Well, I did some serious research and ordered some of the biggest, baddest LED's I could find to try in my '92 Spider. Unfortunately, I got mixed results.
To start, I installed the first set in the front parking lights (the white side of that double-lens), and am very happy with the result. here's what I used:
Product Listing - CAR
Scroll down to the 20th type of bulb, 67-x15 LED bulb. They are whiter and brighter than the original bulbs, and fit without modification.
next, I replaced the license plate bulbs, map light (the one on the stretch cord in the glove box), rear view mirror light (I installed the older type with internal light), and floor lights. Again, pretty nice results, although not really any brighter, the light is whiter and looks better. Here's what I used:
Product Listing - CAR
Scroll down to the 18th type of bulb, 3910-x6 LED. I'll get more of these for the same fitment in my '87 and the rear view mirror of my '74.
Now the bad news, the 1156's in the brake lights and backup lights. Here's what I bought from an eBay vendor:
eBay Motors: 1156 39-LED Lights White 2-Bulbs Bright Wide View Angle (item 110259377974 end time Jun-07-08 13:30:33 PDT)
One would have thought that with 39 LED's these would be brighter and bounce enough light off the reflectors to work great, but they really didn't. Again, the light was whiter, but I only installed them in one side of the car, to compare with the originals, and they were awful. The light intensity was maybe 70% of the originals, so out they came. In fact, my motivation to try the LED's at all was to try and get some seriously bright brake lights, so having these 1156's not work out was really too bad.
I didn't bother with any of the signal lights because of the complications that would have been caused by either having to install resistors (so the original flasher was able to flash) or swap the flasher for one designed for LED's. I'm glad I didn't because I'm guessing the 1157 LED's would have been just as disappointing as the 1156's.
Finally, I had plans to make that reflector strip between the two taillights into a 4th brake light, by using one of the multiple LED strips sold on eBay. But, the housing is glued together and the built-in license plate lights are in the way. Perhaps if I see a cheap used reflector on eBay, I'll grab it and cut it apart to see what I might do, but I'm not about to cut up the one on my car.
As a general rule, it appears that using LED's to replace the lower wattage bulbs works well enough, but the bigger, brighter bulbs don't seem to yet have suitable LED replacements available.
I drilled out the rivets and the socket removed easily. I tried a standard replacement bulb socket from the local auto parts store but there is not enough clearance behind the tail light assembly. The Spider requires a low-profile or perhaps a 90 degree socket to fit. Looks like there is only about 3/4 inch clearance behind the tail light assembly.
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