The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-04-2022, 11:41 PM   #1
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Problem: Incandescent bulbs burn out and LEDs create obnoxious unnatural light...

So I started out with a regular courtesy lamp kit. Since I off road quite often the incandescent filament would blow out all the time.

I replaced the bulbs with a LED equivalent from a car parts store. The result was that the light was an unnatural bright white light and cast a focused beam on the ground. Not the best solution for a courtesy light.

Then I replaced the bulbs with a flea-bay upgraded set that had 9 LEDs per bulb, that were warm white color. Same thing, focused beam, intense to look at and they would flicker off and on all the time.

So I went down the rabbit hole of LED lights, tinted paint and light diffusion. Here are the results, evenly distributed soft natural light with a bulb that is epoxy sealed, good for as long as I could hope for and easily found-replaced.

Name:  1.jpg
Views: 438
Size:  27.4 KB

Name:  2.jpg
Views: 447
Size:  112.5 KB

Name:  20221002_102159.jpg
Views: 434
Size:  41.4 KB
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2022, 11:45 PM   #2
jimijam00
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: PNW
Posts: 553
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Incandescent bulbs are a thing of the past. Their light output per amount of power they draw just sucks. Led's ARE the bomb for sure.
jimijam00 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-04-2022, 11:46 PM   #3
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Let me know if you're interested on what parts I used, or how to make them and I'll upload. Not really sure if anyone will be interested, or if anyone else experienced the same frustrations-problems. Thanks!

Name:  4.jpg
Views: 435
Size:  30.7 KB
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 01:13 AM   #4
chewychevy67
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 5,394
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Definitely post. I agree there are places that led bulbs are intense and kill the vintage affect some are trying to conserve.
chewychevy67 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 08:11 AM   #5
special-K
Special Order

 
special-K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,754
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

This is a cool upgrade. What are those courtesy lights from?

I can't ride along with the incandescent bulbs being a thing of the past. It's true in your house where you pay for that extra energy use. But in vehicles they have never been an issue. They are the least of concern for draw off the system and obviously they have been doing a good job for over 100 years. And as shown in this thread, the light created by LEDs is not always better, for various reasons. These had to be modified. The only problem with incandescent bulbs in this case was the rough duty 4-wheeling put on the filament. I've never had that problem, personally.
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed"

GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project)
GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling)
Tim

"Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman"

R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~
special-K is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 01:11 PM   #6
doug_p
Registered User
 
doug_p's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Yorktown, VA
Posts: 87
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Definitely interested in the information . . . did that bracket come in your truck? I don't currently have courtesy lights but would like to add them -
DP
doug_p is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 01:56 PM   #7
72c20customcamper
Registered User
 
72c20customcamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Catskill Mountains,NY
Posts: 8,055
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

I actually like the LED lighting in my truck . Just cheap Walmart license plate lights . But then again I’m old and need extra light
Attached Images
 
__________________
Mark
72 c20 custom camper Husky edition,
66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark
1969 AMX ,
1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20
1977 Suburban sold
68 anniversary.
72c20customcamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 09:18 PM   #8
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

I honestly looked for a replacement set that I could buy that would do the job, unfortunately I'm quite picky and only accept replacement parts that last at min a decade. So I just pieced myself together a setup that met the requirements.

Please see below for the parts list, all in all I think I got it done in 3 days of part time, semi-pro, amateur garage work.

- (10) Pack White 3/4 LEDs off the Amazons
- Kroger party pack beer pong ball set 1" dia (excellent light diffusers)
- Set of (2) courtesy lamp brackets off the flea bay
- K-rylon stained glass rattle can paint (white LED painted to amber, of course to preference)
- Translucent silicone caulking from the homeless despot (diffuses light better than anything else)
- Ultra Black RTV from 'ol Kragen
- Hobby razor blade knife (cutting the ping pong ball)
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 09:23 PM   #9
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Courtesy bulb brackets pic, I cut them down until flat and then painted.

Name:  7.jpg
Views: 289
Size:  42.7 KB
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 09:24 PM   #10
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Party pack ping pong balls, I used two glued together with translucent silicone. I think one would have done the trick though. I stuck them to the bulb with the same silicone, they're on there really good.

Name:  3.jpg
Views: 289
Size:  51.5 KB

Name:  4.jpg
Views: 288
Size:  38.5 KB
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-2022, 10:48 PM   #11
beanious
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 195
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

10.00 3/4" Led bulbs off the amazons, also can be found at the local tractor store.

Name:  1.jpg
Views: 278
Size:  39.9 KB

Name:  2.jpg
Views: 279
Size:  46.8 KB
beanious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2022, 07:18 AM   #12
special-K
Special Order

 
special-K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,754
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

That's quite a project. Came out great! I don't know about reinventing the light bulb, but you sure invented some nice courtesy lights
__________________
"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed"

GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project)
GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling)
Tim

"Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman"

R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~
special-K is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2022, 07:52 PM   #13
Richard2112
Registered User
 
Richard2112's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: South East Ohio
Posts: 644
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

Great solution to the lighting. I am not a fan of LED lighting though it has it's uses.

My line of thinking is LED lights are are sharp, distinct and resemble sparkles whereas most things of antiquity will have a glow. Incandescent will sort of fade in and fade out whereas LEDs are abrupt on and off.
Richard2112 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-08-2022, 08:23 AM   #14
dagnabbitt
Senior Member
 
dagnabbitt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,288
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

What a cool mod. It takes an interesting mind to look at a ping pong ball and think "I bet I can make that into a light bulb".
__________________
DAVE
Edmonton, Alberta
1959 Apache
1967 K20
1968 C20
1970 C10
1972 GMC 2500
1981 C10
dagnabbitt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2022, 09:05 AM   #15
blazer2007
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: vernon b.c.
Posts: 3,019
Re: Re-Inventing The Light Bulb

I went down the rabbit hole and couldn,t find them
blazer2007 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com