LED tail lights for Healey's and most Brit cars

[bighealeysource]

Saw an ad in the latest Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car magazine, the January 2012 issue, for <span style="font-weight: bold">Classic Auto LEDS </span>for LED tail lights. Went to their website and they can furnish LED conversion lights that plug right into a Healey wiring harness. Kind of pricey at $172.00 + $8.00 shipping but nice alternative to the Healey "dim" tail lights. Know Roger had a great thread about LED dash bulbs - which I got and work great - but not sure if I had seen anything about the availability of these. I have not ordered any and not sure I will at the $180 per pair delivered but looks like nice product. Might keep that 5000 pound SUV from rear ending me since my tail lights are hard to see. Maybe I can convince Mrs. Claus to get them for me !!!
Regards,
Mike

www.classicautoleds.com

 

[AUSMHLY]

Hey Mike,

Nice to find new things available out here for our Healey's.
Has anyone converted to LED taillights?
Any before and after photos?

I'm wondering if the LED's, being they draw less power, would affect anything else electrial, like the votage regulator or flasher relay?

Cheers,
Roger

 

[PSJ]

Funny you should mention this! Last weekend I helped my Dad install a set on his 100. Fit was easy and good; the instructions indicate that you may need to switch out the flasher unit, but it was not necessary in our case. Unfortunately, I dropped one of the taillight lenses and broke it (it is hard to find good help these days), so we haven't buttoned it up and taken it outside to really see the difference.

After we get a new pair of lenses and finish the installation, I'll let you guys know how it turns out!

Phil

 

[KCC]

I have an early Mk III with combined brake/indicator lights and LED lights caused problems (not flashing properly, side lights flashing etc.), I assume because there is not enough resistance for the brake/flasher relay to work properly.

A modern flasher unit did not solve the problem and a complete check of the system revealed no earthing problems.

In the end, adding resistors to the circuits solved most of the problems, but by then everything was too far from originsl for my taste.

Later cars with separate indicator lights may fare better as there is no brake/flasher relay.

 

[healeynut]

I use superlumination bulbs on all of my LBCs. The brightness is exceptional.

https://superlumination.com/1156_1157.htm

They keep coming out with brighter and brighter types.

 

[Rob Glasgow]

Healynut, Which type and color do you use on your Healey for the front turn and rear stop/turn lights? There are certainly many options in the 1156/1157 base.

 

[Frankenhealey]

I used these LEDs for my 100 rearlights a few years back after trying to build my own. You get side, stop and turn in one unit and they are very bright compared to the dim bulbs. In fact, so bright, that they can sometimes even be seen in sunlight unlike the originals. You can signal a turn and be braking and see both amber and red simultaneously.

They're Harley cycle lights from Custom Dynamics here

Okay you have to do a bit of work, get an electronic flasher and use bullet lenses but at $81 a pair I think that that's fair.

I'm also playing around with some LED white/amber front units like these

 

[Randy Forbes]

I picked up some "store bought" L.E.D. dual circuit bulbs a few years back, and did nothing other than remove the glass lens and chrome ring to install them.

Still using the original brake relay (newer replacement, but still the incandescent style) and signal flasher.

These are certainly brighter than the incandescent bulbs, but are not the large array as shown above.

I'm still trying to figure out some way of using the combination license plate/third brake light (combined with a billet license plate frame) to not look out of character on my car. Without the bumper (and using the nerf bars) it would be okay, but with the plate mounted under the bumper, it hides the brake light__not really much of an advantage without putting mirrors inside the bumper...