So, my lights are super dim. It could very well be the switch as it is 40 years old and the dimmer on it has been acting funny anyway. So, I've ordered a new switch and i will be getting it in the next day or two. I'm thinking about replacing all the dash lights with some super white LEDs. What do you guys think of these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190342107355&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

:thumbsup:The dash lights in my 70 driver were very dim,
I installed headlight relays....... Guess what the dash lights got about 30-40% brighter. Two relays & pig tails $25-35.00. Plus the headlights are brighter. Now the H-lights are getting Batt. Voltage instead of whats left after the Accs. get there voltage.
Relays are not a bad way to go.
Bob ACES--AACA :thumbsup:

Add some good grounds to the back of each part of the metal cluster, it's the most likely reason they aren't very bright. I'll bet they will brighten significantly.

I'll be sure to check the grounds. I will also look into the relays. But even still, do you guys think these LEDs would be a good "update" to the regular light bulbs? I'm betting that my dim lights are due to ancient grounds. In fact, where are the ground wires on a 68 dash? If I recall, there were no wires on my dash to ground it out anywhere.

No, I don't think they will (I tried them).

They are AS bright as regular bulbs - but they have 2 negatives for use in the dash:
1 - they don't dim, they are either on or off.
2 - they don't disperse light as effectively as a regular bulb, so if your visibility of the gauges are limited now, they won't be any better with LED's.

Note: Don't bother "checking" the grounds - ADD a ground to the back of each bezel, if your lights are dim now I can practically guarantee it will brighten them up.

I have led's in the dash of my Monte and in the El Camino we have. I can dim my led's like reguarl bulbs.

I have led's in the dash of my Monte and in the El Camino we have. I can dim my led's like reguarl bulbs.

Seriously? There are several posts here that say they just go "off", maybe it's at a certain voltage or something. Because the LED's last so long, this would be a big plus!

I can try doing a video of the dash lights dimming from high to low and then off if you like.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/misc/th_006.jpg (http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj278/monte70car/misc/?action=view&current=006.flv)

I keep reading different things from people who have used them. Some say they suck for dispersing light and they don't dim. Others say they dim fine and are much brighter. I wonder, are the differences expensive LEDs vs cheap Ebay ones like the ones I was asking about?

To the grounds now... I took a wire and touched one end of it to the metal back and the other end to a good ground and the lights got about twice as bright. I figured it was a grounding issue, but I also wonder if the LEDs would be even better. Good ground + incandescent bulbs = nearly bright enough. would good ground + LEDs = plenty bright!! ??

Oh, and I have also now added a couple ground wires just to be sure. Good to go now. Just gotta decide if I want to replace my 3 burned out bulbs with regular bulbs or if I want to redo all bulbs w/ LED.

The bulbs I used ran $5 each if you do the whole cluster its 13 bulds if i remember right. And if your want different colors you can do that as well. I wanted to stay with the 70 look so I went with the clear bulds since the gauages have green plus my Autometer gauages are in green.

The way to make an led dim is to reduce the current. Keep the proper operating voltage constant, like 5v or what the rating is, but use a pwm control to reduce the current.

I used a similar LED bulb and I like the change. With my 72 dash, it went from a yellowish look to just a clean bluish white that looks much nicer. Mine will dim as well.