Questions on 86 Custom Deluxe Dash Lighting

[11555wally]

Trying to get some lights on my instrument panel and not sure I understand what all is going on there. Battery and Brake light come on when starting. Haven't seen idiot lights work for water temp. or oil. Has after market gauges under the dash. Turn signal lights and high beam lights work just fine. The light behind the speedometer and fuel gauge don't seem to be that bright. They have the 168 bulbs in them. I am missing a couple of light sockets but I think I can move the ones from the idiot lights. I'm going to change out some of the bulbs with new ones. Does the instrument panel have to be grounded when testing the light sockets. I have the panel plugged in and just hanging out of the dash. Thanks for any tips or suggestions. This forum sure helped me figure out how to get the panel out. Thanks again.

[jetmech85]

As long as the connector is plugged into the curcuit board then the ground is also connected. Try new bulbs and if they don't light up then try cleaning the connection point at the bulb socket and printed curcuit. If they light up but are just dim then you may want to clean the ground point on the firewall just to the left of the e brake assy aft mount point. If still to dim for you then you may want to consider getting away from the eighties and modernize with led bulbs. Lots of talk here and other places on how to do that.

[11555wally]

I've read that painting the reflector white on the inside helps and would consider putting LEDs at least around the speedo and fuel gauge but haven't seen any recent posts on what to use, ie how many leds per light, dimmable, etc. I've got to do some more reading on the subject or if anyone has any comments that would be nice. Thanks

[jetmech85]

I painted mine a flat pale blue but I think white would be as good or even better. I used all LEDs and its is slightly brighter than original but I didn't use the brightest ones. Sort of glad because mine won't dim now. Description said they were dimmable but no deal.

[Slammed84]

If you take the cluster apart down to the bare plastic bucket that hold everything, scuff it lightly and paint it with Aluminum color spray paint. It sort of acts like the reflection surface in headlights and makes the gauges light up much brighter.

If you are positive the printed circuit is in good shape then just replace all the bulbs with 168's and you're good. If some guages still dont light up then there is something wrong downstream with the wiring somewhere

[Slammed84]

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/dashlights.htm

Sorry I meant "CHROME" spray paint

These are the results

[motornut]

Welcome Wally
I redid my 78 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=421767&page=3
and swapped from idiot light to tach/gauges.
I'd recommend a gloss white like I used,works great with the stock bulbs
there is no holes for dash lights behind the idiots.
the stock sensors may be disconnected,to wire up the aftermarkets.