Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

[Ciro A.]

I'm on the road this week so I don't have access to my car but figured I'd take advantage of the expertise of NCRS members. Where are the lightbulb/s located that illuminate the ventilation panel on a 1981 Corvette. I'm hoping its an easy bulb replacement. All help is appreciated
Thanks!1.jpg

[Arland D.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Directly above the controls on the underside of the dash pad is a panel with two philips head screws. The light is mounted on the top side of the plastic panel and is an unusual bulb in an unusual socket.

[Steven B.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Arland, is it a "wheat" bulb"? Thanks, Steve

[Arland D.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Steve,

I must have led a sheltered life - never heard of a "wheat" bulb. As I recall, the bulb is pinched flat at the bottom with the two wires exiting through the bottom and running up the sides.

[Steven B.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Yep, that is what we used to call a wheat bulb. I don't know the real name.

[Terry M.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

I have a couple of those bulbs (based on Arland's description) on my Caprices. I get replacements from Radio Shack. $1.98 for 2 of them. I can get you some Radio Shack numbers if you have a number for the Corvette panel bulb. There is a twist in holder that retains the bulb and the wire leads twist around notches in the holder. It takes good eyes and a steady hand to replace them. Does that sound like them?

[Ciro A.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Thanks guys, i knew you would help!

[Arland D.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Terry,

That sounds exactly like the set up in the Vette - mine was mangled at the factory but that is a long story.............................

[Ciro A.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Arland,

I will look for this panel, but I'm curious to know what do you mean by Dash Pad. The only dash pad I know is on the top of the dashboard, the ventilation controls are in the center console. Appreciate your help.

[Arland D.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Ciro,

Look directly up from the controls at the underside of the dash and you will see the plate - hence the underside of the dash pad.

[Terry M.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Let's see how this works: Radio Shack catalog number 272-1092. #7219 Micro Lamp (package of two) shows $1.99 in the on-line catalog. Ordering from the on-line catalog will kill you with shipping. One of the advantages of living in a large metro area is I can walk a couple of blocks to a Radio Shack store that has these in stock. If they are out I can drive about a mile to another.

We used to call these "grain of wheat" bulbs when they first came out, and that was more than a few years before your 1981 was built

[Ciro A.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Thank You Arland and Terry!

[Arland D.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Terry,

The bulb that was removed and the new bulb did not have the long wires running wild out of the bulb. The wires were short, pre-formed little loops running back up the sides of the flattened glass at the bottom.

[Terry M.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Terry,

The bulb that was removed and the new bulb did not have the long wires running wild out of the bulb. The wires were short, pre-formed little loops running back up the sides of the flattened glass at the bottom.

Then the one I posted is something different. Sorry, I tried.

[Ciro A.]

Re: Help getting my 1981 ventilation panel to illuminate

Arland and Terry,

So as I understand this system the ventillation control panel is not backlit internally but illuminated from above via the bulbs in the dash underside? Just curious as I am not home and cant loook at my car. I seem to remember the controls being backlit internally