Classic/Antique Car Repair: taillights, 6 volt halogen bulbs, visibility thanks

Question
Hi Dick,
The taillights on my '38 Chevy are not very bright.  Does anyone make a reflector for inside the light to increase the visibility?
Thanks
Doug

Answer
The best you can do is to spray fresh aluminum paint inside the light housing so it reflects more light, and make sure your wires are in good shape. This is a problem that all of us with 6 volt cars have to deal with.

I put halogen bulbs in my 47, it helps a bit.  You can buy very bright 6 volt halogen bulbs from C&G Ford parts in Escondido CA.  They are expensive, and they run really hot, but since your car has glass lenses, that shouldn't be a problem for you.  You can't use them with plastic lenses.

It would help to change the wires from the old #14 wires to #12s or even #10s, but it's a lot of work, and doesn't look right.

Dick