Halogen tail light bulbs in 12 volt Cadillac okay ??

[nanaimogene]

I thought of installing 30 watt brake and tail light bulbs in my 79 Cadillac Eldorado. Can I use the same flasher unit or change to a electronic unit. Has anybody installed such bulbs and is there any difference. The bulb is a 1157 halogen or should I switch to the LED bulbs that use the same socket. I gather halogen would be much brighter then stock bulbs. I don't think I have to change the flasher unit with LED or do I. Thanks Gene

[Gene Beaird]

I'd go LEDs. There are some nice bulbs out there that produce a ton of light,mbut burn a lot cooler than incandescent or halogen. That's a plus for bulb socket life. You'll probably have to get the electronic flasher,though. At least it's easier to get to than the one on our '02 GMC.

[76eldo]

Keep in mind that there are two flashers on your Eldo.

One gets plugged into the fusebox and that's for the 4-way flashers.  That's not the one you will probably have to change.  The one that is on a wire and clipped to the underdash cover directly under the steering column is the one that you may need to change.  The reason is that LED's draw less current, however the 1157 style LED cluster bulbs may have a resistor built in to compensate.  Let us know how you make out.

There's a Cadillac guy that made a few LED boards for the 79-85 Eldo tail lights.  I had a set in my 85 convertible but took them out when I sold the car.  His boards required the electronic flasher which is a direct plug in, available at most auto part stores.

See pics below for the custom boards which were quite slick.

Brian

[nanaimogene]

Thanks Gene and Brian for the tips especially on the two flashers....I think I did put in a electronic flasher while back. Gene P.S. I did find a 3rd brake light with the logic circuit on ebay for $18 with instructions. Nest project.