Need help with dash lights - Page 3 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rich69shortfleet · 06-28-2018, 08:26 AM

Look for a very bright festoon that has lots of LEDs on it to get the maximum amount of light and that directs the light into the glovebox. You don't need to be concerned with how wide the festoon is since you won't be fitting it into a possibly restrictive fixture. I used one of these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-36mm-1-...72.m2749.l2649

slikside · 06-29-2018, 07:27 PM

Rich...

Lotsa good info here.

Subscribed.

Old_Gold · 06-30-2018, 11:56 AM

Rich, that red looks great, thanks for testing that out!
It may not be quite as good a contrast as the green light, but way ahead of my all dark dash!
Also, I will have to look into the glove box light too, didn't know these truck had a light there...

Thanks again!
Jim

**Stocker** · 06-30-2018, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Gold

Also, I will have to look into the glove box light too, didn't know these truck had a light there...

Well, a lot of these trucks, including mine, had no glove box light from the factory. There are kits available from various vendors to add a light. That's what I did, and I'm considering changing to a brighter light for it.

Rich69shortfleet · 06-30-2018, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Gold

Rich, that red looks great, thanks for testing that out!
It may not be quite as good a contrast as the green light, but way ahead of my all dark dash!
Also, I will have to look into the glove box light too, didn't know these truck had a light there...

Thanks again!
Jim

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stocker

Well, a lot of these trucks, including mine, had no glove box light from the factory. There are kits available from various vendors to add a light. That's what I did, and I'm considering changing to a brighter light for it.

That's right, the glovebox light was an option. I added it to mine using a socket and harness I got off one in the junkyard. My truck originally didn't even have a cigar lighter! It was real low optioned.

The dash LEDs are a inexpensive and easy way to improve and upgrade the look of the dash. All kinds of colors are available. The red looks slightly subdued probably due to the inside of the housing being painted light green which takes a bit of the edge off the intensity of the red. These red LEDs are very bright and luxuriously red when seen directly or from behind a red or white lens. But they still make the instrument panel look interestingly different. I'm going to stick with the green though. For now. Of course they are so easy to change, you could have a different color every week if you cared to.

I'm glad some folks are finding the contents of this thread useful and helpful.

**HO455** · 11-04-2018, 02:26 PM

Thanks for taking the time to post all of your work. That is a good tip about the standard bulb with the green boot for the shifter. Now I have to see if I can find one of those green boots. Are you still using that or did you find another option.

Rich69shortfleet · 11-05-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

Thanks for taking the time to post all of your work. That is a good tip about the standard bulb with the green boot for the shifter. Now I have to see if I can find one of those green boots. Are you still using that or did you find another option.

I just switched to an LED that fires in all directions. You can probably get the little green bulb condoms at any parts store that carries aftermarket gauges.

tdangle · 11-05-2018, 08:03 PM

Check amazon for the green covers. I just bought a pack myself. Works Great.

68GMCsc · 11-08-2018, 09:16 AM

Where did you get the green leds?

davepl · 11-08-2018, 10:59 AM

I've got 194 LED in most colors from Amazon.

I also even out the backlighting by where I chose to place reflective vs nonreflective tape on the back of the gauge housings.

Just did a 1968 Impala:

.

Rich69shortfleet · 11-08-2018, 09:36 PM

I got all of my LEDs on ebay. There are some links elsewhere in this thread.

Jamon · 11-09-2018, 12:01 AM

I recently put these in mine, (sorry don't have a picture), I was please with them AND the best thing is they are indeed DIMMABLE.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Old_Gold · 05-21-2019, 10:53 PM

I thought I should bring this back, as it was a great write up. I used the red side firing LEDs that were found from the eBay listing above. They have a nice glow, great lighting, and great upgrade.
Rich, thanks again for the help!
Jim

vitamin_c95 · 09-02-2019, 12:11 AM

Looks good. Thank you all for the inputs. Im looking to do mine as well, i cant see my speedometer at night. Debating on the color

CG · 09-02-2019, 08:16 AM

I had never opened this thread before. A whole lot of good info, glad I finally did.

06-28-2018, 08:26 AM	#51
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 382	Re: Need help with dash lights Look for a very bright festoon that has lots of LEDs on it to get the maximum amount of light and that directs the light into the glovebox. You don't need to be concerned with how wide the festoon is since you won't be fitting it into a possibly restrictive fixture. I used one of these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-x-36mm-1-...72.m2749.l2649 __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 1965 Two-Door Wagon Project Progress Page 2006 Pontiac GTO Preservation Project Rich Cummings

06-29-2018, 07:27 PM	#52
slikside Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego Co. Posts: 1,179	Re: Need help with dash lights Rich... Lotsa good info here. Subscribed. __________________ 1972 Chevy C-10, SWB, Fleet, 350/350, PS, PB, HEI, mostly stock, Survivor.

06-30-2018, 11:56 AM	#53
Old_Gold Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 157	Re: Need help with dash lights Rich, that red looks great, thanks for testing that out! It may not be quite as good a contrast as the green light, but way ahead of my all dark dash! Also, I will have to look into the glove box light too, didn't know these truck had a light there... Thanks again! Jim

11-04-2018, 02:26 PM	#56
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,350	Re: Need help with dash lights Thanks for taking the time to post all of your work. That is a good tip about the standard bulb with the green boot for the shifter. Now I have to see if I can find one of those green boots. Are you still using that or did you find another option. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

11-05-2018, 08:03 PM	#58
tdangle Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jurupa Valley, Ca Posts: 1,210	Re: Need help with dash lights Check amazon for the green covers. I just bought a pack myself. Works Great. __________________ Terry 1970 Custom Camper/C20 , GM Crate 350/7004R, Dana 60, factory AC

11-08-2018, 09:16 AM	#59
68GMCsc Registered User Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 2	Re: Need help with dash lights Where did you get the green leds?

11-08-2018, 10:59 AM	#60
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: Need help with dash lights I've got 194 LED in most colors from Amazon. I also even out the backlighting by where I chose to place reflective vs nonreflective tape on the back of the gauge housings. Just did a 1968 Impala: . Attached Images __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

11-08-2018, 09:36 PM	#61
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 382	Re: Need help with dash lights I got all of my LEDs on ebay. There are some links elsewhere in this thread. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 1965 Two-Door Wagon Project Progress Page 2006 Pontiac GTO Preservation Project Rich Cummings

11-09-2018, 12:01 AM	#62
Jamon Registered User Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 8	Re: Need help with dash lights I recently put these in mine, (sorry don't have a picture), I was please with them AND the best thing is they are indeed DIMMABLE. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 __________________ Originally a US Army Vehicle 69 C10 Step-side Purchased in 1985 Father - Son Project 85-87. 327 S.B In Storage 1992 - 2018 Almost Ready to Rebuild

05-21-2019, 10:53 PM	#63
Old_Gold Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Mason City, IA Posts: 157	Re: Need help with dash lights I thought I should bring this back, as it was a great write up. I used the red side firing LEDs that were found from the eBay listing above. They have a nice glow, great lighting, and great upgrade. Rich, thanks again for the help! Jim Attached Images

09-02-2019, 12:11 AM	#64
vitamin_c95 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: So Cal, CA Posts: 108	Re: Need help with dash lights Looks good. Thank you all for the inputs. Im looking to do mine as well, i cant see my speedometer at night. Debating on the color __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn 350/350 "Conquistador"

09-02-2019, 08:16 AM	#65
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: Need help with dash lights I had never opened this thread before. A whole lot of good info, glad I finally did.

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