09-10-2013, 12:46 PM | #1 |
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Location: KY
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Tail lights
Got pulled over last night by the police for having only one tail light on my 29 pickup. I told the police officer that the truck come with only one tail light but he said I have to have two. I looked the statute and found that I was correct, but, I could use more brightness out of the stock tail light. I currently run a 6 volt system with a standard generator with standard watt bulbs in the tail light. Can I put a higher watt bulb in the standard tail light assembly? Any other suggestion and still keep the original look?
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09-10-2013, 12:51 PM | #2 |
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Re: Tail lights
You can put a halogen bulb in there, or the LED lens replacements are really bright.
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09-10-2013, 01:13 PM | #3 |
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Re: Tail lights
Sounds like the donut shop was closed and the cop was bored. LOL
My single taillight is plenty bright with a stock bulb. Make sure the housing is white or silver inside to reflect the light. |
09-10-2013, 01:13 PM | #4 |
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Re: Tail lights
LED sounds like a great idea. Thanks !
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09-10-2013, 01:15 PM | #5 |
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Re: Tail lights
I put a LED on my 1929. It is a bunch brighter, but be ready to do a bit of work on it to make it fit right. Good Luck!
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09-10-2013, 01:20 PM | #6 |
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Re: Tail lights
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09-10-2013, 01:22 PM | #7 |
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Re: Tail lights
Led for me I think they are great
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09-10-2013, 01:23 PM | #8 |
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Re: Tail lights
I put LED assemblies in mine ( and added a right side light). They are very bright. I drive at night so I want to be seen... I have over 26 years in as an EMT-I and have seen people who were perfectly in their right, very bad hurt or dead.
It is your vehicle and life, you decide what you want..
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09-10-2013, 02:19 PM | #9 |
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Re: Tail lights
The standard taillight bulb was only 3 cp. Our favorite vendors have 6 cp & 10 cp versions available.
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09-10-2013, 02:28 PM | #10 |
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Re: Tail lights
I put the LED setup Bratton sells in mine, and it is very bright. More so than the standard bulbs.
It is a little funky to put in - no real mount. It sort of sits in there and the instructions tell you to stuff some paper behind it to hold it in position. I did this for now, but will probably cut some custom plastic standoffs to do it better. Also - out of the box it functions like a modern light: Both sections light for the parking light feature, and the top section then brightens for brake. You can cut a wire and defeat this - so that the parking light and brake light are independent. |
09-10-2013, 03:07 PM | #11 |
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Re: Tail lights
While I appreciate your concern for safety and wanting brighter lights, you never told us: ticket or 'warning'?
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09-10-2013, 04:40 PM | #12 |
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Re: Tail lights
I, too, run only one tail light. I have to agree, the LED set from Bratton's is nice and bright. It behaves a little differently though. I would have to look but I seen that the whole light, not just the bottom lights for tail light, and then the whole thing gets brighter on braking.
I'm usually lean toward original, but will make exceptions for safety.
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09-10-2013, 05:01 PM | #13 | |
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Re: Tail lights
Quote:
(tried submitting with just the '+1' and got an error saying the message had to be at least 3 characters...???)
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09-10-2013, 06:49 PM | #14 |
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Re: Tail lights
I'va had 2 Model A's, and both had the second tail light already installed. A few years ago I put the LED's in, and they are much brighter....no comparison to stock. I would also urge you to add the second light at some time. With today's traffic, etc. it just makes sense if you drive your car much at all, unless you have a show car.
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09-10-2013, 07:30 PM | #15 |
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Re: Tail lights
"APPLIANCE WHITE" sprayed inside the tail light, even makes the red/amber lens show up more vivid when the light isn't even on & in bright sunlight!! An old colored lens will show up as if it is a NEW lens!! Bill W.
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09-10-2013, 07:36 PM | #16 |
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Re: Tail lights
Dtolson,
Is the car registered as an antique or have a special plate ? If it's registered as just a "car", you may have to have two rear lights. Marc |
09-10-2013, 07:38 PM | #17 |
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Re: Tail lights
I agree!
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09-10-2013, 08:03 PM | #18 |
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Re: Tail lights
I run a stock system and put 10cp bulbs in my tail lights. Only the Tudor has one; the others have two. They are very bright.
Can you run LEDs on a generator, or do you have to have an alternator?
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09-10-2013, 08:07 PM | #19 | |
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Re: Tail lights
Quote:
R/ Roger. |
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09-10-2013, 09:00 PM | #20 |
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Re: Tail lights
Not to "hijack" your thread, but does anyone produce an LED tail light system for the drum tail lights?
Thanks - |
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