Simple taillight bulb question... Maybe?

[MykeNytemare]

Finally warming up here in New York and I'm planning to address a lot of small issues with the car, and some bigger ones, in the next few weeks.

The driving/brake/turn signal lights on my 67 RT leave a lot to be desired in the visibility department.

The lenses are clean and the bulbs are good, but I want the rear lights to be much brighter as they are kind of hard to see in the rain/fog/dusk driving conditions.

Anyone use Led bulbs with a load equalizer? I'm thinking this would be the best solution if I found a bulb with an array of LEDs that disperse light like an incandescent bulb (so probably not a surface mount led bulb).

Any input?

 

[HYRDGOON]

Lots of people on here have done LED conversions.

Here's just one of many threads a search brought up that will answer your questions.

Hope it helps!

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...lot-1157w-LED-tail-brake-lights&highlight=LED

 

[Lionized]

I've got LED replacement bulbs installed on my Super Bee. They're ok, I suppose, but I believe I need to address some more ground issues with the car before giving a final verdict.
I'm sure once all of those bugs are worked out they'll be much brighter.

 

[HawkRod]

So I can't speak to an LED conversion since I have not done that. Remember that the brightness of the light is very dependent on the silvering in the housing, not just the bulb and the lens. So if they are not bright enough a refresh with some good silver paint might be all that is needed.

...Just a thought in case...

Good luck

 

[A383Wing]

and LED's are more of a "straight on view from the rear".....not so good at an angle....I say take the lens and housing apart, clean and re-paint the silver portion in the housing, and clean the inside of the lens....you will be surprised at how bright it will be after that

 

[HYRDGOON]

As in the link I posted I'm using Honda bulbs as per slantsixdan's write-up.

Here's the just in a copy and paste from his recommendation:

Though they are spendy, the best bulb you can use in place of 1157 is a 3496. You can get them from your local Honda dealer. Part number is 34906-SL0-A01. It draws the same amount of current as 1157, but is much more efficient. It produces 43 candlepower on the bright (brake or turn) filament, and 3.5 candlepower on the dim (tail or parking) filament. It also has a nickel-plated base that is much more corrosion resistant than the plain brass base of an 1157, so it's less likely to stick in the socket.

The best replacement for 1156, 1141 and 1073 in all applications *except* reversing/backup lights is a 3497. You can get P3497 bulbs from your local Honda dealer, too. Part number is 34903-SF1-A01.

3497 produces 45 candlepower. (Yes, the 6 and the 7 in P3496 and P3497 are reversed from the 6 and the 7 in 1156 and 1157 relative to how many filaments the bulb has. This is not a typo.) The 3496 and 3497 bulbs have a life span about double that of an 1157. It is worth your time, money, and trouble to get the 3496 and 3497 from a Honda dealer rather than a parts store...the parts store items are of much poorer quality and don't last as long.

 

[A383Wing]

wonder why you can't use the 3497 in the reverse lights?

 

[Lionized]

and LED's are more of a "straight on view from the rear".....not so good at an angle....I say take the lens and housing apart, clean and re-paint the silver portion in the housing, and clean the inside of the lens....you will be surprised at how bright it will be after that

Before replacing the bulbs and while restoring my tail panel I did completely disassemble and refurbish the tail light housings. Polishing the lenses and re-spraying the silver. I'm now thinking that maybe I should try respraying one white and comparing the two.

 

[badmopar67]

I also didn't like the visibility of the R/T taillights and I've done the route of cleaning the lenses painting the housings changing the bulbs and I haven't seen any significant improvement also went as far as to lined the inside of the housings with aluminum tape which was the best improvement of all but now Contemplating going to these LED plasma bulbs
Also

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ9E7xLSBC8

 

[jeepers007]

Make sure you've got a good ground back there. Maybe run an engine ground to the back...