When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
You do know the headlight pull **** is also a dash light dimmer. Rotate the **** to the right or left changes the brightness of the dash lights.
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
i replaced mine with white LEDs from amazon for like $7. There’s about 8 bulbs. They still dim correctly with the factory setup
wouldn’t happen to remember company or how you found them would you?
On the back of the cluster you will see all the little white bulb housings. They just twist out. The housings do not get changed thrown out, you just pull the old bulbs out and plug the leds in. Let me see if I can find it, but if you find the bulb style, (ie 1157 or whatever) they will work.
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
Check for the correct dimmer operation first - rotate the headlight switch **** to see if the lights are set correctly. This part of the headlight switch is known to fail.
To change the bulbs:
Pull the screws and move the Instrument Cluster a little bit forward.
Disconnect the Turn Signal Flasher by twisting it 90 degrees, it will come away from the back of the cluster. Don't disconnect the connector that hooks to the flasher unit (you might spill the blinker fluid all over everything).
Unscrew the coupling for the speedometer cable, disconnect the cable from the speedometer.
Disconnect the Instrument Cluster Connector and the cluster should lift out.
five bulbs to swap. Turn the cap, pull the bulb from the cap, replace the bulb, put the caps back.
Re-installation of the cluster is the reverse of removal.
If you use LED bulbs it's best to get the correct color bulb to match the lens- like for example, the turn signals have a green colored arrow in them- so use a green bulb. The white or clear bulbs don't matter- that's your choice. Just my 2cents.
If you use LED bulbs it's best to get the correct color bulb to match the lens- like for example, the turn signals have a green colored arrow in them- so use a green bulb. The white or clear bulbs don't matter- that's your choice. Just my 2cents.
Good idea , I like it.
Originally Posted by Thipdar
Check for the correct dimmer operation first - rotate the headlight switch **** to see if the lights are set correctly. This part of the headlight switch is known to fail.
To change the bulbs:
Pull the screws and move the Instrument Cluster a little bit forward.
Disconnect the Turn Signal Flasher by twisting it 90 degrees, it will come away from the back of the cluster. Don't disconnect the connector that hooks to the flasher unit (you might spill the blinker fluid all over everything).
Unscrew the coupling for the speedometer cable, disconnect the cable from the speedometer.
Disconnect the Instrument Cluster Connector and the cluster should lift out.
five bulbs to swap. Turn the cap, pull the bulb from the cap, replace the bulb, put the caps back.
Re-installation of the cluster is the reverse of removal.
Great write up, and I’ll try not to get any blinker fluid on me, lol.
I pulled the bulbs on my '68 F250 yesterday. 3 of the 5 bulbs were completely broken. Bulbs are GE 1895. Pretty easy to find LED 1895 replacements online. I went to superbrightleds.com for the replacements because it was challenging to find LEDs that are dimmable on amazon and this site clearly identified those that are dimmable. For about $15 (inc shipping) I got 4 white and 2 green (wanted a few extra white as backups). See pics for product codes. Also attaching pics of my instrument cluster and the disassemble. FYI when removing the bulbs, you must push them in and turn left; opposite to install.
Are there only 5 bulbs? Let me know if/where there are more. Thanks!
Last edited by arapf; Feb 27, 2018 at 03:46 PM.
Reason: edit words
