[Healeys] reflector brake light - NIFTY UPGRADE

[Alan Seigrist]

> I thought y'all would like to know that I have done an even better thing
> with this reflector conversion.
>
> I have been watching LED technology for some time and I have found a
> company that makes a very VERY high intensity 1157.  Trust me these lights
> are as bright, if not brighter than halogen bulbs... and they're better
> because they last forever and they have "instant on" functionality, plus the
> bulbs never get hot.
>
> This is how the set up looks before final assembly on my early '64 BJ8:
>
>
> http://picasaweb.google.com/Healey.Nut/HealeyNutSCarStuff/photo#5108189838072380146
>
>
> I bought the LED from this company:
>
> http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm
>
> The LED I bought to use with the reflector was the Eagle Eye II 1157 in
> red (red is usually the brightest type of LED).  I also bought the 1157
> sockets from the same company.  As you can see in my picture above I
> installed a ground wire at the bottom of the socket, as the light will be
> isolated from ground when mounted.
>
> I drilled a hole in the rubber mount using a 25mm carbide tipped hole
> drill bit.  The Eagle Eye II light fits very nicely in the hole and will not
> fall out (slight interference fit).
>
> The only thing with these LEDs are the running lights and the brake lights
> are almost the same brightness (out of the box), so I put an inline 100
> ohm/5 watt resistor on the running light circuit and now it all works
> perfectly.  The light draws enough current so that a standard flasher will
> still work with this bulb.  So, now my reflectors have running lights as
> well as brake/turnsignal lights.  It works really well!
>
>  FYI I also bought the Eagle Eye Tower 1157 (red) and put that in the
> standard Lucas turnsignals.
>
> Just one question - one of the reflectors has silver paint on it.  Any
> recommendation for getting rid of the liver paint so the light will be
> brighter?  Will Tamaya hobby thinner work?
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Alan
>

 '52 A90
> '53 BN1
> '64 BJ8