Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

[Sean D.]

I am refurbishing the gauge cluster, clock, radio and glove box for my 1967 Coupe.

I am looking for how the bezels that indicate the function of the heater, defroster, and fan controls, as well as the on, off, volume and tuning controls of the radio are illuminated with all of the other dash lights.

I know the bezels have a half moon shaped plastic shape on the back side of each one that looks like light will pass thru to light up the words on each respective bezel.

I have seen selective Corvette parts catalogs on line, with a tube shaped socket with a clip that indicates is a bulb holder(s) for this purpose.

A green membrane is to go over the rounded tip and a little window appears as a slot for light to pass through.

I do not have any indication as to where these bulb sockets go to illuminate these bezels.

Anyone seen this before and knows how there is to be light for these bezels?

There is a gray wire with a cap on it coming out of the wiring harness for the clock illumination. I suspect that this wire was cut as it is the gray wires that are used for all dash board illumination. Also, when I got the car, there was an aftermarket radio in it.

Any help to lead me to the answer(s) would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Sean
'67 Coupe, '68 Convertible (small blocks)

[Russ S.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

That tube shaped socket clips to the metal clock mount bracket above these listed items and lights them all. There is a slot in the clock bracket that the clip slides into.There is only one used.

[Richard M.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

Here's a photo and description from John Hinckley.....

All midyears, radio-equipped or not, have the 3-cavity radio connector pigtail on the dash harness; the center cavity in that connector has two wires in it - one black wire from the dash harness (that grounds everything in the car from the firewall back), and the other black wire in that cavity is a pigtail with a ring terminal on it that screws to the bottom of the Z-bar. If that pigtail with the ring terminal isn't screwed to the bottom of the Z-bar, nothing from the firewall back will be grounded properly.

The "torpedo" lamp that illuminates the heater controls that clips to the bottom of the clock mounting bracket gets ITS ground by the end of the upturned lip on the clip on the lamp housing contacting the outside of the clock case, which is grounded through the clock connector. Photo below shows the upturned end of the clip.


47651640d1272235248-dim-clock-and-heater-control-lighting-htrbezlamp700.jpg

In the case of cars with A/C, there are 2 more special lamps which fit into the end of the console circular area as shown in the above photo.

The stock radio bezels are not illuminated as they are metal with no translucence like the heater & A/C bezels.

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[Sean D.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

Russ and Richard:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. This explains it for me now. I was unaware that the radio bezels are not illuminated so that solves that mystery. A previous owner cut the gray wire and bulb socket for that "torpedo" lamp housing. They installed an aftermarket radio years ago and saw fit to cut that wire off and now there is a little cap on it.

IMG_4288.jpg

I now need to find a bulb socket that will fit into that torpedo. I bought the torpedo at a swap meet so I am good to go there. Any suggestions as to how or where I might find that a bulb socket that will fit in there that I can add to my harness?

Thank you both very much for your help on this. It is very much appreciated.

Sean

[Harry S.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

I may be confused on this, but don't those lights come from a separate harness that plugs in to the Aux. Light socket in the main panel in the firewall just above the drivers left foot. I think it's a 64 to 67 option. There is no Aux. Light socket on a 63, that's why I may be confused.

That separate harness is available along with the green covers from most of the parts suppliers.

[Sean D.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

Harry:

Thanks for your comment. I will check on my car tonight. I think there is just the single lamp and I am pretty sure it is that capped off gray wire in the dash harness right next to the two gray wires for the clock illumination. I have the green covers and the torpedo clip etc. I just need the socket to splice onto that capped off wire. You can see it there from the photo on my post.

If you know of a separate harness as you are referring to, please let me know if you can from what supplier? Lectric Limited will not sell smaller harnesses I believe.

Thanks again Harry.

Sean

[Harry S.]

Re: Illumination of bezels for heater, defroster, fan, radio for 1967

That extra harness may be a 64 - 67 A/C add-on.