"How to: dash lights", finally

Hi guys.
I've finished my "How to: dash lights", a tutorial explaining my experiences upgrading my dash -US 1983 308 GTS QV-. You can find text, shots, technical details, LED upgrade tests, advices, conclusions, etc. on a PDF file. I've tried to do it without mistakes, but I'm human...
Feel free to download it and to upload to your 308 web pages -maybe Birdman-. I apologize for my English level.

My little help to the FChat community.
View attachment HOW_TO_DASH_LIGHTS.pdf

 

how or where do I find the lights that you used,or if you can put together lets say a light package and sell them to save us the time trying to find the bulbs ourselfs

 

Nice job Antonio! I always wondered about the effectiveness of the LEDs. Now I have another project for next winter.

Birdman

 

Nice job!!!!

 

Hi Michael.

I can buy the standard incandescent bulbs here and send a pack to you -but for sure you can buy them also-. The led bulbs came from eBay so you can buy them by yourselves. Tell me what you need and if I can help, no problem.

Cheers

 

Nicely done.

Those of us who are about to do this, salute you.

Thank you.

Rob

 

THANK YOU!

 

After reading Antonio's post on dash light change, I was very interested in the LED change. I've seen the offers on ebay but they were for only a few, and they were sold in seperate kits. I just found a complete set, from the same company, and it replaces all exterior lights. It's a little pricey, but in the long run it looks good. Please offer an opinion. google v12s

Thanks
Rob

 

Antinio, that is the greatest thing. I actually want to do this project now, but was half dreading all the different bulb models and all that. You've made this simple. If I could give you free membership for life, I would! Thank you VERY much for this. Great, great job.

 

Thanks AHudson.
Well, all of you encouraged me to do it, so here it is! I hope it will be useful to all the FChat members. And thanks for the proposal about eternal membership!!!
Maybe I will try to prepare a "How to: center console"...

 

Attention about LED external lights. The light spread angle is the most important key to pay attention on. The best external LED are those that have at least 30 or 40 little emmiters placed radially and on the front of the bulb. Important.

 

Great article and a huge help!

 

Where did you buy the LED's from, I need to do this! I hate driving whit a flashlight in one hand

 

Those removal technique varies to 328 models.?

Cheers,
Stephen

 

Hello Crallscars.

I've bought the LED lamps on eBay. There's a good variety and quite cheap. Just check eBay. Also there are some web pages about LED lighting; I think that I've posted the list in another thread. Try a search, is very easy.

Regards.

 

Thanks Magnum, i just got my 308 and noticed right away the dash /gauges were very dim and i just took it to be something i had to live with like some other things on the 308.I'm going to do this upgrade as soon as i can get the bulbs off e-bay.Thanks again for a great write up.
Bill

 

Question, dumb but important: If only replacing bulbs, why bypass the dimmer rheostat?

I'd like to fix mine so that the concealed headlights come up when the low/high beams are switched on, and stay down when only the parking lights are turned on.

 

Dimmer's have been the single notorious cause of dreaded gauge non-illumination disease. A good dimmer drops the voltage 1v just being in the circuit, bad dimmers drop many more. Your's may be the one which works, now, but chances are you will never need to dim your gauge lights. So improve the reliability by eliminating the component which gets flaky with age and squeek out that last drop of brightness by eliminating that 1v drop.

There are two solutions. One adds diodes and the other adds relays. I use the relay approach and have small push button switches, 'on' and 'off' in the roof of my glove box (the one above your left knee below the dash). I can turn my parking lights on regardless of stalk switch position, saving wear and tear on that delicate expensive aging component. Plus my parking lights turn off with 'off' pushbutton OR with ignition key off. Diode mod - stalk switch is always hot. Both require wiring / soldering skills.

Diodes - http://www.nwrfca.org/faq/308parkinglights.htm
Relay - http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=138866997&postcount=5

 

So, if I bypass the dimmer rheostat and clean up the connections, standard (non-LED) bulbs should give appreciably better light?

At present, my car's guages are hardly readable with the light control turned to full brightness. The blinker lights are marginal, the high beam and other small lights are OK.

I'll study both of these in detail. Perhaps I could do one of them along with the two repairs that are definitely needed in the instrument pod area: Fix the instrument lights, and install a new water temp guage...the original one reads 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the actual coolant temperature.

Paul, thanks very much for your comprehensive advice.

 

Antonio - Firstly, your English is better than the average American's at this point. They say half the world speaks English now and the US is just about there.

The only thing I could add to this is on page 2 #3 'You must pull out.' Some say the best tool to use for removing the indicator lights (green arrows) is dental floss (hilo dental). Only spelling suggestion is from "gentle" to "gently".

Dash Light Followers - I've downloaded Antonio's info but also his first pdf "How to: Dash lights" version is also valuable, so I'm posting that below.

A jumper across the dimmer wires will definitely help as opposed to just cleaning connections. Realize it is hard to define 'appreciable', it really depends how bad they are now.

Me? I still haven't been able to break loose my steering wheel screws as I'm scared of having to drill out broken ones. Don't know what color Locktite the po used but they won't budge with a hardened quality wrench and many applications of various loosening oils.
View attachment HOW TO DASH LIGHTS GUIDE 11.pdf

 

excellent work, Antonio.

that rheostat looks like technology from the 50's .

works forever, I guess.

 

Great advice, you guys are a wealth of knowledge.
Had the car for 3 weeks now and already planning a fuse box upgrade (birdman), dash light upgrade and tips from Hans on suspension changes.
Love it! Thanks!

 

See if you can find an impact driver, I refer to the kind you hit on the back with a hammer, that will most likely jar the Locktite and loosen the screws.

 

Hi Paul.

Thanks for your kind words. For sure I will update the PDF with your suggestions and new updates. I'm trying new LED because I can't get the same brightness on the tacho as on the speedo. I will let you know.
About loosening the steering wheel screws an impact driver would be the best solution. I've had one of these stuck on my wheel...

Cheers

 

Perhaps the PO used Crazy Glue? I've removed the steering wheel on several of these cars, and even when they were tightened by a gorilla, the still come loose with a bit of force. I'd suggest using a little heat, but you really can't use a torch in there. What about a blast with a heat gun or hair dryer, to warm them up? Just a thought.