Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

Would like to hear your suggestions for dash lamps. RockAuto shows the following, among several others:

Wagner #1445 -- 1.94 watts
Wagner #1816 -- 4.29 watts

They also list LL (long life) versions of the above with the same wattage specs.

Obvious I'd want the higher wattage bulbs, but are those specs correct?

FYI, AC-Delco has a L1445, but they don't show wattage.

Also, I want to get a few bulb sockets. Will I need both 1/2" and 5/8"?

The truck is at my son's house 1500 miles away, so I can't pull the instrument panel to check it.

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

Bump

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

The lamps are 194 wedge base lamps. If you like them brighter than standard, a 168 bulb is the brighter version.

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

Thanks. Same as my 82 truck.

1816 and 1455 must be the latest bulb numbers.

Do you know if the sockets are 1/2" or 5/8" diameter?

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

5/8 according to this listing
https://www.classicindustries.com/pr...ts/cx1807.html

I don't think you can be 100% sure until you walk up to the truck. I have seen mention on this forum about people finding completely different bulb holders and bulbs in their truck's instrument cluster.

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

I've got 15155, im thinking, in mine. They are pretty bright. also paint the cluster housing and the back of the black shield white or silver. I painted mine silver.

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

Thanks guys. I was able to reach under the dash and replace three 194 bulbs (one bad, two others probably on their last legs) with Sylvania 168LL bulbs. The last time I replaced a bulb in the truck was in the late 80s/early 90s, and some of those that I replaced this week may actually be original equipment!

The 168s are still not very bright, so next trip I may pull the panel and "brighten up" the inside of the bezel. I did something similar on my 82 truck. Instead of paint, I used aluminum HVAC tape. It made a noticeable difference.

On a related note, just replacing the OE wiring harness, fuse panel, and most connectors on my 82 increased the voltage to the instrument panel by nearly 2 volts (!) under load. Same is true for the headlights, so no headlight relays are needed!

Re: Dash lamps for 69 truck
 

I was wrong on numbers. They are 17177.