47-55.1 Different rear lights on an AD

[Matt_50]

I'm definitely going to go for LEDs. Those are bright. How much of a difference does it make electrically to use LEDs? I kid you not I got a tiny burn, blister and all, from a regular lamp under the dash in my buddy's car.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

I'm definitely going to go for LEDs. Those are bright. How much of a difference does it make electrically to use LEDs? I kid you not I got a tiny burn, blister and all, from a regular lamp under the dash in my buddy's car.

they use 1/10th the power and have zero heat.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by joedoh

they use 1/10th the power and have zero heat.

LEDs are still evolving. Early ones may be not very good current production seems better. There is lots of old stock sitting around so be careful what you buy.

[MARTINSR]

The ones I tried on my Rambler were CRAP. There has to be better ones out there, I am blinded by late model cars every day so know they have good ones. LOL

Brian

[joedoh]

these arent replacement bulbs to fit the 1057/1056 bayonet mounts, the reason those dont work is because they dont optimize the original reflector. these are panel LED in stock appearing housings with no reflectors.

http://www.bowtiebits.com/store/stor...Category_ID=33



and

http://www.bowtiebits.com/store/stor...Category_ID=33



in my picture those are the brake lights. the parking light is dimmer.

[cameo]

I really like the new LED's being plenty bright. but a side note. for those of us that drive in the snow, no my 57 will never see snow, but LED's are cold, and therefore get covered by the blowing white crap.
I have almost plowed into the back of many highway haulers with frosted over LED's
should be mandatory to have at least one incandescent bulb at the back for crappy weather

[dsraven]

yep, with ya on that one cameo, frosted over led's and guys that think since the dash lights are on the tail lights must be too. daytime running lights should be wired to tail lights as well. somebody needs to tell toyota and some other manufacturerers.

[Matt_50]

Giving this a bump since I will finally be buying electrical goodies soon.

[mr48chev]

You did good on that one Joe, everything on that truck goes together as a package with nothing looking stuck on. Your wheel treatment took something that all too often sticks out like a sore thumb on these trucks and blended them in so well they are just part of the truck rather than the truck being the background for them. I've always liked those round tail lights and with LEDs in them they should show up.

This tail light visibility thing is still one issue we really need to be thinking about when we build a truck.

[mr48chev]

I may have mentioned it before but will again. Painting the inside of your tail light housings bright white helps a ton to improve the lights visibility from the rear with regular bulbs. Some of these stock looking lights are painted black inside and out and the black doesn't reflect any light. Silver dulls quick and can absorb light as much as it reflects it.

[cmayna]

A little different configuration with backup lights which are gearbox controlled as well as separate turn signals up top

[Matt_50]

Newly electrical question.

How do you get running lights, brake lights, turn signals and back up lights all in one little housing?

[joedoh]

never seen all three, although the 41-53 housing has a small tag light on the bottom that maybe could be used as a reverse light, just use two of the tag light housings and put brighter LED in the bottom.

for reverse lights I found the LED red is SUPER bright and gives a lot of situational lighting, so I never put a reverse light in, but if I ever did I would just use a flood LED fog light mounted under the bed, invisible unless it was on.

[Matt_50]

So reverse lights arnt mandatory?

[dsraven]

just check your local dmv and they should be able to tell you if they are mandatory or or not. some will require a reflector of some sort on the rear and sides. some require light to be visible from rear and side.

[GreasyLikeaBurger]

Another great idea is from a fellow member here Hulk64, his build was pretty well thought out. I remember his tail lights and was thinking about borrowing the idea.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=eugene

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

So reverse lights arnt mandatory?

in kansas its like seatbelts, if they came on the truck you cant remove em, if they didnt you dont have to install em.