bulbs for '68 taillights

[Mark McDonald <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear John,

Thanks, the FSM is always a good place to start.  But my problem is not knowing what the correct bulb is.  I already know what the correct bulb is-- it's a 1095.  (That according to the FSM, and also that's what's in my 4 dr. hardtop.)  My problem is, I can't FIND these bulbs, and no one can tell me a good substitute.

After hearing from Dick B. and Chris H. that the 1095s are readily available in California, I went back to the NAPA store today and all I can say is, it must be great to live in California!  Apparently you can walk into any auto parts store there and pick up items that are unavailable anywhere else (at least here in NW Florida, where a check of 5 local stores produced nothing).  I can't even order them thru NAPA.

Anyway, the guy at NAPA store called his supplier and, according to him, this bulb is discontinued.  No longer made with no superceding number.  So I'd love it if somebody in California bought me about 6 of these (no kidding), and I will pay you for shipping & your trouble.  Contact me privately.

The closest substitute, according to the man at Wagner, is the 93.  However, I bought a 93 and tried it, and it's too bright.  Dick B. suggested a 67 or an 89-- and the 67 is what is listed in the FSM as the correct taillight bulb for a 1968 Chrysler-- so I tried the #67 bulb and it is pretty close in terms of brightness.  Physically it's a smaller bulb, and because of that the hotspot, or main point of light, when you look at the taillights from the rear, is too high in comparison to the others, but at this point I give up . . . until somebody can find me some 1095s.

Incidentally, the FSM lists the 1034 as the correct bulb for the tail, stop, and turn signal-- not the 1157.  So that may be where some of the mismatch is.

Anyway, I'm sorry to take up so much e-space with this one, but I want my car to look right at night!

Thanks to all, Mark




On Friday, June 27, 2003, at 08:21 PM, jsadowski wrote:

> There must be a 68 owner on the list who either has a FSM or  an owners manual that can tell the person needing this info the correct bulb size for all the locations. I've seen at least 20 responses to this question & I didn't see one telling the owner to look in his manual for the answer. All the bulbs should be easily obtained at just about any parts store. All the sizes were used widely for 20 some odd years.
> John
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark McDonald
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 9:25 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: bulbs for '68 taillights
>
> Steve,
>
> Thanks, yes, that is what I meant:  when you have the taillights on and you
> depress the brake pedal, both filaments light up.  Perhaps I wasn't clear.  If
> you are just driving in the daytime, with taillights off, then no, both don't
> light up.  The problem I'm talking about occurs only when you have the
> taillights on.
>
> Thanks again, Mark
>
> Stevan Miner wrote:
>
> > Hi Mark,
> > As you look at the two filaments, the larger one (it's not wound as tightly)
> > will light when you have your tail lights on. The smaller one is for your
> > turn signals and brakes lights which is quite a bit brighter. The only time
> > both filaments should be lit is when the tail lights are on and either brake
> > or turnsignals are activated. If when you step on the brakes and the larger
> > element lights ( and you don't have your parking lights on) there's either a
> > ground problem or I've seen where someone has put in a single contact bulb
> > in a double contact socket. Hope I haven't confused you too bad-I was always
> > taught, electricity is lazy, it will take the easiest path to ground.
> > Steve
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mark McDonald" <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 10:21 PM
> > Subject: Re: IML: bulbs for '68 taillights
> >
> > > Steve, if they don't both light, what's the point of 2 filaments?  Maybe
> > I'm
> > > missing something.  What makes the taillights brighter when you apply the
> > > brakes?
> > >
> > > If there is a problem, it is a problem that is duplicated on all my
> > Imperials .
> > > . .
> > >
> > > Thanks, MM
>
>
>
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