Clearing 92-95 GTs

[Twista89]

I just bought a 95GT tail that I was planning on clearing when it gets here but I had some thoughts and wanted to get some opinions on it first. What I was planning on doing was clearing the tails and painting the chrome part inside black since you have to use red LEDs and those are just directional so the reflecting part isnt needed anymore right? How do you think that would look on my red SE??? Also all I need is silicon glue to seal them back up right and can the same thing be used to seal up a whole for my power wire where I drilled threw in the firewall. I want to seal it up the lights and the firewall hole correctly so what should I use?

[Matt95GT]

I used the plug-in LED bulbs already w/ clear tails. Even with the silver inside reflecting some of the light, it was mostly just 2 dots when viewed from a distance. Honestly it looked rather silly, plus the "pull me over" factor. IMO use 3-4" truck LED assemblies or just use as stock GT tails.

Yes, silicone sealant is fine for both the lens housings (remember to scrape the old stuff out first) and the firewall hole. I used GE silicone clear, in a large tube w/ a caulking gun.

[Twista89]

What do you mean by "3-4" truck LED assemblies"? I really like the look of the cleared GT tails over stock GT tails so I was defiantly gonna try and clear them and if they dont look right I will just put the red covering back in them. Also how long do these LED lights usually last before needing replacement and is there any place that has lifetime warrantys on the lights? Ive seen some places that offer like super bright 3157 LEDs compared to regular 3157 LEDs how are these with output?

[Matt95GT]

What do you mean by "3-4" truck LED assemblies"? I really like the look of the cleared GT tails over stock GT tails so I was defiantly gonna try and clear them and if they dont look right I will just put the red covering back in them. Also how long do these LED lights usually last before needing replacement and is there any place that has lifetime warrantys on the lights? Ive seen some places that offer like super bright 3157 LEDs compared to regular 3157 LEDs how are these with output?

I mean flat, round tail lamp assemblies used for 18-wheeler trailers. That's what Joe used for these:
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77586
You don't have to get that crazy with the fiberglassing - you could make a simple setup using short pieces of pipe.

I initially liked the clear look too, but after going through so many hoops to keep working, bright, red light coming from them, I gave up and put the red lens back in. I found that reb bulbs faded quickly, so did those rubber bulb covers, and the LED's I used (APC, the only available at that time) would burn out or flicker irregularly within a couple weeks.

Light output isn't the problem... the narrow beam output of LED's is. There are some LED plug-in bulbs that also have LED's facing to the sides, which may help, but the stock housings just aren't well-suited for plug-in LED bulbs. The problem would only be worse if you painted the inside of the housings black.

Oh, and if you do end up using LED's, you must replace the thermal turn signal flasher with an electronic one first. (there are several threads I posted in on that topic)

[Twista89]

So there really isnt any benefits with using LEDs over just some regular Red 3157 bulbs except longer life and less draw then right?

[Matt95GT]

So there really isnt any benefits with using LEDs over just some regular Red 3157 bulbs except longer life and less draw then right?

Well, they don't fade to white over time. Properly designed LED bulbs won't burn out like mine did. Considering the look wasn't all that impressive anyway, I didn't want to deal with all the hassle (including not passing state inspection.)

[Big Joe]

As Matt already said. Don't waste your time clearing them and using red led's unless your gonna put the truck ones in. You can either use the truck assemblies or try and find some round red lenses at auto zone or pep boys. Then glue them to the end of a PVC pipe and you pretty much have this:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y243/BigJoe5313/Car/DSC00043.jpg

[Twista89]

how did you wire them though?

[Big Joe]

how did you wire them though?

everything is stock. just red lenses like i said in my first post.

[PontiacGA]

Ive tried both the 4" truck lense with regular bulbs inside and the 4" LED truck lights. LED ones are MUCH better. Brighter and just look way cooler, IMHO. :lol:

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/251000-251999/251920_37_full.jpg

I rewired the lights so just the outside light is the turn/brake. The inside one is just a the parking light.

Joe...any trouble with the blue side marker light with the cops?

[Big Joe]

Joe...any trouble with the blue side marker light with the cops?


Knock on wood, with all the illegal crap I have on the car I've only ever been pulled over once in it and it was for suspected drunk driving/speeding. I swerved around a big pot hole and the guy thought I was drunk :lol:
but when he realized I wasn't drunk he decided to let me off easy. He said instead of giving me a speeding ticket he was gonna write me for the blue lights in the tails because it was an easy fix it ticket. Well I replaced them for a day and went to the precinct and got the ticket removed.

[ManktheTank19]

I like PontiacGA tails, which I was going to do - he provided me the wiring instructions but I became foolish and paid for AED tails that I haven't received for 2 years.

[PontiacGA]

You can still make them while you're still waiting for the AED tailz, Mank. ;)

[Twista89]

yea thats what I was thinking about doing to my tails using the LEDs truck ones. Where did you buy those Pontiac?? Also you think I can get the wiring instructions to? And do you think its possible to wire both as brake lights and just the outer ones as turn signals?

[ManktheTank19]

yea thats what I was thinking about doing to my tails using the LEDs truck ones. Where did you buy those Pontiac?? Also you think I can get the wiring instructions to? And do you think its possible to wire both as brake lights and just the outer ones as turn signals?

I have all his emails still and I have 2 of those LED's he has - which I will sell cheap (want to get rid of).

He bought the LED's at www.buytruckstuff.com

Let me know what you wanna do.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/Mankthetank19/Stuff%20for%20Sale/MVC-037S.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e167/Mankthetank19/Stuff%20for%20Sale/MVC-038S.jpg

[Twista89]

Cool think you can foward the emails if its ok with PontiacGA? Also you only have two right? How much would you let them go for shipped?

[PontiacGA]

No! Its TOP SECRET stuff. :lol: If he doesnt, I'll dig them up for ya. They also make clear LEDs that light up red.

Yeah, you can make it light up like you said. No problem.

[ManktheTank19]

Name a fair price shipped and sure :)

[Matt95GT]

And do you think its possible to wire both as brake lights and just the outer ones as turn signals?

That exact way would require you to build a custom circuit to make it work. It would be easier to do 1 as brake, other as turn signal, and both as parking lights. Even that will still require you to run some extra wiring to the front of the car, since isolated signals (turn signals not affected by brakes, and vise-versa) are not available in the stock tail wiring.