Dash and Instrument Lights
Quote:
Originally Posted by
okiemark
I'm scratching my head a little now. I bought a new speedometer and gauges. I thought I would try to get a head start on some of the wiring behind the dash panel. I was trying to figure out where the lights in the back went so hooked up a battery and jumpers and tested some stuff out. I can't find any way to make the speedometer light up enough to be able to hardly see it in the dark. Some light does get to the gauges, but this has me puzzled. Maybe I just need to mount a light on the dash. I do have a manual oil gauge with no light that I have to light up anyway.
Another thing that has spoiled us with our more modern vehicles is the instrument and dash lighting. It was almost an afterthought in the 'early days'.
On the '48, the dash lighting consists of two # 55 lamps (2 candlepower) mounted in the speedometer housing. They give about as much illumination as a couple of fireflies in a pill jar.
If I want to see the speedometer in the dark, I turn on the dome light, a dazzling 15 CP # 87! There is very little illumination on any of the gauges either, just what leaks out of the speedometer.
Get one of those 'free' Harbor Freight LED flashlights and hang it in a handy place.