Dash Light Bulbs
#1
Heel & Toe
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Dash Light Bulbs
I have a sweet 1980 coupe that I've completely restored - the one thing I'm still not thrilled about is the brightness level of the dash lights.
Does anyone know if there's a conversion kit or LED bulbs that can replace all of the dash bulbs to get a lot brighter dash look?
Does anyone know if there's a conversion kit or LED bulbs that can replace all of the dash bulbs to get a lot brighter dash look?
#2
Race Director
SUPER BRIGHT LED's And your bulbs are originally a 194....but I would not do the turn signal indicators....leave them alone....just worry about your gauge lights.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/...1-412--142375/
DUB
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/...1-412--142375/
DUB
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Primoz (05-23-2018)
#4
Team Owner
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All the center console lights in my 68 are LED's, also all the lights in the shift console are LED's. The lamps in the speedo and tach are still incandescent. This means I can dim the speedo and tach lights with the headlight switch reostat. The main reason for using LED's was to reduce current flow through the headlight switch reostat and prevent it from overheating and destroying itself, as the stock reostat did. Installing them in myy 70. My 08 has a lot of interior and external LED's.
#5
Heel & Toe
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Dash Lights
Sweet - Thanks for the info!
All the center console lights in my 68 are LED's, also all the lights in the shift console are LED's. The lamps in the speedo and tach are still incandescent. This means I can dim the speedo and tach lights with the headlight switch reostat. The main reason for using LED's was to reduce current flow through the headlight switch reostat and prevent it from overheating and destroying itself, as the stock reostat did. Installing them in myy 70. My 08 has a lot of interior and external LED's.
#6
Safety Car
Here`s a pic I copied... posted by a member who put LEDs in, and got this shot to show the difference it made.
#7
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#8
#9
Race Director
The next one I do...I am going to 'play around' with the thought I have had on using red LED light bulbs. This way...when I test it out in my shop when it is totally dark...like at night time...will it aid in not effecting a persons night vision....because many of the Corvettes I have done with the white LEDs...are DEFINITELY brighter...and ALMOST bordering on a bit too bright for my personal taste. YES...I know they can be modified to be dimmed.
I have some old gauges and I might actually paint the light blue parts of the gauge to a red and see what that does...so I can still use the white LED's. Like I wrote...something I have had 'bouncing around' in my head for some time now. If I get it 'figured out'....I actually was thinking that when I restore/repaint a Corvette ....DEPENDING on the COLOR of the exterior/interior...I would modify the gauges to the back lighting matches the car in some way. Just so it has that 'custom touch' and not be too gaudy. Because many of the Corvettes I do....the owners are NOT worried about being factory PURE.
DUB
I have some old gauges and I might actually paint the light blue parts of the gauge to a red and see what that does...so I can still use the white LED's. Like I wrote...something I have had 'bouncing around' in my head for some time now. If I get it 'figured out'....I actually was thinking that when I restore/repaint a Corvette ....DEPENDING on the COLOR of the exterior/interior...I would modify the gauges to the back lighting matches the car in some way. Just so it has that 'custom touch' and not be too gaudy. Because many of the Corvettes I do....the owners are NOT worried about being factory PURE.
DUB
#10
I need to update this as few things have changed
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...guide-diy.html
but do not replace any of the bulbs that are for warning lights like seat belt, high beam ect. I noticed with the batter / alternator light that with a SMD installed it would not complete the circuit and the battery would not charge... was strange.. put in old bulb and it was fine again. So just replace the illumination lights.
that light website is good but so $$ and i found a good quality bulb from these guys
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251370483066?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
YITA Motor
Reverse lights
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251539164107?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Lessons learnt.
dont use SMDs for indicators as they dont flash and you will need flasher box and they were not that much brighter than stock
dont use SMDs for battery light
I havnt dont the speedo yet but the centre dash is 100 % better and dims
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...guide-diy.html
but do not replace any of the bulbs that are for warning lights like seat belt, high beam ect. I noticed with the batter / alternator light that with a SMD installed it would not complete the circuit and the battery would not charge... was strange.. put in old bulb and it was fine again. So just replace the illumination lights.
that light website is good but so $$ and i found a good quality bulb from these guys
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251370483066?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
YITA Motor
Reverse lights
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251539164107?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Lessons learnt.
dont use SMDs for indicators as they dont flash and you will need flasher box and they were not that much brighter than stock
dont use SMDs for battery light
I havnt dont the speedo yet but the centre dash is 100 % better and dims
#11
Safety Car
Thanks TX! That pic has been an inspiration to many of us! (And I`ve re-posted it a few times!)
DUB, I want to see some pics of the red.... that may be a very interesting option to explore!
#12
Racer
DUB, I want to see some pics of the red.... that may be a very interesting option to explore!
#14
Race Director
#15
I did it the other way-around. Left the incadescent bulbs in for the insturments as i like to use the dash dimmer feature and changed all other bulbs to LED.
Changing the turn signal indicators to LED was part of changing the entire signal system to LED including front side running lights.
be mentally prepared for corvette zen... those wimpy little dash bulb sockets are a pain in the asz to deal with.
Changing the turn signal indicators to LED was part of changing the entire signal system to LED including front side running lights.
be mentally prepared for corvette zen... those wimpy little dash bulb sockets are a pain in the asz to deal with.
SUPER BRIGHT LED's And your bulbs are originally a 194....but I would not do the turn signal indicators....leave them alone....just worry about your gauge lights.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/...1-412--142375/
DUB
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/...1-412--142375/
DUB
#16
I thought about red as well but many of the LEDs have an orange hue, so I opted for the more original look. I have a heavy duty flasher and I do get a little flicker when the door open buzzer is on which is not a problem for me, I just wanted to see the gauges :-)
BTW, I think I spent around $20 for all of the LEDs and they have been for over a year now.
#17
Dash Bulbs
How many 194s would I need to just change the bulbs behind the Speedometer and Tachometer areas? I just want to be able to see how fast im going at night. Does anyone have a diagram of this or a good picture?
#19
Safety Car
I'm pretty sure there are a total of 8 bulbs for the speedo/tach backlight.
Last edited by DB Cooper; 05-22-2018 at 03:51 PM.
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Hellah fresh (03-17-2024)
#20
Drifting
The next one I do...I am going to 'play around' with the thought I have had on using red LED light bulbs. This way...when I test it out in my shop when it is totally dark...like at night time...will it aid in not effecting a persons night vision....because many of the Corvettes I have done with the white LEDs...are DEFINITELY brighter...and ALMOST bordering on a bit too bright for my personal taste. YES...I know they can be modified to be dimmed.
I have some old gauges and I might actually paint the light blue parts of the gauge to a red and see what that does...so I can still use the white LED's. Like I wrote...something I have had 'bouncing around' in my head for some time now. If I get it 'figured out'....I actually was thinking that when I restore/repaint a Corvette ....DEPENDING on the COLOR of the exterior/interior...I would modify the gauges to the back lighting matches the car in some way. Just so it has that 'custom touch' and not be too gaudy. Because many of the Corvettes I do....the owners are NOT worried about being factory PURE.
DUB
I have some old gauges and I might actually paint the light blue parts of the gauge to a red and see what that does...so I can still use the white LED's. Like I wrote...something I have had 'bouncing around' in my head for some time now. If I get it 'figured out'....I actually was thinking that when I restore/repaint a Corvette ....DEPENDING on the COLOR of the exterior/interior...I would modify the gauges to the back lighting matches the car in some way. Just so it has that 'custom touch' and not be too gaudy. Because many of the Corvettes I do....the owners are NOT worried about being factory PURE.
DUB
Did the same thing on the gauges of my W-30 years ago.
I prefer the red glow over the white and it’s much easier on the eyes.
I kept the incandescent bulbs though as they are plenty bright for me.
Now my dash looks like my BMW’s at night.
Last edited by ezobens; 05-22-2018 at 11:15 PM.