LED Tail light options

H

halpeters

Junior Member
I just watched Paul Shin's new video on LED tail lights, and am considering upgrading... I still have the single taillight, so any improvements would be good.

Looking at two options:

1. The plastic lens LED lens that replaces the factory glass lens.

2. LED "cards" that mount behind the factory glass lens.

My first thought is to keep the factory glass lens, and get the LED "cards" that mount behind the glass - how does the brightness of this compare to the LED plastic lens? I would choose brightness over original glass...

Thanks,

Hal
 
I have this $7 replacement bulb, and it throws a crazy amount of light through the original lens. http://https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=1027951&cat=41888

There is another bulb (swap “X” for the “LED” at the end of the Snyder’s part number) that has even more LEDs. I haven’t tried that one, but I’d imagine it works quite well.

Have you tried any LED bulbs? The $7 LED bulb makes my whole garage glows red like Kramer’s apartment when the Kenny Rogers’ Roasters opened across the street.
 
The plastic lens type is very bright. You have the option to have the whole thing light. Taillight and brighter for brake. or as two separate lights as stock.
 
Jim16A1 said:
I have this $7 replacement bulb, and it throws a crazy amount of light through the original lens. http://https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=1027951&cat=41888

There is another bulb (swap “X” for the “LED” at the end of the Snyder’s part number) that has even more LEDs. I haven’t tried that one, but I’d imagine it works quite well.

Have you tried any LED bulbs? The $7 LED bulb makes my whole garage glows red like Kramer’s apartment when the Kenny Rogers’ Roasters opened across the street.
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I get an error on the above link; I think it was supposed to be this
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The disc type led shows up like a whole bunch of dots through the lens.
Stick with the bulb type LED plenty bright and a lot cheaper. They are $3-4 on Fleabay. You can order them in white, amber or red.
 

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I've bought the LED stop lamp bulb replacement and the two are pretty equal in brightness. I tried it with one bulb incandescent and one bulb LED. If you are going to go LED do it for another reason other than brightness.
 
I already have the LED bulb for the stop light - I was thinking the other style LED would be brighter....

Think I'll just spring for the parking light / tag light LED too.. Is a LOT cheaper!!

Thanks for everyone's input.

Thanks, Hal
 
LEDs are directional. So the light comes straight out.
If it is pointing straight at the car following I think it will be more noticeable. Certainly is for bike lights.
 
Updraught LED's are usually combined with lenses that are designed to distribute the light. Take a look at the LED tail lights on your modern vehicle.
 
We have push bike clip on tail lights and you will know about it if you are following. They are unmissable.
 
old31 said:
I have the same lights as NK, and they are very bright.
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Same here - noticeably brighter than the stock incandescent bulb & glass lens I had originally; I have no qualms over going modern to help prevent being rear-ended. I also have a third brake light mounted in the rear window as well, for the same reason.
 
I have the same integrated LED light/lens setup as nkaminar (post #7). I had to modify the stainless outer ring of the taillight, as Snyder’s warns about. I typically drive on the road with my cowl lights lit as marker lights, which turns on the taillights. Several times I’ve had folks remark to me that my brake lights are stuck on. I tell them that those are the taillights, and when I push the brake pedal and they see the REAL brake lights, they understand.

This is one “upgrade” (along with a second taillight, and turn signals) that I think is safety-essential in any Model A that is going to be driven on the road.

I also have a third brake light in the rear window.
 
SDJason said:
Same here - noticeably brighter than the stock incandescent bulb & glass lens I had originally; I have no qualms over going modern to help prevent being rear-ended. I also have a third brake light mounted in the rear window as well, for the same reason.
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I am of the same opinion.
 
One thing that will help if you retain the stock bulb set up is painting the inside of the housing with white/silver/chrome paint. It will make the lights noticeably brighter. I have the stock set up but added a third brake light on the spare tire. People say that it is very bright and that is where people are trained to look nowadays. Iwll probably add turn signals for safety reasons-don't like the look of them but they are a necessary evil now.

Mike
 
Jay Jay, if you run a separate parallel power feed to the cowl lights, the tail lights will not come on as they are on a separate circuit from the light switch. I mounted a toggle switch with an LED indicator on my steering column using a little L-bracket. I have bright white LED's in my cowl lights and they make good daytime driving lights.
 
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