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Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? #80130
06/26/08 04:00 PM
06/26/08 04:00 PM
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LAR_414 Offline OP
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I'm seriously considering adding a second socket / bulb to my tail lights, as a way to make the Brighter to possibly avoid an accident out there.

I've tried the LED thing and it was dimmer. If I add a few vent holes in there to let some heat escape, do you think it would be ok? Obviously wiring is pretty darn simple.

I'm actually even thinking of just adding an 1156 socket in there and wiring that to the brake light only. That way it will have normal brightness for running tail lights and then be REALLY BRIGHT when the brake pedal is depressed.

What do you think?

Last edited by LAR_414; 06/26/08 04:09 PM.
Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: LAR_414] #80131
06/26/08 04:30 PM
06/26/08 04:30 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,808
Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda Offline
Too Many Posts
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Kirkland, Washington
I would think a simple third brake light on the package tray would be easier and more effective

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: LAR_414] #80132
06/26/08 08:20 PM
06/26/08 08:20 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 752
North of the Motor City
DartGTDan Offline
super stock
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North of the Motor City
I agree with the 3rd brake light (CHMSL) idea.
I acquired a junkyard 1988 Chevy Corsica CHMSL "housing", gutted the incandescent lamp out of it, and installed a bank of 6 LEDs from a 2006 Grand Cherokee/Commander CHMSL. I used the LED bank because of the low current draw. I just have to get it installed now.

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: LAR_414] #80133
06/26/08 08:39 PM
06/26/08 08:39 PM

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I like your idea better LAR. I do get the safety issue, however I think 3rd saftey lights look like crap on our cars. IMHO.

Last edited by apf383; 06/26/08 08:40 PM.
Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? #80134
06/27/08 07:45 AM
06/27/08 07:45 AM
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LAR_414 Offline OP
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I just don't think that my car would look right with the third brake light. Besides, I really want the tail lights BRIGHTER, when on the brakes.

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: LAR_414] #80135
06/27/08 08:43 AM
06/27/08 08:43 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,304
WI
RestoRick Offline
top fuel
RestoRick  Offline
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Posts: 2,304
WI
Using 2357 bulbs
Tech Comparison with various bulbs
Ron Francis brite bulbs

I run the Ron Francis brite bulbs in my street rod... they work well, but you want to buy an extra for backup. I've had them for about 16 yrs. /30,000mi. with no failure... yet...

Rick

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: LAR_414] #80136
06/27/08 08:50 AM
06/27/08 08:50 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
GoodysGotaCuda Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
GoodysGotaCuda  Offline
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Texas
I'd consider upgraded bulbs. I've heard of people cleaning the inside of the red tail light lense out real well (if yours aren't new) and also shooting the inside of that housing with the 'chrome' paint to help reflect the light more.


1972 Barracuda - 5.7L Hemi, T56 Magnum 6spd - https://www.facebook.com/GoodysGotaHemi
2020 RAM 1500
[img]https://i.imgur.com/v9yezP9.jpg[/img]
Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: RestoRick] #80137
06/27/08 09:08 AM
06/27/08 09:08 AM
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...gently down the stream
LAR_414 Offline OP
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LAR_414  Offline OP
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Great info....thanks!

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: GoodysGotaCuda] #80138
06/27/08 10:28 AM
06/27/08 10:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,968
North Riverside IL & Lowell IN
GTXKen Offline
super gas
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North Riverside IL & Lowell IN
Quote:

I'd consider upgraded bulbs. I've heard of people cleaning the inside of the red tail light lense out real well (if yours aren't new) and also shooting the inside of that housing with the 'chrome' paint to help reflect the light more.




I cleaned the inside of my lenses and polished the outside, repainted the reflective surfaces and used 2357s, huge difference.

Try that first, it will cost you under $5

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: LAR_414] #80139
06/27/08 10:43 AM
06/27/08 10:43 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,261
ILL
mark7171 Offline
pro stock
mark7171  Offline
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i went to a clear projector H4 relayed system. converts using original wiring, and can go back to stock just as easy.

Last edited by mark7171; 06/27/08 10:43 AM.
Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: mark7171] #80140
06/27/08 10:45 AM
06/27/08 10:45 AM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25,050
Texas
GoodysGotaCuda Offline
5.7L Hemi, 6spd
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Texas
Quote:

i went to a clear projector H4 relayed system. converts using original wiring, and can go back to stock just as easy.




pictures? links? information?

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: GoodysGotaCuda] #80141
06/27/08 11:02 AM
06/27/08 11:02 AM
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LAR_414 Offline OP
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I've always had mine clean and painted with "chrome" paint for max reflection.

I'm going to try painting it Gloss White. Looks like some good results with that trick. I'll stop and pick up some 2357 bulbs too. We'll see how that goes.

If that's not bright enought for my taste, then I'll add a bulb and add some vents and see what that reveals (pun intended).

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: LAR_414] #80142
06/28/08 01:48 AM
06/28/08 01:48 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,168
Vancouver, WA
MoparMarq Offline
super stock
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Vancouver, WA
I agree that the 3rd center brake light looks like crap on our cars. But a consideration would be that drivers these days are so used to seeing one in the center of the car, that if one is not there, it might delay brake response by the driver behind you.


Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two????? [Re: GoodysGotaCuda] #80143
06/28/08 08:54 AM
06/28/08 08:54 AM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,261
ILL
mark7171 Offline
pro stock
mark7171  Offline
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ILL
the harness, relays, and wiring was a kit by matrix/or summit. plugs into the headlight contector to trigger on/off. the H4's are nice and bright and have a selection of different light avalible. like halogen tints, xenon , high pressure sodium.

for the enclosures, i thought Sirius had the best polished, clear projector, all metal H4 housings. nice heavy duty retaining clip an fine rubber boot.

-you still have to tremove the unit to replace a headlight.

pic

the fogs are tinted yellow with a product called clearguards. they are a colored , removeable, reuseable decal. they are activeated with soapy water to apply and release.

Last edited by mark7171; 06/28/08 09:11 AM.
Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: mark7171] #80144
06/28/08 10:34 AM
06/28/08 10:34 AM
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delivering your oil
nutso suave Offline
I Live Here
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delivering your oil
i had a dim tailight on one side...i thought it was a wiring problem, but when i took off the lense the inside had a thin coating of algae or mold that dimmed it considerably. it was odd though - you wouldn't notice it at first glance.

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: nutso suave] #80145
06/30/08 07:59 AM
06/30/08 07:59 AM
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LAR_414 Offline OP
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Well, I picked up the 2357 bulbs and they are definately brighter on the brake, than 1157's. I painted the housing gloss white and put he 2357s in and it looks great, but I think I still want it brighter, so I may add another bulb in there just for the heck of it. I want my brake lights to Scare someone when they come on!

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: LAR_414] #80146
06/30/08 08:16 AM
06/30/08 08:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,367
Jersey shore
Gary67 Offline
super street
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Jersey shore
Did you find the 2357's at a local parts place?

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: Gary67] #80147
06/30/08 08:57 AM
06/30/08 08:57 AM
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LAR_414 Offline OP
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LAR_414  Offline OP
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Yup,...advance auto had a bunch of them. Sylvana

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: LAR_414] #80148
06/30/08 08:59 AM
06/30/08 08:59 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,367
Jersey shore
Gary67 Offline
super street
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Jersey shore
Thanks.

Re: Anybody ever add an extra tail light bulb or two??? [Re: Gary67] #80149
06/30/08 09:23 AM
06/30/08 09:23 AM
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Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda Offline
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up yours
On my 87 Diplomat it had three bulbs per tail light, but only two functioned as both stop and tail lights. The third was tail light only. So I added an extra wire to the socket and turned it into a stop/tail setup. Tried cleaning out the housing as best I could, hard to do because the lense and housing is one unit. It worked ok.

On my 65 Cuda, one bulb per side, I cleaned and painted the housings with chrome paint then repaired (cracked and a hole) the lenses and polished them up. Ran 2357's and it is nice and bright. Only thing left is a CHMSL if I want more visibility. I'll probably put one at the top of the rear window if I go that route, a nice low profile one with LEDs, should be virtually invisible till they light up.


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They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
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