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Does anybody know if I can replace the courtesy light sockets that are under the dash to my 77 vette with something other than a $25.00 price for each one from the corvette catalogs? Will something else fit? Thank you
One would think you could make any bulb socket with holder work. If your willing to fabricate. For the 25 bucks they fit. What's your time worth? How correct does it need to be?
They are broken and keep blowing the fuse. The plastic is so brittle its falling apart. I don't want to pay 25 dollars for one since I need two of them. So, I'm looking for an after market or something.
Is there an internal short? How can they blow the fuse?
I used 921 LED bulbs from SuperbrightLEDs.com. You could get a pair, or more, of 194 or 921 bulb sockets for less than $10- at Amazon (example link), but they won't be shrouded, and you'll have to figure out how to mount them (zip ties might work).
Convert to warm LEDs while you are at it, but there may be a problem in your wiring.
Show us a picture of the socket you speak of. I'm sure we can find something cheaper.
As long as you're willing to modify I would consider some LED strip lighting under the dash. I say that because I am considering doing that just for the better lighting and I need to fix the one on the passenger side anyway.
Originally Posted by garykuter
Does anybody know if I can replace the courtesy light sockets that are under the dash to my 77 vette with something other than a $25.00 price for each one from the corvette catalogs? Will something else fit? Thank you
I feel your pain. I ended up forking over the $25 for my driver side courtesy lamp socket, because i couldn't find a suitable replacement anywhere else. The issue is that most sockets I found that fit only have one lead for power, and get their ground through the bracket they mount to. On our cars there have to be two leads, because the ground is supplied by either the courtesy light switch or the headlamp switch.
If anyone has a better solution I'm all ears. My passenger side lamp is getting flaky.
You can try one of these from ebay. But really, I didn't know they had jacked the prices up to that ridiculous level..... when I do mine I'll look at the local parts store but more than likely I'd rather pay for a 12 VDC LED strip and it would still be less than that ridiculous socket price.
I just purchased new ones for my 73 and new light sockets all around in the interior and exterior.
I tried to find something cheaper that would work but figured, what the heck, I would have less problems over time using the correct sockets and bulbs so I paid the money.
It was not cheap, but why try to reinvent the wheel for $50.00.
When I get around to doing mine I'm going to get the LED strips. Hell, I'll do both fronts and the rear compartment also...... I had just spaced it until I read this post.
I paid the money. I ordered them with some other stuff to get free shipping. I have enough on my plate. They fit perfectly in the brackets with no mess or fuss.
Cheers,
Richard
Last edited by Kidster71; Nov 3, 2021 at 07:27 PM.
Thanks for all the reply's. The reason why it keeps blowing the fuse is your right. The hot lead is touching a ground. There is no spring left on the hot lead which makes the wire keep falling out. I just think its way out of line to pay that kind of money for a light socket. I went through the same thing when I had my Benz. Parts on it were nuts. And it all because its a Benz. Its bullshit. Anyway, I'll figure something out. Thank you all. Its not that I don't have the money, I do. Its the principal for me. Not trying to reinvent, like I said I just think that is way out of line for the price. But, then again, I am rich because I own a Corvette. lol Thank you all""
You can't use another socket that has a 'grounded' metal casing. It needs to have isolated ground to keep from shorting-out. Looks for a non-grounded (two wire) bulb socket on eBay or other sales site. That should work for you.
Does anybody know if I can replace the courtesy light sockets that are under the dash to my 77 vette with something other than a $25.00 price for each one from the corvette catalogs? Will something else fit? Thank you
Don't know if it would apply to your '77 but there used to be a thread on the forum that had sources for bulb sockets without having to pay the Corvette tax. One source was the "Help" section at the parts store. Lectric Limited and Painless Wiring might be options. It also probably wouldn't hurt to consider sources for other GM vehicles. Some of the parts for our cars were used on other vehicles. You might stumble across something that would work on Amazon or eBay. Here's a quick search I did on Amazon:
Your original courtesy light sockets fits 3/4" holes.
A 631 bulb is called out in the Owner's Manual.
The 631 mini bulb 8.80 watts and 6 Candle Power.
Now for the conversion, I couldn't find a 3/4" socket for a direct replacement using the 631 bulb.
What I think will work is a PICO 5440PT socket https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pco-5440pt
and Philips 90B2 mini bulb 7.5 watts and 6 Candle Power https://www.bulbs.com/product/90B2
The #90 bulbs can be purchased at your local auto parts stores in a 2 pack
Example: https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...390+bulb&pos=1
[QUOTE=DC3;1604264592]Don't know if it would apply to your '77 but there used to be a thread on the forum that had sources for bulb sockets without having to pay the Corvette tax. One source was the "Help" section at the parts store. Lectric Limited and Painless Wiring might be options. It also probably wouldn't hurt to consider sources for other GM vehicles. Some of the parts for our cars were used on other vehicles. You might stumble across something that would work on Amazon or eBay. Here's a quick search I did on Amazon:
DC[/Q06.UOTE]
Okay, got it. Thank you all for the help. Went to Advance Auto last night and bought a Doorman universal 3/4 single contact socket. Part # 85806. And yes the outside is the ground so its a one wire socket. So what I had to do is put a thin piece of tape around where the socket goes in so there is no ground contact. Then I took the white wire which controls the light timer and soldered it on the side of the socket. Works perfect. So there you go. For those who want to replace what I did for only $3.99 instead of $25.00 or more from the corvette catalogs go for it.
courtesy light sockets
