aaros's floorpan thread

That bulb is a pain. I had to replace it on my '84 so I could see whether or not I'm in OD (my exhaust is too frickin' quiet).

Basically, you pop off the shifter handle, and remove the four screws holding on the trim. It's not necessary, really, but I found it a lot easier to remove those two little 1/4" screws holding the black "arch" that goes under the shift indicator needle and then removing the one screw holding the pointer needle and bulb socket bracket onto the shifter shaft. There's two little tabs holding the bulb onto the bracket with spring tension, so just pry a little bit at it with a thin flat screwdriver to pop that sucker loose.

Take the bulb down to Autozone or Checker or whatever store with a big bulb selection (Wal-Mart never carries these weird-sized bulbs) and make sure you match the bulb number EXACTLY. I don't remember the number right off hand, and I don't think it's listed in their system, but it's a two-digit number in the 60's ... 63? 65? Something like that. If you get a bulb that's too fat or too long, it won't allow you to fit the hold-down for the bulb socket into place without pinching/breaking the bulb (found out the hard way, myself ) or being too tall to allow the "arch" to fit on.

Install is pretty much reverse of removal. Be aware that the bulb socket only goes into that little holder ONE WAY, so don't force it if it doesn't snuggle itself in there. If you bent the holding tabs out too far to where it won't snap into place, just tweak 'em back inward a bit with a pair of needle-nose pliers.

If everything goes smoothly and you have the right bulb size and remember how everything came apart, this is like a 15 minute process; if you're like me and try to force the wrong-sized bulb to work, and wind up jury-rigging the sucker into place, it could take an hour or more.

Oh, and be careful not to bend the shift indicator needle or its mount, otherwise it'll point between gears or to the wrong gear and you'll have to take everything apart again to tweak the little bugger back into place.

Your orignal floor pans look mint compared to mine... I'll be doing this project soon. What guage sheet metal did you use? And did you remover anything underneath before welding.. ie brake/ fuel lines?

aar0s said:

i got it out of the indicator but the bulb is inside of some kind of houseing that i cant get it out of with out breaking it. it almost looks like the houseing and bulb are one piece. ill mess with it a little at lunch...

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Hmmm ... maybe the Aero Foxes had a slightly different setup than the four-eyed Foxes. Maybe post up a pic or two of what you've got...?

Wow is that a east coast or mid west car, I would hate to have to work with a car that rust out from under you.

just wedge the cubby hole thing in under the radio, it will stay put. it originally bolted to a little stud off the bottom of the stock head unit and the two went in as one piece but if you have an aftermarket unit you can either get it in there by friction fit or go to a stereo shop and get an install kit that includes the cubby delete panel

aar0s said:

the car orig. came from FL. nothing like salty air to do wonders...

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My car is a original Florida car too... yeah salt is a hell of a thing. I wish I had a place to do some rust work, I might have to give the pony up.

Looks good to me!

Man ... those seats would go niiiiiiice in the Black Pearl. (I have the same seats, actually, except mine are gray ... with seat covers. )