Putting the pieces back together on my '57 Bird dash and replaceing bulbs that are broken or not working. The parts book calls for several different bulbs depending on where they go. Any 12 volt insturment bulb that fits the socket will work and this is not rocket science to me. Any down side if a bulb is a little brighter of dimmer than the specific one called for? I have a drawer full of various bulbs that I accumulated and am thinking there should not be a problem.

Only potential downside is if you put "too bright" a bulb in, it can eventually cause some of it's surroundings (read that "lens, bezel, plastic & paint") to do a very slow "burn", and/or get very brittle & crack/break-down.

Regards,   JLB

55 Ford Crown Victoria Steel Top

All lamps cause "heat" even a slightly larger watt bulb can do damage which the area surrounding it over time epecially if one drives at night a lot. I would try to find the correct ones for each position....Good Luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Where is a good place to purchase correct bulbs for the dash and the rest of the car? (Turn signals, dome light, etc.) They don't have a clue at any of the national auto-parts shops. They only know what is in their computer.

Jim - Erie Colorado, 1957 Country Sedan

The T-Bird parts suppliers have them. Cheaper at the parts store if you can find the numbers and if they are still available. Need to do some checking. Most of the genral lighting bulbs are the same. Turn signals, oil and gen light, high beam are different. I think there are 6 or 7 different #s. Will do some checking and see what I find. I am thinking the genera lighting ones wouln not be a problem. The others may be a problem if too much brighter and higher. As I recall there was a replacement for the tail light bulbs that was brighter but did not cause a problem.

If you have an owners manual, they usually listed the numbers.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Did a little more and careful research. I hate it when I misinterpret something I read in a manual or catalog. There are actualy only two different bulbs in the insturments. The map or interior light uses a #67 bulb. All the rest use a #57 bulb. I am thinking the #67 is brighter for the interior light. It is not as complicated as I thought. Tailights, parking lights, liscens plate light, and back up lights are another story. And if you have an automatic the light in the shifter is a different one also. The numbers I gave are the ones the auto parts store would use. Ford used their own part numbers of course.

http://www.martekled.com/-strse-188/Miniature-bayonet-LED-lamp/Detail.bok



I wonder if those would work. Is the voltage fed to the dash lights at battery level or at instrument cluster voltage regulator level? They should produce less heat and draw less current. And they should last a LOT longer than an incandescent bulb. They might be brighter than a real #57.

Jim - Erie Colorado, 1957 Country Sedan

The Concours Parts Tbird catalog has a chart on page 24 that lists all the bulbs, voltage, type and price, etc. They offer a complete bulb kit (27 for a 57 bird) for $19.95 or you can buy them individually. Seems like a kit would be the way to go to avoid aggravation at the parts counter and gas for the trip.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

Going to the on-line catalog at Concours Parts, I don't see a similar kit in the "49-59 Big Ford" catalog. However, searching for the part number 13466 appears to reveal all their lamps, as that is a common prefix to their part number.

Jim - Erie Colorado, 1957 Country Sedan