alternative dash lamps????
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 1
From: Kerrville Texas
There was a recent post on this very subject and someone said the LEDS weren't any brighter than stock bulbs. I'm changing my gauges to white for cosmetic reasons and hopefully to also brighten things up a bit.
Check out these overlays. www.whitegauges.net
Kona
Check out these overlays. www.whitegauges.net
Kona
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I seem to remember sometime last year someone posted a thread about using a different bulb in their dash and it made it brighter. I looked for the thread but was not able to find. So I'm all 
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,060
Likes: 100
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
i was part of that thread, and i warned against using anything that would create additional heat (ie brighter bulbs). i also stated that i had replaced all the bulbs in my dash (78 pace car) with LED bulbs, but not necessarily for more brightness, but to keep the heat down. i believe they might be marginally brighter (LED bulbs can be purchased with different focal structure, so you can "customize" the light direction for each application). between older dried out dash parts and wiring (assuming you haven't replaced pretty much everything) and the added heat generated by using bulbs stronger than those originally designed for the system, i'm guessing you have nothing but a potential problem (if not a fire) on your hands eventually.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,514
Likes: 95
From: North Carolina "life is good"
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If your factory bulbs are #1816 you can replace them with #1817. They are .40 amps ea vs. .33 amps for the 1816's. Will not over load the system since it adds up to be less that having 1 or 2 bulbs burned out. Ends up a little brighter. A trick that I used on my C2.
Not easy to get. You can google "1817 bulbs" . I paid $2 ea locally here in Charlotte,NC at a place called Light Bulbs Unlimited, mostly household stuff but they ordered them/ had them within a week.
Not easy to get. You can google "1817 bulbs" . I paid $2 ea locally here in Charlotte,NC at a place called Light Bulbs Unlimited, mostly household stuff but they ordered them/ had them within a week.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Apache Junction Arizona
I've had blue LEDS in all my dash/gauges for the last year and really like it. The blue gives the white numbers a good, easier to see, glow thats not too bright and doesn't look rice-burnerish... to me anyway.
The LED's I'm using have 4 in each "bulb".
The LED's I'm using have 4 in each "bulb".
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
that looks like what i will be doing, can you post some pics of your setup??
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Apache Junction Arizona
I ran out of bulbs when I was doing the speedo - got more LED's now, but waiting on another reason to take apart the dash apart to get to these sockets....
Good pic to see the difference from white to blue...
SORRY FOR THE BIG PICTURES....My editor is not working
Good pic to see the difference from white to blue...
SORRY FOR THE BIG PICTURES....My editor is not working
Last edited by worms713; Dec 22, 2007 at 08:52 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
In regards to post from 1SWEET66 above.....
It may be that the bulbs are year specific in some cases but I too want to get some added illumination for my gauges. I finally got around to pulling out my service manual ('70) and the "Instrument Illumination Bulbs" are listed as #1895 at a whopping 2.0 candle power. That year for a Nova calls for a bulb #168 at 3.0 candle power, for a whooping 50% increase. A seperate line item calls out Console Instrument Cluster (Nova) as lamp #1816 @ 2.5 candle power. I have no idea about differences in bases, posts, or globes at this point, but I'll make a trip to the store over the weekend and see if anything is compatible.
Hope this helps or at least creates more questions or inputs.
It may be that the bulbs are year specific in some cases but I too want to get some added illumination for my gauges. I finally got around to pulling out my service manual ('70) and the "Instrument Illumination Bulbs" are listed as #1895 at a whopping 2.0 candle power. That year for a Nova calls for a bulb #168 at 3.0 candle power, for a whooping 50% increase. A seperate line item calls out Console Instrument Cluster (Nova) as lamp #1816 @ 2.5 candle power. I have no idea about differences in bases, posts, or globes at this point, but I'll make a trip to the store over the weekend and see if anything is compatible.
Hope this helps or at least creates more questions or inputs.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Apex NC
I replaced the bulbs in mine with the LED and it made a large difference.
What I also did was in looking behind the Speedo and Tach it looks like a lot of the light is actually being reflected out to light up the gauge. In my 77 it was being reflected off blue plastic in the back of them. I covered all the blue plastic with a very reflective silver tape that was really easy to do once I took the backs off. The combination of the LED and the reflective tape made a big difference to me.
Sorry I did not take a picture of that but here are the pics of the normal bulb vs. LED.
What I also did was in looking behind the Speedo and Tach it looks like a lot of the light is actually being reflected out to light up the gauge. In my 77 it was being reflected off blue plastic in the back of them. I covered all the blue plastic with a very reflective silver tape that was really easy to do once I took the backs off. The combination of the LED and the reflective tape made a big difference to me.
Sorry I did not take a picture of that but here are the pics of the normal bulb vs. LED.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 474
Likes: 127
From: Stafford Virginia
I switched to blue LEDs and it's great. I was going blind and can see great now. The key is find directional LEDS that not only cast the light forward but sideways as well. There are so many options with various numbers of LEDs within a single socket. No heat and the load is significantly reduced so you can add to existing lighting with no problems. There are MANY LEDs out there, just shop for the right ones...you get what you pay for.
Against the white guages, it's even better. Photos to follow when it's all done.
Against the white guages, it's even better. Photos to follow when it's all done.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi TX
where did you get those bulbs
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 474
Likes: 127
From: Stafford Virginia
I don't have pics but tonight I finally had a chance to install the new dash and instument clusters. I used the WhiteGauges LEDs on the speedo/tach and a different brand from eBay for the mini gauges. I bought the second kind after realizing you only get enough LEDs to do speedo/tach (9) and you actually need five (5) more to do all the gauges.
I found the $5 a light too high after I started researching all the available LEDs, types, multi LED, angles, etcs. Suffice to say the cheaper ones I purchased from an eBay vendor were much bluer and a hint brighter. I did go with the five LED setup v. four with the whitegauge version. I will order more to replace the other ones to even up the look. I also sprayed the inside of my gauge clusters with silver paint and I think it helps throw the light around better. No real data to compare but the flat black is obviously not a reflective color. My gauges are brighter then the ones shown in the pictures above but my dimmer (new switch) does not work with the LEDs. I will swap out a regular bulb to check when I replace the others.
I also replaced the dome light with a six LED blue setup and it's just the right look.
I found the $5 a light too high after I started researching all the available LEDs, types, multi LED, angles, etcs. Suffice to say the cheaper ones I purchased from an eBay vendor were much bluer and a hint brighter. I did go with the five LED setup v. four with the whitegauge version. I will order more to replace the other ones to even up the look. I also sprayed the inside of my gauge clusters with silver paint and I think it helps throw the light around better. No real data to compare but the flat black is obviously not a reflective color. My gauges are brighter then the ones shown in the pictures above but my dimmer (new switch) does not work with the LEDs. I will swap out a regular bulb to check when I replace the others.
I also replaced the dome light with a six LED blue setup and it's just the right look.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Seems brighter LED's would enable one to turn down the dimmer and still yield at least as much illumination, with less heat to boot.
Not being one who hangs around the particular isle of my local parts store where this kind of stuff may be, say if I were to venture over that direction to pick up some of those brighter LED's for my SA what exactly would I be looking for? Or do I need to shop elsewhere??
BTW, Eastwood has some silver reflective paint made for tail lamp housings which should be perfect behind the gauges.
Not being one who hangs around the particular isle of my local parts store where this kind of stuff may be, say if I were to venture over that direction to pick up some of those brighter LED's for my SA what exactly would I be looking for? Or do I need to shop elsewhere??
BTW, Eastwood has some silver reflective paint made for tail lamp housings which should be perfect behind the gauges.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 474
Likes: 127
From: Stafford Virginia
http://www.frickinbrite.com/catalog/
That was the vendor I went with on eBay. Hopefully I'm not violating any forum policy here.
BLUE HIGH PWR SMT 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194
That was the vendor I went with on eBay. Hopefully I'm not violating any forum policy here.
BLUE HIGH PWR SMT 5 LED LIGHT BULBS 194
