Discussion moved to "Hudson" forum category

Nathan let me know how many 55 bulbs you need.

Nathan,

What year, what model? Which lights exactly? If would help if you would be a little more specific. All the owners manuals tell what the bulbs are that should be used. If you don't have a manual, you might pick one up. Probably int he service manual also. Also, where are you located? maybe someone nearby can help you. If it's the original wiring, it would not surprise me if that's the problem. You can usually look at the bulbs and see if the filaments are broken or not. Could just be a ground connection is bad due to some corrosion.

Of course, pretty foolish of me to omit this: 1954 Hornet, Lafayette Indiana.

I tested bulbs with a multimeter and pitched the bad ones. But I don't have a manual yet, just the service book which I didn't find it in.

I think that just because the 57 bulbs fit doesn't mean that they will work. I found some specs online and they are different from the 55 bulbs, but I didn't understand what all the different numbers meant other than the 57 say 14 volt and the 55 say 7 volt.

So, I think I have my answer, or at least a place to start.

Nathan,

Here's the link to the Owner's Manual for 1954 Hudson. Go to page 27. Any reputable, non-lazy auto parts store clerk ought to be able to match these numbers to the correct ones for your Hudson. Note the qualifications and find a good store to go to.

http://hudsonterraplane.com/tech/1954/1954OwnersManual.pdf

General dash lamps are going to be Mazda #55, 2 candle power or CP with single base.

Awesome, thanks!

You hit the "difference" nail on the head. The 57 is a 12-volt lamp. The 55 is a 6-volt lamp. Both are the same size and fit the same socket, but are of different voltages. If your car is still running on its 6-volt system, it will illuminate a 6-volt lamp but not a 12-volt one.

To find a #55 lamp (or any other lamp for your Hudson), Google "#55 bulb" and you'll find places that sell them.
However, since Lance is one of "us" and knows his Hudson stuff backwards and forwards, I'd just get the bulbs from him. For heaven's sake buy a couple extras. And check your other bulbs. Being 6-volt they, too, won't be as easy to replace as 12-volt ones, so why not order at least one extra of each type in your car, and carry them with you? It will make more economic sense to order several bulbs at once.

So, I got them all installed, and I was pretty super excited that I could do it without taking the dash apart!

So, I have a light by the sterling column, under the instrument panel, that comes on with the parking lights, but not the headlights.

Is that right? What's the purpose?

I'm going to try to attach two pitiful pictures to show the location.

Perhaps it got switched and I just need to put it in the correct place. Perhaps it is problematic because of my rheostat that only has a tiny sweet spot. The diagram in my repair manual is like hieroglyphics to me.

Don't understand. This "light by the steering column" is under the dash? With the socket hanging free (socket not attached to anything)? Is this socket pictured in either of your two photos?

If the socket is hanging free, I'd look for a hole into which to clip the socket (much the same way the dash light and the idiot light sockets fit into holes on the back of the instrument housing).

Nathan,
I can't tell from the pictures, but maybe this will help. When you look at the ignition switch where you put the key in, there's a plastic surround. When it's dark, one is supposed to get into the car, turn the parking lamps on, and the ignition switch and a place beneath it light up so you can see where to put the key in, instead of stabbing at the dash. Not sure if you light is connected into the place where it plugs into the ignition switch. I might be wrong, but think that may be your light. When you turn headlights on all the way, presumably you have the engine running and this light is no longer needed (and is annoying perhaps when driving, so it was set to go off at that point).

Thanks, Tim. That's the one and that's how it works.

And the explanation makes sense, even if it's not how I was expecting it to work.

Nathan

Here is what i picked up from a vendor i buy all my IT stuff for work from called frigid north in anchorage. I used mainly the 12 v since i plan on converting to 12v system in the future. They also come in green, red, orange, and yellow which i used for the dash lights behind those colors on the panel to give a better glow. Of course the 12v work on 6v just dimmer but hooked up a 12v battery to the 6v bulb and it was super bright. Left it plugged in for 24 hrs to see if it would burn it out faster and nope still was on and not hot at all. They are led.

Scott, I also think about converting to 12v, but it's not happening in the near future, so I went the less expensive route. The LEDs I saw online were like $8 each and I used 7. I bought a 10 pack for $13, with no waiting and no worries about whether it would work or not.

But I really wanted brighter and LEDs!