A question about dash bulbs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
//
When I had the dash apart , I cleaned all the sockets, dimmer / switch, feeds and all terminals, I also ran a new ground to each side of the dash.
The gauges and Tech / Speedo are super bright with the stock bulbs,
The plus is that it looks natural , without the overflow of the light in the gauge face.
To each their own, I like the factory look and its bright enough that I usually durn it down some.
When I had the dash apart , I cleaned all the sockets, dimmer / switch, feeds and all terminals, I also ran a new ground to each side of the dash.
The gauges and Tech / Speedo are super bright with the stock bulbs,
The plus is that it looks natural , without the overflow of the light in the gauge face.
To each their own, I like the factory look and its bright enough that I usually durn it down some.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,800
Likes: 1,943
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
110% Too much of a hassel to change back if you don't like it, if they are too bright, have a dimming and or fitment issue. Nothing wrong with "NEW" clean / clear factory bulbs !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,508
From: Virginia
The 78-82 cars (and the 77 cars in the center console), used different bulbs. You'll have to buy polarity agnostic LEDs, or test the polarity with the dash out. You can also replace the bulbs with the dash still in place, which is a nice improvement with the later cars.
SuperbrightLEDs.com will tell you what you need, even if you don't end up buying anything from them.
SuperbrightLEDs.com will tell you what you need, even if you don't end up buying anything from them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 751
Likes: 32
From: Woburn,ma ma
The 78-82 cars (and the 77 cars in the center console), used different bulbs. You'll have to buy polarity agnostic LEDs, or test the polarity with the dash out. You can also replace the bulbs with the dash still in place, which is a nice improvement with the later cars.
SuperbrightLEDs.com will tell you what you need, even if you don't end up buying anything from them.
SuperbrightLEDs.com will tell you what you need, even if you don't end up buying anything from them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 385
From: Leland , North Carolina
//
When I had the dash apart , I cleaned all the sockets, dimmer / switch, feeds and all terminals, I also ran a new ground to each side of the dash.
The gauges and Tech / Speedo are super bright with the stock bulbs,
The plus is that it looks natural , without the overflow of the light in the gauge face.
To each their own, I like the factory look and its bright enough that I usually durn it down some.
When I had the dash apart , I cleaned all the sockets, dimmer / switch, feeds and all terminals, I also ran a new ground to each side of the dash.
The gauges and Tech / Speedo are super bright with the stock bulbs,
The plus is that it looks natural , without the overflow of the light in the gauge face.
To each their own, I like the factory look and its bright enough that I usually durn it down some.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,508
From: Virginia
Incandescent bulbs deposit soot inside the bulbs. You cannot clean this, but anyone who replaced an original bulb with a new one likely noticed a big improvement in lumen output.
So, sure. Try different, brighter, LED bulbs next time!
https://www.superbrightleds.com/cata.../result/?q=194
These are all LEDs, BTW.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 751
Likes: 32
From: Woburn,ma ma
I originally put in brighter bulbs, looked awesome for about a minute, then the fuse would blow, so you need to be careful on installing brighter bulbs, but I still like the leds much better..
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,508
From: Virginia
For the outside LED bulbs, you'll need a set of Blinker Genies, and two LED-capable flashers (possibly with one, or two, switched bases). Details are in my thread.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-learned.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,327
Likes: 721
From: Marietta GA
Superbright LEDs have a conversion list based on your car and model year. Be sure to get the LEDs that are Not Polarity Sensitive. Also choose the color of the LEDs based on it use, ie. Brights are blue, brake red, and so forth. Changing the exterior bulbs to LEDs can involve all types of problems. I only changed the side markers, When I changed the front parking/turn signal to LEDs, the instrument panel indicator LEDs would not operate. The problem is with the wiring, and I didn’t want to start messing with 50 year old wiring.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 25
Likes: 11
I couldn't find any that said they dimmed with the old rheostat dimmers, so I figured I'd live with full brightness. I bought these Defvnsy T11 BA9S LED Bulbs from Amazon. I was pleasantly surprised that they do have some dimming features. It appears they go from 100% - 75% - 50% (roughly). While it's not a true dimming effect, it is enough that you can dim them if they're too bright.
Update: I finally got around to upgrading the speedometer and tachometer lights. Now, they do not dim. But, at this point I I'm satisfied with the way they look.
Update: I finally got around to upgrading the speedometer and tachometer lights. Now, they do not dim. But, at this point I I'm satisfied with the way they look.
Last edited by Heirloom75Coupe; Apr 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 96
Likes: 27
Superbright LEDs have a conversion list based on your car and model year. Be sure to get the LEDs that are Not Polarity Sensitive. Also choose the color of the LEDs based on it use, ie. Brights are blue, brake red, and so forth. Changing the exterior bulbs to LEDs can involve all types of problems. I only changed the side markers, When I changed the front parking/turn signal to LEDs, the instrument panel indicator LEDs would not operate. The problem is with the wiring, and I didn’t want to start messing with 50 year old wiring.
Before you mess with the wire.. check the pig tail connectors inside. I installed a front led bulb for the turn signal and my lighting inside went nuts. Come o find out the plug in pig tail were bad. When I went to twist lock the bulbs. The bulb kept tiring causing the connector contacts to cross each other. I'm going to switch out the socket plug.