Tip for brighter turn signals /parking lights 73-80 body style

[1sik78]

So I got an idea as sat at work the other day. My parking lights aren't as bright as I would like them without doing led's. I took off the lens and took off the bracket that holds the bulb in place and I noticed the bracket/plate was dull and wondered there is no reflection in here. It was literally grey. So I wrapped the plate in foil. Came out good and best off all cost $0. Here are some pics.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

keep in mind that my battery is actually dead my alt went out but you can see the difference right away


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MikeB]

That's some good shadetree engineering there!

 

[bucket]

Yeah the factory just left them with some kind of zinc coating on them. I think some white or chrome spray paint would work well too. Never really cared enough about it to try, lol.

 

[Rusty Nail]

The results are rather marked.
Nice work!

Rep.

 

[CRM]

OK I have to try this

 

[74 Shortbed]

Good tip..

 

[HotRodPC]

Redneckery at it's finest. But certainly seems to reason. Turn/Marker light hack !!!

 

[CRM]

Here is my try . I first pulled the assemblies, cleaned them, and painted them with white primer. I like that they are brighter. I then pulled the lens and bulbs and installed the aluminum foil. My eye couldn't tell the difference. If I had a light meter I could measure the difference, but I don't. I should have taken a picture before anything was done but I can tell you there was a huge difference. You might notice I went ahead and painted the headlight trim with the white primer.

 

[1low4x4]

This trick also works on gauge bezels. Pull the gauge assembly apart and paint the inside of the big plastic exterior bright white. Your gauges will be twice as bright, guaranteed.

 

[CRM]

This trick also works on gauge bezels. Pull the gauge assembly apart and paint the inside of the big plastic exterior bright white. Your gauges will be twice as bright, guaranteed.

I'll be getting a new (to me) bezel this weekend. I think I'll try that before I install it. Got nothing to lose.

 

[1low4x4]

Before: one light was out in the speedo

 

[1low4x4]

After one new bulb and gloss white paint

 

[74 Shortbed]

That's a huge difference.

 

[CRM]

I'm definitely painting my bezel now. I was thinking of installing led's but I'll do this first.

 

[CRM]

Decided to redo the turn signal cans and the headlight cans. Bought some "chrome" spray paint and painted over the white primer I applied earlier. A few pics. Still waiting on the bezel to arrive in the mail.