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LED Tail Lights #1717209
12/28/14 11:25 PM
12/28/14 11:25 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 952
Queens, N. Y.
FASTBACK340 Offline OP
super stock
FASTBACK340  Offline OP
super stock

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 952
Queens, N. Y.
After striking out trying to find LED tail lights for my `68 Barracuda I decided to do some research. After finding a few DIY-style videos and web pages explaining how to determine what resistors for which bulbs I assembled a tail light set of running/brake lights and also the reverse light. The tail lights are 68 LED's bundled in 17 groups of 4 bulbs with a resistor per bundle. Very inexpensive parts, about $50 total, but very labor-intensive assembling. I have about 3 hours in the completed left side circuit boards alone. But the results….. wow.


Prototype boards were about $6
Red LED's $14 for 100
White LED's were about $2 per 10
Resistors are approx. $3 per 100
Diodes are about $4 per 100
Here's the site I used to calculate the needed resistors: LEDCALC.Com

I bought enough prototype boards for 3 sets of tail lights.
I bought about 200 Red LED's, 50 White LED's, then there's solder and a selection of resistors. The diodes are used to prevent back-feeding since the tail & brake inputs operate the same LED's, just that the tail lights voltage is dropped with a resistor. The video's and text explain and demonstrate it nicely.






The reverse lights in the `68 Barracuda are a joke. All they do is illuminate for passing a state safety inspection. This upgrade changes that.

A dozen white LED's mounted in a thin sheet of plastic that lights the entire lens, and throws about 10X the light.





Full-tilt, such as the brake lights, they are incredibly BRIGHT. Considering how small the tail lights are I hope it helps.


`68 Barracuda 340-S
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717210
12/29/14 02:52 AM
12/29/14 02:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,988
Warren, MI
J
Jerry Offline
master
Jerry  Offline
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J

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,988
Warren, MI
nice work. that's an awesome upgrade.


Superior Design Concepts
2574 Elliott Dr
Troy MI 48083
jerry@sdconcepts.com
www.sdconcepts.com
Facebook page: Superior Design Concepts
www.bcrproducts.com
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717211
12/29/14 02:53 AM
12/29/14 02:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,936
GA
roadrunninMark Offline
master
roadrunninMark  Offline
master

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,936
GA
Looks great, can't wait to see in car.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717212
12/29/14 03:34 AM
12/29/14 03:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
MuuMuu101 Offline
I got lucky at Woodward!
MuuMuu101  Offline
I got lucky at Woodward!

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,375
SoCal
I've wanted to do this upgrade in my Dart for awhile now.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: MuuMuu101] #1717213
12/29/14 03:43 AM
12/29/14 03:43 AM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 197
Milwaukee, WI
M
moparjimbo Offline
member
moparjimbo  Offline
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 197
Milwaukee, WI
Many places sell LED "bulbs" setups that just are a direct replacement for bulbs like 1156, 1157, 194, etc.

My kid works at:

http://www.taninautoelectronix.com/category-s/1817.htm

Some of the reverse lights are indeed like a frikken spotlight!

Last edited by moparjimbo; 12/29/14 04:07 AM.

1996 Viper GTS - UGR Twin Turbo 1500RWHP, 9.02 @ 167 on pump gas and DOT tire
1973 Challenger - 572 Indy Hemi 860HP
1975 Trailduster Convertible, 440
1967 Plymouth Fury Police Pursuit 2DR 505 Stroker
2004 Neon SRT4 modded

www.milwaukeemopar.com
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: moparjimbo] #1717214
12/29/14 04:15 AM
12/29/14 04:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,444
So Cal
autoxcuda Offline
Too Many Posts
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Posts: 27,444
So Cal
So how does it differentiate between running lights and back up lights?

Less LED fire for running lighta or different intensity?

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717215
12/29/14 11:39 AM
12/29/14 11:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699
Newport, Mi
Evil Spirit Offline
master
Evil Spirit  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,699
Newport, Mi
Since you used red LED's I'm guessing you are not planning on using the factory lenses to cover the bulbs. I'm not sure I would replace the reflector portion of a rear lens with something non-reflectorized.


Free advice and worth every penny...
Factory trained Slinky rewinder.........
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Evil Spirit] #1717216
12/29/14 12:37 PM
12/29/14 12:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
F
Fury Fan Offline
master
Fury Fan  Offline
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F

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,533
Indiana
It's recommended to use the same color LED as the lens covering it, so using red LEDs does not necessarily mean he's ditching the factory lens. But I suspect there will be more to his story so we'll see what he does.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717217
12/29/14 12:47 PM
12/29/14 12:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 792
Earth
R
Rob C Offline
super stock
Rob C  Offline
super stock
R

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 792
Earth
Wow! Nice bro. I need to come ker and see how this works in action. Put on a pot of coffee!

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717218
12/29/14 01:01 PM
12/29/14 01:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2
Washington State
U
uneasyrider Offline
member
uneasyrider  Offline
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U

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2
Washington State
Very good info!

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717219
12/29/14 01:12 PM
12/29/14 01:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
HATE them...all of them. there is ZERO reason one would need to blind the person behind them w/ LEDs, now if you could subdue them, then carry on. Lots of hard work but after being behind some of these new cars w/ LEDs I have grown to hate them.


[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/pui5j.jpg[/IMG]
Coming soon!!!!
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: uneasyrider] #1717220
12/29/14 01:14 PM
12/29/14 01:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
master
Bad340fish  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Very Cool! I have a 68 as well and that is something that really needs to be done for sure.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Mr.Yuck] #1717221
12/29/14 03:44 PM
12/29/14 03:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
J
jcc Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc  Offline
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
J

Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
Quote:

HATE them...all of them. there is ZERO reason one would need to blind the person behind them w/ LEDs, now if you could subdue them, then carry on. Lots of hard work but after being behind some of these new cars w/ LEDs I have grown to hate them.




I can't say i have ever been annoyed by anyone's rear lights, wonder if I'm just lucky or lead a sheltered life.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: jcc] #1717222
12/29/14 04:14 PM
12/29/14 04:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Quote:

Quote:

HATE them...all of them. there is ZERO reason one would need to blind the person behind them w/ LEDs, now if you could subdue them, then carry on. Lots of hard work but after being behind some of these new cars w/ LEDs I have grown to hate them.




I can't say i have ever been annoyed by anyone's rear lights, wonder if I'm just lucky or lead a sheltered life.




Rush hour(s)... Try being behind a new Audi or whatever that new SUV was this morning.... 5 minutes behind him and I was seeing spots! I don't get me started w/ the ashhats that don't turn their high beams off or use thos 1,000,000 candle power "driving lights" It's not like we live out in the sticks here folks.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Mr.Yuck] #1717223
12/29/14 05:15 PM
12/29/14 05:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
If they are bothering you then you are seeing them which is their function.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: FASTBACK340] #1717224
12/29/14 05:23 PM
12/29/14 05:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
Have you check with the local authoriies on modifying the tail, brake and back up lights as far as the state and federallaws are concerned? Ifnot you may want to before you have to go see a judge about your mods on your car I've been down that road a long time ago in CA, NOT GOOD


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Mr.Yuck] #1717225
12/29/14 05:39 PM
12/29/14 05:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,444
So Cal
autoxcuda Offline
Too Many Posts
autoxcuda  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,444
So Cal
Quote:

HATE them...all of them. there is ZERO reason one would need to blind the person behind them w/ LEDs, now if you could subdue them, then carry on. Lots of hard work but after being behind some of these new cars w/ LEDs I have grown to hate them.




68 barracuda's have tiny brake lights. And the area is all in one square spot. Follow one of those in the dark some time.

The 67's took more area end to end. And the 69's filled the hole housing.

Not even close to the light area of a 69/70 charger.

I'd think 68 Barracuda's have about the smallest red taillight area of any 67-71 A/B/E body. Some of the early 60's cars had smaller taillights.

I think at some point DOT mandated taillight area and specs in the 60's.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: stumpy] #1717226
12/29/14 07:48 PM
12/29/14 07:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Quote:

If they are bothering you then you are seeing them which is their function.




no need to blind people. Never rear ended somebody because I couldn't see there tail lights. I do agree, our older cars needs some help form time to time. That's why I cleaned the snot out on my housings and repainted the "back splash" Chrome. It's amazing how much "funk can get into a "closed" unit.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Mr.Yuck] #1717227
12/29/14 08:38 PM
12/29/14 08:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 792
Earth
R
Rob C Offline
super stock
Rob C  Offline
super stock
R

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 792
Earth
OK, we get it, you hate them.

Re: LED Tail Lights [Re: Mr.Yuck] #1717228
12/29/14 09:17 PM
12/29/14 09:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 259
Khemi, Stygia
Mebsuta Offline
enthusiast
Mebsuta  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 259
Khemi, Stygia
Quote:


Rush hour(s)... Try being behind a new Audi or whatever that new SUV was this morning.... 5 minutes behind him and I was seeing spots! I don't get me started w/ the ashhats that don't turn their high beams off or use thos 1,000,000 candle power "driving lights" It's not like we live out in the sticks here folks.




I agree it's too much sometimes.

Extra lights also attract the police.


68 Roadrunner. 383 4-spd. Beat up.
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