Led replacement bulbs.

[jeffbcn]

47 chevy Thriftmaster.
I want to use the existing taillight assembly but would like brighter running and brake lights. I have already maxed out the available space with regular bulbs. Any suggestions?

[mongocanfly]

they make a led bulb in a 1156 and 1157 style..they're fairly bright.
I used one in the interior light of my 81..huge improvement...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SYLVANIA-...&wl13=&veh=sem

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by jeffbcn

47 chevy Thriftmaster.
I want to use the existing taillight assembly but would like brighter running and brake lights. I have already maxed out the available space with regular bulbs. Any suggestions?

a few years back I went to NAPA and asked about brighter bulbs, they had what they called an "ULTRA-BRIGHT" 1157 bulb. I'd suggest that or if you want go with the LED's, they are brighter. You can also check with companies like JEG"S or SUMMITRACING for their ideas.

[1project2many]

A few vendors sell an LED "lens" that can be used to replace the stock bulb and lens.

http://www.lmctruck.com/features/ca/cac7s.htm

I'm interested but haven't tried them yet.

[joedoh]

this is just my opinion, but I think the better option for 47-53 is to just buy the replacement taillights with LED. I say this because there is a tag light on the left taillight that relies on the park light bulb shining through the white lens, if you use LED they are usually red and dont point down much, so you wont have good tag illumination.

I have used these http://www.bowtiebits.com/store/stor...Category_ID=33 in the past and there is nothing bad to say about them, super visible I mean light the neighborhood when stopping kind of light, separate white tag LED, they work perfectly.

[mr48chev]

If you haven't already done so paint the insides of your taillight housings bright white.

Also pick up some 2357 bulbs that are a direct replacement and brighter. That is the under 10.00 and a half hour's time fix that really helped a couple of my rigs including my 71 GMC after I got pulled over because the state patrolman said my tail lights were too dim. They were before I did those two steps.

[jeffbcn]

My taillight housing contains 2 lamps. One small one for running and one big one for brakes. Pretty crowded in there
Which 2 Leds will fit?

[MARTINSR]

I was terribly disappointed with the LED lights I got for my Rambler, two different brands, going up quite a bit in cost after the first ones, they were hardly any better.

I ended up making reflectors and using the good old 1157 bulbs, they worked MUCH better with the reflectors than those damn LEDs.

Here is an article on the retrofitting reflectors. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/basi...ng-212015.html

Brian

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by jeffbcn

My taillight housing contains 2 lamps. One small one for running and one big one for brakes. Pretty crowded in there
Which 2 Leds will fit?

you will just need to install a dual connector socket to replace the two separate ones you have currently, wiring will be the same, one for park, one for stop/turn. but for all that work, you could just buy the LED replacement housings. I dont want to gush but the ones I used would let a blind man see you stopping. you can buy just the lens/LED setup and put it in your housing but its ~$80. for $95 you get new stainless housings included.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by jeffbcn

My taillight housing contains 2 lamps. One small one for running and one big one for brakes. Pretty crowded in there
Which 2 Leds will fit?

It sounds like someone has modified your lights and not all that well. What lights do you have on the truck?

[aj6502]

https://www.classicparts.com/1941-53...ctinfo/49-491/

You may need this to make more room in the housing for a larger bulb, unless you already have housings converted to 12volt.

[mr48chev]

This has my curiosity up, I want to see a good clear photo of the inside of that tail light housing. My inquiring mind wants to know.

[jeffbcn]

Brake light Sylvania 7506.
Running light 97 from china.

[4544speed]

I heard that Chevys run better if you put 37 ford tail lights on them?? Dunno - just what a Ford guy told me.

[bosco]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

A few vendors sell an LED "lens" that can be used to replace the stock bulb and lens.

http://www.lmctruck.com/features/ca/cac7s.htm

I'm interested but haven't tried them yet.

I installed these and they are bright. Really like them and the ability to have folks behind me see me.

[mr48chev]

Jeff, First thing I would do is paint the inside of the housing white. That will make a noticeable difference with the bulbs you have.

Honestly I am not sure what they have going on there with the two bulbs. The only reason to have two bulbs is so one is stop/tall and the other is turn on rigs that didn't come with built in turn signal.
The 7506 is a go to single element bulb for stop or turn lights for a lot of rigs though.

That said take a look at these to replace the stop lights https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-ZEVO.../dp/B01A77QYK0

I'm having more trouble with the 97 Bulbs but one source says they dim with age.

[jeffbcn]

The 7506 is for stoplight. That works pretty well. The 97 is for running and even though they are new they are not very bright. That's the main one I would like to upgrade but any bigger it will bump into the other. I like the idea of white paint. I'm going to try it.

[1project2many]

Originally Posted by 4544speed

I heard that Chevys run better if you put 37 ford tail lights on them?? Dunno - just what a Ford guy told me.

Hmm... That's interesting. Obviously that Ford guy has spent enough time behind Chevys to form an opinion.

Chinese bulbs are not so good. We have many of them that burn out at the metal base which holds the filament. The metal begins to burn off and it coats the inside of the glass bulb making them look darker. When you check the bulb it looks chromed. For personal use I've been stocking up on NOS bulbs that I find at yard sales. It's easy to build up a supply of extras because the ones in use don't blow out as quickly.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Honestly I am not sure what they have going on there with the two bulbs. The only reason to have two bulbs is so one is stop/tall and the other is turn on rigs that didn't come with built in turn signal.

I had an original 49 tail light on the shelf and took it apart. two bulbs. looks like one for the tag light and one for the brake light. two wires, one for each bulb.

IMG_7387 by Joe Doh, on Flickr