My2nd 69 442

I've been reading numerous post concerning dim dash lights and I still have a questions.
What are the best most bright bulbs that can be used in the dash gauges in my stock electrical system 69 442. I see that the 194 bulbs has a 2.5 CP. Is that bulb the brightest that is available the fits in the gauge pods?
Thanks
Jerry

quaddriver

too bright and you risk heat damaging the plastic incl the colored shield in there. there are LED replacements for the 194

My2nd 69 442

quaddriver
I put LED 194 bulbs in my dash today and it is a major difference.
Thanks for it tip on the LED bulbs

My2nd 69 442

Just a note for anyone using LED bulbs... They didn't work for my turn signal indicators in the speed o housing. Switch those 2 bulbs back to standard bulbs and now all is well.
I didn't want to change the flasher.

jeffsims

Has anyone else had problems with LED 194 bulbs for your signal indicators? I have decided to go LEDs for my dash cluster. Even though the speedo has green lenses over the turn signal indicator, I was about to pull the trigger on green LEDs until I read this post.

I am working with a '67 442 with Rally Pack.

My2nd 69 442

The LED bulbs work great and brightened up the dash perfectly. The led bulbs would not work for the dash turn signal indicators and I didn’t want to replace the flasher. If/when I replace the front and rear signal lights then I will replace the flasher and the indicator bulbs.

Chumley

Just a note for those who might not know, when I bought my Cutlass I turned the brightness up on the dash using the headlight switch during the test drive. The owner was like," How did you do that? " He was a Mopar guy, so didn't know about this feature on GM cars. Was instinctive to me, Since that's about all I have driven since getting my license many moons ago. I agree though, the old 194 bulbs are not all that bright, especially when your vision is not what it used to be...

rob1960

For my '68 the bulb chart lists the rally-pac hsg & the tach/clock hsg using 168 bulbs which are 3 candle power. The speedo still uses 2 194s. I have to agree with Chumley, the vision & other things are Definitely not what they used to be!!!!!!

Turnpike

Can you post a picture with LED's on?
Thx

jeffsims

After following this post, I decided to start with LEDs in my dash. The first picture is with all my garage lights off with 194s. The other 2 are after LED install and with all garage lights on. The last picture is with hazards on. Those might be too bright, but then again the auto off switch after turning doesn't always work, so maybe bright will get my attention sooner.

My2nd 69 442

Sorry I can't power up my 442 right now for pics, I'm cleaning up some wiring and don't want to hook up my battery.
The pic that jeffsims posted is very much the way my dash looks with the LED bulbs.