LED conversion

I have been looking for LED tails for my '74, but have not found any that looked "stock." The pre-74 bumper rear-end cars have aftermarket units that appear mostly stock, but I couldn't find any for the later cars except for the "bubble" lenses which I don't care for.

I've made my own, if anyone is interested. Start with a submersible trailer tail from Harbor Freight ($20, currently on sale for $13).

Remove your Vette's stock taillight lens in the same way you did the Harbor Freight Unit. Don't be nervous, the glue from the factory was terrible and it'll pop right off. (Bit of damage you see on mine was when I dropped it and it came apart, which was the inspiration for the conversion!) 

Using a plastic-weld 2 part epoxy, I reglued the lens back to the unit. (I hope I never have to disassemble it, because it is NOT coming back apart!!) 

I threaded the wiring leads through a grommet, and glued it in place of the standard bulb mount.

Total cost: $30, including the epoxy.

All the best, Darryl

~~~Save the Wave~~~

 

|UPDATED|2/9/2013 9:14:27 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Outstanding! Thanks for doing a nice picture by picture explaination! ebo

Thanks Darryl!

I hope you post a picture once you get them lit up on your car.

Jim

Great job, now the rush will be on for everyone of us to find some extra lenses so we can do that as well. I to didnt like the bubble lens but will have to give your method a try! Great instruction!
Rodney

Pretty cool...............Thanks

That is somethging to look into! vI have been looking for LED taillights for my 79 for some time!

I never realized the rubber bumper taillight lenses were glued to the housings.

Only on 74 up!

One thing I forgot to mention: you'll need to change out the flasher units in the car to new, electronic units (plug and play) or the new LED lights will flash very, very fast... They don't pull enough current to make the old thermal ones work.  Or, just put a resistor in line to add current.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-x-LED-Signal-Flasher-Fix-Load-Gold-Resistor-50W-6-OHM-High-Power-Gold-/370754060996?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5652aa02c4&vxp=mtr

I think I'm going to eliminate my backup lights, and put two more of these in the rear.  Unique, but easy to change back to stock if I choose to.

I like it, I have been slowly converting mine to all led..