Dash lights and gauges?
 

We’re in the process of wiring the dash, and got the lights in the dash, radio, glove box working, but they seem very dim even adjusted manually with the switch. Is that normal? My 69’s are pretty bright at night, but this TA’s is very dim.

Everything is grounded we even did extra grounds.

MA, there are variations of those bulbs that have more candle power than others. I don't know what the stock bulbs are rated at, but believe ther is a bulb that IS brighter. I just don't have that part number, at hand right now...

Someone on a group on FB told me to get 3 watt bulbs. Stock ones are only 1 Watt. I really don’t want to go the led route. But was told F Body warehouse might have the 3 Watts. Must be 12 V. Also. All the grounds are good even put extra grounds in.

I think you may be able to find those at NAPA as well.

The higher wattage bulbs are plain incandescent bulbs NOT LED bulbs. I have not found a part number yet...

No no I didn’t mean the 3 Watt were LEDs, should have worded that differently, one guy told me about the LED bulbs, and one guy told me about the 3 Watt bulbs. Two separate suggestions. Sorry for the confusion. :o

194 are the dimmer bulb, 168 is the brighter bulb. But, will be hotter and may melt parts...

I agree. The heat may cause problems related to the PCB over time, assuming the lights are on a lot.

Lights will not be on long if at all, of course dash, console, glove box will be. I almost never have my cars out after dark. I live where deer crossing the roads is a daily thing, so I’m always home before dark.

I have seen many people pull out gauge cluster and paint the inside chrome or silver to help lights reflect a little brighter. I have also seen some people add some LED strip lights to help as well.

Dont drive it at night.

We put the soft white LEDs in and they are just perfect! :D they plug right in the sockets.

I recently added relays to the headlight circuits on my car and the dash lights are much brighter now, apparently since adding relays to the headlights takes a ton of resistance out of the circuit. Figured it was worth mentioning.

Mine were so dim I literally thought nothing was working. I went ahead and replaced them all with soft LED,s much improved. I went ahead and took contact cleaner to the rheostat on the dash to make sure they dimmed nice and steady. Times were different back then, back then things being that dim was rather normal I guess. I did not go the incandescent 3 watt way, I was afraid of those bulbs causing too much damage.

It’s the years of accumulated dirt and grime and bulb blackening that has dimmed the dash lights. Plus the lens has probably turned brown in addition. Back in the day, the dash lights were bright enough.