The Ford Barn

FRITZ47 · 07-03-2014, 09:15 AM

I am in process of trying to make my tail lights, rear turn signal lights and brake lights brighter on my 59 Ford. Has anyone had any luck with LED bulbs for this application? They make such bulbs that fit into the existing socket, but as I was ready to order, noticed this information regarding their use as turn signals bulbs (using existing flasher).

"Your vehicle may require an LED compatible Flasher or Load Resistor. LED brake/tail lamps will not flash with most stock flasher units due to their extremely low current draw ...Please See More LED Car Bulb Notes
For best results the LED color should be the same as the lens color. If bulb is behind a clear lens, use the appropriate color for turn and brake light functions. ...Please See More LED Car Bulb Notes."

I don't know about changing to an LED compatible Flasher or Load Resistor. Is this a big deal and does it work? Any ideas on this subject will be appreciated.

Attached are pictures of my car.

Fritz

Y-Blockhead · 07-03-2014, 09:33 AM

Yes you will need to change to a LED compatible Flasher and they are readily available. The problem I had on my '55 Ranchwagon is the size (diameter) of the bulb itself. The LED 'bulb' is actually a lot of little LED bulbs. The ones I bought said they replaced the 1157 bulb but it interfered with the inside on the lens.

Bulb: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LED-11...-Red,7767.html

Flasher: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LED-Fl...rong,9549.html

miker98038 · 07-03-2014, 01:20 PM

One of the problems with LED taillights is that some are highly directional inside the len. From straight behind they look fine. But at a small angle they are dimmer than plain bulbs. Some have tried to address this. Casco Thunderbird has 55-57 lenses, but they are very expensive. I've not seen a set, so I don't know how they work from an angle. This is the reason I haven't changed to LED. If you find a good solution, let us know.

Ole Don · 07-03-2014, 04:17 PM

I have followed a guy with LED bulbs on the highway. They are wonderful from directly behind. Any little angle at all and you don't see a lit light at all. Ask an old gray haired counterman at a parts house for a brighter bulb. There is one available for an 1157 size and they fit and work well. If you have decent lenses now, give them a couple coats of a good wax and make sure the inside is clean and dust free. I do have an LED third brake light inside the top of my rear window, hard to do on a convertible.

tdlmomowers · 07-03-2014, 07:59 PM

I tried LED bulbs in my 69 Torino. They were not visible at an angle. After some research, I took my tail lights apart and painted the reflectors bright white and used 2057 bulbs. I also cleaned the lenses. Now they are really bright and can be seen from a distance.

Y-Blockhead · 07-03-2014, 09:41 PM

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Memory coming back now... When I tried the LED's besides the fitment problem I mentioned above they also didn't seem as bright as the 1157 bulbs. Then I realized since the were directional they weren't even shining on the reflectors.

George49Ford · 07-04-2014, 07:34 AM

Same problem as all the others in my '71 Ranchero.

RCM · 07-04-2014, 08:36 AM

C'mon, don't do it....or do it if ya really want to... but dont do it, ok?

zoegrant · 07-04-2014, 08:10 PM

They do make a third brake light that sticks with suction cups to the rear deck above the trunk opening...I use them on my convertible T-Bird and they work good.....J in CT

BW · 07-05-2014, 07:41 AM

You do not need a led flasher or load resistor if you are still using 1157"s in your parking lights

54vicky · 07-06-2014, 01:34 PM

BW the parking lights are not affected by the flasher type

FRITZ47 · 07-06-2014, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdlmomowers

I tried LED bulbs in my 69 Torino. They were not visible at an angle. After some research, I took my tail lights apart and painted the reflectors bright white and used 2057 bulbs. I also cleaned the lenses. Now they are really bright and can be seen from a distance.

2057 Bulbs? Are these brighter than the standard bulbs and will they fit in the original bulb sockets? Any other filament bulbs that might be brighter?

Fritz

miker98038 · 07-07-2014, 05:43 PM

More than you want to know about lights, bulbs etc. including some rear frames with backup and third brake lights

Taillightking.com

1157Brite 80192GG Stop, Tail, Turn, Park 1157, dual element Light Bulb, 50/3 candle power, 12Volt, Standard size 2-pin base, pins indexed, 1 15/16" tall. (In Stock) $5 ea.

Under bulbs, and more to the point.

07-03-2014, 09:33 AM	#2
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,895	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? Yes you will need to change to a LED compatible Flasher and they are readily available. The problem I had on my '55 Ranchwagon is the size (diameter) of the bulb itself. The LED 'bulb' is actually a lot of little LED bulbs. The ones I bought said they replaced the 1157 bulb but it interfered with the inside on the lens. Bulb: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LED-11...-Red,7767.html Flasher: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LED-Fl...rong,9549.html Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 07-03-2014 at 09:42 AM.

07-03-2014, 01:20 PM	#3
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,424	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? One of the problems with LED taillights is that some are highly directional inside the len. From straight behind they look fine. But at a small angle they are dimmer than plain bulbs. Some have tried to address this. Casco Thunderbird has 55-57 lenses, but they are very expensive. I've not seen a set, so I don't know how they work from an angle. This is the reason I haven't changed to LED. If you find a good solution, let us know.

07-03-2014, 04:17 PM	#4
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? I have followed a guy with LED bulbs on the highway. They are wonderful from directly behind. Any little angle at all and you don't see a lit light at all. Ask an old gray haired counterman at a parts house for a brighter bulb. There is one available for an 1157 size and they fit and work well. If you have decent lenses now, give them a couple coats of a good wax and make sure the inside is clean and dust free. I do have an LED third brake light inside the top of my rear window, hard to do on a convertible.

07-03-2014, 07:59 PM	#5
tdlmomowers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 409	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? I tried LED bulbs in my 69 Torino. They were not visible at an angle. After some research, I took my tail lights apart and painted the reflectors bright white and used 2057 bulbs. I also cleaned the lenses. Now they are really bright and can be seen from a distance.

07-03-2014, 09:41 PM	#6
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 5,895	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Memory coming back now... When I tried the LED's besides the fitment problem I mentioned above they also didn't seem as bright as the 1157 bulbs. Then I realized since the were directional they weren't even shining on the reflectors.

07-04-2014, 07:34 AM	#7
George49Ford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Carson City, NV Posts: 179	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? Same problem as all the others in my '71 Ranchero.

07-04-2014, 08:36 AM	#8
RCM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Portugal Posts: 374	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? C'mon, don't do it....or do it if ya really want to... but dont do it, ok?

07-04-2014, 08:10 PM	#9
zoegrant Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tolland CT Posts: 773	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? They do make a third brake light that sticks with suction cups to the rear deck above the trunk opening...I use them on my convertible T-Bird and they work good.....J in CT

07-05-2014, 07:41 AM	#10
BW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 259	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? You do not need a led flasher or load resistor if you are still using 1157"s in your parking lights

07-06-2014, 01:34 PM	#11
54vicky Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakville Ontario Posts: 586	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? BW the parking lights are not affected by the flasher type

07-07-2014, 05:43 PM	#13
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,424	Re: Led tail light bulbs ?? More than you want to know about lights, bulbs etc. including some rear frames with backup and third brake lights Taillightking.com 1157Brite 80192GG Stop, Tail, Turn, Park 1157, dual element Light Bulb, 50/3 candle power, 12Volt, Standard size 2-pin base, pins indexed, 1 15/16" tall. (In Stock) $5 ea. Under bulbs, and more to the point. Last edited by miker98038; 07-07-2014 at 05:45 PM. Reason: Spelling