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Dim taillights (this was almost a 'wrecked my Mustang' post...)

DougG69

DougG69

Member
Almost got hit today because the guy behind me didn't see my brakes/turn signal.

I think I'll pull the housings tomorrow & paint the inside flat white to see how much - if any - difference it makes.

Will probably have to look into some brighter bulbs too... don't want to count on the driver behind me actually paying attention. Anybody make a kit for a triple HID array for each side? :guns
 
Doug, you know several of your posts today have made perfect "targets", right? First something about a long day for a "quicktime" bellhousing install and now dim bulbs. Too easy, waaay too easy! :hide LOL

Seriously though, glad you came out all right and didn't need some body work!
 
Check the grounds for the lights also. They should not be dim if everything is clean and in proper working order. Don't overload the wiring with to much bulb power.
 
"AzPete" said:
Check the grounds for the lights also. They should not be dim if everything is clean and in proper working order.
Click to expand...

They're not necessarily dim for vintage Mustang standards... but after today I want something more difficult to overlook. But you are right, it won't hurt to check.

"AzPete" said:
Don't overload the wiring with to much bulb power.
Click to expand...

I've already replaced the headlights with halogens & relays... wondering if there might be any noteworthy improvement by doing the same for the taillights. I definitely need to paint the inside of the housings to make the most of the current bulbs. I would rather stay away from anything that adds a lot of heat in the housing.

I was already planning to tackle the taillights in general. I've been looking around for the best price on the good repop lens kits, maybe new ones will help with visibility.

"GTchris" said:
What about one of the LED kits? I thought about doing that myself.
Click to expand...

I'm looking around for some that don't show so much as individual dots and/or lose too much red. Not necessarily a full kit, but something more along these lines?

31-GPuuUnwL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/Light-bulb-automo ... B000M19ACQ

Might not be able to get around it with LEDs though... in which case a full kit with the LEDs mounted on the boards/panels might be the way to go.
 
If you're interested in an LED conversion, have you looked at these from Mustang Project?

http://mustangproject.com/ProductDispla ... 18d3ac33a5

They also have a sequential kit as well as a less expensive kit. The thing with the more expensive one is more LED's to each board. More per board equates to smaller LEDS in order to fit them in the same space. That lessens the visible "dots" you're able to see.
 
I converted the front to halogens and in the back , I have the leds.
Seen and being seen is the most important thing when you are on the road.
:thu
 
I am very happy with Mustang Project LED products. Use them in both Mustang's. Very bright.
 
"Ponyman66" said:
If you're interested in an LED conversion, have you looked at these from Mustang Project?

http://mustangproject.com/ProductDispla ... 18d3ac33a5
Click to expand...

That one got bookmarked...

"Ponyman66" said:
... more LED's to each board. More per board equates to smaller LEDS in order to fit them in the same space. That lessens the visible "dots" you're able to see.
Click to expand...

Good info, thanks.


"jmlay" said:
Some good reading & examples here, multiple pages:

http://www.1969stang.com/mustang/forum/ ... 60&page=69
Click to expand...

Thanks for that thread referral. I already found one statement that might make a big difference, at least in my perception of what I'm looking at while checking out the various offerings:

"the red led is actually just a little more red than the silverstar. my camera doesn't indicate this though."

IOW, a photo might not be an accurate representation of what the eye may see in regard to color.
 
"cmayna" said:
I am very happy with Mustang Project LED products. Use them in both Mustang's. Very bright.
Click to expand...

+1.

It's a bit of work for a '69 since the housing mounts as an assembly and you have to be sure they are mounted level, but they are very bright.
 
"DougG69" said:
Thanks for that thread referral. I already found one statement that might make a big difference, at least in my perception of what I'm looking at while checking out the various offerings:

"the red led is actually just a little more red than the silverstar. my camera doesn't indicate this though."

IOW, a photo might not be an accurate representation of what the eye may see in regard to color.
Click to expand...

absolutely true. i've had a difficult time showing what my eyes see in pictures.
 
I like everything I have read here, but I must mention that my cars still have stock and they are darn bright. Just as bright as my 2007 Ford Ranger work truck.

I do plan the upgrade, but they are down pretty far on the todo list.

Mel
 
"guruatbol" said:
I like everything I have read here, but I must mention that my cars still have stock and they are darn bright. Just as bright as my 2007 Ford Ranger work truck.

I do plan the upgrade, but they are down pretty far on the todo list.

Mel
Click to expand...

I was seriously considering replacing all the stock lights with LED's but, I replaced all the lenses during the resto and the lights seem bright enough as is at the moment. The fact that they are brighter is nice but, I was thinking that it would be nice not to worry about burnt out lamps.

I will probably end up doing this later.
 
Yeah I almost got hit one time because of the tail lights being dim. So I put a chrome color spray paint on the inside of the housing. It helped a lot but going to mustang project LEDs made a huge difference. It's money well spent.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2
 
This thread got me thinking too, especially since my wife and 17 month old son have been going everywhere with me in the 69. I put the hazards today outside in the daylight and you could barely see anything. I've got 4 or 5 sets of tail lights for 69s, I'm gonna order the mustang project kit as well as new lens and get a set done!
 
Soapbox time:

I refurbish tail-light harnesses and nearly every one of them has issues with the grounds and contact points, particularly 67 on up. It seems that the bulb housings get corroded, and many ground lines have crappy crimps. What this means is that there is additional resistance due to corrosion that decreases the voltage going to the bulb filaments.

I've found that a scotch-brite scuff pad works wonders on the bulb contact points inside the bulb housings, if you can get one in there. Some years, the ground lug is on the exterior of the bulb socket. If so, remove the ground lug, and rub that scuff pad over that spade lead so that it is bright and shiny. Re-crimp the ground wire if you can, and re-attach.

Worse comes to worse, bead blast the bulb housing to remove the corrosion. The media can get behind the spring-base, so you'll have to work the sand out afterwords. Then slather the thing with dielectric grease to keep corrosion from coming back.
 
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