The interior light towards the back roof of my 74 F100 standard cab is dim, gets hot and the cover is brittle.

I replaced the cover with a non-broken original, but it'll last a few years before it falls apart. I cleaned all the contacts on the bulb and housing and it's brighter, but still dim.

Anyone have a good bolt-on solution put back there? Brighter light, maybe LED? Maybe even a few bulbs pointing L/R/C ?

Looking for something creative, that fits the 70's interior.

 

I'd want the fixture to be at least as large as the current one to hide the screw holes.

 

Courtesy light from a full size Bronco?

 

Yep. And these are quite plentiful at the yards. Look in the mid 80s F trucks

 

IIRC, contrary to how it looks the heads/lenses are fixed.

 

Not sold on the look, but for the money, this fits the bill (bright, LED): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Optronics-18-LED-Double-Dome-Light-12V-Interior-Cargo-camper-RV-trailer-white-V1-/301288352559?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item46262f6b2f&vxp=mtr

Or this one (not sure if it has a lens:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-Car-Vehicle-Auto-Dome-Roof-Lamp-Ceiling-Interior-36-LED-Light-Bulb-White-/251414145776?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a89736af0&vxp=mtr
I'll keep looking.

 

The 80's/90's truck or bronco had them ones mike posted and had separate map spot lights with their own on/off switch. Have you looked into changing over to a LED bulb? You should get you more light and more life out of a replacement cover.

This guy had a 94 Bronco OEM one, and there seems to be a better one out there than that?

"I got tired of the old, ugly, oxidized, pitted, dull illumination, antique, factory Bronco dome light and ditched it last night... Man, that thing is hideous. I replaced it with a dome light out of a 95 Mustang... which is TONS better and looks awesome once installed!

It is a DIRECT FIT, DIRECT SWAP, PLUG-N-PLAY, NO MODS NEEDED AT ALL! The new dome light has MUCH better lighting qualities, plus the dual map lights are WAY better than the original Bronco map lights... it looks awesome once installed too - gives a slightly more modern look... This unit ROCKS!

EASY Directions for swap/upgrade:

1) remove old dome light lens cover (if yours is still in place, many of them fall off and get lost or broke over the years). To remove it, grasp the lens cover and pull, or, use a small flat head screw driver and pry off the cover. If yours is already missing, you're ahead of the game!

2) Get a Phillips head screwdriver. Looking at the dome light base once the lens cover is removed, there are (3) Phillips head screws. REMOVE all (3). Once the 3rd screw is almost out, grasp the dome light, otherwise it will fall on your head. Remove dome light, stomp on it and throw it away, or resell on eBay for few bucks

3) After old dome light is removed, there *might* be a white plastic triangle spacer still attached to the ceiling OR it may be on the back of the old dome light - you can DISCARD this piece, as it is not needed.

4) Get your "NEW" 94-current Mustang dome light and remove the lens cover. To remove the lens cover, there is a small indentation on the base under the lens cover, use a small flat head screw driver, insert into the indentation area and pry off the lens cover.

5) Hold the new dome light to the ceiling and match up the (3) screw holes (you may need a flashlight or shop light to see through the little holes for alignment).

6) Re-install the (3) screws to secure the new dome light to the ceiling. Test the light out by opening the door, or turning the light **** ON so you have the interior light on with the door closed. if all works out well, re-install the lens cover (it just snaps into place)

TRUST ME - for those with the older crappy antique dome lights, you'll REALLY like the upgrade!!!!"

Taurus has them also, so I read. And trucks had diffident color, black was the only option for Mustang...??
__________________

 

LMC sells a clear lense for the dome light, this combined with an LED bulb (I got mine from ebay for cheap) is WAY brighter than the OEM bulb. This set up also produces way less heat which is what causes the OEM cover to degrade so fast.

Another option is the (yeah I know chevy but...) late 90's suburban or tahoe second row dome/map light system. The surround can be covered or painted to match your interior color and they don't look too out of place for a 70's truck. Then you get a dome light and movable map lights (if you choose to run another hot line). I can upload a picture of my setup tonight if you want to see it.

 

Yah - I'd like to see your setup. Post a pic when you can.

 

Here are the pictures of my install. I put the new dome light fwd of the original so the map lights can be aimed better. Mine is a super cab so these are for the rear seat but same effect if you have a regular cab. The base of the new dome light has been covered in the same headliner material that the headliner is covered in.




Clear dome light lense


Headliner with new and old dome lights




Dome lights on at night, there is a little ambient light outside but the truck in under a carport so with the dome light off it's really dark in side. These light up plenty to see and work in the cab.

 

Looks fantastic!

 

buckin69bronco,

What LED light (from ebay) did you buy for the stock replacement bulb? Got a part number?

 

The LED bulb will replace 561, 562, 564, 567 rigid loop light bulbs. The different part numbers reflect different wattages for the same size oem bulbs.

I bought a bulb that has 12 small leds but there are ones with 6,8 or 9 too.

Here is the link where I got mine.

2X 43mm 12 SMD Rigid Loop White 1 73" 561 562 567 564 Rear Map LED Light Bulbs | eBay

I think a big part of this is the clear light cover too. The oem one being white/yellowish has to cut down on the light output some.

 

Ok, fix'en to hijack this thread for a minute. buckin69bronco, when exactly are you starting a build thread for above SC? I see lots of things I love and have questions. I think you could just post some pics and let the questions guide the info.

Hijack over.

 

These are what I went with. They have a metal base, and a clear lense. When I turn my dome light on, darkness becomes daylight.

http://www.vehiclesafetysupply.com/site/mfr/peterson2/sm205787137_lg.jpg