Brights? 1972 F100

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jlb
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Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

should there be a light on my dash that shows when my brights are on?

thanks

JB
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dbarker
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by dbarker »

yes, your cluster should have a little red square that lights up indicating brights are on.

you can see in this cluster it is directly under the 50mph position, your cluster may vary depending on if you're using a F500/600 cluster or a standard...

Image
68RGR
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by 68RGR »

It's likely the bulb is burned out. Replace it or get some LED replacements and replace all of them - Cluster illumination, turn signal indicators and high beam indicator. I did that and I can actually SEE the turn signal indicators now in bright sunlight!
Bill
68 F100 Ranger
73 F100 Ranger XLT

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in garages. (Apologies to Kenneth Grahame.)
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

68RGR wrote:It's likely the bulb is burned out. Replace it or get some LED replacements and replace all of them - Cluster illumination, turn signal indicators and high beam indicator. I did that and I can actually SEE the turn signal indicators now in bright sunlight!
Thank you guys for the info.. I see 4 screws to get the cluster out.. is there anything else I need to know before I take it out.. Do I need to disconnect the spedo or can I just leave it attached?

thanks

JB
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dbarker
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by dbarker »

you will probably have enough room to pull it out of the dash far enough to change the bulbs out... but you may feel better disconnecting the speedo from the back of the cluster. Slide it out and see if you have enough room and then swap out all the bulbs at once. No reason not to do it, otherwise youll just be doing this all over again later.
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

Thank you!
68RGR
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by 68RGR »

For LED replacements, check out these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360690418521?

They are priced better than most (40 cents each currently) and seem to work well.
Bill
68 F100 Ranger
73 F100 Ranger XLT

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in garages. (Apologies to Kenneth Grahame.)
jlb
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

68RGR wrote:For LED replacements, check out these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360690418521?

They are priced better than most (40 cents each currently) and seem to work well.
Thanks, I just ordered some. :fr:
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3 Speed
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by 3 Speed »

dbarker wrote:yes, your cluster should have a little red square that lights up indicating brights are on.

you can see in this cluster it is directly under the 50mph position, your cluster may vary depending on if you're using a F500/600 cluster or a standard...

[ Image ]
On my 67 my high-beam indicator is blue (and hard to see in the daylight).
67 F101 Custom Cab longbed, 352 V8, 3 speed manual
jlb
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

68RGR wrote:For LED replacements, check out these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360690418521?

They are priced better than most (40 cents each currently) and seem to work well.
These say 12v only.. Should they be 12 v?
68RGR
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by 68RGR »

Yep, the originals are 12 volt (1895 bulbs, I think) and so are the LED replacements. These LED bulbs also respond to the dimmer built in to the headlight switch. They are just brighter and whiter than the incandescent bulbs.

Once I get around to replacing the plastic lens over my instrument cluster, the brightness should be even more apparent. Plus, the reduced operating temperature of the LEDs over the original bulbs won't hurt anything either.

Some of the OTHER (GM) GUYS - The ones with printed circuit boards in their tail/stop light assemblies - almost have to go to LED replacements due to the heat from the original bulbs damaging the circuit boards. That could even be an issue in later model bumps with PC board instrument clusters.

Plus, with the LEDs, you should never have to replace another bulb in the instrument cluster!
Bill
68 F100 Ranger
73 F100 Ranger XLT

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in garages. (Apologies to Kenneth Grahame.)
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by jlb »

Thanks again!
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by crazyhorse »

68RGR wrote:For LED replacements, check out these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360690418521?

They are priced better than most (40 cents each currently) and seem to work well.
Mr 68RGR are you sure these that sell 20 for $7.98 will fit the instrument cluster on my 1972 Ranger XLT ? I just want to be sure before I order them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360690418521?

I also need bulb #1156 & another bulb with #12v 4cp transferred to led bulbs if you can do that .
Thank you for your time in this.
68RGR
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by 68RGR »

No, I cannot confirm that those bulbs will fit your '72 cluster.

You need to determine the number of the bulb you need and compare that to the number(s) given by the eBay seller. Do the bulbs you need to replace have metal bases or glass bases?

On the 1157, I think there are lots of LED replacements available for tail light bulbs. Just check eBay for 1157 LED and see which ones look good to you. I have not used LED tail light bulbs as yet.
Bill
68 F100 Ranger
73 F100 Ranger XLT

Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in garages. (Apologies to Kenneth Grahame.)
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Re: Brights? 1972 F100

Post by Calfdemon »

I am not 100% sure on this, but I read that if you change your exterior bulbs to LEDs, then you are going to have to change out your flashers too... Its something that I am going to do down the road, so I have not studied up on it yet. When I finish assembly on my truck, I am just going to use the stock bulbs and then change them over at a later time.
-Rich

Current toys -
69 Ford F350 Crew Cab - 460 / C6 - http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67 ... lqgskp.jpg
31 Ford Vicky - 1955 270 Red Ram Hemi / 4 speed - http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67 ... bsibvn.jpg

Former toys -
67 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible (sold 9/13) - http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67 ... bird-1.jpg
67 Ford Fairlane GT - 390 / 4 speed (sold 7/15) - http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67 ... c5hu8z.jpg
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