|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
08-16-2016, 10:38 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
Posts: 357
|
Lighting at the dash area
I like this idea for adding some light to a '30 Model A pickup dash area. Not stock, of course, but for driving at night, it helps. Easy enough to do, I suspect. My truck is a solid black interior and color inside, so it is darker than a dungeon since the instrument panel does not have a light to it.
My pickup is a daily driver, so adding a light system such as this is not such an issue as to any points lost. Of course, my truck has a 12 v system in it and the wiring would be a bit different than that shown in the video. Anyone else done this to their A? I would do the actual spacing of the lights a bit different so that they illuminated the speedometer and gas gauge more. https://youtu.be/Ai9fiB70GJY |
08-16-2016, 10:44 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,115
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
I just wired the dash light to come on with the tail lights.
__________________
Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
08-16-2016, 11:03 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,597
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
You could also install the dash light that Ford installed. Uses a 6 volt #63 bulb as I remember.
From comments made in the video it sounds like your truck is missing the dash light assembly. So you would have to find the correct 12 volt bulb in this case. It is hidden under dash above Gas gauge, behind the dash rail and has it's own switch and cable to fasten to the amp meter. http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=4428 Last edited by Benson; 08-16-2016 at 01:15 PM. Reason: dash rail |
08-16-2016, 11:49 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 687
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Another option you may think about is EL wire. Electro luminescent wire. I'll be looking into that option when I get to that stage. I like the idea that it gives a soft even ambient light compared to directional lighting. The fact that it is as thin as wire makes it easier to hide I feel.
|
08-16-2016, 12:11 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
__________________
What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
08-16-2016, 12:44 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Florham Park, NJ
Posts: 396
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
__________________
1965 Lotus Elan S2 1930 Model A Sport Coupe |
08-16-2016, 01:53 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
Posts: 357
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Quote:
|
|
08-16-2016, 02:30 PM | #8 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
Posts: 357
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Quote:
|
|
08-16-2016, 02:49 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: ⓉⒺXⒶⓈ
Posts: 2,047
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
They make 12V LED strips that you could put under the dash rail. You can actually cut to lenght and then wire it up. Pretty nuts.
__________________
-------------- Drive it like you know how to fix it! DMAFC / OILERS CC-MC |
08-16-2016, 03:14 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Hanover, PA
Posts: 130
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
The LED tape is the way to go. Cheap, and easy to work with, and can be directly wired to a 12V power source. I used this for kitchen lighting under my new cabinets. It's probably one of your better options.
__________________
-Rob 1929 Fordor Leatherback |
08-17-2016, 08:00 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
Posts: 357
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Quote:
Thanks for the info. |
|
08-17-2016, 10:18 PM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,597
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Quote:
PIckups were always "no frills" so Ford could keep the price low for the working man. I wonder if maybe they did not put lights in the 30 PUs, being as the Depression was in full swing by 1930 and every dollar counted. |
|
08-18-2016, 10:34 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,753
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Here are a couple of pictures from Marco's site of the instrument panel light.
Bob |
08-18-2016, 11:08 AM | #14 |
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Waterloo, IL
Posts: 81
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
As I recall, it's just one screw that attaches the light plus the wire attached to the ammeter. Once it's removed, it wouldn't leave any trace behind.
I doubt that Ford would omit them on pickups due to the depression - it's rather difficult to see the speedometer at night without it.
__________________
Doug in Waterloo |
08-18-2016, 12:16 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Ada, Oklahoma
Posts: 357
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Quote:
I found some photos at a vendor site, but didn't really know how the light attached. The plate that was with the ones I found didn't make a lot of sense to me as to how it was installed, but the photos by Marco helped. For a 12 v system with negative ground, does the end wire to this light attach at the right or the left side of the ammeter? |
|
08-18-2016, 12:36 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,115
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
It doesn't matter much which side of the ammeter it attaches to, both sides are hot. The only difference would be whether the ammeter reads the current draw or not. Just make sure you use a 12v bulb.
The bracket attaches to the center dash rail bolt.
__________________
Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club |
08-18-2016, 12:52 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: So Cal
Posts: 8,753
|
Re: Lighting at the dash area
Also the mounting bracket is different for open and closed cars, the
distance between the holes is not the same. Bob |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|