Want to brighten your cluster lighting? I had previously taken out the blue filters behind the 2 #194 bulbs to make my cluster brighter as well as the filter behind the light/wiper switch lamp. Made them a lot brighter. It was a great improvement. Now, a year later, I've gone to the next step and replaced the 2 inst cluster lamps with LED's. I now feel like I have an electronic cluster the way it lights up. Unbelievable for only 2 bulbs. I've ordered an LED bulb to replace the #1445 behind the lamp switch as I couldn't find these in stores. The LED's I used came from Walmart in a pack of two for about $10. The blister pack has two bulbs and a push button to test one and show you how bright it is. And, these are dimmable too. You may have to reverse the bulb in the sockets as these are polarity based and may not work. It's a 50/50 shot on the first try.


One of the best upgrades done yet. Plan to get another 194 for the HVAC panel, but I don't think you can change the green color of it because the filter is made into the plastic control panel and not at the bulb. But it still should be a lot brighter.


I also had previously bought two small round metal spacers at the hardware store and put them inside the cluster to filter the light better on the turn signal indicators. They slide right down in the hole for a very direct path of light up to the green indicator. Don't need LED's here.


A very worthwhile project that took less than 30 minutes to do.

 

Be aware that the original instrument cluster backs of 1975/79's were made of a composition material that can TURN TO DUST before your very eyes!

Mess with these clusters, don't be surprised if this occurs.