Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

As the title states, the dash lights are dimmer than I'd like on my 72. To the point that the fiber optic transmission of light to the shifter indicator is very hard to see at night. I suspect the incandescent bulbs in the dash currently may not be correct. I do not know what they are. What is the correct bulb number? Though LED bulbs are certanly bright, I am not keen on the temperature color I see in most photos so I prefer to stay incandescent.
Thanks for help.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

Push in type is a 194 is for the stock instrument cluster.
Confirm your headlight dimmer is all the way on.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

The ones that light the gauges, etc should be 194, the warning lights are 168, round bulbs for the heater controls, etc. are 1895.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

Thank you for replies. Looking at the specs, 194 appear to be 4 watts and 168 is 5w. I'll pick up a set of 168 and see if I get the results I hope for.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

I like the idea of green leds, but the ones I see are Kelly green, not old truck gauge green ;-)

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

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A couple of things you might try is to check the stock cluster ground wire to make sure it is making a good connection. (location picture below) Another would be to try a separate ground wire to one of the small sheet metal screws on the back of the cluster housing.

LockDoc

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

A lot of dust and grime can build up over the course of 50+ years. One day I noticed that my blinker indicators seemed quite dim. I reached behind the cluster and removed one of the bulb holders, took out the bulb. It looked a bit dull so I took a paper towel with a spritz of Windex on it and gave the glass bulb a good cleaning. The results were pretty surprising. Here are a couple screenshots from the video I took of the results. I'll let you guess which has been cleaned. This is an incandescent 168 bulb. I only cleaned the glass portion of the bulb and did nothing to the cluster or lens (Generator bulb was also uncleaned at the time of these screenshots). Certainly worth a shot since some of those incandescent bulbs might have a lot of life left in them.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

I've got my dash apart now and it's true there can be a fair amount of green where the bulb socket twists into the back o' the dash among other places. I've been squirting some QD into every connector I've pulled apart, and I'll be checking the dimmer output before I put the cluster back in.

In theory the 194 is designed for constant output while the 168 isn't, but IDK if there's really any real world difference in bulb life.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

I had a dash that I had to lightly sand (400+grit) to get the green gunk off of the circuit board and the socket. Then used contact cleaner. Made a lot of difference.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

All good points. The cluster has a recent tach install and I did have a grounding issue as LocDoc advised. Corrected as suggested at the time. I am confident the power and ground is as needed. I have parts for a vac guage and will swap lamps when I get time to pull dash for guage install. Currently up to my elbows in hood, bed rails and door skin dent repairs so this will wait till it the rain comes in Febaruary. Thanks all for input.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

Noticed you said a recent tach install. If you used the aftermarket lense, many have the green painted on the back side of the lense instead of the front as oem does. This causes the gauges to appear dimmer. The is a thread or two about this already.

Re: Dash lights dimmer than I'd like.
 

Humm. I'll have to compare to the old lens when I have it apart. Thanks for heads up. Thinking about it, the lens would not affect the shift indicator. I wonder if the potentiometer in the switch is an issue.
Well the list grows and note to myself.
Check voltage
Check lens
Swap bulbs to 168