C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

[C2] Dash light bulb recommendations

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 04:30 PM
  #1  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Thread Starter
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,093
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default Dash light bulb recommendations

I know there have been many threads on this and therefore confusion for me.

For those that have experimented with this can you please tell me the brand and bulb numbers for each socket you finally settled on so I can order the right number and amount.

I don’t care about the original green cast from the factory and don’t care about any effect on the dimmer as I will always run them at their brightest.

So, does someone have a list?

How many of each number bulbs are in the instrument cluster?

Last edited by 68hemi; Jun 20, 2022 at 06:07 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 04:35 PM
  #2  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,135
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

with a correctly restored and clean cluster stock bulbs listed in the owner's manual is plenty bright. but then again, my eyesight is still good
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 04:43 PM
  #3  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Thread Starter
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,093
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by Nowhere Man
with a correctly restored and clean cluster stock bulbs listed in the owner's manual is plenty bright. but then again, my eyesight is still good
We’ll, mine is not so I need brighter bulbs.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 06:14 PM
  #4  
barkingrats's Avatar
barkingrats
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,147
Likes: 4,258
From: US-PNW
Default

The only caveat I've seen is that brighter bulbs = less hours before burn-out. (Sylvania prints the approx. hours on the packaging, as I recall.) That may be fine for brake or turn signals but to take the dash out is a major undertaking; I'd rather have long life at the expense of brightness.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 06:35 PM
  #5  
L78's Avatar
L78
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 683
From: Folsom Ca
Default

Originally Posted by 67:72
The only caveat I've seen is that brighter bulbs = less hours before burn-out. (Sylvania prints the approx. hours on the packaging, as I recall.) That may be fine for brake or turn signals but to take the dash out is a major undertaking; I'd rather have long life at the expense of brightness.
sounds reasonable, but I’d ask how many hours can be expected, and how many hours will most of us put on our cars going forward…

and is a brighter bulb more likely to have an early failure ?
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 07:14 PM
  #6  
leif.anderson93's Avatar
leif.anderson93
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Community Builder
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,956
Likes: 5,505
From: Richardson Texas
Default

Originally Posted by L78
sounds reasonable, but I’d ask how many hours can be expected, and how many hours will most of us put on our cars going forward…

and is a brighter bulb more likely to have an early failure ?
Not if it's LED compared to a comparable incandescent.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 07:54 PM
  #7  
Bondo Lane's Avatar
Bondo Lane
Intermediate
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 34
Likes: 9
From: Central PA
Default

Originally Posted by leif.anderson93
Not if it's LED compared to a comparable incandescent.
You beat me to it. Yeah, if endurance is going to be a concern, go LED. I've seen them sold in dashboard sockets, ready to go. Never looked specifically for 'vette though.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 08:00 PM
  #8  
barkingrats's Avatar
barkingrats
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Supporting Gold
 
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,147
Likes: 4,258
From: US-PNW
Default

Originally Posted by leif.anderson93
Not if it's LED compared to a comparable incandescent.
Are there any special considerations to change to LEDs or are they plug-n-play?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 09:13 PM
  #9  
leif.anderson93's Avatar
leif.anderson93
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Community Builder
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 8,956
Likes: 5,505
From: Richardson Texas
Default

Originally Posted by 67:72
Are there any special considerations to change to LEDs or are they plug-n-play?
Just be sure you buy dimmable lamps...no other "special" considerations.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehi...=607&year=1967
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2022 | 09:15 PM
  #10  
Avispa's Avatar
Avispa
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Default

Only a couple of issues. In the cluster, the cigarette lighter bulb is small and needs a small bulb. 5 chip LEDs won't fit. They won't fit in the heater and radio control "bullet" either. The BRAKE and LIGHTS tattle tale sockets may be reverse polarity, so you'd need non polar or reverse polarity LEDs for either of those.

If you want to keep using regular bulbs, #1416 is good for all the cluster and clock lights. Same issue with the bullet. All that will fit in there is 1816 or 1817. 1816 for the turn signals and hi beam indicator. Cigarette lighter use #53. All of these are available from CEC Lighting, Sylvania, Eiko and a couple others. CEC's web page is great. Has tons of specs on the bulbs so you can figure out decent substitutes. I've had really good luck with ledlight.com for small LEDs. Totally redid the cluster with bright LEDs and you can SEE it at night.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2022 | 08:12 AM
  #11  
DiabolicalDave's Avatar
DiabolicalDave
Drifting
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,927
Likes: 279
From: Portugal
Default

Reply
Old Jun 20, 2022 | 03:32 PM
  #12  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Thread Starter
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,093
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

OK, so what is the bottom line as in the original post questions? For those that have experimented with these what is the RIGHT brand to buy and do they sell as a package for a midyear or does some one have a list of LED numbers and how many of each needed?
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2022 | 07:56 PM
  #13  
Redbird's Avatar
Redbird
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 804
From: Georgetown TX
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
2016 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

Contact Frankie the Fink on this forum.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2022 | 08:05 PM
  #14  
68hemi's Avatar
68hemi
Thread Starter
Race Director
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,093
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by Redbird
Contact Frankie the Fink on this forum.
Unfortunately Frankie was perminately booted off the forum and I don’t have his contact info.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 07:51 AM
  #15  
Joemac8's Avatar
Joemac8
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 3,677
From: North Central Wisconsin & Shitcago
Default

Originally Posted by 68hemi
Unfortunately Frankie was perminately booted off the forum and I don’t have his contact info.

I believe he is active on the NCRS Forum by his first and last name???
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 08:55 AM
  #16  
Redbird's Avatar
Redbird
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 804
From: Georgetown TX
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
2016 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

See if Frankie is on NCRS forum.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 08:58 AM
  #17  
Nowhere Man's Avatar
Nowhere Man
Team Owner
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,135
Likes: 9,447
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Default

Since he sold his 63 I have not seen him post on the NCRS forum. So I am not sure how active he really is
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 08:56 PM
  #18  
Avispa's Avatar
Avispa
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Default

None of these are sold in a package. You'll have to buy the individual bulbs. The packages from the big vendors are correct replacement bulbs. You might want em brighter.

Cluster and clock illumination
https://www.ledlight.com/ba9s_2_5_wa..._led_bulb.aspx

Turn signal, radio dial lamp and high beam indicator
https://www.ledlight.com/ba9s-5-ultr...led-light.aspx

Glove box, radio and heater **** illumination, BRAKE and LIGHTS tattle tale indicators, regular bulb 1816. Available at any auto parts store.

Ignition switch lamp regular bulb 3893. Available at any auto parts store.

Cigarette lighter lamp. Regular bulb 53 or 1445. Available at any auto parts store
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2022 | 09:57 PM
  #19  
vark_wso's Avatar
vark_wso
Melting Slicks
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 554
From: Sun Prairie WI
Default

Originally Posted by 68hemi
OK, so what is the bottom line as in the original post questions? For those that have experimented with these what is the RIGHT brand to buy and do they sell as a package for a midyear or does some one have a list of LED numbers and how many of each needed?
This is how I chose to configure my '66, using green illumination for entire center dash (clock, htr controls, radio) cool white elsewhere) Superbright LEDs, (’66 model year)

# where & Superbright lamp ID

8 gray-wire panel lights in cluster, BA9S-CWHP5 (cool white, all except ctr position below Hi Bm)

1 gray-wire panel light in cluster, position below Hi Bm, BA9S-W4-90-12VAC (still too bright! Wish I had put a single LED here)

3 gray-wire clock + htr control (must trim bayonet), BA9S-GHP5 (green in clock + htr control illum)

3 BA9S-W-120 single LED, white, for cigarette ltr, glove box illum & ign switch illum

1 BA9S-G-120 single LED, green, for radio illum

3 1142-CW12-G (12 LEDs, cool white globe) for courtesy & floor illum lamps

Did not do: turn signals, brake warning, h/lamp warning, or Hi beam indicator lamps

Did not do: any external bulbs (h/l, turn, stop, park, brake, license illum, etc.)


Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Dash light bulb recommendations





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:06 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE