Apr 2004 -------------------- Halogen / LED / Standard bulbs ------------------------------ ////////////////I went to a swap meet today and bought two red LED tail light bulbs that I hope will add some brightness to my brake lights in my '63 (The Legendary White Tiger). I haven't put them in yet but they seem like an easy fix. Brighter and not heat producing. Has anyone used these yet and to what success? mike ////////////////// ====================================================================== When, and if, you do install them, tell us all if your turn signals work. Every LED light package I've ever read mentioned they needed a special signal relay to allow those lights to be used as turn signals! Those taillights are taillights, turn signals and brake lights in all 1963-91 -- it should proved to be very interesting! Best wishes! Mike Shutko =============================================================== I tried LED tail lights, but wasn't happy with them. They were plenty bright, but didn't put much light into the reflector so the light source appeared very small. I put an LED bulb in one side and a halogen bulb in the other and the side with the halogen was more visible so I went with that. If I remember right, I also had to go to an electronic flasher unit because both the LED and halogen bulbs had different resistance than a standard bulb causing the regular flasher unit to cycle at the wrong rate. Scott Isensee ============================================================- LED's are very directional and not brite enough. (The would probably work if they were almost mounted flush to the inside of the lens.) I tried halogen and melted both lens. (about $25 each to replace - ouch) Remove units from fender, simple two or three screw job, and paint the inside of the housing with gloss white. (Put masking tape over the chrome) Give it a couple of good coats. I used Krylon. I also added a couple of clear self stick reflector strips, 3M brand, horozintal to each bulb. If you do this with new and/or polished lenses I think you will be satisified. ===================================================== a fellow here in FL put a second standard bulb in each housing. He also drilled two holes, about 1 1/4 inches each, in the top of the housing to let out heat and he also painted the inside of the housing gloss white (like I did) Now his lights are brite! I would not do this though unless you added the holes for ventilation. ========================================================== Ventilation holes?!?!? Every Avanti I've seen that replaced the standard taillights with modern halogon bulbs all had various degrees of MELTING on the Avanti's plastic lens covers! Some had "ventilation holes", THAT conversion needs a separate air conditioning system! I'm not at all sure if LED's are the answer, you do need a large cluster of at least 5-6 to really look BRIGHT, and the ones I've seen have LED's that are smaller than normal, and usually red -- I would not use anything but WHITE -- and that is the most expensive "color" to produce, so they are always the most expensive! You are driving a "vintage" classic car designed for the driving conditions of 1963-64, and everyone wants Loewy's design upgraded to 2003-04 specifications -- GOOD LUCK! Best wishes! ================================================================= I wanted more lens area and brighter bulbs, on my '64; but I didn't like the look of a third brake light. I replaced the backup light lenses with Avanti II, red lenses. I used sockets from a trailer light kit, and made a seperate harness, all the way to the switches. I also replaced the original sockets, and wired the ground to body bolts in the trunk. I had planned to use halogen bulbs; but the standard bulbs are so much better, with the improved ground and clean sockets, that I continue to use them. In the stock harness, on each side, the ground for tail, brake, and tag is a single 18# wire to a "T" under the rear seat. A heavier wire runs to a QD plug, under the dash, and eventually to metal. I also converted to a mechanical brake light switch, under the dash; and replaced the flasher with an electronic one. I lined the area around the bulbs inside the trunk lid with chrome tape, which has worked well. Mike ================================================================== The L.E.D. "Bulbs" are generally not as bright as the original 1157 bulbs, as they only have about 10-12 diodes. We use the L.E.D. kit produced by Lambert Industries. The card has 48 diodes, and is at least twice as bright as the original bulbs, with no heat. As mentioned in previous posts, occasionally, the low amp draw of the L.E.D.'s will not trip the 40 year-old flasher, so it's necessary to replace the point type flasher with an electronic flasher, at about $6.95 from Pep Boys, Auto Zone, etc. Info on the L.E.D. kit is at www.lambertenterprises.com We stock the kits for Avanti '63-'91, and Hawk 57-64, and even have 6 volt positive ground kits for the '55 and earlier cars. Bob Ziff Avanti Parts & Restorations, Inc. 17 North Delmorr Avenue Morrisville, PA 19067-6278 Phone (800) 524-8142 Fax (888) 818-7611 =========================================================== Regarding the question of taillight illumination, I use plastic mirror material. CIPA USA Inc, Port Huron, MI 48050 markets a "Cut and Stick" replacement that is a 7 inch by 10 inch strip of plastic and cuts easily with scissors. It worksbetter than any paint or coating. I've been able to find this product at Wal-Mart. Franklin Montour, Albuquerque, NM" ============================================================= I bought halogen 1157 bulbs from J. C. Whitney. They were made by "DesignTech"; and are lifetime garanteed. DesignTech also exchanged them for me, when I got the wrong ones - nice folks! You have to watch out for their single element bulbs sold as 1157. They have one of the two contacts wired to the shell ground. You need their dual element. Tungsten bulbs are 20/5 Watt, brake/park. Halogen are 30/8 Watt. I measured current draw at 14 to 15 volts, (charging), is: Tungsten 2.3/.6 Amps. and Halogen 2.5/.7 Amps. Wires for testing were only about a foot long 14#, socket was new. As I said, I didn't use the halogen bulbs in the Avanti. After repairing the stock setup, and converting the backup lights to brake/park, I was very satisfied with the tungsten bulbs. The "electronic" flasher I used is just a heavy duty flasher from "Auto Zone". It contains a relay and a timer circuit that flashes independent of current draw. It's a cheap, plug in replacement. Mike