Wanting to change to LED tail lights.

jjbubaboy

Wondering if anyone has changed over their rear tail lights to 6 volt LED lights?
Would like to just go with the bulbs if possible for my 36T.
They should be red and dual filament with even not the offset pins.
Any info or suggestions appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff

GrimGreaser

Try here: http://www.superbrightleds.com/

ESSX28-1

Remember that LED's are polarity sensitive unlike regular bulbs.

Kdancy

http://www.ledlight.com/24-led-light-s25-6-volt-dc-positive-or-negative-chassis-non-polarity-sensitve.aspx

[Deleted User]

Bob Drakes Ford catalog has 6V bulbs, should work in Huds.

Hudson Grandpa

Got a set of the LED's if you need them for the tailights. I was hot to trot on LED,s and the guy I bought them from said oh they are fantastic. Well sorry, but they are not as bright as the incandescent 6 volt bulb. I Put the old ones back in..Led's are too directional, and not bright enough. The regular bulbs you can see from the side and the back.. Your welcome to them to satisfy your desire. I think these have offset pins though.

jjbubaboy

Hey,
Yea Dave, that has been part of my dilemma as well as the non indexed pins.
Grim & Kdancy, they dont seem to have the 6v pos ground non indexed pins either....same as Bob Drake.

Grandpa, that is interesting, I knew they were directional and figured that would be OK with the design of the 36 taillight. But now after reading your experience I am wondering. Sounds like you were just like I am now, hot on trying LED's! I wish yours would work as I would love to put one in to check it out first...but need the non indexed pin type. Thank you anyway!
I did find one outfit that does have em but now I am cautious-especially at $28 each!!

www.highspeedmotors.com

Actually a Studebaker parts dealer.
Thankyou all for the input.
Maybe I will see about the return policy and check one out and let y'all know.
Jeff

SuperDave

I converted my 49 Commodore brake and TS to LED's and they worked great. Don't know why the 6 volt version wouldn't work. As a point of interest.. I bought a set of 12 volt Led lights for my trailer. Tried them on 6 volts (proper neg gnd, polarity) and they worked! Don't know what would happen at perhaps 5.5 volts??

Spencer Yarrow

I changed mine to halogen bulbs[6volt] and are much better than ordinary bulbs.
\Spencer

jjbubaboy

Hey Spencer,
Yes I did see some of those I liked in the C___v's of the 40's catalog. They even had a 'double bulb' one.
Have you had any issues with enough power or heat buildup with them?
Thanks,
Jeff

Park_W

I'm running 6v Halogens in my '47, with no problems. They do get warm, but worth it to get the brighter taillights.

Spencer Yarrow

Only have them in the indicators so heat is not a problem,must get around to doing tail light soon.
Spencer

jjbubaboy

Hey Hudson Grandpa,
You still got those lights??
Turns out the Studebaker guy no longer has or makes the 6v + ground bulbs! Bummer.
Thanks,
Jeff

Park_W

Bulbs aren't pos or neg ground. They don't care which way the electrons are going.

ESSX28-1

Incandescent bulbs (both regular & qh) can be used on both polarities but LED lights need to be the correct polarity.

Hudson Grandpa

Nope pins are straight across from the other, but negative ground for my 54. They sure look purty..I think the reason I went back to regs, is that the LEDS did shine very nicely, but the glow looking at them straight on from the back you could hardly distinquish the turn signal, as opposed to the regs.

jjbubaboy

OH RATS! Need the pos ground ones. Oh well guess I will keep lookin.
THankyou!
Jeff

Jon B

One thing you can try, for added brightness, is to install a reflector. A great (and sadly, late) Hudsonite named Jack Heisler, gave me some large, heavy duty metal flashlight reflectors he'd found, many years ago. The hole in the center of the reflector fitted around the taillight socket in my '37 Terraplane, then you put the bulb in and it sort of trapped the reflector in place. Jack had used them successfully on his '37 Terraplane and I have as well. It sort of focuses the light backward out the lens and in so doing, makes it appear brighter.

RL Chilton

That's a great idea, Jon. Way better than trying to put in LED's.

tigermoth

i bought my LED's from http://www.highspeedmotors.com/ work great super guy. regards, tom

jjbubaboy

Hey guys,
Thanks Jon. That is a super idea!
And tiger, he was my first try and he no longer has or makes them.
Would have loved to have tried them tho!
Jeff

brumac

I glue some aluminium foil into the tail light housing. It works for me.

Bruce

[Deleted User]

I put "chrome" tape inside my front parking lights and will do the same to my taillights when I take them off and replace the rubber gaskets sometime in the future.

TwinH

Seems lots of guys are painting the inside of their housings white to increase visibility.
jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=589053&highlight=reflector+white


Halogens will definitely be brighter, but also much hotter and a higher amp draw.
Please share the results of what you end up with.

jjbubaboy

Hey TwinH,
OK will do.
Since I am unable to locate what I would have liked to try another route is in order.
I think the design of the 36 tail light would have worked well with the proper led bulb.
So far I like the idea of the flashlight reflector and since reading the HAMB input I may just be painting them white and see which is brighter.
Thanks Pacemaker500, and brumac on those ideas as well.
Jeff