LED "bulbs" for Spider tail lights

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Group:

In attempt to improve the visibility of my '74 Spider, as apparently Rosso 
514 is a stealth color to pickup/SUV drivers, I wanted to try some brighter 
tail light bulbs, especially for the brake lights.  Conventional bulbs 
larger than the standard 5/21w 1157's can't be fitted, because the 
increased heat would melt the plastic lenses, so I bought a pair of the new 
LED "bulbs" to try.  The LED's use much less current, output almost no 
heat, and are supposed to be "super bright".

Well, brighter they weren't, and worse than that, the LED light output is 
highly directional and doesn't make use of the reflector in the tail light 
housing.  Whereas the original bulbs illuminate the entire lens, the LED 
light only forms a bright circle on the lens of maybe 1" across.  So, 
modern technology has once again failed on improve an old Spider, and I 
wasted yet another $16.

For my next trick I'm going to switch to some cheap, organic brake pads, 
and bleed some air bubbles into the brake lines.  Perhaps that will prevent 
my getting the imprint of an Expedition's front bumper in the back of my head.

Regards,

Dean
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