dash light bulbs

[militarytrux]

Hello,
I was hoping there was someone out there that could guide me along withthe dash light bulb change out, I would like to upgrade the lights for extended night opperations.
Looking for part #'s of what would be a direct replacement and if anyone has any suggestions for upgrades?
Thanks,

 

[Ferroequinologist]

Hello,
As far as I know, there are no direct replacement upgrades to the stock deuce dash lighting. If you search, there are some guys that put LEDs into each gauge. others have mounted license plate lights over the gauge cluster.

Look at what this fella did:

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/deuce-...473-m35a2-instument-panel-l-e-d-lighting.html

 

[Darwin T]

i just replaced the dash light covers with clear red lenses for saturn surplus instead of the green metal cover (they were listed under "lights" i think). this gives me enought red light inside the cab to see but i can still see well enough to drive at the same time. i drove my M109A3 to work last night for the first time. the lights also adjust with the dimer on the light panel (i changed mine to the push button panel)

 

[cranetruck]

By improving the illumination you can reduce the voltage and increase life expectancy.
Clean all instrument "windows", take a look at a gauge that you may have laying around and you'll see the slits along the inside edge designed to let light in, clean those.
Change bulbs to the #356, which puts the filament in a better position to shine through the windows of the gauges.
The #356 is a brighter bulb and can operate at a lower voltage (=dimmed) to extend the life expectancy. The dimmer resistor inside the 3-lever light switch will reduce the voltage to about 12 to 14, add another resistor in series with the bulbs by experiment, say a 22 Ohm/10 Watt resistor and you'll get even more life out of them.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

December 14th, 2009.

Cranetrucks use of the #356 bulb makes the gauges 100% better as regards readability at night (white or clear covers would improve it more, but they are hard as hades to find). I did my truck almost two years ago, and I can say it was worth the change.

Cheers,

Kyle F. McGrogan

The bulbs specified in the above posting are no greater wattage then the original numbers, just the filament is placed higher up in the casing, thus more in line with the slots mentioned. I generally run them on the panel bright setting, and as this truck gets driven a lot at night, no ill effects have been noted on the covers.

 

[Stretch44875]

Just a warning, there are other 24v bulbs that fit. I put another brighter bulb in and melted the lense cover.

 

[steelandcanvas]

Just curious, would it help to paint the back of the instrument panel white? I have a new panel with new gauges, and was toying with this idea. Anybody done this?

 

[steelandcanvas]

Bump

 

[Recovry4x4]

A few years back Dennis Gilliam (G744 here) sent me a sack of the 356 bulbs. I never used them. Apparently he did! I'm going to try them out now to see how they work.