dash lighting

[MEZZZ]

I really want to switch to LED lighting throughout my gauges, or at least swap into higher wattage bulbs as discussed here, but I'll tell you what worked- at least for me- in the short term until I can accomplish that: I twisted the dimmer back and forth, stop to stop several times, to clean any corrosion off the potentiometer/wiper. It worked and now my gauges are almost bright enough to see during the day! Well, at least I can tell if they're on or off.

Now I'm in no rush to tear my dash apart.

I did the twist bit with the door jamb switches that control the dome light and same thing, flickered intermittently before, now they go on every time I open the door. I did switch out the dome light to LED and its a huge difference.

I toyed with the idea of doing the LED gauges but ended up going with the Speedhut kit. I just finished the speedo/tach about an hour ago and ran a hot wire to see them all lit up. They really look nice but I bought the reverse indiglo where only the numerals, etc light up, not the entire gauge face.

Problem with this setup is the face goes dark and you cant see the needles. I ended up taking the green dome out of each housing and putting in new bulbs. Then I painted the needles flourescent orange. Now the gauges are lit up white around the edges with the numerals backlit and I can see the needles just fine.

Its a job I can honestly say that I dont want to soon repeat though, my hands are about shot!

[sblake01]

The door jamb switches might still be available. I bought a pair a couple of years ago. They had superceded part numbers, 25360-N4400-pass. side and 25360-B6000-drivers side. As I reacall, they cost about 22 bucks shipped.

[Poindexter]

@MEZZZ- how long did it take you? I've been considering doing this same upgrade with the SpeedHut faces, and also adding a single UV led to the cases and painting the needles with clear glow paint for extra "pizzaz".

Door jamb switches are definitely still available. I just got mine in from either MSA or Courtesy- I've been getting crates of parts from both recently. Both of these suppliers have them- and they are specific for L or R. Unfortunately PO hard-wired the switches into the car, so now I have to track down the appropriately-sized male & female connectors to make it right again. The switches look nice. Very simple, but nice.

I also did get the parts for making my dome light into a switchable red/white device, with a DPDT microswitch, (too much time on my hands ) but in taking the dome light apart the switch parts popped out onto my bench. Does anybody have a picture of the parts of the "push-push" switch in their proper re-assembly order? It's very hard to figure this out without possibly ruining the delicate and tiny parts. It's very much like the insides of a retractable ball-point pen.

[xcyter]

xcyter; just go to the local autoparts store and grab some 4W replacements of the same socket size....$2.49 for a two-pack. also you might want to leave the 3.4W ones in the turn signal indicator and e-brake holes. i find the 4W are a little BRIGHT for those spots, as they are dedicated holes for those particular bulbs..

my $0.02

Could you give me a part number or manufacturer?? I can find only 1.8 and 1.9 watt bulbs......

[xcyter]

I've been using and recommending Sylvania 53BP's for a number of years.

FWIW

E

but the say 1.8 watt on the package. ? ?? ? ?? ?

Now Im really lost. I have 3.4w bulbs in there now 1/2 of them are burnt out- the dash is out now i cant find bulbs to replace the old ones

.....................Ya this sux

[DeesZ]

I got some bulbs at NAPA I think they were 4W (but I cannot verify that). The part number on the box is 53.......

[xcyter]

I got some bulbs at NAPA I think they were 4W (but I cannot verify that). The part number on the box is 53.......

Ya the Sylvania 53's say 1.8watt on the side of the box!!

So anyone know if I am having brain issues or am I looking at the wrong bulbs??

The Sylvania 1445's are 1.9 watt the Sylvania 53's are 1.8 watt and I need 3.4 - 4.0 watt//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Now what do I do guys?

[sblake01]

The OEM is a 57. I'm looking at one right now. It says on the side: 'LIFE 12V 3.4W'. It doesn't have the number 57 on it anywhere so you have to look at the voltage/wattage stamped on the side. The 53 and 1445 look the same but are 1.8 and 1.9W IIRC. I had a difficult time finding the 57 bulbs and finally located them when I was working at ACE Hardware.

[MEZZZ]

@MEZZZ- how long did it take you? I've been considering doing this same upgrade with the SpeedHut faces, and also adding a single UV led to the cases and painting the needles with clear glow paint for extra "pizzaz".

QUOTE]

How long? , I work very s-l-o-w-l-y, I couldnt give you a time. I would say if someone knew what they were doing and had everything there needed to do the job, a few hours maybe?

I will post pics soon and send you a p.m when i do, as there are a couple issues with them. I dont want to hijack this thread

[xcyter]

The OEM is a 57. I'm looking at one right now. It says on the side: 'LIFE 12V 3.4W'. It doesn't have the number 57 on it anywhere so you have to look at the voltage/wattage stamped on the side. The 53 and 1445 look the same but are 1.8 and 1.9W IIRC. I had a difficult time finding the 57 bulbs and finally located them when I was working at ACE Hardware.

Im holding a Sylvania 57 right now and Im also holding my fuel gauge/ there is NO way in a thousand years that this bulb will work. It wont even fit into the gauge.

I cant believe no one has had to replace their dash bulbs without running into this same issue.

Dash out, car still apart, '72-Z owner sad.

[xcyter]

xcyter; just go to the local autoparts store and grab some 4W replacements of the same socket size....$2.49 for a two-pack. also you might want to leave the 3.4W ones in the turn signal indicator and e-brake holes. i find the 4W are a little BRIGHT for those spots, as they are dedicated holes for those particular bulbs..

my $0.02

7277 are the 4 watt your speaking of a little longer (bulb) than OEM???

[sblake01]

Im holding a Sylvania 57 right now and Im also holding my fuel gauge/ there is NO way in a thousand years that this bulb will work. It wont even fit into the gauge.

I cant believe no one has had to replace their dash bulbs without running into this same issue.

Dash out, car still apart, '72-Z owner sad.

Well, I have a 78 and the meter illumination bulbs are listed as 57X in the 78 FSM. Could it be that a 72 uses different bulbs than a 78? Looking the the 72 FSM, there's no SAE trade number listed; all it says there is 3.4 watts.