1949-50 Ford Speedometer Cluster LEDs

[Pat/Ohio]

Hello 'Barners,

Just curious...Have any of you replaced the #55 incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs? Trying to make the speedometer cluster readable at night. I happened across these LEDs on epay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Mercury-...19.m1438.l2649

Do you think they would work? For $20 I'm thinking it would be worth a try. What are your thoughts or experiences?

Thanks,
Pat

[nohelp]

Try superbrightleds.com they have them in different colors also 6 or 12 voits. I am using the blue ones light up the dash bright at night. Might be a little cheaper then 20 bucks.I would like to think you know to remove the dark covers on the old light bulbs. no help

[4t8v8]

Am using green ones in my F1. I like them

[flatford8]

I didnt have any luck on that site. The year only goes back to ‘58. I would like them in a ‘50...... Mark

[tubman]

The twenty bucks don't bother me. Crawling under the dash on the other hand......

[Pat/Ohio]

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Originally Posted by nohelp

Try superbrightleds.com they have them in different colors also 6 or 12 voits. I am using the blue ones light up the dash bright at night. Might be a little cheaper then 20 bucks.I would like to think you know to remove the dark covers on the old light bulbs. no help

I was actually going to leave the green (black light) filters in place and just use a much brighter LED bulb in place of the original #55 bulb. Didn't know if anyone has tried the brighter LED bulbs with the filters in place. $20 buys you 10 bulbs...didn't think that was too hateful.

It seems that I have checked with Superbrightleds.com and didn't find a direct replacement for the #55 style incandescent bulb in 6 volt. It has to have the BA9s base. I'll check again with them.

Thanks,
Pat

[Pat/Ohio]

Originally Posted by flatford8

I didnt have any luck on that site. The year only goes back to ‘58. I would like them in a ‘50...... Mark

Mark....The listing that I was looking at shows all the way back to the 40's. 1958 would be 12 volt anyway. These are 6 volt LED bulbs. Pat

[Pat/Ohio]

Originally Posted by tubman

The twenty bucks don't bother me. Crawling under the dash on the other hand......

Tubman...I know what you mean ...gets harder every year!

By the way...I did purchase one of the 1951 speedometer watches you were referring to in your earlier posting. I was a little disappointed also. But someone will receive it this Christmas anyway. Pat

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by Pat/Ohio

Mark....The listing that I was looking at shows all the way back to the 40's. 1958 would be 12 volt anyway. These are 6 volt LED bulbs. Pat

Pat.....Ya, I understand. I guess I need to look the site over again... Mark

[Paul Bennett]

Originally Posted by Pat/Ohio

Hello 'Barners,

Just curious...Have any of you replaced the #55 incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs? Trying to make the speedometer cluster readable at night. I happened across these LEDs on epay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Mercury-...19.m1438.l2649

Do you think they would work? For $20 I'm thinking it would be worth a try. What are your thoughts or experiences?

Thanks,
Pat

I would NOT buy from someone who advertises "center pin is Positive(-)"
That has no meaning!!!

SuperbrightLed.com have a BA9s 6v bulb not sensitive to polarity for $2 which work great in my dash instruments ('50Merc) but nothing works in my speedo.

Reason - factory marked the speedo numbers in radium ink which has faded. I've tried several different bulbs but NO light falls upon the numbers. Best are incandescants.

My advice is to experiment but be wary of polarity. Only use BA9s bulbs not sensitive to polarity OR center pin Negative (-) bulbs. Also be conscious of bulb height.

[JHFORD51]

I made my 50 speedo cluster very useable at night by removing the factory glass light filters and painting the stock bulbs green. Lights up nice and green at night and matches the clock, radio, and heater control. Bit of a pain (easier if you take the extra 20 minutes to move the front seat) but worth the effort. Cost nothing but time!

[koates]

Pat, those LEDs are for a 6 volt NEGATIVE GROUND car. If your old Ford is POSITIVE GROUND as original then they wont work. They may even blow up when connected to the wrong polarity. I have dash panel LEDs in my positive ground 1934 Ford and they are a little brighter than the original bulbs. I sourced them here in Australia. You need the correct base bulb to match your car as well. Regards, Kevin.

[Frank Miller]

LED is a light emitting diode. A diode is like an electrical check valve. Electricity can only flow one way. They turn AC into DC by cutting off one direction. An LED that is not polarity sensitive is not a D.

[nohelp]

My car is still 6 voits pos ground the ones from super bright work just fine also easier to remove cluster and install bulbs or I thought it was anyway.

[Pat/Ohio]

I think I am leaning towards purchasing the LEDs from Superbrights.com and give it a try. Removing the speedometer cluster looks like a job to me. Makes my torn rotator hurt just thinking about it! I have an extra cluster panel with the filters still in them. I will do some experimenting with it first....in the dark room! I'll report back.

Thanks everyone!
Pat