I have been noting the postings on how bright (read dim) the dash lights
are on a number of cars. My '71 GT6 was also quite dim.
Today I decided to fix it.
I pulled the Speedo and Tach to see what was the cause. As posted it was
a combination of loose/dirty lamp conections and a need for paint on the
inside of the housings. This was the main throuble.
The gages have little to no plastic, as in modern cars. The light does
not shine through translucent plastic faces, but rather is reflected around
from the back by a couple of metal baffes. These are painted a light
green to give the reflected light a green cast. This paint was flaking
off leaving a gray metal under. This does not reflect light well at all.
Cleaned up everything, repainted the inside of the gauge cases (and light
baffle), tighten up all the connections on reassembly.
A really worthwhile improvment. Even with my poor, 50-year-old, night
vision I can now see the number and needle clearly. Like new, I think.
Well worth the two hours spent.
Thomas Howard
1972 Triumph GT6,
(& a good bit of USA iron)
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