Tail Light Light-Bulb
 

I have a tail light housing that is missing the original built in socket. While in the process of trying to find that socket, somebody said to use a universal socket and pick the type of light bulb you want.

I like that idea, however, I'm not sure what type of light bulb I might wants...I can only think that I'd want it very bright.

Can anybody suggest what type of lightbulb I might want to look at?

I'd replace both the tail-light/brake light and reverse light sockets.

thanks

George

If the tail and brake are in the same bulb, an 1157 will probably be your best bet.
CHet

Chet is right- the original tail bulb was an 1157.

taillites
 

going to bigger amp bulbs or halogen can overheat and melt plastic lenzes. the metal sockets can be hard to find but when I put them in older cans i solder or braze a spot to make sure to get a good ground. also some tail lites look funny at night if you have the bulb in the wrong orentation I check the original or place them with the fillament horizontal.

tail light socket..
 

Hi,can anyone tell me where i can find a metal taillight socket that will take the gm 1157 bulb??? ive been looking for awhile,,,thanks in advance.

go to Tailightking.com . just type in in your brouser

IMO, there is nothing better than these sockets for what you want.. they work great, and take 1157 bulbs, altho the solder point on the side interferes with them, so you need to scrape it off or get a quality bulb that does not have that. I had a crapped out socket in my '65 Rambler, I simply knocked the crimp in with a screwdriver, and installed in less than 5 mins, and it's good as new. $24 is steep for a socket, but IMO, there is no inbetween, there are the parts store variaty's which sometimes are ok, or these

http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RR-33

sockets
 

I rewired a 36 Pontiac last summer and bought metal sockets at the local parts store in the trailer parts rack about $6 for a pair. Later bought 6 at a quarter a piace at a surplus store,

Thats exactly the type of info I was looking for! Would I also use the 1157 type bulb for my back-up lights too?

Thanks all....

Any parts store should have them. There are also different depth sockets. MAKE SURE the bulbs have clearance between themselves and the lenses or you will melt the lenses. I made this mistake once long ago and was a very expensive one !!

Chet

Hi,

1156 for back up bulbs, single filament single contact

http://www.eautoworks.com/product-Led-33243.htm

Rich

Thanks....one housing has a 1 1/8 hole that the universal socket fits into perfectly. The other hosing has the original fitting that has the spring loaded contacts...

I'd like to make both the same...i want to drill out the existing fitting with a hole saw...

How fragile is my pot metal housing? I'm thinking I need to keep the drill bit speed up and slowly come down on the housing with my press...

or should I leave well enough alone and just have the different sockets?

thanks

g

the socket should be crimped in place, so you would just knock the crimps in with a screw driver, no need to drill it.

tail lites
 

A hole saw tends to rip out the metal. For sheetmetal I use the cone type step bit, some companies call it a UNIBIT If you clamp sheet metal between 2 pieces of wood you can get a better hole using a hole saw ... I have a set of greenlee electricians knockout punches ...they work good if the size is right for gages ,..etc..I would do a spot of solder or braze to make sure to get a good ground unless the bulb socket as a ground spade connector for a ground wire