Author Topic: Dash light help  (Read 3557 times)

Offline djwhog

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Dash light help
« on: April 25, 2010 - 03:57:00 PM »
OK on my dash lights on a 70 cuda it has 1893, is there a brighter bulb for this socket?

2nd, I think the main reason the dash and map lights are not very bright is that the blue inserts have become very dark over the years.

Does anyone sell these, or is there a work around to do?

Lastly is anyone running the 6024 ST headlights in place of the old standard 6024 all in headlights?

I was thinking of going halogen and then get the silver start ST versions. Will these work ok and not draw to much current?  thanks!
« Last Edit: April 25, 2010 - 04:03:53 PM by djwhog »




Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2010 - 06:49:32 PM »
  No replacement lenses that I have ever noticed, I have seen them removed. polished & replaced, their held in by steel brads. As far as a brighter replacement I'm not sure about brighter but there are LEDs made to fit.. If you remove the lenses polishing or painting the metal reflectors will probably make the standard bulbs light good enough.
  Halogen bulbs pull more power, everyone recommends adding relays powered directly from the battery to save the old wiring & switches +++ you will have brighter headlamps.
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
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Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #2 on: April 27, 2010 - 11:54:49 PM »
My dash lights were dim. My dimmer resistor wire went bad in my dimmer/dome light switch so I soldered the 2 wires together bypassing the dimmer. The dash lights are brighter than ever before.

For headlights, I put in Halogen sealed beams for the brights and H4 Hi\Low bulbs for the outside bulbs in my 70 Chally. When using my brights, the circuit breaker in the headlamp switch would go off, turning off my lights for a few seconds. If you go any brighter than stock 1970, yellow headlights, BE SURE to do the relay thing to your headlights.
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0


Offline Slotts

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2010 - 07:57:36 AM »
I just posted a couple of pictures showing how corrosion can play a big part in why dash dimmer switches don't work correctly after all this time. I have seen where using a brighter bulb has caused the lens to melt.

Wade has a good idea with painting the inside light socket tube with a more reflective paint and lens polishing. That helps out a great deal.

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=64880.45

Slotts

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« Last Edit: April 28, 2010 - 09:24:20 AM by Slotts »

Offline djwhog

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2010 - 09:57:45 AM »
Well my Dimmer is OK it is the same voltage in max and jumping it and the bulds are the same brightness, I think over the years the heat etc causes the coverst o get darker. They are made into the housing and riveted in place.

I guess one would need to drill the rivets, remove the covers and either get new less dark cover or clear and then you could use a litely colored buld of your choice right?

OK so how and what size relays would I need to put into place for the headlights?

Help me out on this, I am weak in this area. I know that the main fuslink near the battery is for the headlights, I have a new link, so do I remove that and put a relay in that part of the circuit etc?

Help me out pics instructions etc parts needed thanks guys!

I would really like this mod to the car..:)

Not sure if I want to drill out the covers, and I am not going to just rip them out either.

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2010 - 12:03:35 PM »
follow this link for relays
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=67743.0

Dash bulbs can be had in color, paint will not hold up.
Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
Screwed by Photobucket!

Offline dodj

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2010 - 09:09:35 PM »
I painted my light recesses with a chrome silver paint and left the blue lenses off. Huge difference in brightness. :2cents:
Scott
1973 Challenger  440 4 spd 
2007.5 3500 6.7 Cummins Diesel, Anarchy tuned.
Good friends don't let friends do stupid things. ........alone.

Offline djwhog

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2010 - 09:16:45 PM »
Good idea to reflect light thanks..

Offline 500Stroker

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2010 - 09:22:45 PM »
If you guys are talking Rallye dash I bypassed my dimmer, added a relay and chinese bulbs from ebay.  Here is the result



Offline ShelbyDogg

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Re: Dash light help
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2010 - 12:30:32 AM »
If you don't want to modify your stock lights, AutoZone sells a strip of tiny white, red, or blue LEDs that you stick right on next to the other dash lights. You can hook them right to the existing circuit.  Less that $20. I think I also saw some at the local WalMart's auto section. 
Rob

3 E-bodies, Megasquirt-1v3.0, Edelbrock Pro-Flo-1, Holley C950, FAST EZ-EFI; say no to carbs...yes to throttle bodies

My Pace Car restoration thread:
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=44869.0