[Mendonmafia]

EDIT: "To save time for anyone who may be reading this, I have consolidated my setup to achieve 100% stock functionality with nearly and 100% plug and play front led marker light setup, including the ticking sound when signaling.

NOTE: my 9c1 does not have cornering lights and I'm not currently running led tails, so your mileage may vary.

Anyways, I used these bulbs and flasher:

DuaBhoi 74 Led Bulb T5 2721 37 73 17 Extremely Bright 9SMD 3014Chipsets for Car Auto Dashboard Dash Instrument Cluster Gauge Panel Interior Indicator Light 10PCS Yellow https://a.co/d/4mVL3Z5

CEC Industries EF32RL Flasher
https://a.co/d/ilacz1N
It has 0.1a min

Antline Extremely Bright 1157... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7QP8H1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This results in 100% stock functionality with a nearly plug and play setup. The only difference is you need to find a ground for the flasher and in my case I had to make some short wires to extend the flasher poles to reverse the polarity, but the hazard flasher did not require a polarity swap (I'm actually using the stock flasher for hazards because I don't really care about my hazards, they do work but they hyper flash. I'm fine with that). I grounded my flasher like so:

It's hokey but it works!

See functionality here (couldn't figure out how to embed video):

Chevy caprice led front signals and markers

youtube.com

For reverse lights I used these:

AUXITO 1157 LED Bulb, 400% Super... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B3LFRWK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

There may be brighter options but these are decent. I would like to upgrade though so if anyone has a suggestion please pm me what you are using!

Resume original post."


I've searched and searched but can't find the info I'm looking for

Anyways I'm trying to upgrade my reverse lights and I see they're 1157 but I don't understand why a dual function bulb is necessary or even desirable for a single function. I bought some 1157 led replacements and they sort of work but one of them is really dim and the other is about as bright as stock so not really the upgrade I was looking for. I tried swapping them and they are both dim now. I also noticed that only a single pin of the bulb (led and stock) makes contact with the socket. Is there another bulb I can get to upgrade my reverse lights? Maybe 1156? Any brand that will for sure be much brighter?

I'm also wanting to do the front turn signals/marker lights but I can't find how to do this either. I looked up the size and it said 3157 but when I pulled the bulbs they are a Round socket like 1157. I installed the reverse lights for testing and they light up but very dim and don't flash with the signals but rather get slightly brighter (still very dim) and just stay on that way until I turn the signal off. I was expecting a hyper flash but didn't get that result. Anyone know a good plug and play front led parking/signal light? I believe I need new flashers as well. Can anyone recommend which ones to get?

Many thanks!

 

[1slow96]

superbrightleds.com

 

[Mendonmafia]

superbrightleds.com

That's the website I used to find the bulb sizes. It says 3157 for cornering light and 1157 for reverse light. I did have 1157s for my reverse lights but it seems like nonsense to use a dual purpose bulb in this location.

The turn signals/ parking lights however are not 3157 in my car. Not sure if my car is unique. 1994 9c1. The Socket accepted the 1157 bulbs but they were extremely dim and didn't flash upon Turing the signal on.

 

[toonwarrior]

So I had an issue fitting the 1157 in the reverse LED, some trim down the base so it can fit snugly, I chose not to install it for now.

For turn signals yes you need led flashers, you will lose the mechanical ticking noise if you go that route . It's a bit tricky since sometimes the polarity of one of the flashers need to be switched, the thread I referred to unfortunately now doesn't have the images available.

external LED lights, I did it my way

ok, after the upteenth post on what LEDs to use and how come they flash too fast I gathered up some pics on how I did mine. Im not going to get into the brake/tail/rear markers as 1157s and 194s are cheap and plentiful on ebay or the usual LED vendors. Im just going to focus on the front...

www.impalassforum.com

Most likely your funky behavior is coming from your flashers being mechanical. Certain LED flashers have different ratings too so not all will work, for example the one I'm running if i put in LEDs in the rear tails my system goes haywire, but right now with the fronts only it works perfectly.

I've since then switched to a switchback LED and disabled the outer turn signal for it to work properly.

In terms of part numbers, everything sourced from superbrightleds with the part picker.

 

[stonebreaker]

I like these guys:
https://www.superbrightbulbs.com/

They have some 80 watt backup bulbs if you need them that bright.

 

[Mendonmafia]

So I had an issue fitting the 1157 in the reverse LED, some trim down the base so it can fit snugly, I chose not to install it for now.

For turn signals yes you need led flashers, you will lose the mechanical ticking noise if you go that route . It's a bit tricky since sometimes the polarity of one of the flashers need to be switched, the thread I referred to unfortunately now doesn't have the images available.

external LED lights, I did it my way

ok, after the upteenth post on what LEDs to use and how come they flash too fast I gathered up some pics on how I did mine. Im not going to get into the brake/tail/rear markers as 1157s and 194s are cheap and plentiful on ebay or the usual LED vendors. Im just going to focus on the front...

www.impalassforum.com

Most likely your funky behavior is coming from your flashers being mechanical. Certain LED flashers have different ratings too so not all will work, for example the one I'm running if i put in LEDs in the rear tails my system goes haywire, but right now with the fronts only it works perfectly.

I've since then switched to a switchback LED and disabled the outer turn signal for it to work properly.

In terms of part numbers, everything sourced from superbrightleds with the part picker.

View attachment 207603

Thanks! So is 3157 correct for the front turn signal bulb and my car is just different?

 

[toonwarrior]

Pretty sure the 1157 and 3157 are the samething in terms of LED part numbers, could be wrong so feel free to correct me, you would need a dual function LED for your inner turn signal though because it acts as a parking lamp and as a turn signal.

I wouldn't over think it and just go by the suggest parts from the part finder from superbrightleds if that is your choice, they will fit and work fine and look great.

The trouble you're going to have is with getting LED flashers installed properly so your turn signals work fine.


My whole setup is 1157 LEDs all around where applicable, the #194 LED where applicable (primarily in the rear tails), the #24 led in the side marker slot up front.

The #24 LED up front some people will change out the socket to accept a 194 bulb due to polarity issues (i.e if you plug the #24 led one way it will turn on for certain functions and not work for other functions and vice versa).

 

[shakenfake]

1157 and 3157 are not at all the same.

1157 is an old style "screw in" bulb. 3157 is a clip in connector.

 

[toonwarrior]

Yea you're right, I'm not sure why 3157 is being used at all since the stock size asks for a 2057 anyways.

 

[shakenfake]

You can convert to 3157 I believe.

 

[Z09B4U]

There is a lot of misinformation on light bulbs on the internet. Many vendors do not care enough to understand the differences in bulb types and light outputs.

The b bodys use mostly the 2057. This number defines bulb base, glass envelope size, light output, current draw, and filament placement. So the 2057 is a D.C. bay (double contact bayonet base) S-8 envelope bulb. Vendors will somehow group a large number of bulbs with it.

Voltage Amps Watts Candela Lumen Hours
#1157
High Element 12.8 2.10 26.8 32 402 1200
Low Element 14.0 0.59 8.3 3 38 5000

#2057
High Element 12.8 2.10 26.8 32 402 1200
Low Element 14.0 0.48 6.7 2 25 5000

#2357
High Element 12.8 2.20 28.2 40 503 400
Low Element 14.0 0.59 8.3 3 38 5000

The forum messes up the format but if you look you can see the 1157 and 2057 have different tail light outputs and the 2357 has brighter brake lights.YET most vendors will sell you the same LED for these three and other dissimilar bulb types.

There are near identical bulbs (light output) with the plastic wedge base like the 3157. (no need to switch sockets)

Just about all use of LEDs in lenses approved for specific bulbs (IE 2057 incandescent) will make the lens and bulb NON D.O.T. approved. States and provinces usually have specific legislation banning the use of LEDs in lenses that were only approved for one specific bulb type (IE 2057 incandescent). If you get rear ended you may be found responsible for the accident due to illegal brake lighting.(your luck may vary with judge and jurisdiction) and the same issue with turn signals.

Common issues with LED replacements are: too dim, lack of brightness difference between tail and brake, can not be seen off angle, and overheating causing lens and socket damage.

Short version: Just because you bought a "name brand" LED does not make it safe or legal.

Have a look at some "real world" tests. Most LEDs are not able to mimic the incandescent bulbs in all areas (IE brightness and viewing angle)

 

[shakenfake]

Those Sylvania wedge ones are dog **** and I will never use those again. Light out put was trash for the price and they just looked awful.

 

[IndyL03]

Tail leds
Tail night
Front
Front haz night
Front turn night
I used combo of superbright led for 194 bulbs and conrnering bulb -the socket i connected both contact leads. Front turn is sylvania and parking light and one signal bulb on each side as well. I went with the sylvania that was 10bucks more than the other. Believe it said off road use. I may go get some for reverse and see what they do.

 

[IndyL03]

In the daylight videos the sun was glaring at me and was my old iphone 6+; the night videos were were 10 yards from porch light and 20 from a street light

 

[storm9c1]

I did have 1157s for my reverse lights but it seems like nonsense to use a dual purpose bulb in this location.

One reason GM did this is a cost cutting method and to simplify assembly and eliminate errors. Same sockets, same bulbs, in all positions. Easy and cheap to assemble, easy to pass QA, easy to maintain. Even if the low filament is wasted. Common practice back then. Same deal with the "high mount" third brake lights on a lot of GM cars of that era (low filament not used). A second reason may also be DOT regulations requiring a certain wattage or light output in that position and the dual filament bulb cheaply meets that requirement as well without another special bulb or socket.

 

[1slow96]

Suspect real reason is the "brake/turn" filiment of the 1157 is visibly brighter than the tail light brightness of the single filiment 1156 bulb. Plus ,the convenience of using one of these type bulbs (including back-up) for the entire car

 

[Fred Kiehl]

I tend use LED bulbs in any non-flashing positions. Reverse lights, turn illumination lights, and marker lights. The LEDs usually put out at least twice as much light as the incandescent type, draw less current, and produce less heat. They usually last far longer than the incandescent bulbs. I also use LED headlights, and they put out about 4 times as much light as the stock bulbs. I am about to add a pair of LED lights that are sequential (center to outside) under the edge of my gate glass to enhance the visibility of the car when braking.

If the guy testing the bulbs in the last video would get 4 flashlights and use the reflectors behind the back facing bulbs, they would be a lot brighter, and even the radial bulbs would put a lot more light to the rear. The red bulbs are brighter than the white ones, because the red ones are using all the voltage to make red light, while the white ones are making a full spectrum of light, and the red lenses are filtering out all but the red light. If you are using LEDs for brake lights, get red ones, and use all of the light output.

 

[Z09B4U]

Suspect real reason is the "brake/turn" filiment of the 1157 is visibly brighter than the tail light brightness of the single filiment 1156 bulb

Both are 32 CP/402 Lumen.

Plus ,the convenience of using one of these type bulbs (including back-up) for the entire car

Economy of scale. Fewer bulb types and socket types to stock.

 

[IndyL03]

 

[storm9c1]

Public service announcement: a car with aftermarket LED headlights (not a B-Body of course) blinded a friend of mine over the weekend, causing her to hit a full deer carcass in the road. Caused damage to her car and made a bloody mess. She was very upset. She had just detailed her car 4 hours earlier. One of those 1 in a 10000 chances.... being blinded at the exact same time a deer is in the road. But definitely reminds me that I will NOT be doing headlight mods to any cars unless I am sure they won't blind oncoming drivers. It's legit dangerous folks. We are thankful the deer wasn't alive and standing in the road because her car would be totaled now. And even more thankful it wasn't a pedestrian/child/pet.

Be thoughtful when doing these mods. The oncoming driver that you are blinding could have precious cargo, or hit you (or someone else) head on.