bootlegger2000

Morning folks, Great forum.
My 1st post.
I have a 78 c3. I have removed all of my gauges and i am looking to replace the burned out bulbs while i am in there. Or i would like to use leds? I cant seem to find bulbs at wilcox or corvette central or corvette america?
Where can i get replacement bulbs and or is it possible to put leds in the same socket?
Thanks in advance.

ptaleo

They may be available locally, or google custom dash lighting.

69Vett

figure out your current bulb # usually printed on the bulbs very small.
use that # to search for equivalent LED version, pick your color.
you will not be able to dim standard leds with your current dimmer switch.
this is Standard white LEDS. good luck.

SwampeastMike

The vendors all sell bulb kits for our cars but they may not sell all bulbs individually.

While all of the dash bulbs look identical in '78 there are three different versions:

1) 3 candlepower (trade #192) is used for all of the background lighting

2) 2 candlepower (trade #194) is used for all of the indicators (like turn signal, generator, high beams, etc.) This bulb is also used in the windshield wiper switch.

3) 3 candlepower (trade #558) is used for the "lantern" that shines down onto the heating/cooling control panel. It has a little lens cast into the end.

Bulb #558 can be a bit hard to find. Online sources that specialize in lamps (say www.1000bulbs.com) have them. While you can buy them individually, bulbs #194 and #192 come in boxes of ten at a substantial price reduction. If you do buy on-line buy two boxes of #192 and one box of #194.

Lakeside49

While you have the instrument cluster out, enlarge the downfire lighting hole by about 20%. The current hole is too small.

blanman61

What is the downfire hole?

7T1vette

I just went through this whole process, intending to switch to led bulbs. My results? I ended up buying new incandescent bulbs and am happy with the results.

The LED bulbs on the market are not very reliable and quality is poor: several didn't work properly (some segments work, others did not), some flickered and some were dead on arrival.

The white LED bulbs don't provide the same 'color' of light as the incandescents. Thus, the color of the dial face and printing change hues and look odd. Also, the incandescents shine [approx.] equally in all directions; the LED's have directional brightness because of their design and segment locations. Also, the base/pin size on LED's seem to be smaller, such that they don't lock into place as well and can shift in the socket when hitting a bump.

I just had all kinds of minor problems with the LED's. They would have been brighter...but in some cases too bright...and might have maintained brightness, if they really had the life as claimed.

In the end, I know what I'm getting with regular bulbs and the gauges look like what I'm used to.

Street Rat

You can buy the AC illumination bulb from Willcox. The leds are available on eBay.

There are many threads on this subject. Do a search to find them. Lots of good information and photos.

bootlegger2000

thank you for the answers gentleman. Very much appreciated!!

bootlegger2000

I tried to find the bulbs at 1000bulbs and found all but the #192? Are you sure of that #? Thanks in advance

Lakeside49

You will feel a very small hole under the rectangular black housing located at the top of your instrument cluster panel. The light "down-fires" onto the climate controls. But, they engineered it to small, and it is attempting to illuminate an already black panel, so it is mostly worthless. I drilled mine out a little larger and used a "warm" LED bulb throughout the panel and couldn't be happier.