instrument dash panel lights - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

albertgen · 05-05-2015, 11:49 AM

How many bulbs go in the instrument dashboard, for fuel, speedometer, oil, etc? Mine, or what lights I have are very dim. Is it the bulbs or circuit board? Are the led lights better than the incandesant? What are the numbers? Thanks, Al

**TKCR** · 05-05-2015, 12:01 PM

I can't remember off hand what the number of bulbs are, but I replaced mine with LEDs, and it is much brighter.

MalibuSSwagon · 05-05-2015, 01:03 PM

Take the gauge cluster out, completely disassemble it (easy) clean it and spray bomb the inside of the shell gloss white. It really improves the lighting 100%, I'm still running original bulbs and can see the gauges clearly at night.

Andybevens14 · 05-05-2015, 04:53 PM

I wanna say it's 9 including the heater with no clock. Might not be 100 percent. I used the t10/194 led bulbs I got blue ones and I really like them they seem to be the right brightness as well for me.

motornut · 05-05-2015, 05:17 PM

Best and cheapest way to improve the lighting,paint the inside.
If your going with LEDs watch some don't dim,and some have polarity issues.
I actually added red LEDs as well.

motornut · 05-05-2015, 05:25 PM

BTW Idiot type dosn't have holes back there

albertgen · 05-05-2015, 07:59 PM

Thank you all very much, Al

andrewmp6 · 05-06-2015, 05:41 AM

Yeah with leds you can read your gauges at night.

**Hart_Rod** · 06-22-2015, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Yeah with leds you can read your gauges at night.

Does anyone have a part number for LED bulbs that will work with the factory sockets? TIA

**TKCR** · 06-22-2015, 02:49 PM

The instrument cluster bulbs are 168. Those cross reference to 194 for LEDs.

echo7bravo · 01-16-2018, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motornut

Best and cheapest way to improve the lighting,paint the inside.
If your going with LEDs watch some don't dim,and some have polarity issues.
I actually added red LEDs as well.

I was just thinking about this as I was pulling my cluster. I painted the inside of the cluster of my '69 C-10 several years back with shiny silver. I may go with bright white on my '86.

Did you paint the underside of your gauges as well?

05-05-2015, 11:49 AM	#1
albertgen Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Urbana Illinois Posts: 55	instrument dash panel lights How many bulbs go in the instrument dashboard, for fuel, speedometer, oil, etc? Mine, or what lights I have are very dim. Is it the bulbs or circuit board? Are the led lights better than the incandesant? What are the numbers? Thanks, Al

05-05-2015, 12:01 PM	#2
TKCR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,979	Re: instrument dash panel lights I can't remember off hand what the number of bulbs are, but I replaced mine with LEDs, and it is much brighter. Last edited by TKCR; 01-16-2018 at 05:52 AM.

05-05-2015, 01:03 PM	#3
MalibuSSwagon Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Weare,NH Posts: 1,592	Re: instrument dash panel lights Take the gauge cluster out, completely disassemble it (easy) clean it and spray bomb the inside of the shell gloss white. It really improves the lighting 100%, I'm still running original bulbs and can see the gauges clearly at night. __________________ Eric 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser 1986 Chevrolet C10\|5.3L\|TKO600\|Shortbed\|Custom Deluxe 1983 Malibu Wagon\|TPI 305\|T5 5 speed\|3.73 non-posi

05-05-2015, 04:53 PM	#4
Andybevens14 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Salem oregon Posts: 66	Re: instrument dash panel lights I wanna say it's 9 including the heater with no clock. Might not be 100 percent. I used the t10/194 led bulbs I got blue ones and I really like them they seem to be the right brightness as well for me. __________________ 1986 chevy k20 4inch lift 35 inch duratracs

05-05-2015, 05:17 PM	#5
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: instrument dash panel lights Best and cheapest way to improve the lighting,paint the inside. If your going with LEDs watch some don't dim,and some have polarity issues. I actually added red LEDs as well. Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

05-05-2015, 05:25 PM	#6
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: instrument dash panel lights BTW Idiot type dosn't have holes back there Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

05-05-2015, 07:59 PM	#7
albertgen Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Urbana Illinois Posts: 55	Re: instrument dash panel lights Thank you all very much, Al

05-06-2015, 05:41 AM	#8
andrewmp6 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Louisville,Ky Posts: 5,811	Re: instrument dash panel lights Yeah with leds you can read your gauges at night.

06-22-2015, 02:49 PM	#10
TKCR Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,979	Re: instrument dash panel lights The instrument cluster bulbs are 168. Those cross reference to 194 for LEDs.

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