The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Gauge light bulbs

What number bulb do I need for the gauge lights in my '49? It's 12 volt. Thanks!

Info in this thread may help ...
< CLICK THREAD >

This is a neat site to find 6v/12v equivalent replacements. (Choose "AC/DELCO" when second window appears to see Chevrolet applications)
< CLICK 6v/12v >

Lonnie,

That second link almost provides too much information. Thanks.

Can you find a slightly higher candle-power instrument panel bulb on that website?

Tim -

After you learn the site, it is a wealth of info and is pretty easy to navigate. For instance, it's very easy to enter a 6v bulb number and find the exact 12v equivalent.

Regarding brighter bulbs for your instrument panel - I searched for 12v bulbs with the same size base and glass, and that have more than 0.16 candlepower. (#57 12v instrument panel bulbs produce 0.16cp)
< CLICK for search results > Click on each bulb for more info.

My concern with using brigter bulbs is that they also produce more heat that could damage the graphics on your gauges.

Also, your bulbs may just be getting dim with age (bulb age, not your age!) A new bulb - same bulb # - will probably be brighter than one that has been in use for a while.

Here are instructions for searching the bulb site:
< CLICK instructions >

Other ideas - open up the gauges and paint the interior surfaces glossy white or silver. That helps with light reflection. Disconnect the battery and clean the contacts on the light sockets - both the spring-loaded contact at the bottom and the inside of the housing. Clean the nuts, threaded studs, and gauge housing and dash surfaces that act as grounds for the lights. Everything you can do to make a better electrical connection is going to help.