Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-28-2020, 03:54 PM   #1
Krylon32
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,423
Default 40 Ford LED tailights

Wife says gotta update the taillights in my 40 coupe.She was following me last week on a bright sunny day and said she had to get within 15 feet to see my turn signals and brake lights. I've checked around for LED lights and BO Bob is out, Speedway has them but their bezel is plastic and Macs has them with a SS bezel. Has anyone had experience with Macs lights or is their a better solution? I dam sure don't want to get rear ended. Thanks
Krylon32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 03:59 PM   #2
Pat/Ohio
Senior Member
 
Pat/Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wilmington, OH/Lakeland, FL
Posts: 949
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

6 volt or 12 volt. United Pacific in SoCal or Rodworx in Lakeland, Fl.should have the 12 volt variety.

Rodworx... https://www.rodworx.com/product-cate...40s-ford-leds/

Good Luck!
Pat
Pat/Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-28-2020, 04:00 PM   #3
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Another good idea, I think, is to add the 3rd brake light bar. The one that the center is the brake light and each end is a turn signal.

Speedway has them

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...%20(Feb28_2020)

No idea on the quality.

Last edited by JSeery; 09-28-2020 at 04:09 PM.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 04:35 PM   #4
Kube
Senior Member
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 8,893
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSeery View Post
Another good idea, I think, is to add the 3rd brake light bar. The one that the center is the brake light and each end is a turn signal.

Speedway has them

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...%20(Feb28_2020)

No idea on the quality.
I think this (3rd lamp) is the best idea. Those LED don't help enough to bother...
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 07:12 PM   #5
TJ
Senior Member
 
TJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Napa,California
Posts: 5,999
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Paint the inside of the light housing white and then slip a good flashlight reflector over the bulb socket. It will brighten those '40 lights right up and a lot cheaper than the LEDs.
TJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 07:38 PM   #6
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
The nice thing about the 3rd light bar (at least to me) is it doesn't have to be a permanent installation or require major modification to a relative stock vehicle. You can wire them in such a way that they can be disconnected and removed for show and then put back in to drive.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 07:41 PM   #7
Fritz
Senior Member
 
Fritz's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: From Chicago. Now Nashville
Posts: 200
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

White paint inside the housing. I also found 1156 6v LED light bulbs on superbrightleds.com and they really are super bright. They fit inside the tail lights on my pickup, but it looks like on their website, you can only get them in amber anymore. The white and red are discontinued. There are many other 1156 LEDs out there though, and you just swap the bulb.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...-car-bulb/511/
__________________
Cars and metal rust away and are destroyed, but the Word of God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35).
Fritz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 08:36 PM   #8
40cpe
Senior Member
 
40cpe's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Star, MS
Posts: 4,022
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

About 20 years ago Lambert Enterprises had a booth at Nats South. I bought a LE card that mounted inside the tail light housing and used the stock lens and bezel. The lights were very visible. I see their kit is a little different now, but still use the LED card in the stock housing. I would recommend checking with them if you go to LED.

The '40 has an ideal mounting spot for a third brake light on top of the license plate. It puts it in the center of the car and at eye level.
40cpe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 08:48 PM   #9
Joe Immler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 783
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

I got LED tail lights for my '41 from Ken Check and they are outstanding!. I get comments from every car guy who follows me.
Ken Check 541 653 8825 [email protected]
Joe Immler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 09:25 PM   #10
Ken/Alabama
Senior Member
 
Ken/Alabama's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,222
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Paint the buckets white. A 32 Ford headlight bulb will plug right into the socket. Gives you. Bright lights. The down side is that you’ll need to put a relay in the circuit to keep from burning out the brake switch on the back of the master cylinder
Ken/Alabama is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-28-2020, 10:07 PM   #11
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,855
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Check Julianos for LED glass taillights.
https://www.julianos.com/Tail-Lights-s/152.htm

Also has them for the front.

Be sure and let us know what you decide.
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 06:16 AM   #12
glennpm
Senior Member
 
glennpm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Wiscasset, Maine
Posts: 1,962
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

I like the Speedway lights, very bright.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273016
glennpm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 07:31 AM   #13
V8 Bob
Senior Member
 
V8 Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana
Posts: 1,517
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Check out these lights I'm going to use from Technostalgia. They are high quality, properly fit the fenders, and a big improvement over bulbs.



1940 Ford complete taillight assembly including chrome plated bezels, buckets, lenses, and body seal. Includes two light assemblies with LED arrays, electrical harnesses, connectors, and attaching hardware. Our ’40 lights actually fit the fender. Lights designed to shine at towards the rear of the car, not at the sky.
More Info...
Installation Instructions
Customer Pictures
6027
V8 Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 08:00 AM   #14
Krylon32
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,423
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

I ordered some Technostalgia taillights last night.
Krylon32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 08:17 AM   #15
flat 39
Member
 
flat 39's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Clermont FL
Posts: 99
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

brake light.JPG
I vote for the 3rd brake light. I made this one for my '39.
flat 39 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2020, 11:42 AM   #16
CaliforniaBorn36
Senior Member
 
CaliforniaBorn36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 427
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

I use this third brake light in my 1936 6 volt and it works great also supports blinkers.

https://www.brakelighter.com/category-s/100.htm
CaliforniaBorn36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2020, 10:49 AM   #17
Krylon32
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,423
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Got my Technostalgia 40 lights today. Very high quality.
Krylon32 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-2020, 11:04 AM   #18
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Keep us posted on how they work out!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 12:33 PM   #19
Olskul Larry
Junior Member
 
Olskul Larry's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Florida
Posts: 11
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Quote:
Originally Posted by Krylon32 View Post
Got my Technostalgia 40 lights today. Very high quality.
I have a '40 Coupe also. Would like to hear your wife's opinion of the Techno lights after you get them installed. I have LED tailights now, not too impressed with brightness. Have the third light on my tag with LED's and it is very bright. Thanks!
Olskul Larry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2020, 01:48 PM   #20
my4dv8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 1,110
Default Re: 40 Ford LED tailights

Good on you Gary buying decent LED . Painting the inside white and adding tinfoil in reality dont cut it as far as a decent LED. If you are worried about an LED not looking traditional , dont, you should be more worried about getting rear ended .
my4dv8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:09 AM.