Dim dash lights...

[lloyd3]

It finally cooled down enough yesterday to drag the cover off of the car and go out for a toot in the gloaming. My 17-year old was bugging me to do it so I accommodated him (you must seize those opportunities when presented!). We talked about his take on cars and girls and school and the Covid madness....all good stuff. I swear, these cars run better after you wax them (it's almost like they're slippery-er or something?). My only complaints were dim dash light and some seat dressing overspray on the window interiors (on to that first thing here this AM, before it gets too hot).  I've avoided fooling with the dash for all the usual reasons (old original plastic is fragile stuff) but I'm going to have-to if any more night driving is involved (adjusted to their full brightness, I can barely see the gauges in town, not quite so bad out in the real dark).  The headlights need better output and alignment as well, but the dash is the real challenge.  I assume those little black bulb holders are still available, as well as the weird little plug-in bulbs? The little retaining legs on the bulb-holders usually break off of them if you even touch them after all these years (53 plus now).

[b5blue]

Run the dimmer wheel up and down a bunch it cleans off the contacts inside. Maxed out the wheel should turn on the dome light also. 

[lloyd3]

She's driving away, with her dim lights on....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2txnof-BY

I wish it was just oxidized contacts. I've clearly got several bulbs burned out in this dash.  This is evidently all original wiring.  Had some fellow at a car meet here a few years ago do some trick with the radio (that they evidently used to do on the line in Hamtramik) that he said proved originality. He turned on the radio (w/o using the on/off switch), by stepping on the brake and then turning on something like the blinkers, and then touching the radio bezel). 

[70 sublime]

How clean is all the lettering on your gauges ?
Is it the original stuff half faded or is it bright white because it has been re done ?

My dash lights are not very bright either but I am blaming the dull lettering on my gauges

Think we are spoiled how bright new car stuff is compared to the older stuff

Next time I have my dash out I was thinking about trying some LED bulbs instead to brighten things up some

[krops cars]

If it is an old dimmer switch. That's what I would say. Next time put it on the dome light selection and see if they get brighter.

[lloyd3]

I'm fairly certain these instruments have never been redone...



For their age, they're not bad. I'm guessing the car has mostly been garaged, thus the fairly decent interior and instruments.  The paint has clearly faded and the covering on them is not as clear as it once was. I'd love to have the dash professionally redone but...nothing is bad enough yet to justify that.

Oh and yes...the dimmer on total max does turn on the dome light.

[tan top]

 not sure if this is any help
i removed all the  blue plastic dome shades  for  gauge illumination , 100 % improvement ! really pleased with the result ! with out it looking too modern & in fitting with a 50 plus year old  muscle car IMO
also kind of matched  the 3 extra SW  mechanical gauges i have with out shades  in the dark  ,  
not sure if you would considering this because to remove the blue dome shade thingys !  it  breaks the locating lugs , no biggie to me as a couple of the domes/shades had heat damage anyway.  not got a picture of them at night  on computer now , but i posted one in a thread on this very subject years ago on here , had a quick look no find  , think the  title of thread might of even been show us you instrument clusters at night or ...  

**edit ** forgot to mention my original dash dimmer switch worked but was temperamental , bought a repop dimmer switch from charger specialities , & even after replacing all bulbs , was still not bright enough for my liking!  so removed the blue domes 

[b5blue]

Bummer, getting to the lights is major PIA. 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Dimmer switch rebuild service....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293928298551?hash=item446f7de837:g:QdYAAMXQvJVRW8Ko

[XH29N0G]

I can think of several solutions and it depends on what you want.  Like someone mentioned above, LED lights can change things.  Likewise the dimmer switch.  I bought LED bulbs from a company called superbrights for my 70 (after fixing the dimmer switch) and it made it brighter.  The color balance changed, but I think that can also be addressed with LEDs.  I think I just looked up the numbers they recommended.  I had to pull the instrument cluster, which is a little work, but manageable (needed to cover steering column with a towel so it wouldn't scratch, and then put in the bulbs.  If I recall, some might have not fit so well (too tall), but that can be researched by looking at the bulb specs.