I tried to fix mine but it is shot. I would like to remove the mercury switch and put in a system with a toggle and a more efficient style of bulb. I have read of others doing this. I would appreciate a parts list and a few tips from anyone who has made this conversion. Thanks

 

thats what i did.i just ditched the thing and looked around the auto stores.i found a nice looking larger universal light with push button on/off switch and screwed her under there,were it couldn't hit when i close the hood and it lit it up real nice.
i figured id add a mercury switch and leave its switch on,but since it's right there easy to reach to push,im not gunna mess with it.
ahh.i knew i had a pic of it.these small things really mean a lot. when its dark out you need to see!

 

That's exactly what I want to do. I also want to ditch the mercury since I might have my hood open for a long time and don't want the light on unless I am adding some fluid at night or something. Someone mentioned that they used it to power an led light bar, that would be neat.

 

i thought about led at first.but they're just too dang dim for my liking still.they seem to be improving.but this standard 1156 clear round bulb really does the trick.i think that reflective lens really improves it.pretty cheap too.led is cool where your going to save power or for looks.for temporary under hood function this is nice and super bright for checking oil.it's so good,i was tinkering under there one night,and i just turned that on instead of running the drop light out.i thought id want another for the other side.not really needed.last time i checked it out,i just told myself id hardly, if ever, turn the other one on anyway,so i ditched the idea lol.

 

I know around the early 90's dodge and chevy had a "drop light" style with a 10 ft cord on a reel that was a nice setup. The light also had a magnet on the back of it for changing out a flat tire. I had one on my old 1991 cummins man that thing came in handy. I would shoot for one of those If you happen to be browsing in a junkyard...

 

I'd go scrounging out in the junkyards to find one (unfortunately a lot of the lights get taken off prior to the cars going out into the yards due to the mercury concerns), and just install a SPST mini-toggle switch (can get at Radio Shack) right next to the light. I have done this on just about all of my cars.

 

Great idea HDXLT!
I put two of the mercury switch lights on my hood, but your set-up is a lot better. I'll be switching to two of those lights soon...