Electrical: LED Rear Brake/Tail /Turn Signal Lights

[JoeHall]

I have read several articles, here and elsewhere, on the benefits of LED lights on Studes; less current draw and brighter. So recently bought three pairs of red 1157 LEDs, for each of our 3 Hawks. Today, I began with the wife's 63GT and they are 2-3 times brighter than the OEM incandescents. Problem is, the turn signals do not flash, they simply come on and stay on. As tail lights and brake lights they are fine, but no flash. So I re-read several old articles, and several said the flash can be restored by simply reversing the two wires to the flasher. That was easy enough, but still no flash. I read elsewhere to install CEC brand EF32RLNP. I looked on eBay and could not find CEC brand EF32RLNP, only CEC's EF32RL. So I poked around and found the difference between EF32RL and EF32RLNP, the NP works no matter how the two flasher wires are connected, whereas the non-NP must be wired to match the flasher. I found two copycat brands of the CEC EF32RLNP, both cheaper, so ordered one of those. Will see what comes in the mail.

Another post I read, the guy said he simply went to FLAPS and bought a flasher that is LED compatible, so I will probably try that while waiting on the eBay flasher above.

Also, I have a 3rd brake light on all three Hawks, and not sure what kinda problems the LEDs may cause with those, but guess I'll find out when I get the turn signals to work.

[IndStudenut]

Joe the second scenario is what I have read. It was that you need a LED compatible flasher. The old fashion flashers work on current draw...... It basically is a circuit breaker........ turn on the signal draws current and flasher gets hot.... breaks the circuit ..... cools off and breaker closes to start the cycle again. It is my understanding that the new LED's do not draw enough current to do that. That's the way I understand it anyway.

[JoeHall]

Joe the second scenario is what I have read. It was that you need a LED compatible flasher. The old fashion flashers work on current draw...... It basically is a circuit breaker........ turn on the signal draws current and flasher gets hot.... breaks the circuit ..... cools off and breaker closes to start the cycle again. It is my understanding that the new LED's do not draw enough current to do that. That's the way I understand it anyway.

That's always been my understanding too, but several have reported that the OEM flasher will still work, if ONLY the rear bulbs are replaced. Supposedly, the OEM front bulbs draw enough to make the flasher still work. I am gonna try the other 2 Hawks in same sequence as I tried today on the 63GT. Perhaps one, or both of them, will work with the OEM flasher, or with the flasher wiring reversed. The center mounted 3rd brake light is also a concern, and I will not do away with it in order to have left & right LEDs. I have a feeling this is gonna require climbing another learning curve. Which ain't a bad thing, my brain needs the exercise anyway. LOL

[medium_jon]

I doubt the center brake light will cause any issues.

[StudeRich]

You will need a LED capable flasher or stock bulbs in front.

[Topper2011]

Joe, I just changed my taillamp, dash indicators to LEDs and left the front and I still have the oem type flasher. It still works just fine, actually seems faster, although they shouldn't with less load.



Left side, new LED compared to right side incandescent. Not brake lights.

[IndStudenut]

That is a pretty impressive difference. Looks worth the effort however it sounds like it comes with a little learning curve. But if you can get it to work.... Keep us posted on the progress Joe.

[JoeHall]

A quick trip to Autozone and $15 later, their Novita brand EL12 flasher did the trick. I did have to reverse the flasher wiring, but now all lights work as they are supposed to, including the 3rd brake light. Before reversing the wiring, none of the turn signals would even come on, LED rears nor OEM fronts. As for brightness, with the lenses now reinstalled, I'd say tail lights are same as Topper's pic above, about 100 percent brighter, also the brake lights are at least 100 percent brighter, but the turn signals are only about 25 percent brighter, whether tail lights are on or off. Still, the LEDs are a win-win in my book. Now I know how to do the install in the other 2 Hawks.

[StudeRich]

Wow, I'll bet a Lot of people not knowing that, just return the Electronic Flasher saying it doesn't work !
Since Diodes only flow One direction, I guess they have them wired backwards and they are not a plug in for Cars with the input and output reverse.

[bensherb]

With the exception of the headlights and glove box light I changed EVERY light in my GT to LED over a decade ago. I used this flasher https://www.ebay.com/itm/364154164803 , they were a buck each then and I bought 5 at a time. They work with incandescents too and you can adjust the flash speed.

My dad kept bitching that my tail lights were still too dim , as if his '53 with one incandescent bulb each are any better, so I recently added two more bulb sockets with LED bulbs to each tail light. He's still bitchin'. I'll try to remember to take a pic in the daylight. BTW; my backup lights are now turn signals with amber LEDs. You can see in the pick the flashers were on and they were caught by the camera (you can see the dash indicators too).

[Rick P]

I installed LED lights in everything inside and outside, except the headlights, on my 62 GT. All I needed to do was change the flasher. The dash lights do not work in the low setting as there isn't enough voltage to fire the LED's, but that's OK. If anyone knows of a set of LED headlights that look the same, round fluted lens, not flat, as the original headlights, please let me know. Thanks Rick

[JoeHall]

After watching the wife drive away this morning, I stand by my above estimates of brightness, with the turn signals about 25 percent brighter - at best. But every little bit helps. Looks like Bensherb has the best answer for rear turn signal lights, as usual with other mods he's done.

So far, the only drawback is I can no longer check the brake lights / switch by simply tapping the brake pedal while watching the OEM amp gauge. With incandescent bulbs, the gauge needle will drop ever so slightly when the brake lights come on; with the LEDs, there's no discernible movement of the needle whatsoever. But I can live with that.

[StudeRich]

Joe, it may be time to put the '53 Chev. Truck Mechanical Stop Light Switch into some of your Hawks.
No more worries about an often failed hydraulic Switch.

[Topper2011]

I test them in the garage with the door closed, lights out. I can pretty much see both come on in the mirror.

[M-Webb]

Rule of thumb is your eyes/brain needs to "see" something at about 4 times as bright for it to look about twice as bright. So a technical twice as bright, is not going to appear twice as bright to the eye, just a certain percentage brighter depending on various variables. Your brain and eyes constantly and instantly adjust to make up differences as best as can for whatever the given situation, and they only focus on a very small part of your field of vision, not the whole thing at once.

[M-Webb]

I changed most all of the lamps in my Champ to LEDs about 4-5 years ago, except the headlights, which are much more complicated and expensive project. Mostly just so I could actually see the gauges at night, which was only sort of a gesture before with the incandescent lamps.

But after getting great results on that, I did the other small bulbs too while at it. It worked fine for me just replacing the bulbs, including the flashers, didn't have to change anything else. Maybe just got lucky on the flasher and wiring. I also cleaned and repainted the inside of the gauges while doing the new LEDs - significantly better!

Then I decided to swap out the entire dash and just reused the same LED lamps. I cleaned and repainted the inside of the new Lark gauges as did with the Champ gauges. They look great! I also added some amber LEDs under the dash for some ambient light glow to help be able to see in the cab better and balance out the added brightness of the gauges. Here a pic. Is a bit contrasty looking in the photo, but it is nicer, softer in person.

For the red and green high beam and blinker indicator lights, I used the red and green LEDs. The white ones are warm white, as each with many lumens (highest brightness) as could get at the time.

Also, one of the better improvements is with the interior courtesy light. With the LED, it now lights up the cab much better. I also added a second one on the passenger side to balance it out.

Actually, I also did not change the light I put in the glove box because the one I used has the bulb exposed and I didn't want it took like a modern LED. So I just left that one as incandescent.

I highly recommend LEDs. Full disclosure, I actually work in the lighting design biz, but not automotive related, so take what I say as biased as it may be.

Here is the website I got mine from. They have an automotive section.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/

[JoeHall]

Thanks M-W, I actually installed LED dash lights in all 3 Hawks a few years ago. The result was "whiter" light, but not much brighter. Pretty sure I got them from the superbrightLED folks, also sure technology is growing in leaps and bounds, so there's likely to be even brighter bulbs now than when I ordered them.

For the in-dash turn signal indicators in both GTs, I replaced the factory green lenses with green plastic carefully cut from a Mountain Dew bottle. The result is that I can now easily see them, night and day. Whereas before I could only see them at night.

Along same lines, my wife just told me she loves the turn signal "clicker" I installed yesterday. I had not paid any attention but, apparently, the flasher I replaced was silent. She appreciates the clicking noise, to remind her if/when she accidentally leaves a turn signal on, after the turn. As for the LED lights, she agrees brighter is better. So she's a happy camper with the LEDs.

[bensherb]

Hey Joe, I have a flasher in my '54 wagon that plays the Elvis tune "love me tender" when signals are on. I bet she'd love that. Sorry .I don't remember where I got it.

[Mark L]

I tried LED bulbs in the 62 Lark I previously owned, but switched back to halgen incandeacent bulbs. I found the LEDs on the lamp were not at the focus point of the tail light reflector. Since the filament of the incandescent bulb were designed to be at the focal point of the reflector, I found the incandeacent bulbs were actually brighter than the LEDs.

Your results may vary. Mine certainly did.

[bensherb]

That is an issue with the GT tail lamp lens too. It has lensing that appears to be of Fresnel lens design that the stock bulb would shine through. Problem is, the lens is too thick and the incandescent lamps too dim for it to be effective.

Measuring with a light meter I found that painting the stock chrome reflector bright white presented a brighter light than stock. It wasn't a LOT brighter, but was enough to warrant painting them.

[enjenjo]

The best LED round headlights I have found are made by Truck Lite. Which makes sense because the are made for 18 wheelers. They are among the more expensive ones too. Best price I found was at Advance Auto Parts. They were nearly $100 less than NAPA for the same light.

[JoeHall]

The best LED round headlights I have found are made by Truck Lite. Which makes sense because the are made for 18 wheelers. They are among the more expensive ones too. Best price I found was at Advance Auto Parts. They were nearly $100 less than NAPA for the same light.

Do you have the part number? Thanks