Tail lights

Dtolson

Member
Got pulled over last night by the police for having only one tail light on my 29 pickup. I told the police officer that the truck come with only one tail light but he said I have to have two. I looked the statute and found that I was correct, but, I could use more brightness out of the stock tail light. I currently run a 6 volt system with a standard generator with standard watt bulbs in the tail light. Can I put a higher watt bulb in the standard tail light assembly? Any other suggestion and still keep the original look?
 
Sounds like the donut shop was closed and the cop was bored.:D:p LOL

My single taillight is plenty bright with a stock bulb. Make sure the housing is white or silver inside to reflect the light.:)
 
I put a LED on my 1929. It is a bunch brighter, but be ready to do a bit of work on it to make it fit right. Good Luck!
 
Keep a copy of the state statute with your registration. Nothing better than shutting up a know it all cop. Rod
 
I put LED assemblies in mine ( and added a right side light). They are very bright. I drive at night so I want to be seen... I have over 26 years in as an EMT-I and have seen people who were perfectly in their right, very bad hurt or dead.

It is your vehicle and life, you decide what you want..
 
The standard taillight bulb was only 3 cp. Our favorite vendors have 6 cp & 10 cp versions available.
 
I put the LED setup Bratton sells in mine, and it is very bright. More so than the standard bulbs.

It is a little funky to put in - no real mount. It sort of sits in there and the instructions tell you to stuff some paper behind it to hold it in position. I did this for now, but will probably cut some custom plastic standoffs to do it better.


Also - out of the box it functions like a modern light: Both sections light for the parking light feature, and the top section then brightens for brake. You can cut a wire and defeat this - so that the parking light and brake light are independent.
 
While I appreciate your concern for safety and wanting brighter lights, you never told us: ticket or 'warning'?
 
I, too, run only one tail light. I have to agree, the LED set from Bratton's is nice and bright. It behaves a little differently though. I would have to look but I seen that the whole light, not just the bottom lights for tail light, and then the whole thing gets brighter on braking.

I'm usually lean toward original, but will make exceptions for safety.
 
I'va had 2 Model A's, and both had the second tail light already installed. A few years ago I put the LED's in, and they are much brighter....no comparison to stock. I would also urge you to add the second light at some time. With today's traffic, etc. it just makes sense if you drive your car much at all, unless you have a show car.
 
Sounds like the donut shop was closed and the cop was bored.:D:p LOL

My single taillight is plenty bright with a stock bulb. Make sure the housing is white or silver inside to reflect the light.:)
"APPLIANCE WHITE" sprayed inside the tail light, even makes the red/amber lens show up more vivid when the light isn't even on & in bright sunlight!! An old colored lens will show up as if it is a NEW lens!! Bill W.
 
Dtolson,

Is the car registered as an antique or have a special plate ?

If it's registered as just a "car", you may have to have two rear lights.

Marc
 
I run a stock system and put 10cp bulbs in my tail lights. Only the Tudor has one; the others have two. They are very bright.

Can you run LEDs on a generator, or do you have to have an alternator?
 
"APPLIANCE WHITE" sprayed inside the tail light, even makes the red/amber lens show up more vivid when the light isn't even on & in bright sunlight!! An old colored lens will show up as if it is a NEW lens!! Bill W.

Bill's right. I second the appliance white; It works better than silver or any other color for inside the tail light.

R/ Roger.
 
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