LED bulbs

Agreed: I always add a ground wire to the frame. Too many chances for poor grounding

Agreed: I always add a ground wire to the frame. Too many chances for poor grounding

Properly grounded headlights matched to a relay and matched to high quality reflectors will probably get you where you are going. A key point to remember is too much paint is often present in restorations matched to people being quick for a workaround and not really addressing the core issues/underlying problems.

As to taillights, an 850/851/852 had to be near the worst designed taillight socket assembly ever as to its grounding, though if you clean everything up well, convert the passenger side to have both a stop and a running light, paint the inside of the housing gloss white, and run a ground wire from sockets to the frame = THEN, YOU HAVE WONDERFUL REAR LIGHTING.

High up-front costs.
Transformer compatibility.
Potential color shift over lamp life.
Performance standardization has not yet been streamlined.




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Modern headlight bulbs source: Speedway Motors
Sockets: Auveeco

I use a relay to protect brake light switch on my Cord and Auburn. Probably don't need it with LED's.
CORDially Mike

I put led stop and tail light bulbs in my L29 as well this summer. I don't remember the exact amp draw, but it's was about .3.

I think this will help the longevity of the brake light switch. 

On the topic: The 35 Phaeton has headlight reflectors done by Uvira (Vacuum Deposition Aluminum)  in I believe Washington State - they are superior as to light quality. And the sockets have a ground wire soldered to them and then grounded to shell (probably could be thought out a little more, but seems to work well as if you jumper from battery to shell you do not get much more added light. The bulbs a 32-50 from a Model A Ford. And there is a headlight relay on the car too.

Also, the inside of the taillight housings are painted gloss white. And, the taillight sockets have been totally re-thought-out (as original grounding is somewhat poor design to begin with) and also have ground wires that run to a weld flange in the body in trunk.

My 36 has been re-thought out in similar fashion, though I have really not run car other than up and down drive. 

Thanks Jim.

GOOD ONE

I have found that driving any old car opens doors for me. I was driving my Auburn to Canada this past summer and stoped for gas. I had to go to the bathroom pretty bad so after getting gas I went in to use the bathroom only to be told they didn't have a public bathroom. She ask if that was my old car at the pumps and I said yes. She said in that case I could use the employes bathroom. That was the first time my Auburn opened a bathroom door for me!
CORDially Mike

Hello Mike and Jim

Thank you for your fast feedback.
I will check exact type of light bulbs and flasher and than order parts.
If tail lights are somewhat brighter it will give a a much safer feeling.
Currently we give signal by hand, because you just can not see turning signal. Not good if you are driving in the city.
The only good thing is: Here the Auburn is a real head turner, so that other drivers give a second look and keep distance and are very patient with us.
No angry or agressive horns, just thumbs up.
Regards from Germany
Michael

The 6v tailight leds draw 0.43 amps. I've seen some online that are slightly yellow to look more like the old bulbs.

A good source for the bulbs is www.classicandvintagebulbs.com . In the US they are sold thru www.lbcarco.com .
When buying the bulbs you have to make sure they are designed for 6V positive ground or they won't work. If your electrical system has been changed from original make sure you get the bulbs that are made for your system.
If you look at Newsletter #1 2019 I did an article on the LED bulbs and installation in a Cord 810/812.
If you have turn signals the LED bulbs do not draw enough current for the flasher to work. You need to install an electronic flasher. The electronic flashers will plug into the same plug as a regular flasher. 

Curt - to give you an idea on the power draw of an LED - for the headlights a sealed beam draws 6 amps, Halogen draws 9 amps, I think the original bulbs draw about 8 or 9 amps. The LED draws 2.5 amps.
 

You will need more than the bulbs. The bulbs do not draw enough for your current flasher to work. LEDLIGHT.com sells a flasher made for positive ground 6V. It is part number 84787 for about $18. US. I bought my bulbs at Hershey from a vender but they are listed on the internet from various sources. I would go by your bulb number and see what you find on the web. Good luck.
CORDially Mike

Hello Mike
LED Light seems to me a good idea. I would like to convert the tail lights, brakelights and rear turn signals. The point is that the 6v standard light bulbs are really weak and last a few months only. Where did you buy the LED bulbs and which ist the correct type? Thank you for further informations.
Regards from Germany
Michael Friess

Did not check Curt. Way less than bulbs. These are LED, not Halogen .
CORDially Mike
,

How much current do they draw Mike?

I have just converted my 35 Auburn to LED bulbs. Would highly recomend the conversion, much brighter. Only converted tail and turn signal bulbs, did not do headlights.
CORDially Mike