Dim Dash Lights

[VaughnsC30454]

You do know that turning the light switch left/right makes the dash lights brighter or dimmer?

Yes. I'm not a fan of new. The headlight switch for most makes of trucks of this Era were all the very similar, if not the same. Thanks though.

 

[VaughnsC30454]

And that porcelain around the coil wire cracks/breaks causing most "lighting" issues.

Didn't know that, but problem still persists after full tune up. The po had this done as well, atleast he paid for it. The two rear plugs, and wires werent touched though, smdh at piss poor quality. That's why I'm the only that turns wrenches on my mess lol

 

[BadBowtie]

Didn't know that, but problem still persists after full tune up. The po had this done as well, atleast he paid for it. The two rear plugs, and wires werent touched though, smdh at piss poor quality. That's why I'm the only that turns wrenches on my mess lol

Understood.

 

[GTX63]

Just to add, I installed LEDs in a 1974 C10 I'm currently working on, and yes, they do make a huge difference. Cost about $10.
Just know that you likely won't be able to adjust the brightness. But then again, who dims their dashlights anyway?

 

[WFO]

Just to add, I installed LEDs in a 1974 C10 I'm currently working on, and yes, they do make a huge difference. Cost about $10.
Just know that you likely won't be able to adjust the brightness. But then again, who dims their dashlights anyway?

I do.
Especially on a long drive at night.

 

[Raider L]

As per my post from yesterday that I have found an excellent LED dimmer. Classic Instruments has one, check it out at classicinstruments.com and the sku #LEDDIM. It's $78.00 but looks very good.
Also, @custodian, if you have a real good hardware store in your town, not Lowe's but a good old type hardware store look for a higher wattage bulb. You'd be surprised in the difference between a 1.34 watt bulb and a 3 watt bulb. Some that you get from Walmart, if they still carry them will say 3 watts, but at 14 volts. Well, your battery is only 12 volts which means that the 3 watt bulb is going to put out a bit more than half the wattage, or brightness at 12 volts. Somebody who knows the math can figure it out better than me, like what is the difference of a 14 volt bulb burning at 3 watts but at 12 volts? I've replaced most all of my bulbs in my gauges with higher wattage bulbs for 12 volts and the light was twice as bright.

 

[WP29P4A]

Just to add, I installed LEDs in a 1974 C10 I'm currently working on, and yes, they do make a huge difference. Cost about $10.
Just know that you likely won't be able to adjust the brightness. But then again, who dims their dashlights anyway?

They make both types of LED lights, the ones that dim and the ones that don't. The ones I installed in our 1974 Dodge charger dim fine with the stock headlight switch/dimmer.

 

[GTX63]

Yes, I agree. The majority found on ebay, amazon etc do not dim, which is why I said "likely", although I expect that to change over time.

 

[custodian]

As per my post from yesterday that I have found an excellent LED dimmer. Classic Instruments has one, check it out at classicinstruments.com and the sku #LEDDIM. It's $78.00 but looks very good.
Also, @custodian, if you have a real good hardware store in your town, not Lowe's but a good old type hardware store look for a higher wattage bulb. You'd be surprised in the difference between a 1.34 watt bulb and a 3 watt bulb. Some that you get from Walmart, if they still carry them will say 3 watts, but at 14 volts. Well, your battery is only 12 volts which means that the 3 watt bulb is going to put out a bit more than half the wattage, or brightness at 12 volts. Somebody who knows the math can figure it out better than me, like what is the difference of a 14 volt bulb burning at 3 watts but at 12 volts? I've replaced most all of my bulbs in my gauges with higher wattage bulbs for 12 volts and the light was twice as bright.

I do have a good hardware store nearby. Going by there Monday to look for some flexible wire mess, I'll look for some.

 

[VaughnsC30454]

@custodian, Lmao at flexible wire mess! Ain't it though? Lol

 

[72velle]

Who sells the dimmable LEDs?

 

[1STLS1]

When I researched this and went to a parts store site, they list 194 as 4 watts, 168 as 5 watt and 161 as an interchange but didn't have the wattage. I didn't want to fight with the LEDs and ordered the 168s. I will update when I get to it.

Alsop make sure your getting the correct voltage and proper grounds, including the ones under the hood. Everybody leaves the engine to firewall one off because it's a bugger to get to.

1987 CHEVROLET R10 PICKUP 5.0L 305cid V8 Instrument Panel Light Bulb | RockAuto

RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.

www.rockauto.com

 

[mtbadbob]

Foil tape line the gauge refector bezel. Made a huge difference for me.

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Looks like you have a bulb out on the left of the speedo!

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Just to add, I installed LEDs in a 1974 C10 I'm currently working on, and yes, they do make a huge difference. Cost about $10.
Just know that you likely won't be able to adjust the brightness. But then again, who dims their dashlights anyway?

#168 bulbs in the dash lights will be brighter by 50% (3 candlepower instead of 2) than the #194 that are probably in there. That's how we did it, back in the day, before LED bulbs were a thing.

 

[Randy and Easton]

www.superbrightleds.com