Sequential Tail Lights Incandescent

[tx65coupe]

I am considering getting these from my 65, and was wondering if anyone else had them. If you have them do you like them?


Scott Drake Enterprises Electrical & Lighting :: Tail Lights & Back Up Lights :: Sequential Tail Light Kit

SEQUENTIAL TAIL LIGHT KIT 1965-1966 - CJ Pony Parts, Inc.

 

[tx65coupe]

I'm also curious if it is a good idea to use this between the tail light housing and the body. Currently there is strip caulk on mine. I think that worked nicely.

http://www.cjponyparts.com/product.asp?pn=TLBP1

 

[tx65coupe]

Surely some one on here has this setup?

 

[Tim65GT]

I had a similar setup. Sure it provides 200% more light and that was my main concern. My kids were driving the car at the time and I wanted to make sure anyone from behind could see the brake lights here in the bright a$$ El Paso sun.

The problem is it sucks up 200% more current. If one 1157 brake light bulb draws 5 amps, try SIX! Stopped in traffic at idle with the brakes on, the voltmeter slowly dropped to below 10 volts. I would have to take it out of drive and rev the engine above 1000RPM.

I now have LEDs which sequence when signaling but all segments illuminate when the brakes are applied. They are not only BRIGHT, they draw hardly any current and they come on instantaneously. Incandescent bulbs take time to come to there full brightness that is if your switches and wiring are up to handling the extra current. Just drive behind a Cadillac DTS in bright sunlight and you’ll see the difference.

 

[tx65coupe]

Thanks for the input.

I have a high output alternator. I also have a headlight relay kit. I never really thought obout the additional current draw. With the kit it does require an additonal power wire be run to the trunk.

I'm really trying to keep my car "old school". I thought about the LED setup, but I just don't like how it looks. There isn't a fluid flow to them like the incandescent. The LED is too instant on and instant off. Its more of a stair step than a flow. I have seen LED tail lights on new cars and on Mustangs with the LED inserts. I just don't like how it looks.

I have also noticed that with most LED tail lights if someone is not directly behing the car the has them they are harder to see.

Also, the LED setup goes dark between flashes when the tail lights are on. I don't like that either. It should go to the dimmer filiment between flashes when the tail lights are on like the OEM lights do.

Also, the LED doesn't sequence once before staying on during braking.

See how the incancescent look on this Cougar? It has a nice fluid flow to it.

YouTube - Cougar taillights

Did you have any issues with yours other than what you said? Where they the Scott Drake ones?

If these are really a bad idea, I may just stick with the stock lights. I do have some GE night hawk bulbs in them. That actually makes a difference. They are the same specs as a regular 1157 but have what GE calls a robust filiment. I have 3157 night hawks in my F150's tail lights and its noticably brighter.

 

[tx65coupe]

Does an 1157 bulb actually draw 5 amps? If so is that on low or high?

 

[Tim65GT]

Did you have any issues with yours other than what you said? Where they the Scott Drake ones?

No, they worked pretty good.

No, they were STS-1 Sequencer Kit from Web Electric

I made my own dividers in the taillight housing and put in the extra sockets.

I still have the sequencing modules somewhere, I never got around to selling them. Most people are leary about buying used electronics. lol

 

[Tim65GT]

Does an 1157 bulb actually draw 5 amps? If so is that on low or high?

No, I was wrong about that. I just checked and they draw about 2.5 amps at 13.8 volts and the tail/park filament (low) draws about .6 amps.

Those Nighthawks might be more.

 

[tx65coupe]

I got the Scott Drake deluxe incandescant kit from CJ with free shipping and got 60 dollars in gift cards. I really like the kit and I think it suits my car. I'll get a clip up soon.

 

[tx65coupe]

Here is a clip of them. The video quality isn't the best, but it is still being processed, so maybe it will improve.

YouTube - 1965 Ford Mustang Sequential Tail Lights

 

[DanMan68]

Sequential kit

I purchased one of these kits years ago. Never got it to work correctly,all it did was melt the far left lens on both taillights. Seems the 1157 bulbs are very close on both outsides. I ended up with an LED kit and it is much brighter and cooler on the lenses.

 

[tx65coupe]

Did you get the deluxe kit with the polycarbonate lenses or did you use the OEM type lenses?

I know there are good points to the LED tails, but I just don't like how the LED looks. You can see all the dots, they often flicker between sequences, and they completely go out between flashes when the tail lights are on, instead of going back to dim like the tail lights. Thats the way the stock tails work. The incandescant also has a fluid flow and is not jerky like the LED.