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

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

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.

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

I think this (3rd lamp) is the best idea. Those LED don't help enough to bother...

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.

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

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.

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/

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.

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]

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

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.

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

I like the Speedway lights, very bright.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273016

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 http://www.cool-leds.com/images/prod...027_40ford.jpg

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

I ordered some Technostalgia taillights last night.

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

Attachment 443309
I vote for the 3rd brake light. I made this one for my '39.

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

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

Got my Technostalgia 40 lights today. Very high quality.

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

Keep us posted on how they work out!

Re: 40 Ford LED tailights
 

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!

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 .