The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs What you think about LED"s on the panel

Been putting off getting the tailights on the panel for some time. I finally decided I did not want the bullet type on the belt line but still wasn't sure.
Finally today I put these LED's on that I bought at a big truck shop here in town.

What are you opinions? ...Not that it matters now since I have put the on !!!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1346.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1352.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1356.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/100_1357.jpg

You couldn't get Vickie to step on the brake? I expected to see it lit up.

I think they look great but I'd still add the bullets to get other driver's attention. Most drivers today are used to seeing the 3rd brakelight. Their mind isn't looking down for old truck lights.

You got a point Cletis and I plan to go ahead and put a "3rd" light up over the rear doors. Just haven't got there yet. Lots of other stuff going on. Plan to put the wiring harness in during the next couple weeks. Oh, Victoria did help "bleed" the brakes but in the record heat she prefers to stay in the house!!

Cletis, glad your back safe and sound. Looks like you had a nice trip in the surburban. Great!

Looks Good! I agree with the 3rd light. Martin

Alvin, I used the same LED lights on the tailgate of my 1941 ! Ton pick up plus original RH & LH stock tail lights with LED's and a 5th brake light in the back window. In this day and time you can not have enough brake lights to get peoples attention when you stop. I am also considering a automatic flasher that flashs the lights 3 times to get their attention and then goes to solid red.

On my 1946 Suburban I went with the bullet tails with LEDs plus the stock LH tail light with LED bulb. Since my Burb was once a school bus I am considering two "STOP" light on the lift gate as well.

Think about it, one good hit in the rear end that totals your rear doors and you now have a parts car.

I like LED's,low power,brighter and last forever.

I think Cletis didn't see the lights too good because of all the glare from the shiny red paint. You did a nice neat job, Alvin. Now that you've strayed this far from the original bullets, a light above the doors would be exactly what's needed to add the finishing touch.

A light above the doors was an option/accessory on early A-D panel-body trucks. I will try to find an illustration.

Panel Truck Rear Signal lamp (Tail Light) - just a converted bullet lamp over the doors

The lights look good, Alvin. I might have missed this, but are they tail light or combination (tail/signal or tail/brake)?

Alvin.
Beautiful truck. The lights look like they were built for it. I'm sure the 3rd brake light will look just as nice.
Harold

All the lights you can use are good. I have thought about adding some leds to the mine too. Yours look great.

Tim, they are multi purpose. Tail/brake/turn..... oh, the link wouldn't open for me but I'll try again later this evening.

I had a new set of chrome bullets and kept holding them up and looking looking looking at them. Then while at a truck shop one day I seen these and the price was right.($32 total) I would love to have recessed some bullet lights but thought about it after most of the paint work was done. I was worried about these LED"S "protruding" about an inch but since this is not a "work" truck figured they'd be OK. One of the best parts of this is I only have 3 small 3/16" holes to fill if I ever want to change them.

Thanks for your comments guys. I do appreciate them.... and I do plan to put a 3rd light. I just need to go to the salvage yard or see whats available after market. You know, its got to look "just right"!

Very nice, Alvin. Are you using those lights only as tail lights (marker lights) or as some combination of tail/brake/turn?

The link in my post is to a Tech Tip on Jim Carter's website. It shows a GM bullet light used on the roof over/above the panel's rear doors.

Ha Mr Chipmunk , I will be honest the lights look good, but not my cup of tea, i thought for a long time also about what to do about rear lights. I have come to the decision to put the painted bullets above the belt line and also the original door tail light.I just don't like how the bullets stick out from the body when below the belt line.
I joke with my friends that the panel being the same color above and below the belt line looks like a bald head, with the bullets up top it has ears. i will have it done soon will post a pic.
Len

Len

Len, that was the reason I didn't use the bullets. I think they look great on a suburban but not on the panel. I can just see some guy in a parking lot hanging his shirt sleeve on it like folks hang the corner of the tag on my 37. I guess they just want to get up close!!.... and who knows what I may decide this winter? LOL For now, with nothing on the side of my panel I think I'm gonna name it "plain jane", or bill or george, anything but sue

Alvin, I like it! I like it! Where will the license plate go?

Weeds

Thanks Weeds, I'm gonna use the existing holes on the left rear door and mount a small tag light with the license plate....or thats my intentions today!

FYI--since the bottom of the rear body has a "curve" to it and the lights are "flat" I took them back off and cut me a couple pieces of cork gasket and then put them back on. The light housing then "flushed" out so that there is no crack on each side of the light.... I'd love to have had a piece of good soft dense foam but hey, we use what we have.

By the way weeds, that was spicfy picture you posted of the trip in the surburban. You are da man!

Wow, I love this idea, I was thinking about adding a 3rd brake light to my '57 Suburban... Anyone knows if this would work on a TF Panel/Burb?
My first idea was to use the light you find on the back of the cab of a modern pick-up truck with one red bulb for 3rd brake light and 2 white bulbs to light the box at night: these 2 white bulbs would be nice back up lights, also pretty useful if your truck is a daily driver...

Achipmunk,
What brand light is that or the name of the store?? I'm trying to find something like that for a 3rd brake light on my 61 step side. Looks like it will fit great just above the license plate.

Big T... the package says they are Union Pacific. I got them from a "big truck" place that I thought was a chroming shop. Well, when I walked in it was only that they sold Chrome stuff for big trucks, no actual chroming. He had a big display of stuff for big trucks but you know a lot of stuff can be used on different stuff. I bought them a few months ago and just now got to but them in. They were about $32 for both. The only thing I did not realize was it is not a metal housing but is a heavy chromed plastic. But, hey, for the money it works, easy to mount and if I decide to do different it won't be hard to do.

If you wanted to call the place I can get the number off the invoice which is in the shop. The address is Spartanburg, S.C.

Hope this helps.....say, check out one of the "big truck" places around you that caters to the big rigs and see what you can find. Might find something you even like better?

How about a part number? I found United Pacific's web site but was unable to find the lights. I'm looking for a nice thin LED light. Most of the ones I have found are too tall and will not look right or fit between the license plate and tail gate.

Big T.... I've thrown the package away but luckily I wrote the number down in case I ever need one...
The number I have is 37638 My cost was 33.90 total including tax. I suspect that knowing where to get them from may save you money. The place I bought mine from locally was called "Disel Parts"

Hope this helps.

Thanks Achipmunk, I will give that a try

Looks good and since every one will be gawking the more lights the better.