Rear neon upgrade?

[Scorpio1118_2000]

This might have been hased out already but oh well,I was wondering if anyone has replaced their old busted rear neon with leds and if so how did it look? I know of someone that has made a couple tail lights for other vehicles, for the price of a new ballast this guy can more than likely make me a new light. What do you think?

 

[Frogman]

I don't know... I think the neon would still look better. I would think the lens (the red part) was refractively designed for the neon, not for LEDs.

 

[chris]

My ballast just recent went TU. So I'm kinda looking for one.

 

[Frogman]

I recall a few threads a while back with info to a guy who sells ballasts for a little over 100 bucks.

 

[chris]

Thanks, I havent really searched yet. That reply was more of a conversational thing than anything. Now I'm gonna have to go search.

 

[formerknown]

I recall a few threads a while back with info to a guy who sells ballasts for a little over 100 bucks.

Yeah, the guy's handle is "glitch". I bought the inverter from him, but it didn't work because the neon was actually cracked and no good. But I gave it to a friend who failed NH inspection because his went out and it worked well. $85 well...spent on someone else, I guess.

I attempted to install an aftermarket neon bulb in my old neon housing as a kind of experiment. It didn't go that well because the way the AM neon was set up, the electrical load was out of balance with the 12v stock setup. I couldn't get it to run with the electrical load of the Mark VIII. Plus the lighting control module in the M8 is very finicky- it doesn't like interference from outside sources.

I didn't think of LED's, but that's an idea. I agree with Frogman that it won't look as good with neon, but with the neon lights now obsolete, it may become an option. We need an electronics wizard to study the neon lights and come up with something. I was into electronics years ago as a hobby, but kinda gave it up as I got into other things and my career.

 

[Scorpio1118_2000]

Its just a thought and it seems possible look around and you see alot of cars with them already. Anyways thanks for your input guys its always welcome. I may pursue this project soon, I have called my friend and he sounds interested so we will see.

 

[Scorpio1118_2000]

Hey I was wondering, are gen1 and gen2 ballasts the same?

 

[formerknown]

Hey I was wondering, are gen1 and gen2 ballasts the same?

If you're talking about the neon ballast- there is no Gen-I neon.

 

[GMAN]

Hey Everyone with Gen II's, I have a electronics friend currently reverse engineering one of the ballasts from a 97 we found at the Junk Yard. He believes he can get it working again. I tend to believe him, because last year he took my blend door apart and fixed it good as new. I will keep you posted.

 

[Scorpio1118_2000]

Ok I thouhgt that there was, thanks for the correction.