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Anyone going through the conversion to UK standard lighting I've just fitted these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-High-Po...item2c953f6ca1 to the front of my 1970 and they work perfectly and no need for ballasts so totally plug and play.
Really good forward projection with the lenses incorporated in the front of the bulb and a good spread of light to the side as well.
I'll be fitting another pair for the reverse light/flasher conversion at the rear, then new high/low beams in the head lights and the lights are good to go.
* I have changed my rear lighting substantially and am using the white/amber switchback bulbs as part of the change. I have a 77, and the lighting appears stock, though the outer 2 lights are running & brake lights only, while the inner 2 lights are red running lights (in the outer ring) and amber turn signals & white backup lights - both showing through the clear center lens.
* The heart of the change is modified inner (backup) lens assemblies. I removed the entire outside lens (backup light & red reflector) from the backup light using a Dremel with a cut off disc. I discarded the back portion. I did the same to a pair of old stop lights (the outer, all red lights), discarding the lens. This left me with 2 bases designed to hold 1157 base bulbs and 2 back up light lenses.
* Next, into the bases, I installed 2 60mm red angel eyes/halo rings. The installation only involved creating light slits into the plastic base where the screw tunnels meet the reflector, creating an interference fit. They were further secured with a plastic 2-part epoxy. These are powered from my marker lights and show red whenever my lights are on.
* Into the clear lens cavity, I used the 2 part plastic epoxy to secure an aluminum tube rolled from light gauge metal used for chimney pipe. This isolated the clear lens from the angel eye so the center lens would not glow red.
* I then sanded the 2 cut surfaces (lens and base) on a flat surface until they would mate without gaps and fastened the 2 together with the plastic epoxy, giving me a complete inner lens assembly that would accept an 1157 base bulb.
* After securing 2 additional 1157 Corvette tail light sockets, I rewired the rear end and I now have brake lights & running lights in the outer pair and amber turn signals & white backup lights (both showing through the clear center lens) with red running lights in the inner pair.
Last edited by Rotonda; Sep 25, 2015 at 06:09 AM.
Reason: punctuation
* I have changed my rear lighting substantially and am using the white/amber switchback bulbs as part of the change. I have a 77, and the lighting appears stock, though the outer 2 lights are running & brake lights only, while the inner 2 lights are red running lights (in the outer ring) and amber turn signals & white backup lights - both showing through the clear center lens.
* The heart of the change is modified inner (backup) lens assemblies. I removed the entire outside lens (backup light & red reflector) from the backup light using a Dremel with a cut off disc. I discarded the back portion. I did the same to a pair of old stop lights (the outer, all red lights), discarding the lens. This left me with 2 bases designed to hold 1157 base bulbs and 2 back up light lenses.
* Next, into the bases, I installed 2 60mm red angel eyes/halo rings. The installation only involved creating light slits into the plastic base where the screw tunnels meet the reflector, creating an interference fit. They were further secured with a plastic 2-part epoxy. These are powered from my marker lights and show red whenever my lights are on.
* Into the clear lens cavity, I used the 2 part plastic epoxy to secure an aluminum tube rolled from light gauge metal used for chimney pipe. This isolated the clear lens from the angel eye so the center lens would not glow red.
* I then sanded the 2 cut surfaces (lens and base) on a flat surface until they would mate without gaps and fastened the 2 together with the plastic epoxy, giving me a complete inner lens assembly that would accept an 1157 base bulb.
* After securing 2 additional 1157 Corvette tail light sockets, I rewired the rear end and I now have brake lights & running lights in the outer pair and amber turn signals & white backup lights (both showing through the clear center lens) with red running lights in the inner pair.
That sounds like a good idea. I did something similar but without the angel eyes in the inner units but I might just have to give it a go now.
Anyone going through the conversion to UK standard lighting I've just fitted these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-High-Po...item2c953f6ca1 to the front of my 1970 and they work perfectly and no need for ballasts so totally plug and play.
Really good forward projection with the lenses incorporated in the front of the bulb and a good spread of light to the side as well.
I'll be fitting another pair for the reverse light/flasher conversion at the rear, then new high/low beams in the head lights and the lights are good to go.
Regards
Graham
Hey Graham-
Have you tried the hazard flashers- I'd be interesting to know if they still work- since it's a separate system than the turn signals.
I ended up using sequential modules on both front and rear-
On the front modules - I used the third output to run the indicators in the speedo/tach
Hazard lights-rear
Initial test- wired backwards but you get the idea-
Richard,
Not sure about Graham's setup but assume that it's similar to mine in that I used resistors in parallel with the LED lamps. This way the original system works as it should with no hyper flashing.
Not 100% sure but I think sequential lights like yours are illegal here in the UK.
Originally Posted by Richard454
Hey Graham-
Have you tried the hazard flashers- I'd be interesting to know if they still work- since it's a separate system than the turn signals.
I ended up using sequential modules on both front and rear-
On the front modules - I used the third output to run the indicators in the speedo/tach
Hazard lights-rear
Initial test- wired backwards but you get the idea-
The reason I ask- is the hazards feedback through the side parking light (don't know about the post chrome cars- but I'll look at a diagram). With the LEDs it's impossible for it (electrons) to flow backwards as a Diode the "D" in LED is basically a one way electrical valve.
Mines a 70 and the side markers are only linked to the sidelight circuit and not to the flashers
The bulbs I gave the link for were a direct swap in the front with the clear lenses fitted to my car and worked fine without any need for resistors
Tried the hazards last night and they worked fine as well once I'd read the hand book to find the switch ;-)
The Cibie headlight units go in without any mods as well, no need to modify the bowls as others seem to have had to do with other types
I'll put up some pictures once I've figured it out
Graham
I then used 2 1157 sockets fitted to the back up light housings to enable the use of amber/white switch back LED's.
Graham, I assumed you had fitted the resistors as the link you posted had them in. I fitted them as a matter of course. Having said that, when I did a similar job on my wife's 68 VW Karmann Ghia, the LED's worked fine without the resistors.
On the front of my car I simply fitted cheap modern headlight units with white side lights in the outer units. Slight wiring modification but no mods to the housings.
Going through the brakes at the moment, freeing up the hand brake and overhauling the callipers so the beast isn't mobile at the mo but as soon as I'm done I'll do some pictures.
Graham
I have a 79 which was re-wired for compliance in NSW, modified the lenses to insert orange lenses where the white lenses were. Orange reversing lights are pretty useless and I was wondering if I could use the LED bulbs referred to in the original post without any further modification (eg resistors) and put back in some original lenses.
Orange reversing lights must be as much use as a chocolate teaspoon, if you go back to original lenses and switch back bulbs that would be a far better solution, can you get clear front lenses for a 79? afraid thats one for those with more knowledge than me!
Regards
Graham
You can use the switch back LED's but you will need to swap out the lamp holder and modify the housing very slightly to fit it. The original back up unit housed a single filament lamp but you need to swap it to the 1157 dual filament type holder.
All very simple to do. If you did need to fit the resistors, again very simple to do.
Originally Posted by AB_in_AUS
I have a 79 which was re-wired for compliance in NSW, modified the lenses to insert orange lenses where the white lenses were. Orange reversing lights are pretty useless and I was wondering if I could use the LED bulbs referred to in the original post without any further modification (eg resistors) and put back in some original lenses.
As a FYI, on a 79 you have clear front lenses (with an orange bulb) and orange front side markers with a clear bulb. The rear side markers are red with a clear bulb so I'm good with everything except the rear from an ADR (Australian design rules) .. it varies from year to year eg 79 rules are different from a 69.
I've ordered the 1157 LEDs referred to in Grahamred70's post .. any suggestions re sourcing 1157 sockets and what I need to do to modify the housing (photos?). I wont get a chance to check sockets till next weekend.
Originally Posted by jotto
You can use the switch back LED's but you will need to swap out the lamp holder and modify the housing very slightly to fit it. The original back up unit housed a single filament lamp but you need to swap it to the 1157 dual filament type holder.
All very simple to do. If you did need to fit the resistors, again very simple to do.
As a FYI, on a 79 you have clear front lenses (with an orange bulb) and orange front side markers with a clear bulb. The rear side markers are red with a clear bulb so I'm good with everything except the rear from an ADR (Australian design rules) .. it varies from year to year eg 79 rules are different from a 69.
I've ordered the 1157 LEDs referred to in Grahamred70's post .. any suggestions re sourcing 1157 sockets and what I need to do to modify the housing (photos?). I wont get a chance to check sockets till next weekend.
Shipping may be a bit expensive but all the Corvette vendors will have them...
I purchased what was described as "repair socket" which is a replacement for the existing single contact socket in the reverse light housing, haven't fitted them yet but hopefully they'll do the job, otherwise the backplate and socket for the stop/tail light could probably be used?
Regards
Graham
UK Front side light/flashers
