LED Tail Light bulb QUESTION

19Fordy

19Fordy

Well-known member
I converted my 40 to 12V years ago and am still using incandescent bulbs. Time to update.

Any recommendations for the best and brightest red LED bulb that will plug in using the stock tail light socket? Wiring is stock without directional signals.

Thanks. JIM
 
I personally don't think those LED bulbs work that good with the stock tail lamp lens. The ones that work the best are the LED's that are one unit that includes the lens. I believe that some of those do come with the plug to go into your socket.
 
19Fordy said:
I converted my 40 to 12V years ago and am still using incandescent bulbs. Time to update.

Any recommendations for the best and brightest red LED bulb that will plug in using the stock tail light socket? Wiring is stock without directional signals.

Thanks. JIM
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I use 32 Ford headlight bulbs in my tailights . They are available in 6&12 volt. I did install a relay to prevent burning out the brake light switch.
 
I tried LED bulbs and went to, United Pacific Ind., LED's built in the lens of my '41. FAR better brightness compared to led LED bulbs thru a stock glass lens. The U.P. lens fit my housings perfectly. I checked U.P. website and they have '40 lens but couldn't find a price. I think I paid about $65/set but was 8-10 yrs ago. They're still going strong.
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I also have the United Pacific tail lights in my '46. I was following my son one day when he was using the car and I couldn't get over how bright they were.
 
fordor41 said:
I tried LED bulbs and went to, United Pacific Ind., LED's built in the lens of my '41. FAR better brightness compared to led LED bulbs thru a stock glass lens. The U.P. lens fit my housings perfectly. I checked U.P. website and they have '40 lens but couldn't find a price. I think I paid about $65/set but was 8-10 yrs ago. They're still going strong.
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Ditto the easy fit and very bright UP LED tail lights in my 12v '41.
 
I have United Pacific LED lights on both my deuce 5 window ( 46/48s in the back panel) and my deuce pu (37s on the side of the box) Both are much brighter than the stock style lights on my other 3 deuces. I am going to convert my other cars to LEDs.
 
coolcoupe said:
Ken,are saying that the 32 headlight bulb's fit into the taillight socket ? Moe
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Yes,They will in a 40, not sure about other applications. The 40 bucket is deep enough and the lens will clear the bulb. The 32 bulb doesn't have the flange like the 33-39 have so it will fit most all the sockets,clearance will be the determining factor.
 
Don't waste your time (or money) on LED bulbs. They're far too directional and only illuminate a small portion of a tail-light reflector, which is less than ideal. I went with the equilivent version of this https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_early/led-tail-light-assembly-ford-1940-passenger-black-body-20-red-leds-right-or-left.html on my '36 and couldn't be happier. They're SERIOUSLY BRIGHT and come on IMMEDIATELY, unlike incandescent bulbs, which take fractions of a second longer to reach full brightness. For added safety I also added a Brake Lighter center high-mounted stop lamp http://jandlenterprise.com/products/brakelighter.htm. I HIGHLY recommend adding one of these as well if you haven't done so. They're equally bright and come on quickly, plus they're mounted higher up in a spot modern motorists are more accustomed to looking (nobody's looking down at ankle level where the old Ford tail lights are mounted). I even set up the Brake Lighter to flash with my turn signals, another safety benefit.
 
Automotive Stud said:
LED lights are seriously ugly in early Fords. I've been using these extra candlepower 1157's with great results! Much brighter than a regular 1157 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/upd-a1071
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Summit's listing on the bulbs is 50/3 candlepower. I looked up the rating on a standard 1157 as 31.9/3. It appears from these numbers that the extra brightness in in the brake/turn circuit with the running light being virtually the same.
 
Personally I use the "extra bright" standard bulbs front and rear. I also have the small thin LED strip light on the inside of my rear window which shows brake and directions sold by name Brakelighter by J & L Enterprises in CT at (860) 916-3582. Easy to install, removable, inconspicuous and effective.
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40cpe said:
Summit's listing on the bulbs is 50/3 candlepower. I looked up the rating on a standard 1157 as 31.9/3. It appears from these numbers that the extra brightness in in the brake/turn circuit with the running light being virtually the same.
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That is the issue I had. You could hardly notice a difference between the running and brake lights when the brake pedal was pushed. Maybe a resistor installed in the running light wire would help?
 
19Fordy said:
Would brightness be more with a red bulb or a clear bulb when using a red tail light lense?
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Seriously doubt it.
Generally colored bulbs are used behind clear lenses such as the yellow bulbs I have behind my clear lens front parking/signal lights.
 
It helps if you paint the inside of the taillight housing with either white or silver paint.
 
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