Author Topic: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda  (Read 7856 times)

Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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$50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« on: April 04, 2010 - 01:43:43 AM »
I converted my rear lights over to LEDs by using a pair of trailer lights I found a Pep Boys. They were $25 per light, and come in a bucket. The LED light is retained in the bucket by using a snap ring, which is easily removed.

To install these into my stock lights, I used a heat gun on 'low' to heat the stock housing. The lens is retained into the housing by a couple tabs around the light. I used the heat around to tabs and gently persuaded the housing to 'let go' of the lens. It will pop out after the tabs are separated from the lens. I chose this route due to the age of the plastic and trying to pry/force the lens out would probably be destructive.

Once the lens is off, I took the LED out of it's housing. Using a cut off wheel I cut the bucket that the LED came, in down to where it fit into the stock housing. The way mine are installed is the LED and bucket just barely clear the lens once it is installed again. Once the bucket was cut, i cut four slits into the bucket, making 'tabs. I bent the tabs so they hugged the contour of the stock housing, using two small self tapping screws I retained the bucket into the housing with those. From the 'outside' in, so only the hex head shows from the self-tapping screw.

Once the bucket is installed, a hole can be drilled straight through the back to allow the wiring to pass through the stock hole in the housing. The LED will then be installed and retained using the supplied snap ring. The lens will be reinstalled onto the housing and using the same heat gun trick, the tabs are 'closed' again. Retaining the lens. Use care when doing so, don't mess with it too much, you may end up breaking the tab off the housing!

The wiring is very straight forward, it is power and ground. You can either cut the stock connector off the wiring harness and splice it, or find a source for empty 1157 bulb sockets. I initially went with empty sockets due to me having a relatively new rear wiring harness. The wires go through the empty socket and are just soldered on the ends, they then go into the stock bulb connector. I did this due to the new harness, as well as planning on upgrading to a full aftermarket harness in the near future.

You may have an issue with your flashers under the dash. The old thermal flasher I had would not properly blink the new LEDs. I went to the parts store and purchased two electronic flashers in which worked out for me just fine. I have heard of some having not all electronic flashers work for them, so it may be trial and error. The number on my known good flasher is "FL-32" ($9ea at Checker, you need two)

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=BLZ&MfrPartNumber=FL32&PartType=121&PTSet=A

LEDs



Stock housing with lens removed


Bench testing



Stock bulb pattern



new LED, MUCH brighter!

Build Page: Goody's 'Cuda Build Page
1976 Dodge Warlock
1972 Barracuda - 5.7 Hemi + T56 Magnum

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Offline ajantics

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2010 - 03:18:21 AM »
 :wow: That looks really good! Thanks for the info :cheers:
70 Barracuda
73 'Cuda
2003 Dodge Ram 3/4ton
2009 G37s

Offline brads70

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2010 - 06:14:43 AM »
Looks great!! :2thumbs:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

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Offline Bullitt-

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2010 - 10:21:03 AM »
Nice work Goodyman....Hope you don't burn out anyone's retinas
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline Travis72

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2010 - 01:34:54 AM »
Great post and info!  I think I'm going to try this on mine as well.

Thanks,
Travis
72 Cuda

Offline shadango

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2010 - 06:14:58 AM »
 :2thumbs:

Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2011 - 11:59:48 AM »
Bump since someone was looking for LEDs
Build Page: Goody's 'Cuda Build Page
1976 Dodge Warlock
1972 Barracuda - 5.7 Hemi + T56 Magnum

Wheel & Tire Specs:Link

Offline TreeFrog

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2011 - 01:07:06 PM »
nice .. anyone do this with the 72 Challenger?
65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
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Offline bigblue73

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2011 - 04:21:01 PM »
There are solutions for the 72 challenger.  Northwest Mustangs sell them.  I have them in my car and they are awesome.  They are actual boards with 94 red LED's on each.


Offline quapman

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2011 - 09:03:16 PM »
Me Like, but can't find these lights anywhere online....!
« Last Edit: May 31, 2011 - 09:08:38 PM by quapman »
My name is Steve and I'm addicted to Challengers...


Offline bigblue73

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2011 - 10:05:02 AM »
Northwest Mustangs website is www.classicleds.com

Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2011 - 07:13:24 PM »
Updated the flasher link since the o'reily link doesn't work. If you search around for these numbers, someone near by should carry it

http://blazer-international.com/products/Flashers/Flashers/FL32
Build Page: Goody's 'Cuda Build Page
1976 Dodge Warlock
1972 Barracuda - 5.7 Hemi + T56 Magnum

Wheel & Tire Specs:Link

Offline RCCDrew

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2011 - 09:13:46 PM »
Awesome.  Thanks for the info.

Offline azievinger

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2011 - 09:14:00 PM »
Bigblue73, saw the video looks nice went to the site they don not mention any price, have an figure for me ?

Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: $50 Rear LED Conversion - 72+ Barracuda
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2011 - 09:26:20 PM »
There are solutions for the 72 challenger.  Northwest Mustangs sell them.  I have them in my car and they are awesome.  They are actual boards with 94 red LED's on each.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjgaCjJcmGQ


I didn't see anything for Challenger on their site. Is is a generic kit?


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