1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I would like to use LED bulbs to replace my 1940 Ford tail light bulbs as I think they would be brighter. Car has been converted to 12v negative ground and inside light housings have been painted white. Lenses are stock 1940 Ford.
Car does not have directional signals.

What bulbs have you folks works the best and the brightest. Thanks.

I found these items.
https://upcarparts.com/catalog/produ...nger-car-10556

and the first 3 lenses shown here.
https://upcarparts.com/amfinder?find...sid=4goRrUhXUt

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Hi,


I have a 40 with Bob Drake replacement housing that I also painted white. I have a high intensity 1157 bulb, different number which I don't recall. They are good but I'd like LEDs too.



The lens only, Part# FTL4004LED, looks good to me since the LEDs are aligned to show on the unobstructed part and not blocked by the taillight stainless trim.


Glenn

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I put 32 Ford headlight bulbs in mine.

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

12 volt?

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I also made a license pate mount plate with LEDs mounted on the sides many years ago. They work with my manual canceling directionals and brake lights and are very noticeable.


Glenn

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

United Pacific is making a real nice LED replacement in 12 volt. You can contact Ken Seymour at Rodworx 1-863-646-6867. He's located in Lakeland, FL. Real nice to deal with. I have purchased several LED tail lights from him.

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I just bought them from Speedway Motors. I'll post a picture when I get them installed.


https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1940-...ns,379063.html

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

glennpm: Please be sure to let us know how well those lights work after you install them
Thanks.

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I have found that the LED bulbs don't work that well with the stock tail light lenses. Buy the complete LED unit with lens and all.

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I will report back

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I’m still running a 6 volt system but those bulbs are available in 12 volt also. I installed a relay to keep from burning out the brake switch on the master cylinder because of the higher amp draw on the bulbs . Now the original switch just serves as a ground when applying the brakes to energize the relay.

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Okay I got one side in today and like the results. They are quite a bit brighter than the quartz bulb conversion I already had. They come on instantly and work with my flasher since I have regular directional lights inside my headlight buckets. I have a 12V system.

It wasn't plug and play for me and have included some pics of my setup. I had to cut off the 1157 type plug and wire things up with a new ground screw inside the housing. White is ground, red is brake/directional and black taillights.

It is hard to take a picture that represents the brightness but they are excellent. My impartial and truthful assessment by my wife says they are great and welcome improvement! I like how the LEDs are aligned with the SS chevron trim too.

Glenn

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Old Henry did some fairly scholarly research on tail lights a few years back.

Here's a link to his thread:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ght=tail+light

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

United Pacific has an LED bulb just like the 1157 and it acts like a bulb and not multiple LEDs in a pattern. Have them on my avatar and my new 32 coupe. Super bright and it’s just a replacement bulb but an LED one. They are were $20 each the last time I bought them .....

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Curious as to why nobody makes these for 6 volt

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Demand ?

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

I have 6V LED bulbs in my '32 5W (avatar) and my 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe Sedan. Both still 6 volt positive ground. Try www.LEDlight.com or www.superbrightleds.com or remember...Google is your friend!

Pat

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

Google, never heard of him. Actually I did Google search 6 volt LED tail lights and found a place here in Indiana that makes the (Lanbert Enterprises). I was curious as to if there was any others vendors that folks with 6volt systems had any experience with, good or bad. Lanbert Enterprises uses a LED panel that goes behind the original lens instead of the LED bulb

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

There was mention a few weeks ago on the EFV8 Forum about a source for 6V LED bulbs. FWIW
Paul in CT

Re: 1940 Ford Tailight Conversion to LED lenses or bulbs
 

glennpm has the right answer.