Instrument light installation with round speedometer panel - 30 std coupe

[brianpharmd]

Anyone know if the 1930 standard 5 window coupe (no cowl lights) had an instrument light? I have a round speedometer with the notch for the wire. I just can't seem to figure out how to mount the light. The cab crossmember does not have a cut out for the light. Makes it hard to see at night in the car so I wanted to install one for driving. See pictures of my dash.

Any advice or pictures of one installed on this type of car would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[Mike V. Florida]

INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMP
The instrument panel lamp was mounted in the
center of the panel on all vehicles equipped with an
oval speedometer. It was finished in bright nickel
plate. The ribbed instrument panel had a lamp
with an integral switch that was mounted up Lmder
the dash panel (front belt rail moulding). It had
an unpolished nickel plate finish and a cadmium
plated or zinc plated bracket. The brackets on open
models were 3" long and those on closed models
2-7 /16" long and were not interchangeable.
Cabriolets and Convertible Sedans used the closed
model lamp. A spiral metal armored wire from
the lamp fit into a small slot in the top edge on
the ribbed instrument panel. All instrument panel
lamps used a 3 cp bulb.

I see nothing in the guidelines that specify anything model specific except as mentioned. I would say they were on all models.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

The same question came up about a year ago, and someone posted pictures of the mounted light under the dash rail.

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Hi Brian, You need to order the dash light from Snyder's. It comes with the mounting bracket. The center dash rail screw goes thru the bracket and a square nut screws on the other side.

At least that is the way it mounts on my '30 Town Sedan.

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/dash-light-2677

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Here is a picture posted by Kirk in NJ in a past post. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1376905 I must admit your does look a little different...

 

[brianpharmd]

Here is a picture posted by Kirk in NJ in a past post. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1376905 I must admit your does look a little different...

Hello Y-Blockhead,

I do have the light as in your previous post. I installed the dash light in my slant window and did not have any problems. It looks exactly as yours does in your picture.

I looked at the previous thread and that focused more on how to hook up the instrument light to the instrument panel. I am trying to figure out why I cannot mount this light to the dash rail. I've attached some additional pictures with wording/focus on what is causing my issue. It appears to be that this cross member in the dash rail is blocking access to the dash rail mounting hole. That is why I was hoping someone with a standard 30 coupe had the light installed to they could include a picture from up under the dash rail facia or take the facia off and take a picture.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[brianpharmd]

Here is the picture of the one installed in my slant window where there is no cross member in the dash rail blocking the light or access to installing the light. You can see it compared to the one in the 30 coupe.

I am not sure if something was modified on my slant window to allow the light to be installed or if something is not correct on my 30 coupe that will not allow me to install the light.

Thanks,

Brian

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Yes that is what I meant when I wrote "I must admit your does look a little different... ". The cross brace and also the hole looks threaded. I'm sure mine is not threaded because a nut is behind the light bracket. I think my Town Sedan is more like your slant window. I'll try and get a picture of mine this morning.

Does anyone know why the coupe is different in this area?

 

[1930 coupe]

It looks like your car is a early 1930 and came with a oval speedometer and someone replaced the gas tank with a late 1930 tank that uses a round speedometer.
You will need to modify your car to make the light fit or replace the tank with the proper oval speedometer tank.

 

[katy]

Maybe make an extension bracket to move the light off to one side or the other of that crossmember?

 

[brianpharmd]

It looks like your car is a early 1930 and came with a oval speedometer and someone replaced the gas tank with a late 1930 tank that uses a round speedometer.
You will need to modify your car to make the light fit or replace the tank with the proper oval speedometer tank.

Thanks. That makes sense to the reason why I can't install the dash rail light. It may be easier and cheaper to make a bracket like Katy suggested then to try to replace the tank, instrument panel, speedo, etc.

I'll probably have to create a braket that mounts between the dash rail and the dash facia since these are screws that hold the dash facia on versus bolts like on my slant window. I'll have to do some measurements and then be sure the light grounds.