Instrument cluster lights, etc. very dim. Some lights not working. Where could I get a new cluster board and How hard is it to fix?
While I'm here, need new interior door panels[black], floor pan[drivers side] !
First time on forum, thanks
Paul

 

Depending on how much $$$ you want to spend and the condition you want them...I know you can find door panels and floor pans @ LMC trucks or take a look at some of the sponsors on this site. As far as the light situation...I'm not much help with that...sorry.

 

Even under perfect working conditions the dash lights are not real bright. Check and see if the bulbs are working, and make sure they are turned all the way up at the dimmer switch. Todays cars have much brighter dash lights than these old trucks seem to have. You may have to find a dark driveway or parking lot to check which lights are out.

 

here is what I did to have brighter dash light, carefully drill the panel adding same kind light holders that already have (got some from used ones) and ran a new wires from light switch to new bulbs pig tails i added two more to the instrument panel total. I got bright lights, make sure you connect the new bulbs with the dimer side of the switch.

 

addition to my comment above I also removed the red plastic covers from existing bulbs

 

Check the instrument cluster threads , lot of info on this , some guys are running leds bulbs from auto part stores , do a search , I had to replace the backing plate from bronco graveyard , the backs rot out and the ones from bronco are abs plastic and wont rot, the plastic is probably rotted so some of the lights wont work , only about $60 for the new back , check my gallery for pics , good luck and post some pics in your gallery and welcome .

 

New cluster backs are available from Blue Oval Truck Parts and Bronco Graveyard with the printed circuit board available from Blue Oval Truck Parts.

Hipoparts sells an LED light kit for these trucks which contains all the LED bulbs needed.

 

Check the headlight switch. Sometimes the dimmer contact gets dirty or corroded and makes the lights dim. Also check the contacts on the little sockets the bulbs sit in that attch to the back of the instrument cluster. Sometimes cleaning the sufaces of these can make lights work again.

 

Welcome to FTE, glad to have you aboard. The cluster backing(white piece) is being manufactured by Dennis Carpenter again. They're not cheap but he makes good stuff. As previously stated, Blue Oval Truck Parts and Jeff's Bronco Graveyard are good sources for the circuit board. I found the best and easiest way to brighten up the cluster lights is when you have it apart working on it, take the blue filters off of the white backing and put them away. I always save my crap, no matter what. Go to the local auto parts store and get 2 of bulbs for those lights but in green. Put em in and there you go.

 

We are talkn' about a 79 f150 4x4 pick-up are we not?
Reason I ask is there have been some statements that I don't undertstand. At least I don't remember seeing what as been said.
blue filters--get green lights ?
red plastic covers ?

Ken, didn't notice inst. cluster threads, where?
Thanks guys, appreciate the responses so far

 

Pull your inst. cluster from the dash. The bulbs screw in from the back of the cluster. Be very careful handling the white part (rear section) of the cluster, it is very fragile and brittle from age. When you take the bulbs out from the rear, you will see the bulbs have covers to tint the light given off. You can take the cluster apart and remove the tinted covers which will make the bulbs much brighter.....................bart

 

The filters are blue but emit green. When you have the assembly out, there are 4 screws on the back that attach the front section and plastic lense. Take this off and look at the gauges and on either side of the speedometer there are 2 half-spherical blue filters. They are a little bigger around than a quarter. These just pop right off. Just had to pull mine apart, the back was so brittle the bulbs were getting loose and not contacting. When I did it, the entire backing plate broke. Lucky a friend of mine had multiple spares!

 

Here was my way of solving the dim light problem sorry for the blurry pic. Will post a better one after i get the work to the dash bevel done

 

You guys are great. Have had this rig since 1980 and have kept very good care of it. Wife can't understand but she understands me so.....
I'm thinking this is going to start a new[another] hobby with all the info I have seen today.
Keep em coming guys
Thanks
Paul

 

The Primary Colors of Light are Red, Green and Blue. These three colors make white light.

Blue light Filters, actually filter blue Light. and leave a yellow color in true white light conditions. Red and Green light makes yellow light.

Since the incandecent bulbs used are not a true white light source, and are missing some of the Red spectrum, and the blue filters block most of the blue light, you are left with mostly green light remaining.

This also explains why the light is brighter when the filters are removed. The Blue Filters dim the light by one third.

This is better explained here: Color Mixing.