Interior instrument panel

[Randy Terry]

Hey guys I'm new to this, does anyone know the factory bulb size on your instrument gauges lights? It is 1985 Chevy Silverado pickup I was wanting to change mine two LEDs. And where is a good place to get them if you know of any place? Thanks

 

[SDJunkMan]

IIR The originals should be a 168, which is 2 watts. You can put a 194 which is 3 watts in its place for more light. Can't help with LED info. There should be about 9 or 10 bulbs in the cluster.

 

[74 Shortbed]

There's several places to get them, but this place came to mind first.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle

 

[MikeB]

IIR The originals should be a 168, which is 2 watts. You can put a 194 which is 3 watts in its place for more light.

I am in the process of trying to find the brightest versions of the 168/194 and here's what I learned:

168: .35 amps @ 14 volts = 4.90 watts, rated life = 1500 hrs
194: .27 amps @ 14 volts = 3.78 watts, rated life = 2500 hrs
193: .33 amps @ 14 volts = 4.62 watts, rated life = 7500 hrs

Every site I found agrees on watts, but there are some variances in rated life.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I swapped mine to led in my 78 but i cant remember...

 

[Blue Ox]

161 is 1 candlepower and has a blue insulator.
194 is 2 candlepower and has a white or clear insulator
168 is 3 candlepower and has a brown/gray insulator

I'm not aware of a direct translation to LEDs, despite what the LED sellers will tell you.

I also can't relate what kind of life to expect from the different ratings. But it is interesting to note that GM was very specific about which of them went where. i.e. the 4WD light is a 161 because you don't need that indicator glaring at you, but most of the rest of the dash lights are 194s, and the marker lamps are supposed to be 168s.

A lot of thought went in to it, but considering that during most of their lives these trucks had bulbs replaced with anything that would fit it seems reasonable that the LED sellers can equate all the different bulbs to one and most people will never notice.

 

[75gmck25]

I did a swap to LEDs in my '75. I used the brighter LEDs for the lighting bulbs, and lower output bulbs for brake warning, turn signal and high beam indicator. It all worked really well, and is way brighter than stock lighting. If you want specific parts, I would have to look up the order to verify exactly what I bought.

While I had it apart I also painted the cluster's steel background piece bright white instead of the stock pale blue.

Bruce