Feedback on LED Bulbs

[Bacca]

Hello looking for some feedback on use of LED bulbs running lamps, turn signals in a 1982 C-10.

Pros/Cons - Manufactures - Where to buy - Or not to buy.

Thanks

[mongocanfly]

on my 81 I'm running all leds...some from lmc ,, some from ebay....if I couldn't find a dedicated led replacement for something like my interior light, I put in a 1156 style led bulb..

I highly recommend leds..low amp draw and bright as heck....

[Bacca]

Thanks Mongocanfly!

[68longhorn]

Superbrightleds.com is the best source. Also check squared away customs on Facebook

[Desert_Eagle02]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

on my 81 I'm running all leds...some from lmc ,, some from ebay....if I couldn't find a dedicated led replacement for something like my interior light, I put in a 1156 style led bulb..

I highly recommend leds..low amp draw and bright as heck....

Thinking about adding them to my 78, and the gauge cluster also. Do you have to install a resistor since the draw for the leds is a lot less than the regular bulbs?

[mongocanfly]

the leds didn't cause me any problems..I know some people do have issues but not on mine....got lucky I guess

[bilfman]

Caused me trouble on signals. Not enough amp draw to work the flasher. Now have 2 leds in the front and regulars in the back. Signals work but the green signal indicators can both be seen slightly lit. But only bright enough to be seen at night.

[layinrocker65]

Originally Posted by bilfman

Caused me trouble on signals. Not enough amp draw to work the flasher. Now have 2 leds in the front and regulars in the back. Signals work but the green signal indicators can both be seen slightly lit. But only bright enough to be seen at night.

Does an electronic flasher not Fix that issue?

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by layinrocker65

Does an electronic flasher not Fix that issue?

Sure does. Fixes the trailer/no-trailer issues as well. I've heard em called electronic or fixed speed relays. You can get drop-in units from your friendly neighborhood Borg retailers like Pep Boys, AutoZone, O'Rileys etc.

Wish it was that easy with the Gen 7 & 8 Impala and the 2014 Toyota Tundra pickups with the obnoxious BCM controlled flashers.

Originally Posted by 68longhorn

Superbrightleds.com is the best source. Also check squared away customs on Facebook

No need to buy Chinese LED lamps online. That time has come and thankfully gone.

Phillips and Sylvania could see where the winds of change were blowing and have actually put some engineering time into retrofit bulbs. Most cheap retrofit LED bulbs don't properly use the filament bulb reflector so you end up with a bright point source that doesn't reach out very far and the cheaply built bulbs don't have a decent heatsink so they don't last long. The Phillips and Sylvania offerings properly use the reflector and have decent heatsinks. This means the name brand bulbs will last longer than most Chinese bulbs and they don't cost that much more. The other big plus is you can buy the name brand LED bulbs at your local Borg retailers like Pep Boys, AutoZone, O'Rileys etc.

Look for Phillips VISION or Sylvania ZEVO.

Sylvania Zevo and Phillips Vision LED replacements for the 1156 single filament tungsten and 1157 dual filament Tungsten bulbs actually fire the light back at an angle into the reflector bowl to properly fill the light housing and project for other drivers to see you. They also have a decent size heat sink so they won't burn out in a year or two like tungsten filament bulbs and cheaply built LED bulbs.

The Sylvania ZEVO 2357 & 1157 bulbs are available in RED (1157) and AMBER (1157A). I have the AMBER versions in the front marker/turn housings on my trucks and the RED versions in the tail lamps. I have yet to see Phillips Vision 1157 series bulbs in AMBER 1157A replacement but I doubt it will take long for them to catch up.

I use the Phillips Vision Bright White 1156 bulbs in my Squarebody cab floor "courtesy" lamps and backup lamps. Phillips makes RED 1156 Vision LED bulbs so look at the package to be sure it says BRIGHT WHITE before you drop it in your shopping cart.

I use the Phillips Vision 921 LED bulbs for late model backup lamps that used the 921 tungsten bulbs. These fire the light into the reflector bowl as well. I have yet to see a Sylvania equivalent but I'm sure it's in the works. I can actually see behind my trucks, my Polaris Sportsman, and my Gen7 & Gen8 Impalas at night. They light the entire lens of the backup lamp with BRIGHT WHITE light to properly warn other drivers and project the light back against the dark. I installed the Phillips Vision 921 bulbs in my 74 year old parents Toyota Tundra pickups backup lamps as well.

I used the Phillips Vision 194 LED bulbs as 194 and 168 side marker bulb replacements Phillips claims they replace 194, 168, 12961, 158, 161, 193, and 579 bulbs. These are just LED bulbs with a frosted diffuser to spread out the light.

Phillips also makes a Festoon bulb to replace the interior cab light but mine is still the old fashioned Tungsten.

As with everything else the Asians have started to mimic the Zevo and Vision LED bulb designs... probably with the normal extreme drop in quality.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by 68longhorn

Superbrightleds.com is the best source. Also check squared away customs on Facebook

This. Go to superbrightleds.com. They have an automotive light selector. All the lights are designed to work with any year of car that they will fit. I had no trouble with the LED's for my 87, they worked the flasher just fine.

I'd recommend to anyone here, to buy their more expensive reverse lights for the 73-87. I never thought that the reverse lights on one of these old trucks could actually be useful. With those LED's in the reverse lights in my 87, I can see better when backing up than I can in my wife's new toyota. Its great.

[Bacca]

Thanks everyone for your feed back. It's been very helpful. I haven't purchased any yet but will soon. I'm going to go with Hatzie's advice.
Again thanks all Bacca

[68longhorn]

Hatzie superbrightleds is not cheap but they are high quality and last. I have had their headlight bulbs for 2 years and markers and tails and interior bulbs for 4 years without issue

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by 68longhorn

Superbrightleds.com is the best source....

Way to expensive. I have bought all of my LED bulbs from Amazon and paid 1/3 the price. They have a great site with good info, but ridiculously over priced.

[Desert_Eagle02]

Getting ready to order LEDs for my gauge cluster. I haven't had a chance to take mine apart to see what kind of bulb it takes. Does anyone know? It's a 1978 GMC. I'm guessing it's the 194 bulbs?

[RedBed]

I think they are 168. I just put LEDs in my gauge cluster while I had it apart and they are WAY nicer IMO.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

If I were to find some that lasted longer than three years I might be inclined to pull my dash apart again. I switched to LED's on every bulb on my '03 Ranger. Dash lights started flickering after a year and were all burned out after two years. Turn signal and taillight bulbs burned out after three years. Said to heck with it and replaced every bulb again with standard non-LED's. Guess I got ahead of the technology.

That said, I replaced all last year so these bulbs would have been bought four years ago. Half were from Amazon and the other half were from Superbrightleds.

[Desert_Eagle02]

Ok thanks guys. Mine are pretty dim, and a couple are burned out. So I'm going to try some leds. Hopefully they last longer than 1-2 years.

[jkk]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

This. Go to superbrightleds.com. They have an automotive light selector. All the lights are designed to work with any year of car that they will fit. I had no trouble with the LED's for my 87, they worked the flasher just fine.

I'd recommend to anyone here, to buy their more expensive reverse lights for the 73-87. I never thought that the reverse lights on one of these old trucks could actually be useful. With those LED's in the reverse lights in my 87, I can see better when backing up than I can in my wife's new toyota. Its great.

2Xx