willysmjeeps.com

Pulled my gauge panel and disassembled, including the dash lights.

For reference, the bulb appears changeable without removing the panel by grasping the back portion behind the panel, pushing in, and turning to the left. It is kept in place with a spring and notch/pin setup, just like the bulbs.

Simple once you've seen it apart. That is some spring.



Be aware the ground wire from the middle assembly is soldered to the back cover. You don't have to remove it to change the bulb, but I'm rewiring, so I cut it. I am missing (or it rotted away) an additional grommet/seal behind the bulb holder around the wire to waterproof.

Brian

When I had mine apart I was impressed at how robust the red lenses were. It kind of reminded me of a little shot glass.

No kidding!

I was thinking the same thing. They are stout!

So the dash lights up red? I don't have the my dash gauges set up on my project but have been looking to see what parts I need. My dash plate doesn'teven have these 2 holes cut completely through.

I've taken all three of my dash lights out.....gauge illumination and high beam indicator.....and all three of them have dry rotted rubber gaskets that press against the back of the lens. Does anybody supply new rubber gaskets for these fixtures? I've been experimenting with various grades and thicknesses of leather trying to come up with a suitable substitute but so far have been unsuccessful....or just haven't tried hard enough.

I really don't quite understand how these lights worked.....I can see the slots in the speedometer and in the lens cover where the light illuminates the speedometer....but how did this do anything for the other gauges? Just curios as I don't think I had any original gauges left....or at least none that had illumination slots in the side like the speedo.

Jim, all the gauges should have the illumination slots in them just as your spedometer has.

southpw,
The lights are in the middle between the top and bottom row of gauges. The slots for lighting face up and down.




id, yes, I need those rubber grommets as well. Anyone have a source?

Thanks!
B

I see you are cleaning the layers of paint off. Here's a tip, take it for what's it worth. Use a propane torch and soften the paint and scrape it off with a putty knife for the heavy stuff and use steel wool for the little stuff. You don't want to light it up just bubble it a little. To much heat will deform the part. It gets paint out of all those little nooks and crannies. I did I this on mine and it worked well. Burning paint off is a good option on a lot of things just stay off of the metal, to much heat will ruin the part.

Thanks! I'll try it!

I have LOTS of paint and Bondo to get off yet.

B

Bondo might be interesting, it might just take off and burn. Have a hose handy and outside.

Watch burning old paint off it might be lead and is very toxic.
Rob.
M38A1CDN3

Propane does a wondrous job on softening bondo. You can control it from flaming up by controlling the flame. Just heat it real good and gouge away.

Check Ebay ,m38 dash light gaskets. sold by ablinn

Thaks DJ!

This hobby is toxic both to the pocket book AND health and well-being!

Well, maybe not the last. Nothing like grinding away on something all day and when the sun goes down and you grab an adult beverage and look back, you actually accomplished something.

Pretty sure everything below that nasty bluish house paint is probably lead based!

B

Well checked out the gaskets. They look like o-rings.
I don't see anything even close with what I have in hand.

I checked the ORD G-740 parts list but unfortunately the breakdown doesn't go down far enough into the fixture to show any seals.

Also, to clarify, the lamps mount with the brackets aligned vertically with the lenses shining out to the sides, not up and down as I noted above.

Looking at the gauge cluster in G-740 page 110. Any idea what T- shield is? I don't see anything like that on mine.

B