i have a pile of spare parts and left overs from the trekker. No LED aftermarket LED tail lights that i can find for 2nd gen 4runners and stock taillights even with bright LED replacement 1156 and 1157's leave a lot to be desired so decided to experiment
220* for 12 minutes did the trick
throw tail lights from Trekker and some clear KC LED for signals
running lights
brake and turn signals
not too bad with faded stock lenses

 

Good work. I'm old and not fond of the "new fangled" led array style everything seems to be using.


600xFront signal oops1
600xFront signal bad paint
600xFront signal oops2
600xFront bumper mounted4
Buff out the oxidized plastic and protect with a UV resistant clear coat it does wonders for the appearence and light projection. Re-silvering the reflectors also.

 

How did you re-"silver" the reflectors? Rattle-can aluminum paint?

 

Yep, same stuff that is on the bumper. Definitely a learning curve to using that stuff. Less is more, as the saying goes. I had a bad runny puddle in the first attempt that had to be wiped out with thinner and acetone, it might have been grease contamination also it was an odd color...

I might still have the can, but from memory its a rustoleum aluminum.

 

I am old too as in a grandpa. I figure I like LED's for efficiency and lower power draw.
i'll give the clear coat and recoating the reflectors a shot. So far I have $0.00 into this experiment, all stuff I had bought years ago for the 81. Keeps the missus happy

 

So went to polish the lenses since they are faded as heck, they cracked like crazy
pretty much a waste of time...I was heating and separating the housings from the lenses since that is how you do it for headlights...well a set of trashed housings and some frustration i think,
Hey idiot why didn't you just cut out the back of the housing to mount the LED's (amber light for mock up), Version 2.0 won't have as big of hole cut for the brake light.
would have been time and money ahead if I would have done that the 1st time around.
so said screw it and ordered a new set of aftermarket housings off ebay since the last good set of housing I have has 25 year old lenses and what to keep one good set unmangled.
Also ordered a set of Clear LED brake lights since they should show through the red brake light better.
overall cost will be about $70 and lessons learned.
Version 2.0 should be done next week when stuff comes in and I'll fiberglass the LED's into the new housings

 

Finished up 2nd gen LED conversion 2.0
Came out better than 1.0 but could use a little improvement. I used too much epoxy and it ran down into the lens but the output is awesome over what I had
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr
Drilling out the back worked out way better than trying to separate the lens
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr
night shots don't do it justice, the output over 1157/1156 LED's is awesome
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr

 

Had a couple of people ask for a parts list so here you go
for the lights I ended up ordering a set of new housings off ebay. I ended up cracking a few lens trying to separate them from the housing. It was easier to try a brand new cheap set
I was able to use the 4" hole saw I had when i did the round lights in the the Trekker. I wasn't able to get all the way through as I ended chewing up a little bit of the inside of one lens.
But it gave me a good outline and I was able to finish cutting the rest to get a rough fit using my dremel. The backside isn't pretty but if I ever make another set i know what to expect

Here is the parts list:
Housings I got on ebay
a pair for $50 shipped, over all quality is decent for the money and if I ended up destroying them during the experiment I wasn't out a ton of cash
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-Tail-L...5ZHca2&vxp=mtr

Brakes lights I was going to order some from Amazon like this, but I found a set of clear ones brake lights I used on the 81 at some point $25/pair

Turn signals I used a set of KC Cyclone LED's in Clear, again left over in the stash of junk from the 81
$26 each, $52 a pair

misc epoxy (i used too much and it dripped into the lens) $10-12 from Ace hardware

so realistic cost was $135'ish but I consider the cost to me more like $60-65 since some parts was stuff i had around few at least a few years and recycled from the Trekker.

I used a couple of housings that were the originals on the truck and a set i was given. Still have a couple i bought that will stay on the shelf for back ups. Had a guy ask me today where I got them when i was X-mas shopping. He said that I should have just used 3rd gen truck lights, nope not gonna work unless you do some body work.

For a little more money this set of Euro lenses would be cool using an Amber KC LED for the turn signal
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-1991-1...!US!-1&vxp=mtr

 

It works your happy !!

In the end that is all that matters

 

Nice work, Robb.
I am also a proponent of having improved visibility because there are too many distracted drivers out there.
How does the KC Lite output compare to 1157's and to the 4-inch diameter lights?

 

correct sir
I think the output of the KC's is pretty good. I'll try to get a video of the signals going sometime. I wish that KC made a 4" version, I would go for those
I have two of the red KC cyclones mounted up top in place of the 3rd brake light so you can get a comparison. sorry the picture quality leaves a little to be desired
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/42814812@N06/, on Flickr