Thanks for the info, it helps. There are still a couple of my original questions left unanswered. The reverse/backup lights bright enough to illuminate objects behind the Bronco, will still be worth pursuing. The 1156 projector LED would seem to work for that, if it fits in the tail light housing, and the tail light lens doesn't interfere. I've been using large truck type flashers for years to work with trailers. The extra lights on the trailer make the OE flasher cycle unnaturally fast so I'll keep those. I also rent U-Haul trailers occasionally to move large loads and they don't have LED lights. The abillity to dim the instrument illumination lights with the OE switch is worth retaining, and I know only some LEDs are dim-able, and they require a special switch. Dim-able LED BA9s come in many versions. What specifically have you been using? The headlight buckets are open in the back, so I don't understand how the headlight "housing" won't allow LED headlights to project a proper beam pattern.
The 1156 projector LED might work they are very bright. I used regular 25 smd 1156 in other vehicles that were bright as well.
These are the ones I got, seems they have gotten cheaper when I got them like 5 years ago they were pushing $50.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-Brighte...535916?hash=item27dbdecb6c:g:0GkAAOxy3zNSpmy6
the dimmable ones I couldn't speak on as I didn't concern myself with that I just picked up what was available as color choices can be limited especially if you are going warm white.
If you want ones that are dimmable look at the voltage working range, if it says something like 2v to 18v then they will dim, if they say 12v to 18v they will dim some but not fully.
The housing is the lens of the headlight itself, they will fit but the light pattern of LEDs are not the same as a LED as LEDs focus their light pattern in a narrow beam where regular bulbs emit light evenly all around. Housings designed for conventional bulbs wont be focused right to make the best out of LED bulbs compared to actually using a housing that is LED compatible.
Ive seen numerous ones people were wondering why their headlights were so dim not realizing the LED bulbs they had were bright when you look at them in the headlight housing but when it came to putting light on the road it wasn't much brighter than oe bulbs.
Another thing to remember when going with LED match the color to the lens. If you are putting them in your tail lights make sure you get red bulbs if you go white your tail lights will look pink instead of red. then amber for amber lenses or clear lenses then if you have clear lenses but want amber lights.
They also sell LED bulbs that are color shift, I thought of using on my 56 which they are white on the park light circuit but they will switch and flash amber.
