Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights
I ordered the RED 1157-R45-T bulb from www.superbrightleds.com -- they have 45 LEDs on them and are perfect for the rectangular, single bulb, rear lights that have the light vertically installed. I had the "extra bright" bulbs in there, along with the reflectors behind them, but the LEDs make a real noticable improvement. It's a five minute installation, and the turn signals work just fine. Here are some shots:
This is the bulb:
This is the OLD bulb, brakes lit:
This is the NEW LED bulb, brakes lit:
And this is both of them, LED on the left, bulb on the right, brakes lit:
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Tommy
Cheetah tribute completed 2021 (TommysCars.Weebly.com)
Previously owned EM Cobra
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al G
Photos can be deceiving, but in the last photo the LED light looks more amber than red. Will it look red to the driver behind you?
Yes, it's nice and red. All of those 45 LEDs are in fact RED. It's hard to take a picture of a lit light bulb. They also sell an amber bulb just like it, but you wouldn't want that on your rear.
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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This shot is with the sun directly on the back of the car. Left side has the LED, right side as the "extra bright" bulb. The brake lights are lit, even though it's hard to tell that on the right side.
Fifteen years ago (or more) Ron Francis was selling 'Bright Bulbs' to replace 1157's. I've had them since then and no one has been close enough to even see them...
Thanks. I think you have a calling as a Hand Model...
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Got the Bug
Patrick - Are the dimensions of the RED 1157-R45-T similar to the stock 1157 bulb?
I'm going to say that the LED bulb is just a hair smaller than the regular bulb. Here's a shot:
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcdoug
Alright, I'm taking the plunge. Just ordered a pair. I have had comments that people can't see my brake lights that easily.
Today is overcast so I paid particular attention to the color, hue, and brightness of the lights. I would now honestly say that the Cobra's lights appear to be "normal," whereas before they seemed to be dim, as compared to the typical brake lights that are in front of you 99% of the time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcdoug
Are there super bright, non-LED, replacements for the front blinkers too? I just have the standard 1157s in there now.
There are, and they are a little better than regular 1157s, and Bob P. recently posted link to one place that sells them. That post was in the last two weeks. Do you have reflectors on the inside of your trunk in your Cobra? Or can you literally just reach in and put your finger on the bulb?
Cobra Make, Engine: CSX 6022, navy blue, period correct 427 SO
Posts: 2,154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt
There are, and they are a little better than regular 1157s, and Bob P. recently posted link to one place that sells them. That post was in the last two weeks. Do you have reflectors on the inside of your trunk in your Cobra? Or can you literally just reach in and put your finger on the bulb?
I'll look for the post.
The CSX cars do not have reflectors and the bulbs are not accessible via the trunk. But with a little effort you can reach up inside the rear wheel well and remove/replace the bulb fairly easily. They are just sitting there in the open in front of the brake light lens.
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“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,897
Not Ranked
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcdoug
The CSX cars do not have reflectors and the bulbs are not accessible via the trunk. But with a little effort you can reach up inside the rear wheel well and remove/replace the bulb fairly easily. They are just sitting there in the open in front of the brake light lens.
OK, the ERA lights are exposed in the back of the trunk. That's good for keeping them dry, but they can be damaged by stuff shifting around in your trunk (like a can of Fix 'o Flat). Plus the 1157 bulbs can get pretty darn hot and possibly catch a towel or paper on fire. To remedy that, and to increase the brightness of the rear lights, ERA sells these polished aluminum protectors, which work quite well. I'm guessing they would fit your CSX car too and they increase apparent brightness, ehhh I'm going to guess, about 25%. They would be very easy to fashion from my pic below.
Cobra Make, Engine: CSX 6022, navy blue, period correct 427 SO
Posts: 2,154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt
To remedy that, and to increase the brightness of the rear lights, ERA sells these polished aluminum protectors, which work quite well. I'm guessing they would fit your CSX car too and they increase apparent brightness, ehhh I'm going to guess, about 25%. They would be very easy to fashion from my pic below.
I'll see how it looks when I get the LEDs in without the reflectors. Right now I have standard 1157s with no reflectors, so I'm thinking it's going to be a big improvement and probably enough.
I also ordered the double filament 1157 replacements to add brightness to the front flashers as well. Ron Francis Wiring had them and was referenced in one of the threads on this subject.
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“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”
LED Upgrade to Rear Rectangular Lights
Linear Mode
