Making tail lights brighter

For all you guys with incandescent globes for your tail lights and blinkers.....

Yesterday I tried a number of LED globes...maybe different shapes, sizes, colours, capacities etc etc etc


Guess what?? The incandescent was noticeably and significantly better. Moral of the story? Don't waste your time or money....

HOWEVER, what I DID find was the the insides of my lenses were caked with black sticky oily exhaust residue and dirt from 35 years of driving(duh...first thing that should have been checked) and I now suspect that by the time these have been thoroughly cleaned and polished the end result will be more than satisfactory.

I've already had an electrical upgrade to ensure I'm not getting any voltage drop, so hopefully this will do the trick.

 

before and after pics help

 

Soap and water cleaning the covers really helps I find.

 

How the hell did the INSIDE of the lenses get covered in residue? The lenses are sealed where they meet the body of the car with a gasket and a film of putty like goop.
Mine have never been cleaned inside as they remain perfectly sealed after 34 years.

 

Perhaps they did a crap job of sealing them up after the resto on PP's car?

Or missing the gaskets etc..etc.

 

I don't think it has done too many miles post resto?

 

I thought it had done some miles before it was put up for sale? Either way, PP will be able to confirm.

Perhaps the lights weren't sealed properly from the factory from new then? I just re-read PP saying they have had 35 yrs worth of driving on them.

That or it had a hit in the rear and they were not sealed properly then.

Either way, sounds like they are not sealing properly.

 

So it would seem.

 

rubber seals may have just been shot due to age, it's a thing thats often overlooked.

 

Hmmmmmmm very true and now you mention it I think mine were replaced when it was restored *scratching head *

That is a major problem with cars 20 years + old. Anything that is rubber needs to be inspected and probably replaced, especially in harsh climates.

 

If only you had a UK dry sump steel car, you'd have the 2 globe option........... but (to quote you) I digress.

I found a big difference after cleaning my lenses PP. It was amazing how much crap was in then. They still need polishing on the outside, haven't been able to get rid of the faint scratches.
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You know they are around the wrong way, don't you?

 

and non-standard

man, some people will do anything to make a car lighter

 

Toothpaste and patience.

 

brasso

 

Just trying to get the weight distribution right Moretts. Gave me 0.002 seconds per lap.

Carl888 recommended that to me but it didn't work. Perhaps I had the wrong brand.

 

Wrong brand of patience? Elbow grease, tooth brush and lots of water, it won't happen in one go but it will ...... Worked on bogan Brougham tailights last year.

 

I have plexi glass polish (in different grades too) that I bought for the F50. It would be perfect for the job.

.......and how come your lights were not sealed as well?

 

The lights are not totally sealed. You have the rubber seal but if you look closely at the lens, there is a very small square section at the base (might only be the later cars???). Don't ask me what its for, but its there.

I just went downstairs 360C and hopefully its clear what I am trying to say I've used an allen key to point to the area. I would assume this opening and the lack of seal at the rear of the light fitting allows some flow of crap inside.
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I'm a Taurus, so patience isn't in my vocabulary.

 

I havent done that job for 20+ years but I think that lense isnt seated properly on the gasket.
The lense has teeth that fit into the gasket openings if my memory hasn't packed it in.

 

The car has done VERY little work since the resto......I would suggest they weren't cleaned then looking at how they are. As for the seals? No idea...BSM is pulling them out next week.