LED Tailights?
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,940
Likes: 4,125
From: Angier, NC
Years ago I came across something on making tail lights brighter but still using incandescent bulbs.
It was listed that, at the time, newer cars had different reflective housings.
Think Mazda had ones you can used behind the bulbs that helped.
The other was the leans. If you look at the older leans they dont really distribute light well.
A fix was to get a Chrystal light leans used in 4 foot over head lights.
Not the frosted type it has to be Chrystal, looks like broken glass on 1 side.
You cut the Chrystal to fit in the trucks or cars leans.
If I remember the broken glass side goes to the bulb and the light then gets distribution.
I have not tried this on a car project yet but have had all the parts for over 10 years now, I dont rush into things LOL
Dave ----
It was listed that, at the time, newer cars had different reflective housings.
Think Mazda had ones you can used behind the bulbs that helped.
The other was the leans. If you look at the older leans they dont really distribute light well.
A fix was to get a Chrystal light leans used in 4 foot over head lights.
Not the frosted type it has to be Chrystal, looks like broken glass on 1 side.
You cut the Chrystal to fit in the trucks or cars leans.
If I remember the broken glass side goes to the bulb and the light then gets distribution.
I have not tried this on a car project yet but have had all the parts for over 10 years now, I dont rush into things LOL
Dave ----
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 74
From: Hartford, AL
which specific tape did you use? Do you have a link, or a part number?
Reason I ask is that years ago I did a test among many different substances, including paints and some reflective and shiny metallize tapes. But none of them worked as well as simple white paint.
Especially when I used the matte white paint that specifically said it was high in titanium dioxide.
that component is in pretty much any white pigment paint, but the higher the percentage, the better it reflects around the housing.
So far all of my lights have worked really well with incandescent bulbs and the white paint treatment.
But I haven’t really tried the LEDs yet except for the very early models that did not work very well in the older design housings.
thanks
Reason I ask is that years ago I did a test among many different substances, including paints and some reflective and shiny metallize tapes. But none of them worked as well as simple white paint.
Especially when I used the matte white paint that specifically said it was high in titanium dioxide.
that component is in pretty much any white pigment paint, but the higher the percentage, the better it reflects around the housing.
So far all of my lights have worked really well with incandescent bulbs and the white paint treatment.
But I haven’t really tried the LEDs yet except for the very early models that did not work very well in the older design housings.
thanks
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 122
Likes: 34
From: AL
Hey good morning! They are from AFTPARTS.COM , they have stock looking ones I believe, although i went with the clears. Mine are the full led boards
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