Another steering column question

[rustbucket66]

I am putting my steering column back together, and there is a new signal light switch and bearing in the top. It has the 2 speed original column as you can see. My question is about the plastic clip (it appears) on the right side, just beside the screw on the right side, holding the shifter indicator housing on. It looks like maybe a light bulb and socket might go in there to light up the lens on the shift idicator. There is a hole below the housing and lens in the tube, just above where that clip thing is. Has anyone ever had a light in there? It would be small, but it would be cool to have the shift positions illuminate at night. Does anyone know any part numbers, or what bulb it uses? It looks like it would just snap into the plastic, and then you could run the wiring down the cloumn with the other wires. I'd like to do this before I put the steering wheel on. Just wondering.

[Clyde65]

There is a small clip that holds the bulb and then has a wire on it that then goes to the dash light circuit. I haven't seen may only a couple that have had the bulbs.
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[chevyguys]

Here is what you are looking for... The bulb is actually held by the small screw at 10 o'clock in the picture of the housing. The switch itself has the provision for bulb in the plastic because that part of the switch was used in several applications. The bulb/socket has the metal cover that slides over it with a green plastic cap that covers the top.

[rustbucket66]

Thank you very much for that, that is exactly what I was looking for. Now the hard part. Where can I get one? Does anyone sell these or would sell a used one? I wonder if they were in any of the cars, and if any restoration companies sell it. It is a cool little piece, especially the little sleeve and green plastic cap. Any help on finding one would be appreciated.

[rustbucket66]

Does anyone know of where I could buy this little light socket and cover that is shown on post #3? I would really like to get one, does anybody know anything?

[PoDuck]

Probably best bet is to find someone that has one, or get one from a bone yard. I've never seen that made aftermarket.

The little green plastic lens is pretty easy to reproduce yourself, but the rest would take skills beyond what I have.

[spudder]

The little green bulb cover was also used in the '70-'80 Chevy van tilt columns. This same basic column is found in many motorhomes. I would check with a GM dealer. Many of the parts for the tilt columns are still available.
I probably have that cover in my used parts........Somewhere!

[jdl71]

My '66 has this also. I haven't taken the wheel off to see it, but it does illuminate the shift indicator when the lights are on. LMC is the only vendor I've found that lists the bulb, no socket. The bulb is the same part number as hi beam indicator which according to my FSM is a 1445 bulb. I'm not sure what the high beam indicator socket looks like, if you have or could find an old wiring harness you could possibly look at that and see if it could be adapted. I've had no luck finding that socket in any of my service manuals, going to check my assembly manual and see if possibly it lists a part number.

[jdl71]

Sorry for the poor quality, didn't have easy access to the scanner:



I haven't ran these part numbers yet but this might be of some help
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[Brad54]

I haven't looked yet, but check the restoration suppliers for '58-'64 Impalas and Bel Airs. Chevy used a lot of parts from the passenger car line on our trucks. As with a lot of things, the parts might not be available from our truck parts vendors, but they are available from the much larger, more popular passenger car side of the hobby.

-Brad

[rustbucket66]

I have given up on searching through boneyards and pulling steering wheels off, or trying to find one of these little lights for the steering column that lights up the shift indicator. I bought a few lights to try, the best one is shown in the first picture. It is LED, but a fairly dim LED and has a little green lens on the end. It fits in there fairly nice, a bit smaller diameter than the plastic clamps on the signal switch are. I put a few rounds of electrical tape around it to make the diameter larger. Now it fits tightly in the clamps. I also, (not shown) put a few wraps of tape right to the top because the white plastic tube glows when the light is on. There will be light coming out where you don't want it if you don't cover the white plastic tube. I ran the wires down the inside of the column, one to dash lights, one to ground. The last pic doesn't really show how it glows, but it is just right, and not brighter than the dash lights.

[LostMy65]

Thanks,
Found the link
http://www.ronfrancis.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DG-32

[LostMy65]

Found these also with the 5/16 hole;
http://www.hotrodwires.com/catalogsocketslighting.html
.

[LostMy65]

Anybody else do the LED retro fit?

[LostMy65]

I ordered these.
I'll post back how they work out.
Qty 10- LED Lights- 5mm pre wired 12 volt leds- 12V Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007O1X8K2..._uh4-vb1ABPS1P

[Gooker928]

That wire and connector come with the turn signal switch. I just replaced one on my 72 tilt column...

[pestwagon]

Originally Posted by chevyguys

Here is what you are looking for... The bulb is actually held by the small screw at 10 o'clock in the picture of the housing. The switch itself has the provision for bulb in the plastic because that part of the switch was used in several applications. The bulb/socket has the metal cover that slides over it with a green plastic cap that covers the top.

The exact and fits perfect bulb holder is in a 1963 BelAir Column Went to a local yard today and it had the bulb holder held in with one of the 3 turn signal switch screws, No cover or green filter for that matter though.