[JLMounce]

Checking to see if anyone here is running currently, or have installed a set of Digitails for the first gen Firebird, or more specifically the '69?

I am looking to upgrade specifically for the safety benefit based on visibility.

My factory tail lights just do not perform in a manner that I am comfortable with during daylight hours, especially in the harsh lighting hours around sunset.

I have NOS lenses that are clear without haze, the housings are clean and the reflective paint still in great shape. I also have new bulbs in new sockets that see just below 14 volts when the engine is running.

Even in about as close to factory condition as possible, the brake light visibility during the day is not adequate for the type and amount of driving I do. Other drivers on the road and highways don't care that the car is 56 years old, they'll tailgate regardless.

That said, the LED panel lighting solves the visibility issue and provides quite a bit quicker illumination. From a safety standpoint, they are really the only option. Any review to their quality, longevity and installation would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[FrankieT/A]

I have Digitails although I have a second gen. I installed them for the exact reason you describe. I did all the things you mention and daytime visibility sucked.

Two things:

1) I love them and have them a few years now, they work flawlessly and I drive my car very often.

2) I called them and had them customize the operation. My tail lights work sequentially in turn signal (and 4 way flash) only. When the brakes are applied they do not sequence (unless a turn signal is on with the brake applied and only the "on" turn signal sequences). They charged me an extra $50.00 and were very accommodating and only a couple of weeks of extra time and that was during covid.

I hope my explanation makes sense...

Excellent company to deal with.

[hojs69]

I put them on my 69'. Highly recommended.

Very bright, uses less power, easy install.

[dataway]

Never heard of them till now, what an innovative product.

Are they totally non-destructive to the original housings?

Wish they made some for the 68 GTO.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by dataway

Never heard of them till now, what an innovative product.

Are they totally non-destructive to the original housings?

Wish they made some for the 68 GTO.

The are not 100% non-destructive. That said, where you need to drill the housing is across the center that is covered by the tail panel. You'll never see it should you decide to return the tail lights to stock.

Appreciate the replies. I'll probably go ahead and pick up a set of these since they seem to have decent reviews.

[hojs69]

JLM, think about doing your marker lights in LED bulbs also; yellow round front, red quarter birds rear. Much brighter and makes for a more balanced looking aesthetic.

I assume your headlights and front running lights are LED already. All mine are at this juncture.

[FrankieT/A]

Originally Posted by hojs69

JLM, think about doing your marker lights in LED bulbs also; yellow round front, red quarter birds rear. Much brighter and makes for a more balanced looking aesthetic.

I assume your headlights and front running lights are LED already. All mine are at this juncture.

I use Switchbacks for front turn signals.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by hojs69

JLM, think about doing your marker lights in LED bulbs also; yellow round front, red quarter birds rear. Much brighter and makes for a more balanced looking aesthetic.

I assume your headlights and front running lights are LED already. All mine are at this juncture.

My headlights are LED and those made a massive difference. I actually drive the car at night now.

My running lights are not LED, they are still factory incandescent bulbs. I want to see a set in person first, but I'm looking at the DapperLighting billet signal housings for the 69-74 Firebirds. Assuming those are as good of quality as they should be, I'll pick up a set with switchback LED's. My front signals actually provide really good daylight visibility even though they are factory. So they are somewhat less of a concern from a safety standpoint.

Good call on the side markers, I'll do those at the same time.

[kingbuzzo]

I swapped all my lites to LED including the digitails and dappers for headlites.

I love them however the purists give me a hard time. Rather the hard time than hitting a deert.

Don't forget to install the new type flashers.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by kingbuzzo

I swapped all my lites to LED including the digitails and dappers for headlites.

I love them however the purists give me a hard time. Rather the hard time than hitting a deert.

Don't forget to install the new type flashers.

I don’t get much flack from purists. My bird is quite a ways from being stock though, which may be part of the reason.

Will definitely get the correct flashers as well.

[HoovDaddy]

For those that don't want to spend the money for Digi-Tails, just changing your (4) 1157 bulbs to LED is only $30 from Amazon and the lumens difference is measurable. See attached pic.

Digi-Tails doesn't publicize the lumens output of their lamps. So, other than they look and act cool, the output is unknown. The impression is they are LED so they must be brighter.

I played with LED's a few months ago. Probably spent more on various bulbs than Digi-tails cost. I tried different red and clear LED boards that will fit these housings, and different combinations of individual LED bulbs, multiple bulbs, etc. and all were better than incandescent 1157's, but none were better than the 1157 replacement LED bulbs with the reflector built in the tip.

The other thing with Digi-Tails is the circuit board reliability. You have to be sure that the lens and housing are well sealed against water/moisture that will attack the circuit board. And the heat factor with LED boards, they get hot. I hate spending this much money on aftermarket electronics that even the OEM's still have problems with.

When we're 500 miles from home I don't want a failure that I can't fix. With the 1157 LED bulbs, I just have to replace a bulb.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1739549599

[JLMounce]

The problem with just the bulb replacements is that while yes brighter, they are designed to be housed in a refracted light lens, of which the factory buckets are not. If the housing was a better design, I agree that a forward (or is it rear?) facing LED panel wouldn't be necessary over the replacement bulb.

Do you happen to have the lumens output reading difference with the lenses over the housing?

You can see from your picture that while the total light output of the LED bulb is absolutely brighter (by 40% on the brake light side) you can also see that the light is concentrated in the center of the bucket, instead of filled across most of the bucket like the incandescent bulb creates. Viewed through the lense, this would create a brighter, narrower spot.

The led panels solve that.

[hojs69]

See attached pic for brightness. They are bright. I was quite surprised.

I also tried only LED lamps at first. It did not meet what I was after.

I have had the DigiTails for many years now. Since 2017. Mine have been durable.

It was mentioned above about drilling a hole in the existing housing. I do not recall that. See my prior installation instructions attached.

[JLMounce]

Interesting, you have the Dakota Digital versions instead of the Digi-Tails version. I see the installation is slightly different. I don't see that there is need for a constant power source. Do your tail lights function with as normal with the engine off?

[hojs69]

JLM, confused, what do you mean "function with as normal with engine off?" The brake lights and normal tail lights work with engine off.

I see I screwed up. I utilized the DigiTails front turn LEDs and the Dakota LED tail lights. Good catch.

[hojs69]

Here is the "DigiTails" setup I used for the front. Again, back in 2017.

PS: I edited my name and address out.

[JLMounce]

Yeah the DigiTails and DapperLighting tail light panels require a constant power. Digitails wants you to tie into the dome light. I'm not sure how that's considered constant power though.

The install seems better and the wiring more direct with the dakota product. I haven't purchased yet, so I may go that route.

[hojs69]

Good luck with it. I hated the older lighting and just had to do something with it. Ended up doing my Jeep also.

[JLMounce]

I think the panel style LED's regardless of brand will work well with the aesthetic of the car.

[dataway]

Dome light is in a normally off condition, but the circuit has power continually ... that's why it comes on whenever you open the door.
So there is power continually at the fuse box, not at the bulb itself.