dash light bulbs
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
dash light bulbs
looks like there are one or two sizes that fit most of the gauges and and other lights behind the dash. can i get replacements at the local parts store or do i need "special' vette bulbs ?
mine have hard to read part numbers on them so i was wondering if someone knew what i should ask for at advance, or pepboys, ect ?
mine have hard to read part numbers on them so i was wondering if someone knew what i should ask for at advance, or pepboys, ect ?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Owner's manual lists correct bulb sizes. Illumination lamps are usually small; tell tale lamps are usually larger. Do your homework because you do not want to go back behind the dash a second time.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
You can get a box of the bulbs at NAPA and they are not very expensive and common to many applications - there is no Vette bulb.
Are you replacing just a few or all of them? If you are pulling the dash to change them all you may want to consider going to a LED bulb. They are a lot more expensive but they also provide a lot better lighting. I used them in one application and am very pleased with the result. I never really liked how dim my dash looked with the stock bulbs even after cleaning it all up.
Of course that may just be that my eyes aren't what they were 30 years ago.
Are you replacing just a few or all of them? If you are pulling the dash to change them all you may want to consider going to a LED bulb. They are a lot more expensive but they also provide a lot better lighting. I used them in one application and am very pleased with the result. I never really liked how dim my dash looked with the stock bulbs even after cleaning it all up.
Of course that may just be that my eyes aren't what they were 30 years ago.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton AB
You can get a box of the bulbs at NAPA and they are not very expensive and common to many applications - there is no Vette bulb.
Are you replacing just a few or all of them? If you are pulling the dash to change them all you may want to consider going to a LED bulb. They are a lot more expensive but they also provide a lot better lighting. I used them in one application and am very pleased with the result. I never really liked how dim my dash looked with the stock bulbs even after cleaning it all up.
Of course that may just be that my eyes aren't what they were 30 years ago.
Are you replacing just a few or all of them? If you are pulling the dash to change them all you may want to consider going to a LED bulb. They are a lot more expensive but they also provide a lot better lighting. I used them in one application and am very pleased with the result. I never really liked how dim my dash looked with the stock bulbs even after cleaning it all up.
Of course that may just be that my eyes aren't what they were 30 years ago.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
Sorry it took a few days, not on as much as I would like.
Yes you can use LED and they can be much brighter. Need to make sure you buy the right ones with multiple diodes. Issues are that they can be expensive and they can't be dimmed with the standard dimmer switch. You also need to make sure your lights being dim isn't due to a bad ground or connection as LED's won't fix those issues and probably won't work at all.
Many threads on them so I would recommend doing a search. If you do an advanced search for LED in the C3 section there are a number of good articles.
Yes you can use LED and they can be much brighter. Need to make sure you buy the right ones with multiple diodes. Issues are that they can be expensive and they can't be dimmed with the standard dimmer switch. You also need to make sure your lights being dim isn't due to a bad ground or connection as LED's won't fix those issues and probably won't work at all.
Many threads on them so I would recommend doing a search. If you do an advanced search for LED in the C3 section there are a number of good articles.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,665
Likes: 194
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
My whole dash has blue LED's and it looks really cool. You can't dim them and I was worried they would be too bright but they are just right. You don't need to order all 14 or so as some are idiot lights, I only ordered 8
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
For those who want to go to all the trouble and expense of installing LED's, "go for it"! 
For those 'others', the standard dash bulb (when properly installed, with good wiring and grounds, and a functioning light switch) should last about 10 years or so. About $15-20 worth of bulbs and a bit of work will get things back to 'normal'.
Both are viable options; but the LED's won't dim (unless you buy more "stuff").
For those 'others', the standard dash bulb (when properly installed, with good wiring and grounds, and a functioning light switch) should last about 10 years or so. About $15-20 worth of bulbs and a bit of work will get things back to 'normal'.
Both are viable options; but the LED's won't dim (unless you buy more "stuff").
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 780
Likes: 1
From: Shelby NC
For those who want to go to all the trouble and expense of installing LED's, "go for it"!
For those 'others', the standard dash bulb (when properly installed, with good wiring and grounds, and a functioning light switch) should last about 10 years or so. About $15-20 worth of bulbs and a bit of work will get things back to 'normal'.
Both are viable options; but the LED's won't dim (unless you buy more "stuff").
For those 'others', the standard dash bulb (when properly installed, with good wiring and grounds, and a functioning light switch) should last about 10 years or so. About $15-20 worth of bulbs and a bit of work will get things back to 'normal'.
Both are viable options; but the LED's won't dim (unless you buy more "stuff").
Also, bulbs with more elelments what is the ideal number of elements on a LED bulb? The short one has like 5 elements and looks like it will work as to height of the bulb but I have no idea what might work best????
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
BTW, the bulbs for the dash come in different wattage ratings, though they all have the same part number. If you look for the higher wattage ones, and the rest of your system is in good shape like 7T1vette says, you should be fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,487
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '12
I believe I read somewhere that when you replace the dash bulbs with Clear led's, the dash actually reads blue at night. That the old bulbs is what causes the dimish Green/yellowish look.
