur...ocation_id=123
http://www.tricoproducts.com/brochur...cation_id=3767
I put the inside clear glass , plus gasket back on , the brake lights are twice as bright , will be able to see the turn signal way back, much much safer.
Last edited by lovevettes; 01-28-2007 at 11:32 AM.
01-28-2007, 06:44 PM
#10
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All the lights are LED in my car including the dash lights. Try not to match the led color to the lens, it will actually make it a bit dimmer than if you go with clear. I have to find the link to the LED source that i used but they had LEDs for all the bulbs in my 61 including the front. They crossed refrenced the original to their style. They work great. I love bright dash lights.
01-28-2007, 07:32 PM
#11
Race Director
I take it the LED tail lamps don't draw enuf amps to work the thermo-mechanical flasher?
Thanks,
Doug
Thanks,
Doug
01-29-2007, 08:55 AM
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TEP061, please post the information on the source for the LEDs you found to replace all your bulbs. I have used LEDs in the tail lamps of my T-bird but have not seen any to replace dash lights.
Thanks in advance.
Fred
Thanks in advance.
Fred
01-29-2007, 12:19 PM
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I checked the web site you quoted and it says that the LED bulbs are not as bright as the original. Here's a quote from their web site:
Brightness of LED Car Bulbs
LED bulbs are generally not as bright as standard incandescent bulbs, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but brightness is not one of them.
They are generally not as bright but some of them with large numbers of LEDs, will appear brighter than filament bulbs.
As an exception, our new 3 Watt Luxeon LED car bulbs are as bright or brighter than most standard filament car bulbs.
The light is distributed differently so they can appear brighter in some applications and not as bright in others, it depends on the size and shape of the bulb housing and reflector.
Most LED bulbs emit light like a flashlight, all out the end. Regular filament bulbs emit light from the end and all sides, so they will be better suited for some lighting applications than LED bulbs.
This is the same reason why we do not rate LED car bulbs in lumens or watts, they would be a deceptively low numbers because the light is measured from all sides and the end on standard filament bulbs but only from the end on LED bulbs.
Also, it says to buy the same color as your lens. I thought it was the opposite too. It says the red lens lets red color through and blocks other colors. White bulbs have very little red light in them and will be dimmer. This information is from "superbrightleds.com".
I agree they are worth the money if they are brighter.
Brightness of LED Car Bulbs
LED bulbs are generally not as bright as standard incandescent bulbs, they have many advantages over filament bulbs (longer life, faster on/off times, lower power consumption, more vivid colors) but brightness is not one of them.
They are generally not as bright but some of them with large numbers of LEDs, will appear brighter than filament bulbs.
As an exception, our new 3 Watt Luxeon LED car bulbs are as bright or brighter than most standard filament car bulbs.
The light is distributed differently so they can appear brighter in some applications and not as bright in others, it depends on the size and shape of the bulb housing and reflector.
Most LED bulbs emit light like a flashlight, all out the end. Regular filament bulbs emit light from the end and all sides, so they will be better suited for some lighting applications than LED bulbs.
This is the same reason why we do not rate LED car bulbs in lumens or watts, they would be a deceptively low numbers because the light is measured from all sides and the end on standard filament bulbs but only from the end on LED bulbs.
Also, it says to buy the same color as your lens. I thought it was the opposite too. It says the red lens lets red color through and blocks other colors. White bulbs have very little red light in them and will be dimmer. This information is from "superbrightleds.com".
I agree they are worth the money if they are brighter.
01-31-2007, 08:19 PM
#18
60 rear led lights
In case anybody is interested , I bought really bright LED's for my taillights on my '60. The outside of the car looks all original except
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
when I lift up the hood. It is a driver and during the summer I drive it home after a cruise in the dark, I wanted to have tail lights that were safer, so I bought # 1157-RLX3 , red in color, [uses three watts] LED's from www.superbrightleds.com
They are about twice as bright as the original bulbs, exactly as I wanted, but they were pricey, about $25. per., but nothing but the best for the vette I figured. Very satisfied. But everything went down hill from here, I ordered the same bulbs but amber in color for the front
turn signal / parking lights, because I liked the rear bulbs so much, BAD MOVE, the front bulb socket is deeper , the bulb sits in real deep for the clearance for the glass cover, I could'nt get the bulbs in[to twist and lock in] I even tried to file the alum. cover with a radius, because I liked the rear ones so much, still N.G. still didnt work, wasted my $$$$ . I bought a electronic flasher at Advance Auto. Parts last year
which is needed for the low current draw. Thought I'd pass this along so that someone else doesn't make same mistake. Works great for the rear, N.G. for the front! I put relays on for the headlights ,last year, that really helped.
Last edited by stratplus; 02-01-2007 at 07:03 AM.
02-26-2007, 10:42 PM
#19
Installed LED's tail lights on my 1960
Thanks for the tip. I just installed the superbright 1157-RLX3 and the EL 12 flasher on my 60. It is much brighter and more noticable with the brakes and directional, and it has a faster on and off with the directional light.
02-27-2007, 12:51 AM
#20
Burning Brakes
LEDS are approximately 1/4 second faster on than incandescent bulbs. At 60 MPH this means that the person behind you will see them quicker and be able to stop 20 feet sooner! 