...And speaking of rebuilding rear lights.

[SpitNoir]

Has anyone ever converted their tail light module's internals to something other than factory? I'm thinking of the stock male push-in type connectors that fit into the female loops. Mine are in pretty sad shape (rusty and loose), and instead of purchasing new entire assemblies and putting new bullet-tips on the wires, I was trying to think of an alternative.
I haven't even looked at factory replacements though, so they may not even be that expensive. It's easy enough to get a lot of different types of sockets around here. The parts stores carry a veritable plethora of replacements for other cars.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has modded theirs in an unusual way.

thanks

Paul

[bodders1]

3040 wrote:

Has anyone ever converted their tail light module's internals to something other than factory?...
... Mine are in pretty sad shape (rusty and loose), and instead of purchasing new entire assemblies...

Or instead of purchasing new units, you can renovate the old ones with a suitable de-rusting agent (Jenolite or similar - or even Coca-Cola - it is the phosphoric acid that does the business) and an old tooth brush, and then gently bend out the spring-clips with pliers to stop them being loose.  Did this to mine 10 years ago as part of the restoration - still working fine today.

[Tom2000]

SpitNoir, couldn't be bothered to look myself as I don't like the search facility on the site. Message Marcus (GT6 M) he's recently converted his rear lights to an LED setup I believe, month or so ago.. impressive stuff.

[SpitNoir]

Thanks gents. I've done the Coke thing a few times, with mixed results, but didn't think about it in this case. Thanks for the reminder.
I'll have to do some judicious peening and such too I think.

And thanks for the heads-up Tom. I've used the search plenty in the last few days, with no luck at all. Tried as many different words and phraseology as I could think of, and still nothing.
I'll rummage around some more and contact GT6 M.

Thanks again.

PaulB

ps:  On a side-note, how do I get the forum to send me an e-mail when there is a response? I thought I'd checked all the right boxes, but it's still not notifying me of replies. Thanks

[SpitNoir]

Yeah Tom I actually did see that thread during my first search the other day. Didn't PM him at that time because of the completely different setup he's got vs the '65 Spit rear lights.
Still, I might contact him anyway to get some links to when he started the mod to see if the parts are anything I can use.

I'll keep pluggin' away. As they say...

Paul

[mikeyb]

http://club.triumph.org.uk/cgi-bin/forum10/Blah.pl?m-1290275825/s-0/highlight-marcus/#num0

did you mean this one?  I did a search for "marcus"

It took me a while to get used to the search too - but it works ok - just remember to select "30 days and older" as the default is "30 days and newer" and ensure the forum group(s) you wish to search in is(are) highlighted blue

[SpitNoir]

Thanks mikeyb. Yes, that's the one. I kept searching farther back too, just to see if he'd started an earlier discussion and showed the actual mechanics of the change-over.
Do you happen to know if Marcus' swap was internals only into existing housings? Or did he pinch some complete assemblies for that project?

Thanks again.

Paul

[Hugh]

Have a look under one of my threads called Rear End Treatment

[mikeyb]

If I recall correctly, Marcus bought complete new light units (from Ebay?)

[Anthony]

They look very much like Lotus Elise/Exige lights

Very nice indeed

[GT6 M]

http://www.hella.co.nz/

  http://www.s-v-c.co.uk       look for  rear lights
Stafford  Vehicle Lights,  , the darn link will no wurk, :-/ :-/ :-/

go have a ratch on here,   They are Hella,
actually set off to doo as Essex did,  use the original light unit, and fit roundy yans into em,
as I thought they looked the Bizz, But as always, the Compulsive Tinkerer in me always wins, :) :)

[SpitNoir]

I think I've seen that in the lists Hugh. I'll check it out again.

Thanks. Heading out now to mess with things a bit. It's cold, but only by CA standards, so I can't really complain and use that as an excuse not to get something done.
Heck, we complain when it gets below 60° F and have to put the top up and jump into our Arctic gear!
At 40 though, my fingers do have more trouble grabbing those little carburettor parts, so I think I'll mess with something larger and easier to find when it falls.

Paul

[SpitNoir]

Some interesting stuff in that second link GT6 M. Thanks.
I've had some issues with simply replacing the bulbs with LED replacements in old lights. I've found that, unless the lens is nice and translucent, the reflector shiny and effective, and the bulb aimed just right, you don't get the quality of light that you do with the good old incandescent models. A lot depends on the design of the bulb of course, but not many fit the bill that I've tried. More coming out every day it seems though, so have to keep eyes open at all times.
I'll check those different ones out.

Paul

[Anthony]

Paul,

You should speak with these guys about your bulbs

Seriously good stuff

[GarthT]

Paul, I've also found that you have to be wary of those LED bulb replacement especially ones for rear lights. I posted in the Herald/Vit section about them last week. Basically I found them to be crap.  I've bought a few now and none of them are as bright as the original filament bulb. Even the 36 LEDs type for rear tail/brake lamps etc.

I thought that 40 year old wiring might be more suited to a bulb that required less current, (ie LEDs) therefore I'd end up with a brighter lamp. Not the case.

Plus it wasn't just the Vit it did this in, I tried them in my 307 as well, and they were well duller, avoid and save your money, unless someone says otherwise.

[Anthony]

Do you think the bulbs you tried were good quality or not?

My friend replaced his number plate bulbs with some good LEDs
And now they light up the floor!!!




Just realised....I forgot to put the link in my previous post

He got them from
http://www.superbrightleds.com/

[SpitNoir]

Yes, I've used those guys before. They have a lot to offer. So much in fact, that it's going to be hard to try them all! I can also get the build-your-own type from a large electronics retailer here close to home. Have had some interesting playing around with their stuff, but have yet to really accomplished anything.
I've used some that I would call good quality, but the new crop are better still. And basic lighting is sometimes easier than achieving just the right look in a tail lamp. I also used to sell some very nice 1157-type bulbs that I tried in a couple of older lamps. So I hear what you're saying Garth. They may take less current, but unless you do it up right, they're pretty dull.
Don't know if we all use the same nomenclature with regard to bulbs, but just in case, the 1157 is just your standard dual-filament, offset pin bulb, like in the back of the Spitfire. Anyway, at first all I got was a dim light with a slightly brighter circle in the center of the lens. No reflectivity off the reflector at all, because the lamp was just too directional and did not have any side-facing elements. They're getting wider and brighter by the day, but back then it was very disappointing to say the least. The same bulbs however, worked wonderfully in the more modern tail lamps I tried them in.

I didn't get to play today with the new sockets I bought. Taking care of my father nowadays. Ninety years young and falling apart at the seams! Will try to find some time tomorrow again, between a visit o the doctor (who knew someone could have so many appointments!) and a lunch with the few remaining Lockheed buddies he's got left.
It's all good fun though. And after all he's done, I can put off playing for a bit. A good cause, and all that.

Later.

Paul

[Tom2000]

So, what modifications would be required to fit Super Bright LEDs from superbrightleds.com ?

*Edit: RimmerBros have LED lights for Spit replacements on their site?

[Nick Moore]

There's a wide variety of multi-LED units on the market. Most cheap, traditional style LEDs radiate in a narrow beam, so manufacturers have come up with arrays to either direct the light straight back, or to the sides as well in an effort to make their lamps as visible as incandescent bulbs. Still, many LED 'upgrades' aren't as bright unless you're directly behind the car. I should add that cars with manufacturer-designed LED lights use lots of 'em at various angles to make the tail lights and indicators widely visible.

There's a second, more expensive variety of LED made by Phillips called "Luxeon" (other manufacturers may be making them as well by now, I haven't bought any in a couple of years). These are single LEDs, very bright and radiating widely, and need heat sinks. I fitted a pair to my Herald and had to trim their cooling fins to fit in the Herald lamp housings. They were expensive, too. I won't bother to fit them to my GT6. For all the effort I can't say they're much brighter than standard bulbs, and they're probably the best on the market. Instead, I'll fit a big, bright central high-stop light.

[CharlieB]

Tom2000 wrote:

So, what modifications would be required to fit Super Bright LEDs from superbrightleds.com ?

If you fit them to the indicators you'll need an electronic flasher unit & you'll need to rewire the dash warning light.

[Van]

I cleaned up my old light units using a dremel-type tool which was about £20 in Argos. The little grinding stones can clean up the sockets where the bullets go and also the bulb holder itself to make contact better. I replaced the bullets themselves with the slightly larger 5mm ones which are more common. Any dodgy joints where a rivet is used to conduct electricity can have a bit of solder added with a soldering gun. Bullet hole size and bulb holder shape can be adjusted with pliers to make a good fit. I have a LED high level brake light inside the car which I fitted after a big rear end smash 4 years ago. I prefer this to LED bulbs in the existing lights as the existing lights are very low and I think a high level light is more easily seen by drivers of modern vehicles.