LED Taillight install
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
10 LEDS in each light?! Is this "Bright"? Are some specific individual LED's brighter than others? Or is it strictly a numbers game?
Since I can't get much comment on my '74 specific request, this may be the best consideration. Was just hoping for feedback specific, so I'd know what to anticipate.
Thanks, Steve
p.s. & thanks to the one response regarding rear access and mounting configuration.
Since I can't get much comment on my '74 specific request, this may be the best consideration. Was just hoping for feedback specific, so I'd know what to anticipate.
Thanks, Steve
p.s. & thanks to the one response regarding rear access and mounting configuration.
these are crazy bright - on the order of 10 times at least compared to what i had...
I have no backup lights at this time, I never got around to hooking up the backup switch on the tremec so i havent had any for the better part of 5 years...in any case these lights are bright enough to light behind me....
I plan a single white LED below the License plate for the backup light when i get around to it
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
Will these fit in a 77 ?? Im thinking about running to go get some right now?? Nice little project for sat before our hooters run....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
the black border on the lights is rubber so it will conform if need be
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I really couldnt say.. the light buckets in my tailcone are deeper but should be the same size (diameter) as any of the rubber bumper cars...you would have other challenges because of how the factory lights mount in your tailcone compared to my fiberglass one..
the black border on the lights is rubber so it will conform if need be
the black border on the lights is rubber so it will conform if need be
What is the diameter of the lights? The stock '77 lenses are about 5" in diameter.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
well if the lights fit all the same years from 74-82 sbouldnt it work ????
It sure looks like it will work no problem......Just have to remove the support rings 3 bolts and thats about it....then you have just the fiberglass bumper and the 2 holes for the taillight...
It sure looks like it will work no problem......Just have to remove the support rings 3 bolts and thats about it....then you have just the fiberglass bumper and the 2 holes for the taillight...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
Yeah im going to do this project very soon.... Would be nice to have before our enxt cruise.
How hard is the wiring? Can I just use wire splicers to make the connections?? ya think that would be ok ?
How hard is the wiring? Can I just use wire splicers to make the connections?? ya think that would be ok ?
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
i've got these same lights in your picture.
but i dont have access to a wiring diagram to know what needs to be spliced into what.
do you know where I could find one?
does an additional flasher still need to be applied with these lights or are they made for corvettes in that they come with the flasher built into the board?
but i dont have access to a wiring diagram to know what needs to be spliced into what.
do you know where I could find one?
does an additional flasher still need to be applied with these lights or are they made for corvettes in that they come with the flasher built into the board?
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: Lantana TX
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
From: Henrico VA
A thermal flasher needs a certain amount of current to fire and an electronic one is just a 0/1 switch. It will work regardless of the load. Your 4-way may not work all the time now. I eventually got an electric 4-way from Eckler's. It goes just over the fuse panel and needs to be grounded (the original did not).
LEDs become brighter by adding more. They last for for 50,000 hours or 5.7 years (if they were never turned off).
I went with 5 Watt Luxeons all the way around and they are plenty bright (although I think DB has me beat). They are direct 1156/1157 replacements (bayonet base).
Very clean and distinctive install -- the bumper as well.
LEDs become brighter by adding more. They last for for 50,000 hours or 5.7 years (if they were never turned off).
I went with 5 Watt Luxeons all the way around and they are plenty bright (although I think DB has me beat). They are direct 1156/1157 replacements (bayonet base).
Very clean and distinctive install -- the bumper as well.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: Lantana TX
A thermal flasher needs a certain amount of current to fire and an electronic one is just a 0/1 switch. It will work regardless of the load. Your 4-way may not work all the time now. I eventually got an electric 4-way from Eckler's. It goes just over the fuse panel and needs to be grounded (the original did not).
LEDs become brighter by adding more. They last for for 50,000 hours or 5.7 years (if they were never turned off).
I went with 5 Watt Luxeons all the way around and they are plenty bright (although I think DB has me beat). They are direct 1156/1157 replacements (bayonet base).
Very clean and distinctive install -- the bumper as well.
LEDs become brighter by adding more. They last for for 50,000 hours or 5.7 years (if they were never turned off).
I went with 5 Watt Luxeons all the way around and they are plenty bright (although I think DB has me beat). They are direct 1156/1157 replacements (bayonet base).
Very clean and distinctive install -- the bumper as well.
Thanks for the info
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: Milton Florida
Thanks for the info; that was a great way to do it! I'm almost ready to install new taillights on my '75 and was trying to decide which way to go! Being a first time vette owner and it being a "project car", the help I get from all you folks is greatly appreciated!!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: Lantana TX
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 700
Likes: 0
From: Lantana TX
OK folks I need your asistance on this one. I have completed the led install and something is wrong. Before all the lights worked perfectly as they are supossed to. However, now the inner lights do not stay on, but when I put in in reverse the inner lights come on. The outer lights work perfectly,i.e. blinkers, tail, and bake lights.
1)If I understand the lights correctly the inner and outer tail lights should all be on low
2)The outer ones controll the blinkers and brakes.
3) If I step on the brakes all leds (inner and outer) should be high
4) Reverse lights none
Am I missing something...what went wrong?
both inner and outer lights white wire went to the the third wire on the outer lights assuming that was ground. The black wire went to the middle socket connection and the red one went to the remaining.
thanks for the help in advance
1)If I understand the lights correctly the inner and outer tail lights should all be on low
2)The outer ones controll the blinkers and brakes.
3) If I step on the brakes all leds (inner and outer) should be high
4) Reverse lights none
Am I missing something...what went wrong?
both inner and outer lights white wire went to the the third wire on the outer lights assuming that was ground. The black wire went to the middle socket connection and the red one went to the remaining.
thanks for the help in advance
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
OK folks I need your asistance on this one. I have completed the led install and something is wrong. Before all the lights worked perfectly as they are supossed to. However, now the inner lights do not stay on, but when I put in in reverse the inner lights come on. The outer lights work perfectly,i.e. blinkers, tail, and bake lights.
1)If I understand the lights correctly the inner and outer tail lights should all be on low
2)The outer ones controll the blinkers and brakes.
3) If I step on the brakes all leds (inner and outer) should be high
4) Reverse lights none
Am I missing something...what went wrong?
both inner and outer lights white wire went to the the third wire on the outer lights assuming that was ground. The black wire went to the middle socket connection and the red one went to the remaining.
thanks for the help in advance
1)If I understand the lights correctly the inner and outer tail lights should all be on low
2)The outer ones controll the blinkers and brakes.
3) If I step on the brakes all leds (inner and outer) should be high
4) Reverse lights none
Am I missing something...what went wrong?
both inner and outer lights white wire went to the the third wire on the outer lights assuming that was ground. The black wire went to the middle socket connection and the red one went to the remaining.
thanks for the help in advance
essentially the inboard sockets you abandon, use no wires from those sockets, the new harnesses are connected to the outboard socket wires only. Go to the front page and you will see that i mention that the wire colors for the Harbor frieght units have an odd color scheme compared to what you might be used to.