REAL TR Dome Lights!

In my quest to get every single light functioning on my TR I found the hilarious excuse for dome lighting in the overhead console. This is comprised of a rectangular recess with seven 3 watt tubular bulbs in it. These bulbs, when lit, create a slightly lighter rectangular image in the dark plastic center piece of the overhead console, giving virtually ZERO light to the interior of the car, a whopping 21 watts of light forced through a layer of white opaque plastic and a layer of nearly opaque dark green plastic. What were these guys thinking?

I decided to use the available design to maximize the light without overloading the existing electrical circuit.

Step 1,
Let the light out!
The dark green plastic insert in the console would just be too dark unless a halogen headlight bulb is placed behind it. Too much heat and current draw so that was out.
I decided to duplicate the design element of the circular map light by cutting two more holes in the dark plastic spaced out equally over the rectangular recess aft of the map light. The result is two 2.5" holes with the white opaque plastic underneath.

It was scary as hell cutting the holes because I REALLY didn't want to butcher this plastic piece.
I used a brand new hole cutter to ensure the cleanest cut.
I covered both sides of the plastic with super heavy duty (black) duct tape.
I clamped the plastic down on a piece of 2 x 8 padded with news paper.
I drilled a couple of 1/8" pilot holes first.

To cut the holes it is important to run the drill as SLOWLY as you can to minimize heat build-up. If the plastic gets hot and starts to melt it can seize and possibly crack.
Cut from the side of the plastic that will be EXPOSED TO THE CABIN. You will find that the entry cut will be cleaner than the exit cut and easier to clean up.

I spent an hour wet sanding the holes BY HAND to maintain a consistent shape and bevel to each hole. I started with 320 then to 400, 600, 1500 and 2000 grit. I then polished the entire piece with Meguier's Scratch-X.

On to the next step.
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Step 2.
Make More Light!
I wanted to go with brighter bulbs and the best I could come up with locally were four 10 watt tubular bulbs that were basically the same length as the stock 3 watt bulbs but larger in diameter. There was plenty of room in the recess and the heat output virtually nill.

When I laid out the two 2.5" holes I centered them over the 2nd and 3rd bulbs from either end of the light recess. I installed the 10 watt bulbs in those positions so they would line up with the two circular holes.

I also lined the center of the lighting recess with self adhesive aluminum repair tape from Ace hardware for reflectivity and heat control..

By installing the four 10 watt bulbs I raised circuit load only 28 watts over stock and increased light output by 400% after cutting the two holes.

The first picture shows the seven 3 watt bulbs.
The second picture shows the four 10 watt bulbs installed. I bent the tabs into an 'S' shape to better seat against the end of the larger diameter bulbs.
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If a person wanted to play with the intensity or color all you would have to do is replace the white opaque plastic with one of a different color (red or a lighter green?) or pull the 10 watt bulbs out and go back to the 3 watt bulbs..

 

Thanks.
I checked the "slot" lights in the lower console yesterday. They lit up kind of. I tore everything apart and they were indeed working but I didn't want to attempt any mods to increase output because of the design limitations. I'll just use the map light if I have to.

 

Thank you.

The driving force behind this was when I was caught driving at night shortly after I bought the car and couldn't find what I was looking for. I really thought the lights were burned out.
I may try to do an upgrade to the slot lights in the lower console next winter but for now at least I can see what I'm doing in there now.

 

You mean, don't work at all!
Bigger sockets and lights would have to go in to be of any use. The bulbs in there now are probably 2 watt bulbs. Maybe some strip LED's in the slots would work better.............................uh oh, I think I just made more work for myself.

 

Careful,
I know where you work!

 

Once I figured out how to R & R of the console it only took 30 minutes or so to do that.
The dark plastic cover appears to be available through Ricambi (P/N #61526700) if you don't want to drill your own. All it takes is an hour or so to layout the new holes, set-up and drill then sand and polish.
If I was retired I would offer to do the mods for a price. As it is I hardly have the time to take care of my own crap

 

Hard wired the V1 while I was at it, http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=138307295#post138307295