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I need to replace some lights in the instrument panel of my 79 F350 . What is the easiest way to do it? Does the instrument panel come out far enough to get to the bulbs or do I go from underneath the dash? Thanks, Gene
Easiest way for me , has been to remove the cluster from the dash , and replace all the bulbs at the same time . This keeps me from having to keep removing it as a bulb dies.
fresh bulbs , means in theory , it will be years before i gave to do it again .
You can reach up behind the instrument cluster and maybe get a hand on the bad one. But great way to trash a cluster, if your cluster is not in good shape. Meaning sun/heat baked and fall apart when you touch it. If it is in good shape, just take it out and replace the bulbs.
Just do all the lights. I don’t know the code for them off hand but google is your friend. While you’re in there, get the headlights/swiper bulb on the left side, and the heater control illumination bulb on the right side. I think you can just reach into the right side of the dash to get the heater bulb, instead of taking the whole thing out. It plugs in the back behind the face of it.
careful when taking the black outer trim piece off the dash, the headlights/wiper light is plugged in on the back. You’ll have to disconnect your speedo cable from the back of the cluster, to do that unbolt the cluster and gently pull it forward 1/2 inch or so. It won’t do very far. Then stick your arm in from the left and feel the big cable coming out the back of it, tilt the plastic collar and slide it back. Super easy once you do it once.
I typed this out and got a phone call, 77 came in the meantime lol
You can use 194s for all of the indicators and warning lights, but for the two bulbs which actually illuminate the gauge faces, you want 168s, as they're brighter.
just a heads up
the 168 bulb is brighter than the 194 bulbs.
they fit the same exact socket.
same shape and size
BUT
194 2 candle power 3.8 Watt
168 3 candle power 4.9 Watt
921 is not the same shape, it is bigger but same type of connector wedge design.
it melts plastic stuff. Don't ask me how i know.
As stated, be very careful with the inner cluster, as it can be very dry, and brittle. I replaced all of mine with led bulbs in green, and was very happy with it. Removed the blue domes over the old bulbs also, and it's so much more visible. Cost me around $40. Also cut a new peice of lexan for the front, and it's like new now
Also be very careful with the brass/copper (?) rivet like pins/buttons that hold plexiglass to the cluster face. They also get to be very fragile and if you try to remove them they sometime break either taking them out or come reinstall time.
When I was redoing my gauge cluster, I used a pair of hemostats (small needle nose would be good too) and simultaneous squeezed the clips and gently pushed them out. Didn’t break any clips but did break a tab. 40 years is hell on plastic.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions guys , this part of my project is probably after the first of the year. I also watched a U tube video which looked like this would be easier than I thought.
Thanks Everyone
