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 Towards the possibility of dual signal light indicators for 55 and 56 Dodges and PlymouthsJump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
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56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026    Location: Lower Mainland BC | . When I was a kid (16 to 22) I had a 55 Canadian Dodge Regent ("Plodge"). Later I had access to a 65 Plymouth (my Dad's) and I owned a 68 Plymouth. In comparison, I liked the dual (left//right) signal light indicators of both the 65 and 68 Plymouths compared to the single indicator (left or right) signal light indicator of the 55 Dodge. Fast forward to 2016 and I purchase a 56 American Dodge (Custom Royal) which also has the single indicator light. I dislike it but I live with it. Until last week when I get involved replacing the flasher and end up with a new HD13 Electronic Flasher which is very (too) quiet. I don't want to be that old man who drives around with one or the other signal light blinking away. Solution: 1. Modify the speedometer to add a second indicator light, probably in the current high beam indicator position. 2. Upgrade the GE 57 (1895??) bulbs to stronger or LED bulbs 3. Create a new location for the high beam indicator, potentially using a small LED 12V lamp (in blue - my preference) To this end, I have been investigating: 1. my spare 56 Dodge speedometer to figure out the potential locations for the high beam indicator 2. the signal light switch to determine which wires I should use for the individual signal light indicators. I have done both today and yesterday. I will start with the signal light switch interpretation to determine which wires to target. Based on a previous thread, I re-examined the switch diagram to interpret that the wires that I need to target are the one associated with the front left and front right signal lights which are the pins on the left and right of the stop light power pin on the switch. That would be the upper left and upper right pins in this signal light switch photo: REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=78638&... That is somewhat easier said than done because my car has 69 year old cloth covered wire, not pretty coloured vinyl and it is a bit difficult to determine (or guess) what the colour or the wires I need to utilize actually are. At the top, at the switch, I have these: At the bottom, I have these: I think that I will just end up using a pin probe and my multimeter to trial and error what the two wires I need actually are. The next issue will be dealing with the 56 Dodge (or 55/56 Plymouth or 55 Dodge) speedometer (virtually all the same except for face colour and the needle embellishments). Issue that will need to be dealt with include: 1. Revising to colour of the indicator lenses (so that they are either both green or both red (or maybe blue??). I think green is more common. 2. Locating a new high beam indicator lamp. I think the only good locations are either at the 12 o'clock (60 mph) position or the 6 o'clock position (somewhere below the odometer and above the Part Number 27535). The complicating factor is the ease and space to drill the access to the rear shell of the speedometer to add the LED bulb and wiring. Should be too tough though. I hope   Edited by 56D500boy 2025-04-08 10:53 AM (56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometer_BackShowingInstrumentLightingLampHolderHolesAndSignalAndHighBeamIndicatorHolders.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometer_Apart.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel_HighBeamOption1.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel_HighBeamOption2.jpg) (55-56PlymouthAndCanadianPlodgeSpeedometer_ShowingSingleSignalLightIndicator_2.jpg) Attachments ----------------  56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel.jpg (141KB - 288 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometer_BackShowingInstrumentLightingLampHolderHolesAndSignalAndHighBeamIndicatorHolders.jpg (145KB - 298 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometer_Apart.jpg (142KB - 287 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel_HighBeamOption1.jpg (203KB - 271 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometer_FrontWithOutLensAndBezel_HighBeamOption2.jpg (203KB - 292 downloads) 55-56PlymouthAndCanadianPlodgeSpeedometer_ShowingSingleSignalLightIndicator_2.jpg (139KB - 273 downloads) | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10483  Location: So. Cal | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Apparently, there is some precedent for having the high beam indicator near the 60 on the speedometer (56 Desoto example below). I agree about the coloured LED lights. There are some 1/8" ones out there in red, green and yellow. I would want the high beam to be blue but I guess red would work too. https://painlessperformance.com/?s=1%2F8+inch+LED+indicator+light (56DesotoWithDualIndicatorLightsAndHighBeamIndicatorUnderThe60mphmark.jpg) (56DesotoWithDualIndicatorLightsAndHighBeamIndicatorUnderThe60mphmark_Detail.jpg) (Example1-8thInchLEDPilotLights.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 56DesotoWithDualIndicatorLightsAndHighBeamIndicatorUnderThe60mphmark.jpg (194KB - 295 downloads) 56DesotoWithDualIndicatorLightsAndHighBeamIndicatorUnderThe60mphmark_Detail.jpg (142KB - 301 downloads) Example1-8thInchLEDPilotLights.jpg (148KB - 276 downloads) | ||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13182  Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | wizard - 2025-04-08 10:53 PM You could use fiber optics Dave. Was used a lot on Caddys Sorry Sven.  That would be way TOO complicated. Straight up LEDs will be fine. To that point, I called a electronic components shop yesterday afternoon and explained what I was looking for (12 VDC LED indicator lamps in green and/or blue). They said that they had some options. It was too late to trek across town (Metro Vancouver is quite big) so I waited until today to drive over (about 15 mi) and check out what they had. They had some surface mount/bolt-in and some Snap-In options. I liked the surface mounts and bought 2 green and one blue. I also bought 2 snap-in greens because I though that they would fit in the existing light "tubes" (they do - sort of). Based on using a 9V battery to run the tests, I will probably mount a blue surface mount at the "6 O'clock" position for the high beam indicator. Not 100% sure about the green signal light indicator lights. The surface mounts are definitely much brighter than the Snap-in ones. The surface mount ones will require that I enlarge the existing two holes (the current signal and high beam indicator positions) - *OR* I figure out how to mount them in the existing light tubes. The Snap-ins are not as bright as the surface mounts and they will require that I modify (cut down) the light tubes so the snap in lens is only barely touching the back of the speedometer face. Here are some photos taken this afternoon, starting with the supplies and then the testing of the options. Edited by 56D500boy 2025-04-10 10:56 AM (IndicatorOptions_SurfaceMountAndSnapInLEDs.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg) (GreenSnapInLED_Testing.jpg) (GreenSnapInLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg) (BlueSurfaceMountLED_Testing.jpg) (BlueSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg) Attachments ---------------- IndicatorOptions_SurfaceMountAndSnapInLEDs.jpg (147KB - 275 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing.jpg (143KB - 309 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg (142KB - 293 downloads) GreenSnapInLED_Testing.jpg (147KB - 297 downloads) GreenSnapInLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg (141KB - 286 downloads) BlueSurfaceMountLED_Testing.jpg (144KB - 303 downloads) BlueSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace.jpg (142KB - 295 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Removed the lame OE plastic light lenses from the bulb tubes on the back shell of my spare 56 Dodge speedometer. Bought some 1/4" and 3/16" washers to test fit in the open bulb tube. 1/4" is too big with out some modifications. 3/16" is a bit small but it fit in the bulb tube. Sort of. Needs refinement. I added one of the bolt-in LEDs to one of the 3/16" washers and inserted that into the bulb tube from the back. Jammed it in place with some Kleenex tissue (just to hold it for the photos). Took a photo. Added 9V DC power and then added the speedometer face (and mechanism) for a photo trial. Still needs some work but the idea is that I will be able to add the bolt-in LEDs to the OE bulb tubes and I WILL NOT have to modify the OE indicator holes (the old signal and high beam indicator location). I will have to drill a hole for the blue high beam indicator. But I knew that. Edited by 56D500boy 2025-04-12 8:37 PM (GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_InFormerHighBeamTube_NoPower.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace_InFormerHighBeamTube.jpg) Attachments ---------------- GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_InFormerHighBeamTube_NoPower.jpg (149KB - 306 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLED_Testing_BehindSpeedoFace_InFormerHighBeamTube.jpg (145KB - 304 downloads) | ||
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . While there are still a few details to be dealt with regarding the mounting of the green bolt-in LEDs in the light tubes, we (DelS and I) have been talking and I think we have that answered (more to come on that topic). In the meantime, I decided to investigate from where I can pull the power for the LEDs, i.e. the two signal lights (left and right) and the high beam indicator. Based on a wiring diagram that I previously posted, the wires in question at the front of the car are green for the left turn light and brown for the right turn light. (The yellow wire is for the parking light filament of the 1157A. It is only on when the dash-mounted light switch is in PARK (when the head light switch is moved to headlights ON, the PARK light is un-powered (so you can see the turn signal filament better)) On that basis, before I moved forward, this AM I confirmed the state of the power to the left and right front signal lights by probing the green and brown wire terminal on the lighting terminal block on the 56 Dodge rad support using my old analogue Radio Shack Realistic multimeter (i.e. the needle swung upwards towards 14 V with each appropriate click of the signal light flasher), the ignition switch on and the signal pulled down for left or pushed up for right. This block: While some people with lovely vinyl-coated wires might be able to tap into the signal light power where the wires come out of the steering column (See photo of DelS's steering column below), to access my cloth covered wires would be a bit of back-pain inducing nightmare. In my case, it will be easier to add green and brown wires with ring terminals to the rad support terminal block and run wires back to the under dash to the new LED indicator lights. At least that is what I am saying (to myself) now. As for the power for the high beam indicator, the same wiring diagram above shows that wire as a red/orange wire. I have previously investigated and confirmed that one, as shown here: I am planning to get the power for the new blue LED high beam indicator light by using a BA9 bulb adapter that I will either buy off ebay or make from an old Type 57 bulb. Not sure about the connector (yet). First DelSs' lovely vinyl coated wires (I am envious) and then the BA9 bulb adapter: Edited by 56D500boy 2025-04-15 2:49 AM (DelsNewSignalLightSwitchFromArizonaSteeringColumn.JPG) (DelsNewSignalLightWiresFromArizonaSteeringColumn_WithDelsAddedConnectors.JPG) (BA9BulbAdapter.jpg) Attachments ---------------- DelsNewSignalLightSwitchFromArizonaSteeringColumn.JPG (71KB - 267 downloads) DelsNewSignalLightWiresFromArizonaSteeringColumn_WithDelsAddedConnectors.JPG (48KB - 265 downloads) BA9BulbAdapter.jpg (91KB - 318 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . I think Del S (Dels56) is ahead on this project (in part because I had to fix the odometer on my 56 Dodge's speedometer). That done (yesterday), I decided to try mounting the signal indicator LEDs directly on the speedometer face (because I understand that is what Del has done). So using the original speedometer face (the one with the FUBAR'd odometer), I decided to test that today (Saturday) as a trial. I drilled the existing indicator (the single signal light indicator and the high beam indicator) holes out to fit the LEDs into. My first attempt used a 7/32" drill bit but it was not quite big enough.So I stepped it up to 8/32", i.e. 1/4", and that worked (ish). The right side one (facing the speedometer) is fine but I think the left side one ends up too close to the "3o" (THIRTY) markings. I think Del might have used a small round file instead of drill bit so he could move the larger hole down and away from the "3o". So I have one more speedometer face (the one with the working odometer) to use. Not sure if I will carry on this way or go back to my first idea of mounting the LEDs in the light tunnels, not on the speedometer face. That is a decision for tomorrow. Here is today: (GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_1.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingNut.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingBothLEDsAndNuts.jpg) (GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingBothLEDsAndNutsInSpeedoShell.jpg) Attachments ---------------- GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_1.jpg (148KB - 283 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingNut.jpg (138KB - 276 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingBothLEDsAndNuts.jpg (143KB - 258 downloads) GreenSurfaceMountLEDs_InQuarterInchHolels_BackSideShowingBothLEDsAndNutsInSpeedoShell.jpg (144KB - 281 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Since I first conceived the idea of this project, Del S. (Dels56), a fellow 56 Dodge owner and improver has been on board. Offline (outside this forum) we have exchanged ideas and links to components etc. So that was good. While I got lost on a couple of other 56 Dodge projects, Del took the bit in his teeth and made the necessary progress to complete the project. (I am close but still behind). Del liked my idea of the small (6 mm/0.25 in) 12V green and blue LEDs that could be surface mounted and then took that one or two steps forward, including the use of rubber grommets and caps for the wiring coming out of the speedo shell and perhaps more importantly, arranging the LED wires so that they were in a connector that would make like easier during the install. We both agreed that the easiest source of the indicator light power was at the rad support lighting terminal block (green and brown wires with ring terminals). In a way, it seems a bit stupid to run wires about 6 ft back to the speedometer but if you have worked under the dash of these mid-50's Mopars, you will soon realized that your back is much more valuable than a few extra feet of wire. Del has arranged his wires into female half of a three pin power connector (the third pin is for the wire from the high beam indicator). I particulary like the way that Del has located a ground for the three LED indicator lights on the back of the speedo shell (which in turn is grounded to the dash). Here are some photos that Del has sent me over the recent days and weeks that mark his project to completion. The only thing missing at the moment is a photo of the modified speedo re-installed in the dash. (As an aside, with these new LED indicator lights, I highly doubt that we will be leaving our signal lights or high beams on because we can't hear the blinker or see the indicator lights. These new ones won't permit that - they are very bright). In the meantime, here are Del's project progress photos: Edited by 56D500boy 2025-05-12 2:54 PM (DelsSpeedoWithThreeLEDsIntalled_1_1024.jpg) (DelsLEDsinstalled_2.jpg) (DelsModifiedSpeedoWithThreeLEDs_BackOfShell_1024.jpg) (DelsLEDTestingInSpareSpeedo.jpg) Attachments ---------------- DelsSpeedoWithThreeLEDsIntalled_1_1024.jpg (148KB - 279 downloads) DelsLEDsinstalled_2.jpg (143KB - 262 downloads) DelsModifiedSpeedoWithThreeLEDs_BackOfShell_1024.jpg (148KB - 271 downloads) DelsLEDTestingInSpareSpeedo.jpg (147KB - 262 downloads) | ||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10483 Location: So. Cal | |||
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| dels56 |
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . After trying the surface mount solution and despite the obvious success of Del S (Dels56) with his speedometer, I decided to go back to my first idea which was to locate the turn signal indicator LEDs inside the old signal indicator and high beam light tubes/tunnels. At the time, I wasn't sure how I was going to do that. At some recent point (earlier this week), I remembered that I had some "rope" style plumbers putty that I have had for probably 40 years. I found it in my "Plumbing Supplies" tote bin and it was still soft and pliable. Now a days, you would probably buy it as Flexible Caulking Cord Weather Strip from something like Home Depot or Lowes or a local hardware store. With my 40 year old rope putty in my hands, I proceeded to pull off 3" or so bits and coil them to fit in the back of the light tube. I think it took about 3 such coils to fill each of the light tunnels. Once the tunnels were full of the putty, I placed the speedo face over the upper end of the tunnels and pokes locaction holes in the putty with a bamboo skewer (which was handy to me). Then I removed the speedo fact and used the skewer to push through the packed putty to create a space/tunnel for the LEDs. Then I fed the LEDs' wires through putty tunnel and the pushed the LEDs into the putty. I would like to lie and say that worked perfectly the first time but in reality, I had to adjust the location of the LEDs so they lined up "perfectly" (ish) with the OE indicator holes in the speedo face. This took a couple of tries and in fact I may have to make a minor adjustment of one or both or the green indicator locations. Or not. They are very close. My next step is to drill a hole to surface mount the blue LED indicator, much the same as Del S had done (in the bottom quadrant). I thought about a way create a light tunnel to be filled with plumber's putty and only have an OE sized hole in the speedo face but that won't be easy. Once the high beam indicator is sorted, I will do like Del S did and ground all three black (neg) LED wires to the shell of the speedo. I plan to use ring terminals and a self-tapper into the shell. The wire gauge of the LED wires is so fine, all connections to whatever will have to be soldered, not crimped. It is rainy here for the next few days so I have time to figure out the mechanics of the wiring in the next day or so. I hope Photos from yesterday and today: (RopeStyleCaulkingFromHomeDepot.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front_PokingALocatingHoleThruSpeedoFace.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithPlumbersPuttyInLightTubes_withHoleDugThruPutty_Front.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithPlumbersPuttyInLightTubes_withHoleDugThruPutty_Back.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Back.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front_SpeedoFaceOnLEDsPowered.jpg) Attachments ---------------- RopeStyleCaulkingFromHomeDepot.jpg (81KB - 268 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front_PokingALocatingHoleThruSpeedoFace.jpg (146KB - 293 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithPlumbersPuttyInLightTubes_withHoleDugThruPutty_Front.jpg (144KB - 282 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithPlumbersPuttyInLightTubes_withHoleDugThruPutty_Back.jpg (143KB - 266 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front.jpg (147KB - 251 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Back.jpg (143KB - 290 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedometerWithLEDsInPlumbersPutty_Front_SpeedoFaceOnLEDsPowered.jpg (139KB - 266 downloads) | ||
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | 56D500boy - 2025-05-12 11:43 AM Here are some photos that Del has sent me over the recent days and weeks that mark his project to completion. The only thing missing at the moment is a photo of the modified speedo re-installed in the dash. This AM, Del was good enough to send me a photo of his modified speedo re-installed in his 56 Dodge CRL's dash. (see below) Looks good. The bezels on the LEDs that Del used are much smaller than the ones I was using and therefore less obtrusive when surface mounted. I have gotten around that with my plumbers putty "mounts" for the signal indicators but I will follow Del's lead and surface mount the blue LED for the high beam indicator. Thanks Del. (DelsLEDIndicatorsInstalledIn56DodgeSpeedoInDash_1024.jpg) Attachments ---------------- DelsLEDIndicatorsInstalledIn56DodgeSpeedoInDash_1024.jpg (146KB - 253 downloads) | ||
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| 1960fury |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7619  Location: northern germany | |||
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| 1960fury |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7619 Location: northern germany | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | 1960fury - 2025-05-17 2:46 PM I would convert to dual directional indicator lights too, but would have taken the easier and imo nicer route, by using the DeSoto chrome indicator lights shown above. Sid: I can't disagree, in perfect world. In an imperfect world those 55-56 Desoto indicators, PN 1604791 or even the 1605357 55-56 Chrysler indicators would be available from some source. As it is, there isn't any source for them. Edited by 56D500boy 2025-05-17 8:34 PM (SearchForTheDesotoSignalLIghtIndicators1604791.jpg) Attachments ---------------- SearchForTheDesotoSignalLIghtIndicators1604791.jpg (93KB - 266 downloads) | ||
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| 1960fury |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7619 Location: northern germany | 56D500boy - 2025-05-17 8:31 PM 1960fury - 2025-05-17 2:46 PM I would convert to dual directional indicator lights too, but would have taken the easier and imo nicer route, by using the DeSoto chrome indicator lights shown above. Sid: I can't disagree, in perfect world. In an imperfect world those 55-56 Desoto indicators, PN 1604791 or even the 1605357 55-56 Chrysler indicators would be available from some source. As it is, there isn't any source for them. Hmm, so 56 Desoto indicator lights aren't available new at Autozone? Bummer. I thought they are..... Honestly, I started restoring these cars long before the WWW and I live in Europe to boot. So far I've found everyting I searched for, even though the 60/61s are pretty rare. Guess how many parts I bought and used, that do not show up on Autozone, similar places or parts searches..... I guess you could find them in about 30 minutes, if you wanted Edited by 1960fury 2025-05-17 9:22 PM | ||
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7619 Location: northern germany | |||
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 6683 Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | |||
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| Powerflite |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 10483 Location: So. Cal | |||
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| wizard |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 13182 Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | |||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Well, I looked for a BA9 bulb adapter for the high beam indicator connection and found that I could get a batch of 10 or 20 from Amazon or Ali Express. but who needs 9 or 19 extras?? I tried locally at the electronics shop where I bought the LEDs but nothing. So back to making my own adapter. This time I gutted a used (burnt out) GE57 and drilled tiny hole (1/16" or less) from the back side (interior of the shell) and did NOT break the glass insulator. They I got some 14 gauge stranded wire and stripped off about 1/4" of the insulation. Inserted the wire from the back side and soldered the wire to the tip. This left it a bit long (poked out too much) so I trimmed it down with a grinding disk on my 27 year old Dremel (how did that happen??) until I could get the modified GE57 shell into an OE lamp holder (from one of the speedometer shells). I think I will fill the empty "adapter" shell with hot glue to stabilize the adapter wire. I will put an insulated female spade connector on the adapter wire before I insert the adapter into the OE high beam lamp socket. The blue high beam indicator LED will get a male spade connector to match the female connector. Just about there. Just need to drill a relief hole in the speedo shell to accommodate the length of the blue LED (which for some reason Del S did not have an issue with). Tomorrow. Always freaking tomorrow. PS: Sorry about any focus issues. I could NOT trick my little Sony "garage" camera to focus on the end of the adapter properly. Edited by 56D500boy 2025-05-21 2:51 AM (BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb.jpg) (BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_2.jpg) (BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_Ada[terWireInGuttedShell.jpg) (BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_AdapterInOEStyleLampHolder.jpg) Attachments ---------------- BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb.jpg (145KB - 248 downloads) BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_2.jpg (147KB - 253 downloads) BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_Ada[terWireInGuttedShell.jpg (91KB - 254 downloads) BuildingABA9AdapterPlugFromAGE57Bulb_AdapterInOEStyleLampHolder.jpg (146KB - 265 downloads) | ||
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Well, I got lost for the last three or four weeks on other car projects (my 94 Audi S4 V8 wagon) but I finally got back to it last week. Since then progress has still been slow because I got lost doing related things, e.g. polishing scratches out of the speedometer lens, etc. One of the first things that I did was to add hot glue to the BA9 shell to stabilize the wire I had soldered into the tip of the shell. I also added a shielded female spade connector to that wire and then installed the shell into the old high beam indicator light. I also finalized the installation of the blue high beam LED indicator and added a shielded male connector to the red (pos) LED wire and a ring terminal to the black (neg) LED wire. The left and right green signal indicator red LED wires were connected to a male two pin connector and the black LED wires got ring terminals. All the LEDs grounds got attached to the speedometer shell using the screws that are used to hold the speedometer mechanism into the shell. I then added the female connector "partner" (to the male two pin connector) two a long green and long brown wire that I ran through the speedometer cable firewall grommet and out to the rad support lighting terminal block. (These wires got covered with the woven split wire loom that I also put over the OE front lighting wire harness). At that point, I finished off polishing the speedo lens and added the speedo needle back onto the mechanism pin. I had previously polished the chrome bezel so at the point it was just a matter of reassembly and re-crimping the bezel over the speedo shell. That done, I taped up the edge of the bezel to minimize scratching and made my first attempt at getting the speedometer back into the dash (working on my back/side in the foot well). I didn't take long to realize that the oil pressure line was now going to be a problem (I didn't remove it to get the speedometer out but going back in was another story). The part of the oil pressure hose that attaches to the back of the gauge is 3/8". The hose end is 1/2" and best held with a 1/2" flare wrench while the other hand removes the tip of the hose with a 3/8" wrench (flare or just open). Even with the oil pressure hose out of the way I can't say installation was "easy peasy". Lots of wires in the way. My first attempt failed because I trapped some wires under the left side speedo frame attachment point. Out it came again. This time paying attention to the wires, it got in much better. I had nuts on two of the three attachment points when I discovered that the red LED wire for the left side indicator at broken just outside the heat shrink that I had used to connect the wire to the two pin connector. Out again for repairs. (Can you see that I was having fun, right? ) In again, with no issues, at least with the easy two nuts. The third nut, the one on the 9 oclock position from the front (3 oclock from the back) is a nightmare. UNLESS you are double or triple jointed.;) A mechanically-inclined 10 year old grandkid would have been handy at this point. BUT alas, I have no kids OR grandkids, just grand nieces and nephews 400 km away. Left on my own, the only solution was to forge on. Based on what Del S (Dels56) had suggested previously (but I had ignored) (Sorry Del), I dropped the eBrake handle (two 1/2" bolts). That made access to that problem nut better but still not "easy peasy". I tried by hand and very kinked arm for about 1/2 hr yesterday before I gave up for the day. Slept on it and decided the only way to get that nut on would be with a 3/8" socket, loaded with "DumDum" (plumbers putty in may case) with the nut pushed firmly into the putty. That and some 1/4" drive extensions (one with a knurled bit) allowed me to get the nut started (FINALLY!!). I used a 3/8" 10-32 Nyloc nut because I didn't want it to come loose. Once the speedo was in and I was happy that it was clocked okay, I hooked up the wiring and tested the LEDs (again). The photo below shows the green signal indicators hooked up to the battery - just for photo purposes (tomorrow they will get their ring terminals and be attached to wiring bar on the rad support (green for left, brown for right). Would I do this again? Probably, but I would definitely drop the eBrake handle down and remove the oil pressure line before I did anything else to remove the speedometer. In this process, I also installed BA9 LED bulbs in the speedo and gauge wiring sockets so overall bonus. Final connections including the ring terminals at the front, the oil pressure gauge hose and the eBrake, tomorrow. Some photos from recent days (including this afternoon): (SpeedometerWIringGettingReadyForSpeedoReinstallation.jpg) (Modified56DodgeSpeedoWithLEDs_Back.jpg) (Modified56DodgeSpeedoWithLEDs_Front.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_BezelTapedToPreventScratching.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_InstallingTheNightmareNut.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_TestFiringTheNewLEDs.jpg) (56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_ShowingSpeedoAndGaugesWithBA9LEDbulbs.jpg) Attachments ---------------- SpeedometerWIringGettingReadyForSpeedoReinstallation.jpg (143KB - 249 downloads) Modified56DodgeSpeedoWithLEDs_Back.jpg (148KB - 233 downloads) Modified56DodgeSpeedoWithLEDs_Front.jpg (147KB - 252 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_BezelTapedToPreventScratching.jpg (149KB - 276 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_InstallingTheNightmareNut.jpg (142KB - 235 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_TestFiringTheNewLEDs.jpg (147KB - 262 downloads) 56DodgeSpeedoReinstallation_ShowingSpeedoAndGaugesWithBA9LEDbulbs.jpg (139KB - 242 downloads) | ||
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| 56D500boy |
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Exner Expert 10K+ Posts: 11026 Location: Lower Mainland BC | . Finally added ring terminals to the brown and green wires that I ran out to the rad support terminal block. Crimped, soldered and heat shrink. Removed the 3/8" nuts from the terminals with the green and brown wires and added my new wires and connectors. Tightened up the nuts and sat in the drivers seat. Turned the ignition to RUN and tried the signal lights (fingers crossed). Left signal = left green LED indicator. Right signal = right green LED indicator. That's a win. (I know my projects are trivial but I consider the end result(s) to be an improvement over the original factory offerings.). I still have to do a final check on the under dash wiring and return/connect the eBrake bracket to the bottom edge of the dash. But that is tomorrow. | ||
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