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1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion
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GS76
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2023 3:13 am    Post subject: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I am building a custom 1951 Split Bug Street Car (don't worry, it 's not a matching numbers car) and want to upgrade the rear brake tail lights to LED and incorporate indicators as well.

Does anyone know of a company/person that has done this or can help? I have seen loads of aftermarket ones for Ovals and later but none for Split Bugs.

thanks
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finster
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2023 6:30 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I used this company for my oval rear lights, the bulbs fit the standard holders and the service was good.
https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/

also note their advice that red leds will give a more dramatic result than white ones for brake lights - https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk/blogs/news/why-you-should-not-use-white-leds-behind-coloured-lenses
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Last edited by finster on Fri Oct 27, 2023 11:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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Ronss96
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2023 10:02 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I used them too
pope nose brake bulb# glb317
dual filament tail light bulbs# glb384
these are the 6v ones
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kennyboxstael
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2023 11:57 pm    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I just changed the bulbs into 6volt led bulbs.
Works great and the relais of the blinkers doesn’t stick anymore.
Everything stays stock. This is the easiest way to upgrade your lights.
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splitjunkie
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

If you are using the stock tail lights, they are single filament so you will have to modify the mounting brackets to accept dual filament bulbs if you want to have blinkers. Then you can use any two filament style LED bulb you want.

If you are wanting something more hi tech, I don't know if anyone makes a custom kit to modify a split housing with a kit that would have LEDs mounted on a circuit board that would mount behind the lens.
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finster
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 10:58 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

splitjunkie wrote:
If you are using the stock tail lights, they are single filament so you will have to modify the mounting brackets to accept dual filament bulbs if you want to have blinkers. Then you can use any two filament style LED bulb you want.


do you mean like this
http://www.repuestossam.com/en/beetle/split/s033.html
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esde
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 2:42 pm    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I had Chip build me some led snowflakes for my 56, and have some of his led lights for my zwitter hearts. He told me that some guys have modified the early bus led kits to fit a split light assembly.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1412740
I like his products because they are super bright, much brighter than the led replacement bulbs.
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IN2VWS
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PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2023 1:31 pm    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

I used LED clusters from customdynamics.com.
There is turn signals in the clusters too, but I haven't wired them up yet. When they are wired up, they will look like the second video....
My car is still 6 volt, and the LED's are 12 volt. I am running them through a DC-DC step up convertor.......6 volt goes in, and 12 volt comes out.

https://vimeo.com/879545705

https://vimeo.com/867555082
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GS76
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 3:36 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. Hopefully i can get something sorted.
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PostPosted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 5:15 am    Post subject: Re: 1951 Split Beetle - LED Tail light conversion Reply with quote

remember, you can also put extra lights behind the grill below the rear window if you're worried about a kick up the jacksie.
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