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Ok,
I will cry uncle. How in the hell do you get to the outboard top dash instrument light bulb?
I have been at it for two hours! My arm is killing me!
Even with the new wiring, the access to the light bulbs is very tight.
Anyone with a trick, please chime in.
James
Two hints: 1) Shine a bright light on the pretty side of the dash. This will help in illuminating the bulb hole. 2) Gently clamp a pair of needle nose vice grips onto the socket. I've used these with other cars, hope it helps.
Tim Mabry
The Lost Cause Garage
47 Suburban
57 Sportsman 4dr HT
Thanks Tim, I contorted for an hour and finnaly got it in. It is such close quarters up in there that I doubt any tool could be used as the sub-dash flange hanges down about an inch behind the thing. What a pain in the butt the bulbs are on a 1949.
Thanks, James
Do you think you could have wired the gauges prior to installing the dash into the car? Someday I'll hopefully get to working on my '49, and perhaps I can avoid your agony.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
Hi Tim,
I could have, but I wanted to make sure I could change the bulbs down the line.
James
I want to say that it was a tight fit on the '50 dash lights too. Lucky for me I am a little guy and it took about 5 minutes of messing around to get the dang thing in.
On another note, did you get to look at the images James? Did the link work?