didn't I read

[joe1975]

Did I read on this froum that someone had installed differnt interior lights that where brighter?

 

[Yoda]

Joe,

This is from the thread "feeling a bit cocky today"

Feltman,

Maybe Rare81 will chime in here...he's the guy who tipped me. Basically I changed out the 2 candlepower bulbs for 5 candlepower bulbs. Most parts books show the 2cp bulbs as part #194. I think Bud found the 5cp bulbs as part #2825, apparently my local parts store (NAPA) uses a different supplier. What I ended up with are Wagner Lighting 5 cp bulbs with part #175L. You'll need 2 boxes of 10 to change out all the old #194's.

The one negative about these bulbs is that they have about half the normal life of the #194 bulb. That isn't a problem for me since my Vette will be a summer only, once in a while driver. Oh, and there is another negative factor....price. They are about twice the cost of the #194 bulbs.

Also, if you have an old pair of needlenose pliers it will help a lot in getting the old bulbs out and the new ones in. Some of the bulbs are deeply recessed into the plastic molded gage bracket (speedo/tach/idiot lights). I dipped the tip of the needlenose pliers into a can of that liquid plastic that you'd use to put a plastic coat grip on your tools. It helps a bunch when you're trying to put those new bulbs down in a hole into a socket.

I will tell you that it does make a difference, the idiot lights jump right out at you instead of having that dull glow. And instead of running your headlight knob at full right twist, you can back it off about 1/3 of a turn.

kdlp

 

[joe1975]

Thanks

Thanks again it's coming together

 

[80convertible]

I painted the metal housing for the center console gauges bright white. The metal housing was painted light blue from the factory and was starting to show some lite rust. So I cleaned it up and painted it bright white to increase the reflection of the bulbs. It really helped and the fresh paint protects the metal housing.