Tail light ideas...

[dantimdad]

I am putting a flatbed on my 66 c10.

One of the few things I can work on until money from the new job starts coming in.

The floor is going to either going to be ash or oak with hidden bolt strips. The surround is 5" x 1.75" C channel made from 12 gauge steel.

I want this to look nice enough to show even though I am actually going to use it.

So, what ideas do you all have for tail lights? I have googled and binged myself to a headache and found nothing that sticks out.

Thanks,
Steven

[TJ's Chevy]

I say marker lights on the side(Drill in the side of the bed)...then 2 dual sets of stock chrome taillights...2 wired as brake lights and the other two as turn signal lamps...both sets red or 2 amber...that would look nice to me. And make a nice set of brackets.

[McCoyAZ]

Get something with LED's in them....check out the Auto Safety House or places like that.

[dantimdad]

I had kicked around the idea of using original lights and putting them in horizontally.

I like the idea of using LEDs and sink them in the back. Whatever I do, it will involve LEDs. I use them for just about every kind of lighting and build custom ones for reef aquariums.

Steven

[63burban]

Steven, PM me about leds

[jtrichard]

these in the rear rail might not look to bad http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-RED-6-O...ories&hash=ite you could use 2 or 4 depends on just what you like..... OR if you want more of the flat bed/truck look you culd use some thing like these http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-LED-UNIVER...7a3fde&vxp=mtr mounted on each side of the frame rails or thease that are for 67 72 stepside http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1969-Ch...b23936&vxp=mtr here is 60/66 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-DII-Chev...71804e&vxp=mtr

[rickywideglide]

i would check out harley motorcycle turnsignal housings wired for run ,turn, brake,could even use standoff depending on mount location,the newer bullet style ones by the way... just an idea,

[BR3W CITY]

LED tails semi-frenched into the reverse light holes using modified stock cups.

[Snailed]

I like the idea of fleetside lights turned 90* for a flat bed. Trailer LED light just look like...trailer lights. Which I don't think compliment the styling of an older truck.

I used the technostalgia LED inserts on my fleetside and made diffusers out of 1/8" think translucent acrylic to diffuse the "hot spots" all led arrays have. It worked really well and now my light have a very bright, blood red output and don't look like they came off a modified civic.

[dantimdad]

Thanks for all the ideas.

I have a lot of food for thought now.

Keep 'em coming!

Steven

[Captainfab]

Are you going to have a full tail panel or just the rear sill of the bed? How you finish the rear will dictate what lights you can use, and which will look better.

[dantimdad]

The surround to the bed is all the same size. I won't have an extended height rear panel.

Steven

[jtrichard]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Are you going to have a full tail panel or just the rear sill of the bed? How you finish the rear will dictate what lights you can use, and which will look better.

Captain he is putting on a flatbed with a 5" rail

[dantimdad]

I think I've decided on the tail lights:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1950-P...bly,39564.html

I'm gonna French them in and find similar reverse lights.

Instead of side markers, I am going to use cold cathode or led lights hidden in the bed surround.

They make a set of prefab French buckets for these lights:

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/1950-P...kets,5141.html

But I would need two sets (one set for tail lights and one for reverse) so I might attempt to make them myself first.

Now I have to figure out how to make stake side mounts that are hidden or least really unobtrusive. I really want this bed to look smooth and not like a farm truck bed at all.

Steven

[McCoyAZ]

I don't know who sells them but someone makes LED clearance lights that are about the size of the end of your little finger and those suckers are super bright.

I saw a customized semi at the truck shop the other day all decked out with them down the sides of the trailer and you would never know they were there until they were turned on.

[dantimdad]

I just saw something similar too:

http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/cm/cm_M09300.htm

I can French them in and you'd hardly notice them.

Steven

[63burban]

Originally Posted by McCoyAZ

I don't know who sells them but someone makes LED clearance lights that are about the size of the end of your little finger and those suckers are super bright.

I saw a customized semi at the truck shop the other day all decked out with them down the sides of the trailer and you would never know they were there until they were turned on.

I handle them, they use a 3/4 hole and come with or without a chrome bezel, also come in single or dual function. Just tail or tail and stop light. Super bright, sell a lot of them to hot rodders for front turn signals. They come in red or amber or either color with a clear lens.


http://www.uapac.com/antique/3-led-m...r-w-bezel.html

[dantimdad]

That's what I want!

PM me with pricing. I gotta wrap up this decision so I can start making sparks!

Steven.

[Robert Haas]

Originally Posted by dantimdad

I had kicked around the idea of using original lights and putting them in horizontally.
Steven

me too, so much so I did it.

[dantimdad]

That really looks good!

Steven

[Snailed]

Those flipped lights to look good.

The LED pontiac ones are not bad either. I just put a set of those same ones on a '36 plymouth and they looked pretty good. I did a '54 pontiac and used the original '50 red glass lens with LEDs behind it and that looked amazing because the glass was so thick and dark. Rounds lights tend to look good I think, can't wait to see what you make.