Installing LED tail lights from LMC - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AceX · 08-23-2007, 10:18 AM

I don't think that there's a single person here who will tell me that a modification for better safety, is a foolish one. (If they do, check their BAC for me.)

Replacing starndard incandescent bulbs with LEDs has been going on for quite some time. The change over makes perfect sense. LEDs are superior in every way to standard bulbs.

Up until a few months ago though, you would have had to figure out how to engineer your own LED board/assembly and controller. LMC has teamed up with Technostalgia to bring us an all in one package, and at only $100 for the set, this is a cheap mod that anyone can do in their driveway in an hour...

Starting things off, we have here some basic tools that will be used.

Wire cutters/crimp tool
Dikes
Phillips head screw driver
Torx set and Socket wrench
Heat gun and heat shrink (Not so common, but for $25, get a heat gun...)

Here we have an LED assembly, new tail light lens with "chrome" trim, and a few crimps to make the job easy. (You can solder the connections that will be made, but I have a personal preference for crimps in this instance)

Start by removing the 4 torx head screws that hold in the tail light lens. All are pictured here.

Now remove the 4 Phillips head screws holding in the tail light housing. Remove the bulbs from their sockets and then remove the socets by twisting them and pulling them out the back of the housing.

The socket we need is for the tail lights (duh?). Make a note of which wires were where just in case something gets screwed up... There are three wires going to the socket: brown, black, and yellow (driver's side) or green (passenger's side)

Moving onto the LED assembly itself, you need to remove the gromet from the stud that it is mounted to. There are two nuts at the top of the stud which must be removed.

Now pull the wires back through the gromet and pass them and the stud through the hole where the tail light socket was originally located.

AceX · 08-23-2007, 10:19 AM

Make sure that the LED assembly is square int he housing before you secure it.

Now pass the wires back through the gromet and then reattach the gromet to the stud. Don't forget about the green wire that you removed earlier from the stud. Make sure to reattach it between the two nuts on the stud.

Now, go ahead and cut the three wires for the original bulb socket, and strip them about .5" and do the same for the three wires on the LED assembly. Now before you crimp them together, make sure that you have your heat shrink in place on the wires. Now crimp (or solder) the wires together like this:

Original -->LED

Brown -------->Black
Black --------->Green
Yellow/Green -->Red

Now before you reinstall the assembly, make sure that your turn signals, running lights, and brake lights all work. If any of them do not, retrace your steps and see where you went wrong. Once everything is working as it should, reinstall the sockets and their matching bulbs, then the tail light housing.

A quick test, just for kicks (this is witht he running lights on, not the brake lights or turn signals.

Reinstall the lens (A new lens is a REALLY good idea)

AceX · 08-23-2007, 10:20 AM

Look at the pretty lights...

Relax...

Ric83 · 08-23-2007, 10:29 AM

Good job, bro. That looks really good.

Malo83 · 08-23-2007, 02:34 PM

really bright!!!

Mr79C10 · 08-23-2007, 03:07 PM

2 thumbs up!!!
Great pics BTW!!

piecesparts · 08-23-2007, 04:38 PM

I purchased mine from LMC a week ago, but in the process of installing I am NOT going to cut the old socket off. I am blending a flat trailer plug wire assembly into the factory wiring and that way I can go back to the old style lights (incandescent) if I have no other choice. There is room inside the fender opening and it should work real well.

MylilBowTie · 08-23-2007, 04:52 PM

Looks pretty good. Do you have anymore full view pictures of the truck?

AceX · 08-24-2007, 05:29 AM

I need to go out and take some new ones of the truck since it got a ton of paint work done. At this point, only the rocker panels and the roof haven't been repainted...

Pics of the truck after a bath...

Old Pic:

knightlife · 08-24-2007, 09:54 AM

looks like hella progress bro..those LEDs are nice looking on your truck. you doing the roll on paint job too?

AceX · 08-24-2007, 08:53 PM

Roll on paint job...? No... Very much, no... I feel dirty just being asked that...

I don't mean to be an ass. I've sen some good roll on paint jobs, but there's no way that anything other than a spray gun being wielded by a true craftsman will EVER touch this truck...

piecesparts · 08-24-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightlife

looks like hella progress bro..those LEDs are nice looking on your truck. you doing the roll on paint job too?

HUH??? A Roll On? A quality paint sprayed on and done right a dozen times over, is the only way.

Walts_restoration · 08-24-2007, 10:59 PM

what rims do you have on your truck? i like them, only if they are ina cheap way haha.

PRUNEDA · 08-25-2007, 04:48 AM

Nice job, do all of the LED's turn on when you brake, or use the signal? BTW that's a nice clean truck you've got there.

*HondaDriver* · 08-25-2007, 01:48 PM

Truck looks good

AceX · 08-25-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRUNEDA

Nice job, do all of the LED's turn on when you brake, or use the signal? BTW that's a nice clean truck you've got there.

All the LEDs turn on when you brake or use the turn signal. It's dam bright too, especially with the new lenses...

Thanks everyone for the compliments on the truck. Still need to take pics but I'm just too busy right now between work and moving and partying till 4am, there just isn't much time...

Jim85IROC · 08-27-2007, 10:28 AM

What tail light lenses did you use? Are they OEM or are they an aftermarket lense? I bought a set of aftermarket lenses and they fit so bad I put my dull stock ones back in, but yours look like a very good fit.

piecesparts · 08-27-2007, 01:19 PM

The LED package uses the stock lenses and light bulb housing, they can be purchased through one of a couple of suppliers for them.

Jim85IROC · 08-27-2007, 01:52 PM

I realize that, but I was under the impression that the person who posted the pics above used new lenses, and I noticed that they fit well, so I wanted to know where they were from.

piecesparts · 08-27-2007, 02:37 PM

I just purchased some new ones from LMC and they fit well. Maybe he got a bad set from someone.

Jim85IROC · 08-27-2007, 03:05 PM

I bought mine at a swap meet. They were labeled as being made in the US. They fit poorly. The chrome trim wasn't even real chrome, but more of a silver paint. I don't want to spend money on another reproduction light unless I can see that it fits as well as stock.

PRUNEDA · 08-29-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

I bought mine at a swap meet. They were labeled as being made in the US. They fit poorly. The chrome trim wasn't even real chrome, but more of a silver paint. I don't want to spend money on another reproduction light unless I can see that it fits as well as stock.

That's exactly what I got from LMC, I ended up returning them.

AceX · 08-29-2007, 05:10 AM

The lenses from LMC fit just fine. The side marker lights I bought are a different story though...

Malo83 · 08-29-2007, 02:33 PM

Pep Boys sells the lenses also.

sighlurr · 12-19-2007, 08:59 PM

AceX - Awesome write-up!

Thanks for the pics and detailed step by step directions. I will be making this investment in the next couple of weeks.

08-23-2007, 10:18 AM	#1
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Installing LED tail lights from LMC I don't think that there's a single person here who will tell me that a modification for better safety, is a foolish one. (If they do, check their BAC for me.) Replacing starndard incandescent bulbs with LEDs has been going on for quite some time. The change over makes perfect sense. LEDs are superior in every way to standard bulbs. Up until a few months ago though, you would have had to figure out how to engineer your own LED board/assembly and controller. LMC has teamed up with Technostalgia to bring us an all in one package, and at only $100 for the set, this is a cheap mod that anyone can do in their driveway in an hour... Starting things off, we have here some basic tools that will be used. Wire cutters/crimp tool Dikes Phillips head screw driver Torx set and Socket wrench Heat gun and heat shrink (Not so common, but for $25, get a heat gun...) Here we have an LED assembly, new tail light lens with "chrome" trim, and a few crimps to make the job easy. (You can solder the connections that will be made, but I have a personal preference for crimps in this instance) Start by removing the 4 torx head screws that hold in the tail light lens. All are pictured here. Now remove the 4 Phillips head screws holding in the tail light housing. Remove the bulbs from their sockets and then remove the socets by twisting them and pulling them out the back of the housing. The socket we need is for the tail lights (duh?). Make a note of which wires were where just in case something gets screwed up... There are three wires going to the socket: brown, black, and yellow (driver's side) or green (passenger's side) Moving onto the LED assembly itself, you need to remove the gromet from the stud that it is mounted to. There are two nuts at the top of the stud which must be removed. Now pull the wires back through the gromet and pass them and the stud through the hole where the tail light socket was originally located. __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

08-23-2007, 10:19 AM	#2
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Installing LED tail lights from LMC Make sure that the LED assembly is square int he housing before you secure it. Now pass the wires back through the gromet and then reattach the gromet to the stud. Don't forget about the green wire that you removed earlier from the stud. Make sure to reattach it between the two nuts on the stud. Now, go ahead and cut the three wires for the original bulb socket, and strip them about .5" and do the same for the three wires on the LED assembly. Now before you crimp them together, make sure that you have your heat shrink in place on the wires. Now crimp (or solder) the wires together like this: Original -->LED Brown -------->Black Black --------->Green Yellow/Green -->Red Now before you reinstall the assembly, make sure that your turn signals, running lights, and brake lights all work. If any of them do not, retrace your steps and see where you went wrong. Once everything is working as it should, reinstall the sockets and their matching bulbs, then the tail light housing. A quick test, just for kicks (this is witht he running lights on, not the brake lights or turn signals. Reinstall the lens (A new lens is a REALLY good idea) __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

08-23-2007, 10:20 AM	#3
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Look at the pretty lights... Relax... __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

08-23-2007, 10:29 AM	#4
Ric83 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 824	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Good job, bro. That looks really good. __________________ Ric '83 Silverado SWB Fleetside Here she is

08-23-2007, 02:34 PM	#5
Malo83 Cruzzzn' Vet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Porterville,Ca. Posts: 1,918	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC really bright!!!

08-23-2007, 03:07 PM	#6
Mr79C10 It Is What It Is,,,, Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Gun Shine StateFlorida* Posts: 1,765	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC 2 thumbs up!!! Great pics BTW!! __________________ 79 C10 Short Box ST8 6 bang'r Lowered w/ 3" Control arms, 2" Lower Coils and 4" shackles and hangers W/ FLIP KIT __--__* 79 C-10 project* .........................__ ..............._____ l __\___ ..............\|_(O)_ \|___(O) ] FAQ INDEX Thread The Kulture My Rat Den

08-23-2007, 04:38 PM	#7
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC I purchased mine from LMC a week ago, but in the process of installing I am NOT going to cut the old socket off. I am blending a flat trailer plug wire assembly into the factory wiring and that way I can go back to the old style lights (incandescent) if I have no other choice. There is room inside the fender opening and it should work real well.

08-23-2007, 04:52 PM	#8
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Looks pretty good. Do you have anymore full view pictures of the truck? __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

08-24-2007, 05:29 AM	#9
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC I need to go out and take some new ones of the truck since it got a ton of paint work done. At this point, only the rocker panels and the roof haven't been repainted... Pics of the truck after a bath... Old Pic: __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum. Last edited by AceX; 08-24-2007 at 05:31 AM.

08-24-2007, 09:54 AM	#10
knightlife Dark Heart Motorsports Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 29404 DKFX Posts: 683	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC looks like hella progress bro..those LEDs are nice looking on your truck. you doing the roll on paint job too? __________________ How Deep Can YOU Bleed..? 1985 Chevy Blazer K5- 6.2 N/A, 400 turbo trans CUCV, 12v converted... a new chapter 2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 6.0 powwwaa!!! custom jumpseat install w/ captain seats, Hypertech tuner, MSD Blaster Coils, CB and twin antenna's, all electric interior, touch screen in dash. custom center console, with jump seat replacing original console. 1500 HD!

08-24-2007, 08:53 PM	#11
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Roll on paint job...? No... Very much, no... I feel dirty just being asked that... I don't mean to be an ass. I've sen some good roll on paint jobs, but there's no way that anything other than a spray gun being wielded by a true craftsman will EVER touch this truck... __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

08-24-2007, 10:59 PM	#13
Walts_restoration Real Projects never die Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lawrence, kansas Posts: 1,508	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC what rims do you have on your truck? i like them, only if they are ina cheap way haha. __________________ Ill put it this way, ive got a few lawn ornaments My name tag says Ryan KansasTwister On other forums

08-25-2007, 04:48 AM	#14
PRUNEDA '87 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 632	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Nice job, do all of the LED's turn on when you brake, or use the signal? BTW that's a nice clean truck you've got there.

08-25-2007, 01:48 PM	#15
HondaDriver Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 9	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Truck looks good

08-27-2007, 10:28 AM	#17
Jim85IROC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Readsboro, VT Posts: 502	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC What tail light lenses did you use? Are they OEM or are they an aftermarket lense? I bought a set of aftermarket lenses and they fit so bad I put my dull stock ones back in, but yours look like a very good fit. __________________ 1987 GMC Sierra Classic 3500 454 TH400 My Sounddomain Page



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08-27-2007, 01:19 PM	#18
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC The LED package uses the stock lenses and light bulb housing, they can be purchased through one of a couple of suppliers for them.

08-27-2007, 01:52 PM	#19
Jim85IROC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Readsboro, VT Posts: 502	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC I realize that, but I was under the impression that the person who posted the pics above used new lenses, and I noticed that they fit well, so I wanted to know where they were from. __________________ 1987 GMC Sierra Classic 3500 454 TH400 My Sounddomain Page

08-27-2007, 02:37 PM	#20
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC I just purchased some new ones from LMC and they fit well. Maybe he got a bad set from someone.

08-27-2007, 03:05 PM	#21
Jim85IROC Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Readsboro, VT Posts: 502	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC I bought mine at a swap meet. They were labeled as being made in the US. They fit poorly. The chrome trim wasn't even real chrome, but more of a silver paint. I don't want to spend money on another reproduction light unless I can see that it fits as well as stock. __________________ 1987 GMC Sierra Classic 3500 454 TH400 My Sounddomain Page

08-29-2007, 05:10 AM	#23
AceX >130dB Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,130	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC The lenses from LMC fit just fine. The side marker lights I bought are a different story though... __________________ Living Life @ 130dB LED Tail Light Conversion; How-to Friend. Father. Brother. RIP El Jay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLICK HERE and for less than $0.07 a day, you too can help support and build a better forum.

08-29-2007, 02:33 PM	#24
Malo83 Cruzzzn' Vet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Porterville,Ca. Posts: 1,918	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC Pep Boys sells the lenses also.

12-19-2007, 08:59 PM	#25
sighlurr ______________ Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Danville, CA Posts: 1,285	Re: Installing LED tail lights from LMC AceX - Awesome write-up! Thanks for the pics and detailed step by step directions. I will be making this investment in the next couple of weeks.

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