Old topic, but now I want to do something about it after driving at night last weekend, a rarity for me. My 1968 gauge cluster was so dim I could barely see the fuel gauge and speedometer. What are the brightest bulbs part # we can use?
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
In addition - the factory painted the inside of the metal instrument "can" a duck egg blue color. I sprayed the insides with flat white and got a definite improvement.
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
I have LED lights for all of my interior lights. Here's kind of an odd pic showing off their brightness. The light is very crisp and is a night and day difference from the old bulbs.
I know that washing and waxing my car with the present condtion of my paint is like polishing a turd.....but it's my turd and I want it polished!
I never thought of repainting the inside of the gauge can, the color makes it dimmer, flat white does sound like it'll improve it for me, I'll have to remember it this winter while making more improvements.
I painted the inside of mine bright silver to help reflect the light around. Also, if you don't want to use the LED bulbs, the 168 bulbs are slightly brighter than the 194's.
-=>Lee<=- Due to budget constraints the "light at the end of the tunnel" has been turned off!
yes, or at least out enough to reach behind to change the bulbs.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Really it depends on how much of a contortionist you are...or want to be. I found I could reach all my bulbs from under the dash, laying on my back, with drivers seat removed for convenience. Might be easier to just pull the cluster forward, but I was working on a near complete re-wire under there, so as long as my spine was tingling and cramping I just stayed down there and did some bulb work also...
Pulled the whole cluster out this evening and cleaned and scrubbed everything up, replaced bulbs, loosened and then re-tightened all GROUND SCREWS on the backside (hoping this would fix the dead fuel gage)...
The #168 bulbs are much brighter, love it! All turn signals and lights work fine, but fuel gage still zeroed out. Oh well. Will pull the sending unit in the tank again this winter.
One question - on our 68s, what, if any, idiot lights are supposed to come on with the key in ACC mode? I'm drawing a blank now.
'68 428 HO M3 Monster, 4-on-the-floor! Need I say more?
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