kaos
6-Speeder
Well, the truck accessories place finally got my flasher unit in, and I was able to install my clear corners and LEDs. They really make the truck look a lot cleaner in front, and the LEDs look great. I swapped out all the 3157 bulbs with LED replacements (front parking/signal and rear signal/brake).
Here's the front end before:
And the front end with the clear corners:
The main reason for using the LEDs in the clear corners was so there wouldn't be a big amber bulb showing thru the clear when the lights were off. They also look much better when on:
The left is the old bulbs/amber lens, the right is the new clear corner w/ LEDs.
I found some killer LED replacement bulbs on ebay that I picked up for the tail lights. After seeing how bright they are and what the ones in the front look like, I wish I would have bought them all the way around, but at 17 bux a piece, the 4 for the front would have been rather expensive.
For those who are considering changing to LEDs, TMI LED makes a "Power Tower" which is just awesome. The problem with a lot of the LED replacement bulbs out there is that they face all forward, so you end up with a concentrated cone of light that doesn't really light up the whole lens. Some, like the "super refractor" bulbs that I picked up for the front, have a bunch of forward-facing leds, and some arranged around the sides to light up the reflector inside the lens. TMI's are a big tower using all high-flux LEDs (some of the brightest LEDs currently being made). Check them out here. I am very impressed with the ones I put in the tail. You can also get them on ebay for less than what they sell them on the website for.
Also for those considering LEDs: Do it right and get a replacement flasher unit, don't use the stupid resistors that a lot of places sell. These big resistors pull the same amount of current as the old bulb being replaced, effectively fooling the flasher into thinking the bulb is still there, and not flashing super-fast to indicate a burned out bulb. The problem is that they will get HOT!!! Grote has an entire line of LED flasher units, and you will probably be able to find one that will be a drop-in replacement for your OEM flasher. Mine for the Dakota was a simple 5-pin flasher unit: unplug OEM, plug in replacement. Poof. Done right and without a big fire risk!
Here's the front end before:
And the front end with the clear corners:
The main reason for using the LEDs in the clear corners was so there wouldn't be a big amber bulb showing thru the clear when the lights were off. They also look much better when on:
The left is the old bulbs/amber lens, the right is the new clear corner w/ LEDs.
I found some killer LED replacement bulbs on ebay that I picked up for the tail lights. After seeing how bright they are and what the ones in the front look like, I wish I would have bought them all the way around, but at 17 bux a piece, the 4 for the front would have been rather expensive.
For those who are considering changing to LEDs, TMI LED makes a "Power Tower" which is just awesome. The problem with a lot of the LED replacement bulbs out there is that they face all forward, so you end up with a concentrated cone of light that doesn't really light up the whole lens. Some, like the "super refractor" bulbs that I picked up for the front, have a bunch of forward-facing leds, and some arranged around the sides to light up the reflector inside the lens. TMI's are a big tower using all high-flux LEDs (some of the brightest LEDs currently being made). Check them out here. I am very impressed with the ones I put in the tail. You can also get them on ebay for less than what they sell them on the website for.
Also for those considering LEDs: Do it right and get a replacement flasher unit, don't use the stupid resistors that a lot of places sell. These big resistors pull the same amount of current as the old bulb being replaced, effectively fooling the flasher into thinking the bulb is still there, and not flashing super-fast to indicate a burned out bulb. The problem is that they will get HOT!!! Grote has an entire line of LED flasher units, and you will probably be able to find one that will be a drop-in replacement for your OEM flasher. Mine for the Dakota was a simple 5-pin flasher unit: unplug OEM, plug in replacement. Poof. Done right and without a big fire risk!
