TECH: Brighter Dash Lights

Okay so I have always been unhappy with the dash lights of all the cl***ic cars I have owned. I found an easy upgrade for the dash lights in my 1965 corvair (would work on other cars too) I found some flexible 15" LED lights at Walmart- They only seem to have red or blue but maybe different stores have more colors

So it was pretty easy. basically dis***emble the dash, glue the lights in (they have self stick backs but I dont trust that glue) and then I modified the old bulbs to be the plugs for the LEDs. The lights are alot brighter and still dim with the dash lights as needed. Plus, for my car they now match the new radio.

heres the dash as it was and the LEDs I used

 

Here is how I rans the lights around the gauges and a shot of the LEDs on (I used 2 sets of LEDS- they are $15.00 each)

 

The glue I used was a goop style glue. If I really want to I can remove the stuff and go back to original. Here is a picture of the modified bulb. I modified the bulb so I can plug it into the stock bulb socket for power. The small piece of circuit board is only there to give you somethign to grab onto when you twist it in or out.

BTW- disable the other dash bulbs becaus ethey are useless now (I busted the bulbs and ripped the guts out of them so the wires wont short out.

 

And here it is back together in the dark


I also attached a close up of the speedo- You can see the LEDS reflect off the chrome cap on the needle and also the blue LEDs make a kind of Black light effect on the needle itself.

Its definitely alot brighter and easier to see AND the dash dimmer switch still works to adjust the lights to the proper intensity for your driving. ENJOY!

 

That is an amazingly simple idea with awesome results. You're also reducing load on the rheostat, which is always a good thing for old switches.

LED almost has a weird neon vibe that probably translates really well in a vintage car.

 

I don't know how long those rope lights last. I did the ones in my 50Burb myself, each LED gets a 680 ohm resistor. LEDs in a series string tend to burn out in groups, which you'll see on the back of trucks, etc.....

 

I like it. It would look killer in green!

 

some transparent paint might work to colorize your ricer lights. Those are pretty cool just don't make them strobe to your stereo!

 

On the more traditional note, you can simply look up a brighter bulb for your intrument panel in the lighting catalog at your local auto parts store. There is almost always a brighter version of any given bulb available.

Example: 2357 dual filament bulb gives much brighter stop/turn than stock 1157 bulbs. The tail/park function is the same as the 1157.

Another little trick is to paint the interior of your taillamps bright white, makes an incredible difference in brightness of the lights. Works on the dash lamp surface around the bulb too, if you can get at it to paint it.

Also, paint the entire underside and back side of your dash and cowl with bright white. Makes working under there a much easier task than the factory style dungeon of darkness and cobwebs found under most dashes.

 

I think this is a great idea... but I'm kinda with everyone else... reminds me of when i was a kid and put neon glow lights under the dash.... and yes the pulsed to the music...