vipervetteguy

I have a 66. Already run 4 red lenses just for appearances. (simply am not concerned about reverse lights) Now I want to have all 4 lights wired to be brakelights, taillights and turn signal. (maybe just the outboard lights as turn signals) Can I just buy 2 outboard replacements and install them in the inboard positions? (and then wire them in line with the outboard ones) My electrical skills with cars is minimal, but it does make sense to me. (assuming the outboard lights fit in the inboard holes) Will my flashers work properly with this new load? Am I just way off base here???

65GGvert

If you only want the outside to flash, there won't be any change in load, so no problem. However, you would have to seperate the turn/brake wire for the inboard light brake filament since the flasher flashes the brake filament and the tail filament is separate. So to get brake and tail lamp on the inner socket and no flash would be more involved.
The easiest thing to do is put a dual connector socket like the one in your outboard lights in the inner light fixture you probably have for the back up light (which is a single connector). Or you could replace the whole fixture if that's easier for you.
You would then connect the wires from the outboard bulb wires to the same inboard wires on your new socket/fixture. Do that for each side. The left side brake/turn wire will be yellow or black/yellow stripe and the running light will be brown. The passenger side brake/turn will be green or black/green stripe and the running (tail) light will also be brown. Make sure you have the current ground on the inner socket connected back if you change the fixture. It is a short black wire going from the outboard to inboard fixture under a nut.
You may have to change the flasher on the panel by the radio side cover to a heavy duty if you're not happy with the flash speed. (or an electronic flasher which is pretty close to the same price as a standard flasher)

Sky65

Just order left and right inner tail light assemblies. I believe 63-66 not equipped with reverse lights that is what was used.

Tom

R66

Booooooo!

I have backup lights on R66 and wanted more brake lights. We rarely drive R66 at night to use the backup lights.

I put red LEDs (1156) in the backup lights with the original white lenses. Also added the infused LED tail light lenses on the outer lights.

Then ran a wire from the connector on the fire wall (going to the backup lights) to a new wire ran to the brake light switch and Tee'd it in at the brake light switch.

No modifications to the original wiring harness and can easily be reversed by removing the one added wire and reconnecting the connector on the firewall and changing the bulb back to the original 1156 to restore the backup lights.

If you are interested in this PM me and I will take some pictures. I don't want to waste time if you are not.

65GGvert

The very easiest thing to do since you already have a socket and red lens would be clip the b/u wire and connect the wire going to that socket to the tail light wire on the outer socket. That would give you 4 tail lights and one brake/turn on each side. You could do the same with the brake/turn wire instead of the tail light, but I don't think the intensity would match the outer bulb. If you want dual in both sides, you'll have to modify or change the inner sockets. This is the way you want your wiring to end up if you have two dual sockets on each side of the car.

vipervetteguy

I thought all 63-66 had reverse lights via the 2 inboard lights. The 67 went to 4 red lights with a center mount reverse rectangle. Am I missing something here? What do the inboard lights on a 67 do? (Tailights, brake, and/or turn?)

vipervetteguy

I definitely want 4 brake lights if I'm going to the trouble of a modification, so I need 2 outboard style sockets to mount inboard. Isn't that what a 67 has?

65GGvert

Yes, that diagram I posted is a 67. That's why I xed out the b/u lights. You don't have to run the wires back to anywhere, just connect same to same on the outboard socket. Tape the end or cut off the b/u wire and leave it disconnected on both sides.

whitoak

Question, I am looking at the LED upgrade for our 1966. For those of you who have done the upgrade to LED, do you think that taking out the back up bulbs and going to 4 tail lamps is needed. Or is the LED bulb on the outside bright enough to make that unnecessary. I am a little torn between the better look of 4 red lamps and keeping the stock appearance.

dkleather

I recently installed the LED red lens/bulb units on my 64. Prior I had just the LED bulbs alone. There is a tremendous difference in brightness between just the led bulb and the led/lens unit. I had considered going to four lights in the rear but don't think it's necessary now.
I also installed new led/ yellow lens units in the front for brighter driving lights and blinkers. Dave

66BlkBB

Some, if not all 66's came with back up lights.

65GGvert

Standard in 66. Optional in prior years. My opinion, which is worth what you paid for it, is the backup lights main advantage is letting the car behind you know you're backing up

drdave69

I installed the 4 LED at the rear and the 2 amber LED at the front and am very happy with the results. I did not see a need for the backup lights vs. better rear lighting.

vipervetteguy

I feel it's much more important (and a lot more frequent) that people see strong brake lights than my reverse lights. When I back up it's always very slowly and I am well aware of who is behind me. So, I'd rather have 4 brake lights than 2 reverse lights and only 2 brake lights.

vipervetteguy

Thanks for all the replies. Turns out my original plan made sense. I'm going to buy 2 dual wire sockets and wire them to the outboard lights. (And 2 dual filament bulbs) I may have to get a new flasher to deal with the slower flashing with the additional bulbs.

65GGvert

That will work.