Topic: tail lights
in Forum: C4 Electrical
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C4VR)
I thought so too, LEDs are brighter and they "snap" on and "off" compared to filaments. I've experimented and find the following,- you need to change the flasher to one that's load independent (comes with a ground) Grote has them and you can get it from your parts store
- the reflectors in the taillights are really bad silver paint and don't contribute much to the pattern so the more elements the better.
- I started with clustered red (regular) LEDs and they worked OK
- so I thought I'd up grade to brighter SMD's which have better directional coverage with mounts on the sides, but they were white ( not red) so although they appear bright in the open, the lens absorbed a bunch of the lumens and I switched back the red clusters. Red SMDs would be better but harder to find.
-Also, to improve the reflection, I lined the back with aluminum tape. Better, but not a permanent solution.
- cheap LED replacements interfere with the socket and won't seat the contacts
- they don't make 2057's, they are all 1157's with more or less brightness
- not impressed by the yellow ones for front signals, just don't have the brightness, SMDs should be better.

Standard Member
Send PM
Mission Viejo, CA - USA
Joined: 3/18/2015
Posts: 74
Vette(s): Yellow '84 Coupe
The best deal I've seen is from Corvette Central. Complete tail/brake light assembly for '84 -'90, $180 /set of four. Replaces the stock tail/brake light assembly, and plugs into the factory socket. They have the required flasher, too. CorvetteCentral.com
|UPDATED|9/13/2015 9:48:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|9/13/2015 9:48:57 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Thanks everyone for the information, but i think i will stick with the standard bulbs for now. bought 1 led bulb to try it out and didn't work on the tail light side and i didn't care for the color of the brake that worked. maybe someone will improve on the bulbs in the future.
Standard Member
Send PM
Mission Viejo, CA - USA
Joined: 3/18/2015
Posts: 74
Vette(s): Yellow '84 Coupe
DougAllen said: bought 1 led bulb to try it out and didn't work on the tail light side and i didn't care for the color of the brake that worked.
Was this a small LED that replaced the standard 1057 light bulb in the stock tail light? Those don't work. The ones I mentioned cover the entire face of the tail light, so you would replace the whole tail light assembly. They are brighter than the stock tail/brake lights.
in Forum: C4 Electrical
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C4VR)