mattyg92

after reviewing past post, just looking to replace my dash bulbs with LED. ebay ok to buy from? should i get the BA9s dome style or the multi LED bulbs? what lumines do you suggest? and are they dimmable? thank you for any help!!

Plasticman

I went through this very recently.

No, don't waste your money on Ebay bulbs (I did, and if you want them, I will gladly sell them).

Buy them from Superbrightleds.com. And yes, their LEDs are dimmable (as installed in my 62 they work & dim perfectly - MUCH brighter!).

See the below thread for the complete writeup (jump to post #23 for my details).

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...d-clock-2.html

Since mine is a 62, I don't have any knowledge on how they will work in a C2. But they both use the same bulbs, so I would think they would work just as nicely.

Good luck,
Plasticman

_Nomad_

I replaced all of the bulbs, inside and outside, of my '66 with LED's from Superbrightleds.com. They are nice and bright and look great. Now I need to do the '67.

Just remember, if you replace ALL of your bulbs with LED's you will need to replace your flashers with electronic ones.

mattyg92

Thank you for the reply! i will check out that site!!

mattyg92

thank you! i think i may do all LED and get that updated flasher

c1j1c2

I replaced all the dash bulbs over a year ago with ones purchased from Superbrightleds.com also. I can actually read all the gauges at night now and it's not like I had bad vision. I wish I would have changed the LIGHT bulb to be a flashing LED, but I figure that's no big deal. Not many people will realize. It's a great upgrade mod that doesn't take anything away from the stock look.

PaulUptime

Of the options available at https://www.superbrightleds.com/search/ba9s-ba7s/ba9/ which ones are most recommended for my '65 instrument cluster?

Also, as I don't yet have my cluster out, any recall on how many bulbs I should order? I'd like to have the replacements in-hand when I pull the cluster out.

Thanks in advance!

buns

Depending on the year, you will need 7 (early) or 9 for the cluster, 2 for the clock and 1 for the radio. Cigar lighter, ignition switch,heater control and high beam bulbs are smaller.

You will also need 2 for the turn signal indicators, if so desired.

Plasticman

I installed the Superbrightleds.com # BA9s-WWHP5 (warm white) for my 62's instruments.

If your 65 uses the same #57 bulb as my 62 used (for instruments and clock), then the above Superbrightleds.com number should work well for you. They would also replace the later 1895 bulbs (as were in my 70 Vette).

I was very pleased at the brightness and the fact that they dim (as needed).

Plasticman

PaulUptime

Thanks guys.

My next (brief) thought was maybe changing to red or green illumination, since apparently going LED provides the choice. I think I'll stay with the warm white. I believe it will give the best wash over my faded yet original gauges. Or maybe I should consider changing them, too? Nahhh. Not this time. There's a good chance the next time 'round it could be to install all new gauges compatible with an LS swap.

The intended factory glow was from a pale blue-green reflected off the turquoise illumination paint on the inside of the instrument gauge backing. The paint on my housing was faded to near-gone, but I did find a similar color in a rattle can and resprayed them years ago, softening the white. I think the warm white LEDs should look great in that setting. I still find these old simple flat face gauges perfectly laid out. They got it right 50 years ago. I can switch up the technology, no point switching up on the design!

But... still wondering... Anyone ever tried green, blue or red dash bulbs?

buns

Here is a list of the bulbs used in '65 and '66.




.

Plasticman

The #57 (as used in my 62): G-4-1/2 (globe glass bulb), .24A, 2 candlepower, 14.0 volt, 500 hour rated life.

The #1816 (as listed above): T-3-1/2 (elongated narrow glass bulb), .33A, 3 candle power, 13.0 volt, 1000 hour rated life.

The #1895 (as used in my 70 Vette): G-4-1/2 (globe glass bulb), .27A, 2 candlepower, 14.0 volt, 2000 hour rated life.

They are all "Minature Bayonet" (all use the same socket). I have used both the 1895 (longer life than the older #57), and then the 1816 in my 62 previous to using the LEDs. The 1816 were an attempt to make them "brighter", but it was only after using the LEDs that I listed above, that they became bright enough (I actually use the dimmer to dim them a little).

The LEDs have more of an "elongated narrow bulb" shape to the LED stack (similar in overall profile to the 1816 lamps), and should fit just fine.

Plasticman

Kp1265

Hi: I have a '67 and need to replace all dash cluster bulbs; superbrightleds.com wants to know if the existing ones are #1816 or #1895; can I just purchase a particular bulb from them without going through the trouble of removing screws/steering column just to look at the existing bulbs to see what numbers are there? Thanks.

Frankie the Fink

The numbers on your old bulbs might not be legible anyway.

You can get the bulb numbers from your owners manual and use that info on the web site crossover calculator to deduce the equivalent LEDs...

I used the BA9 "Warm Whties" in all the "gray wire" locations in the 63 - 7 for dash, 2 for clock and 1 for radio...

toddalin

I tried them on my '64 and didn't like the results. They don't get down into the "wells" and a '63 may be no different.

PaulUptime

I switched out my BA9's to LED two years ago and am really happy with the brightness of them. The only downside is that they don't dim well using the stock dimmer. With the LEDs, the dash pretty much goes from full bright (I'd say almost 3x brighter than stock) to 1x near the end of the dimmer, then off. I may look into different dimmer options, and while it's a bit brighter on dark country roads than I'd like, it's not so bright as to distract my eyes. It's on my list for the next time I have need to take my dash apart. Until then, my LED headlights are more than bright enough to compensate. With today's widespread of LED lighting in use on and around roadways, I find the lights like the car itself keep up quite nicely!

Frankie the Fink

The LEDs do not dim linearly with the stock headlight switch. It’s there only downside.

PaulUptime

It would be nice, so post up here if you find a way, and I'll do the same!

CaptainEgg

If you look at "buns" post ahead of yours you will see bulb numbers, however I do not see 195 I see 1893, good luck, I went with leds a couple of years ag in my 62 and love them, got them from superlights on ebay

mjdart

C2 Corvette with Superbright LED bulbs BA95-WWHP5 LEDs in warm tone