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12-28-2013, 05:18 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ft Wayne Indiana
Posts: 1,204
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Making front marker lights brighter
I was bored today (as usual) and remembered I had some chrome duct tape that I got from Harbor Freight for like 6 or 7 bucks.
So I took my lenses off, and put this tape on the inside of the light cavity. Here's what it looked like before: And after: Doesn't have to be pretty, as it's not seen anyhow. Here's the difference, the one on the left is done: Not a huge difference, but I bet at night time it's more of a difference than it looks like. The same method come be used on the taillights too, I suppose.
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71 K20 64 GMC mud truck |
12-28-2013, 08:58 PM | #2 |
The Older Generation
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Montezuma, Iowa
Posts: 25,635
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
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More reflection means more light going forward. I bet it helps more at night too. I have found the new lenses help more than anything but I realize that not everyone can afford them. Good job! LockDoc
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Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 - |
12-29-2013, 02:13 AM | #3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Topeka,KS
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
That aluminum duct tape is some badass stuff! I love it. Diddn't know HF had it. That makes quite a difference, I'll bet even more so at night.
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68' C20. 283CI w/55CC 305HO heads, NP435 Close Ratio, Corp. 14 bolt FF 3.21, 75' front end swap (everything but the X-member). |
12-29-2013, 02:35 AM | #4 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Nice improvement.
I too discovered the aluminum backed taped a few years ago... LOVE IT! I used it to tape up all the seams when I did my dynamat install in my Mustang.
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Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! |
12-29-2013, 08:17 AM | #5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ft Wayne Indiana
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Thanks guys, yes it is pretty handy. I used it to cover where the plastic chrome stuff was on the trim around the woodgrain on the door panels.
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71 K20 64 GMC mud truck |
01-06-2014, 05:31 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Oleron island france
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Simple , cheap ! So good idea ! I love my truck with the marker side just after Sunset .
71K , I'll follow your tricks this week ! |
01-06-2014, 05:41 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Posts: 874
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
That looks great. I painted my housings white, but it looks like you have a better improvement than I got. Can you please post a picture at night?
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01-07-2014, 01:03 AM | #8 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: tucson,az
Posts: 274
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
They also sell a chrome paint that works pretty well.
good idea there. I also installed leds from superbrightleds and waay brighter with those. they are 1157 so just pop in bpatrol |
01-07-2014, 11:09 AM | #9 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ft Wayne Indiana
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
I'll try to get a pic tonight if I remember it. The truck is in the garage now so I'll have to find a good angle to get the pic. I also just noticed my typo in the first post
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71 K20 64 GMC mud truck |
01-07-2014, 11:45 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Durango, CO
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Good idea! I tried this last week after reading your post, and it definitely makes a difference. I did all four lights, and the difference is very noticeable, especially at night.
Although it doesn't have to be pretty, I did find that the smoother you can keep the tape, the better the reflective quality will be. I also taped all the way to the edges of the bezel, even outside of the bulb recess - lights up more of the lens this way. Again, great idea to improve brightness at very low cost! By the way, where are you from in Indiana? I'm originally from Madison - little town on the river down near Louisville, KY. |
01-07-2014, 02:00 PM | #11 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ft Wayne Indiana
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Good idea on taping the whole thing up. I haven't even had them turned on in the dark since I did this
I'm from the Fort Wayne area, so not very close to Madison lol.
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71 K20 64 GMC mud truck |
01-07-2014, 05:10 PM | #12 |
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Location: Rt 66 Gallup, NM
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
We used to do this when I was a teenager in the mid 70s, except we used aluminum foil. What we did for the interior light is use a 6 volt bulb and wire in a reducer that would take the voltage down from 12 volts to 9 volts. That really brightened up the interior, but we had to carry spare bulbs. Someone also told us that if we put crumpled up aluminum foil in the hubcaps that it would make police radar useless. Now that didnt work at all....
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2005 GMC K2500HD D/A 1993 GMC K1500 2011 Subaru Legacy. 2013 Subaru Outback 1970 C-10 2WD, SWB stepside, 292, TH350, PS, more rust than anything. God is my pilot. |
01-13-2014, 09:55 PM | #13 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Ft Wayne Indiana
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Sorry for the picture delay. Just finally starting to warm back up after a few days of below zero temps.
Not super great pics, but they give the general idea.
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71 K20 64 GMC mud truck |
01-13-2014, 10:06 PM | #14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
Posts: 874
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
Looks nice. I'll definitely be doing this.
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01-13-2014, 10:17 PM | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Rudyard, Michigan
Posts: 125
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Re: Making front marker lights brighter
DOT safety tape works too. Cut off the red and use the white reflective tape.
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