The Ford Barn

JHFORD51 · 11-22-2015, 08:52 PM

I got tired of not being able to see anything at night and took everything apart, cleaned it, removed and discarded all 4 green lens covers, painted all needles orange, painted bulbs green and viola! there is light. I'm pretty pleased with the performance on 6 VDC. It's actually a little brighter in person, but my cell phone camera isn't so good. Is this a close approximation of how it would've looked circa 1950? Car is much older than me, I'm only 38...

meric42 · 11-22-2015, 10:42 PM

very nice

green50 · 11-22-2015, 10:54 PM

Looks great! Now that is on my to-do list.

JT FORD · 11-23-2015, 02:32 PM

Looks very good.....But, its not an easy job to get that unit out and in. That brace on the dash is really in the road...I did the '49 without out removing the whole unit. I used the top and the bottom sockets to do it and it looks good.

JSeery · 11-23-2015, 02:35 PM

Looks like a good job!

flatford8 · 11-23-2015, 06:38 PM

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That looks pisser!!! On my winter to-do list for sure!!!... MARK

Pat's 52 · 11-23-2015, 08:45 PM

Looks great! What type of paint and shade of green did you use. I would like to this to mine.

JHFORD51 · 11-23-2015, 10:00 PM

I tried blue thinking that the yellow light plus blue would equal green but I was wrong. I wiped that off and tried a light coat of Detroit Diesel green but the light output was still a little white for me so I sprayed on a thicker topcoat of John Deere green. Just used what I had around the shop in spray cans.

Marvin/TN · 11-24-2015, 02:26 AM

If I remember right J.C. Whitney use to have a special paint to paint light bulbs, Don't know if they still carry it or not.

big job · 11-24-2015, 06:29 AM

Old trick on any cluster. After red florescent needles are painted then spray the whole housing with florescent green, and the back side of the face plate. No need to paint the bulbs. Also when these cars were new those glowed bright as a 2015 vehicle. Although
around 1968 my company car was a 49 and it glowed bright as day.
But spraying the housing is the trick v/s painting the bulb, bulb will be brighter (no paint)

11-22-2015, 10:42 PM	#2
meric42 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blenheim, New Zealand Posts: 879	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights very nice __________________ I need an 01A 1453 Brkt Spare wheel hold down for my sedan delivery - PLEASE HELP Gotta love my '42 Sedan Delivery's - Now that I own the only two in New Zealand https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/album.php?albumid=580

11-22-2015, 10:54 PM	#3
green50 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: North Georgia Posts: 392	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Looks great! Now that is on my to-do list. __________________ Gene

11-23-2015, 02:32 PM	#4
JT FORD Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: N.W. Iowa Posts: 306	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Looks very good.....But, its not an easy job to get that unit out and in. That brace on the dash is really in the road...I did the '49 without out removing the whole unit. I used the top and the bottom sockets to do it and it looks good.

11-23-2015, 02:35 PM	#5
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Looks like a good job!

11-23-2015, 06:38 PM	#6
flatford8 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lyman,ME. Posts: 2,630	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That looks pisser!!! On my winter to-do list for sure!!!... MARK __________________ I'm thinkin' about crankin' My ragged ol' truck up and haulin' myself into town. Billy Joe Shaver

11-23-2015, 08:45 PM	#7
Pat's 52 Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 64	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Looks great! What type of paint and shade of green did you use. I would like to this to mine.

11-23-2015, 10:00 PM	#8
JHFORD51 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 253	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights I tried blue thinking that the yellow light plus blue would equal green but I was wrong. I wiped that off and tried a light coat of Detroit Diesel green but the light output was still a little white for me so I sprayed on a thicker topcoat of John Deere green. Just used what I had around the shop in spray cans.

11-24-2015, 02:26 AM	#9
Marvin/TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN area Posts: 832	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights If I remember right J.C. Whitney use to have a special paint to paint light bulbs, Don't know if they still carry it or not.

11-24-2015, 06:29 AM	#10
big job Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Dighton, Mass Posts: 1,230	Re: 1950 instrument cluster lights Old trick on any cluster. After red florescent needles are painted then spray the whole housing with florescent green, and the back side of the face plate. No need to paint the bulbs. Also when these cars were new those glowed bright as a 2015 vehicle. Although around 1968 my company car was a 49 and it glowed bright as day. But spraying the housing is the trick v/s painting the bulb, bulb will be brighter (no paint)