Dash backlighting

The Era of The Square Body Racing Comets
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Racersonly
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:17 am
Location: Oshkosh, WI

Dash backlighting

Post by Racersonly »

The dash instruments on my 65 are difficult, at best, to read at night even with the gain up to full tilt boogie……I know I saw a thread here about replacing the bulbs. Can someone give me some direction?
Jack Bartelt
1965 Comet Caliente Convertible

barrys65cyclone
Posts: 606
Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:54 pm
Location: maryland

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by barrys65cyclone »

remove light diffuser and install LED bulbs color of your choice.

A/FX
Comet Central Member
Posts: 1094
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:07 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by A/FX »

Ah, another Wisconsin member! Welcome!
Try watching this.....
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1132914 ... 548924172/
Jim
‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

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Racersonly
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:17 am
Location: Oshkosh, WI

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by Racersonly »

That’s what I was seeking……Thank you gents!
Can I get some direction as to an LED bulb part number and source?
Jack Bartelt
1965 Comet Caliente Convertible

A/FX
Comet Central Member
Posts: 1094
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:07 pm
Location: S.E. Wisconsin

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by A/FX »

Racersonly wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:02 am
That’s what I was seeking……Thank you gents!
Can I get some direction as to an LED bulb part number and source?
I have purchased quite a bit from:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/
They have a very informative web site.
Jim
‘64 Cyclone/ Boss 302,quads,4spd, Winters 9”

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Jims65cyclone
Posts: 2754
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 10:29 pm
Location: Lexington, SC

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by Jims65cyclone »

Here's the page you're looking for:
https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle ... &year=1965

Jim
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kevinshi
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:56 am
Location: Bellevue, WA

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by kevinshi »

Sorry to be a bit late to this.

I also used Superbrightleds.com for my 65 Caliente. Their site is remarkably complete - they even had the bulb for the green lighted compass indicator behind the column PNRDL window.

However I ran into a problem on the gauge lights. I wanted to keep my blue cans (the diffusers)... but the bulb they recommend was too long for the diffuser cans. When I pressed the socket I to the hole the bulb would press up against the can... and the bulb would separate from the ground (sometimes even causing a short). I had to use a lower profile shaped bulb I got off Amazon.

Note that I followed the Superbrightleds.com recommendation to use bulbs the same color as their corresponding lenses. So for the gauges with blue diffuser cans I used blue bulbs, for dash signal indicators behind free windows I used green, for front parking/signal lights I used amber, etc. This worked quite well - every thing is nice and bright and my gauges are well lit (could be brighter but much better than original).
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

User avatar
kevinshi
Posts: 249
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:56 am
Location: Bellevue, WA

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by kevinshi »

Sorry to be a bit late to this.

I also used Superbrightleds.com for my 65 Caliente. Their site is remarkably complete - they even had the bulb for the green lighted compass indicator behind the A/T column PNRDL window.

However I ran into a problem on the gauge lights. I wanted to keep my blue cans (the diffusers)... but the bulb they recommend was too long for the diffuser cans. When I pressed the socket I to the hole the bulb would press up against the can... and the bulb would separate from the ground (sometimes even causing a short). I had to use a lower profile shaped bulb I got off Amazon. That was the only recommendation Superbrightleds.com made that failed to work for me - everything else was correct.

Note that I followed the Superbrightleds.com recommendation to use bulbs the same color as their corresponding lenses. So for the gauges with blue diffuser cans I used blue bulbs, for dash signal indicators behind green windows I used green bulbs, for front parking/signal lights I used amber bulbs, etc. This worked quite well - every thing is nice and bright and my gauges are well lit (could be brighter but much better than original).
Thanks,
kevin
1965 Caliente Convertible
5H25A525287 (76DM6204L5416)

comethead
Posts: 5692
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 7:44 pm
Location: Palmdale, CA

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by comethead »

I used Mustang Project for my LED backlighting.
10 years later still going strong
https://www.mustangproject.com/Catalog. ... cd65560ffb
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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Racersonly
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon May 04, 2020 9:17 am
Location: Oshkosh, WI

Re: Dash backlighting

Post by Racersonly »

Just finished my backlighting project. I’m pleased so far. (Now to go out for an evening cruise)
Jack Bartelt
1965 Comet Caliente Convertible

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