LED tail light installation

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

LED tail light installation

deleted · Guru

....yes, I went through the same thing last winter with testing in my 49 truck . I have round 55 led's in back and stock style 49 led's in front. The rear flash but not the front. led flashers don't solve it. So I tapped in a 1157 bulb in front and then all works. A resistor can be tied into the line as well. I'm just putting the front sheetmetal on so didn't hook up the front wiring yet but I also just picked up projection 7" headlamps with led rings in them that can be wired to flash also, so will see how all this turns out. But yeah, led's are nice but can be a pain to try get working.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

My 7" head lamps have the amber LED in the bottom section. & yep, your right, the rears flashed but had to get right up close to see them as it was "TOO Fast" to light em up full!!! I'm assuming you 'tapped' a 1157 on each side??? They sure are a "BIG" improvement over the stock set up, I even "popped" for new NOS tail lenses to try improve the visablity of tail lamps. Brake light was OK [12V BTW] but tails were a little dim, now it's "REAL BRIGHT" back there!!!

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Heres what they look klike with the "Brakes" on

Picture 162.jpg

deleted · Guru

....the tail lights look super, camera can't capture the brightness !! . I was playing with my front ones tonight. Like I said earlier, getting led's to flash can be a pain. Mine will work front and back with the 4 way flasher , but on signal then the fronts will not flash but the rear will. It doesn't matter what type of flasher I tried. But once I tapped in a 1157 bulb into the front signal then the front led will flash. The line needs resistance plain and simple. A 6 watt 50 ohm resistor can be used in line but I went another route. I stuck a #89 bulb in the socket then put the led light in place of the original glass lens . The bulb gives the resistance when flashing and the led works perfect. I tried a weaker #67 bulb but it would not flash, so used the 89 and all is OK.

-- Edited by Johnny Ringo on Sunday 26th of January 2014 01:48:28 AM

Lefty · Uber Guru

you can always get a LED flasher.
from superbrightled

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Lefty wrote:
you can always get a LED flasher.
from superbrightled

Both Jonny & I have tried the "no load" LED flashers,& they don't work!!!! Thats why we both have had to ad a regular bulb in the circuit on ea. side, to get those flashers to flash!!!!!

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

That rear shot of your car is too cool Pete!

Lefty · Uber Guru

i left the original bulbs in the cluster because the "LED" flasher did not have the clicking sound.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Lefty wrote:
i left the original bulbs in the cluster because the "LED" flasher did not have the clicking sound.

That's all it takes [reg. dash bulb] to "trigger" the "no load' flasher!! All my lamps in signal circuit are LED's including dash!!!

65wagon · Poncho Master!

since we are all thinking the same thing, its not original but its the best way to go, someone should do a trouble shooting how to write up.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Think we "just" DID!!!! My Torpedo back is NOT Org.[ all my cars are "modified] so makes no difference & would advise any car owner to do this conversion for safety reasons. I'm going to do the Bulbs in 64 catalina as well, as they don't make the whole unit for 64 B body & neighbour just bought a set for his Org. Model A 5 window coupe [6 V ] set up, as a "candle" would be brighter than the stock T/light & brake

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Just installed the 2 Mirrors with LED arrow, will wire them when I do the pwr. window kit but they do look "KOOL" with test pwr. to them

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

I love the arrows Pete biggrin when you look left or right and "see" a flashing arrow, it reminds old folks, which way you were going to turn...... biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

Picture 169.jpg

Picture 170.jpg

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

Very tasteful mod Pete!

deleted · Guru

......looks real good Pete , I like 'em. Last night I finished my front led's, amber and the purple in the headlights, can't wait to get the back ones done. The ambers flash nice now after I added the bulb trick.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thats KOOL looks good, glad my info helped out. Pete

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

I got some too thanks Pete

brandonbob43 · Member

dualquadpete wrote:
Lefty wrote:
you can always get a LED flasher.
from superbrightled
Both Jonny & I have tried the "no load" LED flashers,& they don't work!!!! Thats why we both have had to ad a regular bulb in the circuit on ea. side, to get those flashers to flash!!!!!

The proper LED flashers do work. Here is the flasher that I use with LED rear, front and dash indicators, and it works great without any add-on resistor or bulb needed.

Bob