1977 Dash Problem

[wv1977]

One problem among many I have is no lights on dash except right turn signal. I've taken the dash apart once. There is/was a white plastic piece that held the bulbs. There were no wires to the bulbs as far as I could tell. My problem is the white piece is do old it's almost chalky and extremely brittle. I pulled some bulbs out and put the dash back together. Any thoughts or ideas to replace that part and where are the wires to the bulbs.It's hard to drive just during the say. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[fatherdoug]

The gauge cluster backing is manufactured by Dennis Carpenter, but can be purchased at other retailers like Bronco Graveyard for about $65(+/-). The bulbs themselves do not have wires, but, rather, they attach to a printed circuit board via a brass contactor that the bulb fits into.

You can also check out the following link from the 1978 manual in the manuals subforum for more info.
http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31340

Oh, and welcome to FTF.

 

[Beach66Bum]

And LMC Truck has parts too. Welcome to FTF
(I know Doug...)

 

[fatherdoug]

Tsk, Tsk.

 

[DNFXDLI]

I think I would search the wreckers for a good used one before buying LMC...or even search fleabay.

 

[SuperCab]

I've actually had good luck with lmc personally...

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[bucks77ford]

If you go out looking in the junkyards, try to look into the 80s Econoline Vans. They have the better plastic backs that won't crumble. When looking for a cluster, you have to get one that is compatible with your old one meaning if you have gauges, you need one with gauges and if you have warning lights you need one with warning lights. One can't substitute the other.

 

[Beach66Bum]

Thought I'd post this, this shows the difference between the printed circuit boards for the tach option(top one) This is the gauge cluster circuit board, not the warning lights.

 

[wv1977]

Thanks for all the info. Lots of good ideas. I have no place warm to work now. Looks a trip to the junkyard first. Do you all think my circuitboard is OK since the signal light works. Maybe I need bulbs too.

 

[Beach66Bum]

When I replaced mine, I gently wiped down the circuit board with a soft, non- abrasive cloth. I cleaned the bulb holders too. In my pic above, you can see how clean the contacts are after the cleaning, and when you replace the bulbs in the bulb socket holder, they are a 1/4 turn to lock in. Has to lock properly for a positive contact for the bulbs to lite.

 

[RustyCJ]

Didn't Texasnomad post a pretty good write up about cleaning and rebuilding a cluster?

 

[Mil1ion]

A gauge cluster has 18 pins and a larger connector
A warning light cluster has a small 14 pin connector.

The 70's vans came with plastic cluster backs which is an upgrade to the F series

I have a few cluster backs left for sale but wrecking yards in NON-Tropical climates last longer.
It is the heat that kills them.

I saw on ebay that complete clusters are going for $40.00

Just have the seller confirm the engineering number of the cluster back