Since I got my 37 Chevy pickup on the road it's had the 40 and up truck tail lights that look like 37 cars but I now want to put original looking on, originally those trucks never had a right side tail light but the mid 30s cars used the same and had one that was optional but hard to find. Years ago I ran into a company that sold a correct looking pair with LED bulbs and I think was called Rod worx but can not find anything about them now so anyone know if that company is still in business. I recently found that Chevs of the 40s sells a pass tail light but it's just like the original that takes the original two bulbs but my intention is to get brighter lights but could modify those lights for a single 1157 LED but those other lights were ready to go on.
I ended up ordering that reproduction original style light for the right side and will convert to LED,I have a few extra drivers side lights and this one will save me time in trying to fill the hole for the license light. Was hoping to find those lights already setup for LED but this will do.
Is this the LED conversion you are looking for? https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Unit...hevy-Passenger-Car-LED-Tail-Light,406345.html
Those would work with the present tail lights,the originals are oval and will see if Speedway has a kit for them.
I do not like the idea of those bulbs but the lights can be barely seen during the day so I need to see if I can improve it a bit. I am going to see if I can convert those lights to take a 1157 bulb instead of dual bulbs.
I totally agree 1000% with you. Safety first and far too many rear end collisions involving hot rods for my comfort. @flynbrian48 got rammed in the ass a few years back by a distracted driver that could have been nasty for he and his family. @Kim Strobeck got nailed waiting at a roundabout in his highboy A just a week ago while he and his wife were out for a burger by a late model Challenger that either wasn't paying attention or failed to see his 3 brake lights! he way things are going, someone is going to get hurt.
Being seen on the road in todays traffic is a matter of life and death, regardless of the editorial position of this message board. It's really not as traditional as one may think to be rear ended by a lifted F150 doing 50 mph while the brain dead moron driving it is dialing his cell phone. Ask me how I know. The moron tried to tell the cop I had no brake lights, who told him, "I know this car. I know it has brake lights and turn signals. Now go stand by your car and shut up. You're not helping yourself here." My suggestion would be to all of you, put LED lights in your stock taillight buckets, or get LED replacement lenses (available for every pre-war Ford and many Chevy's), and simply don't mention them here. You can't make the moderators on this board approve your posts if you're dead.
After losing a 356 that I spent 3 years restoring and having a near miss with my 57 Chevy, I started putting these in all my cars. My latest build will just have all LED brake lights + 3rd brake light. https://www.brakelighter.com/Default.asp
Jeff, FWIW, my '36 has the oval Chevy tail lights. I painted the insides white, have 1156 for running and halogen conversion for brakes. They're mounted lower at the bottom of the stake pockets but are bright as all get out when I hit the binders. I've read BanditBillys post about LED tails and put some thought into that but I believe I will find a way to mount the lights higher on the bed so they're more visible to the attentive?? drivers behind me. With out looking to idiotic of course. Mitch
"Higher is better" I like to say. But higher didn't help @flynbrian48 his were at eye level. Sometimes I think self-driving cars would be better.
The reproduction original style pass light came in the mail today so time to get to work,if I could only have found that company I talked to years ago as they had a pair of tail lights with LEDs painted and ready to install. I have one original and the reproduction and will have to decide if I want to install the LED bulb assembly for those lights or convert to a 1157 socket,those lights are made for dual small bulbs.
I "THINK" I got the halogen stop light conversion kit from Ron Francis maybe. It's been about 30 years ;[ Mitch
oval chevy tailights on my 38 chev pu.home made brake light bulb conversion courtesy of honda accord light innards with led bulbs
After further investigation the reproduction pass side light has no room for a tail light bulb,for those who do not know the license plate light/tail light sticks out through the housing and no change in the structure where the bulb goes so it would only have the stop bulb.
I decided a couple of years ago to install the LED tail lights in my old Deuce sedan, I hate the look of them but when I hit the brakes people see them now. Getting rear ended in a hot rod sucks. HRP
Here are the lights,the one on the right is the reproduction and the one on the left has a lense for the license light unlike the original that the bulb stuck out through the housing.
The Jalopy Journal
