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dash lights

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

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I don't recall seeing this before but is there a way to brighten the dash lights on a BJ8? I had the rare opportunity to be driving after dark and found it difficult to read the gauges. Can the bulbs be changed out? I would like to keep things as original as possible.
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I think that Radio Shack #272-1134 (generic #1487) lamps are about twice as bright. Not much improvement, but some better.
D
 
Same problem here, replaced all my lites with Moss bulbs, maybe a little better (probably not, but trying to post-rationlize the $1/bulb purchase) Replaced the dash switch, made a noticable difference. Still not bright enough, but noticably improved.
 
Thanks all. That link to Little British Car Co was great! I'd not heard of them. They have all kinds of neat stuff. I guess the MG forum was keeping it a secret. Out of the bag now. The halagen bulbs are expensive but if night driving is only occasional they will last forever. Does anyone know if they run hot. I don't want to toast 40 year old wire and gauges.
 
They're a pretty amusing lot over there on the MG board aren't they?

Thanks for asking the question tahoe healey, you ain't the only one. Right now we are in a heat wave, and the cool of the evening after dark is the perfect time to drive...but I can barely see the instruments.

And the Lord said, let there be light, and there was light. And you could see for bloody miles.
 
At a price of $12 each for halogen instrument bulbs they had better be good. Thats like $48 to $84 for a set of bulbs that likely have shorter life. Does anyone know of possible problems like excessive back light illumination under the dash or heat problems? When I doubled the light with the RS bulbs things got almost distractingly bright under the dash & on the floor but not that much better on the gages.
D
 
Dave:

Here's what Kim said about them (I'm sure you could e-mail her for more detail):
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The halogen bulbs are a bit pricey, but very much worth it. I could barely see my gauges before. I put halogens in the fuel gauge, tach, speedo, and oil/temp, and am very happy with them.

I have had them in for two years now, and no problems. Just lots o' light. (In fact, my 66B doesn't have underdash liners, and there's so much light from the gauges at night that my feet are illuminated!)
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$12 each, and I was hanging my head at spending $1. Maybe for the temp guage, I'll fill up with gas and listen to the engine for my speed at that price, however would be glad to hear what you think after you put them in. I just finished insulating my cockpit and don't want any more heat than I can possibly avoid.
 
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