Dash illumination Part Issue

[610StaWag]

Too long a story to go into; I would like to know where to buy the black plastic insert & twist dash illumination fittings (early 1973 Datsun 610 station wagon). Here are two photos of one of mine that is cracked. On the back it says: Toshiba.

 

IMG_4628 by Donald Broz, on Flickr

 

IMG_4627 by Donald Broz, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

[MikeRL411]

In my experience the plastic part is only to physically hold to the printed circuit board.  The bulb has 2 looped wire connectors that plug into the plastic socket.  Pull the bulb a go look for a replacement.  As to the cracked plastic try epoxy.  Yours just might work as is.

[610StaWag]

Thank you for responding but I am not looking for bulbs, I am looking for a source for the black plastic (insert & twist) dash illumination fittings. Do other Datsuns have the same part? Is there a source for them?

[datzenmike]

These are the most common bulb holder through the '70s. Someone will have some... http://community.ratsun.net/classifieds/category/7-electrical/?sort_key=date_added&sort_order=desc

[flatcat19]

Google L194 twist socket.

 

 

You can get 20 of them for a couple bucks from wish.com

[610StaWag]

Thanks Flatcat19 & Datzenmike!

 

ps, What ever happened to Flatcat1,  Flatcat2.....

[flatcat19]

They used capitals to spell flatcat.

[610StaWag]

I am having a bit of difficulty finding an insert and twist socket like the one in my 1973 Datsun. I was told, by auto parts stores, “194” only refers to the bulb. I have done an internet search for “L194”, but I find no sockets. There is a “L194” but this is a round pill. I have found a “T10 194” but this was a bulb and socket said to be for Fords. 

On Amazon & eBay I did find a lot of sockets, I saw three types of socket bases, none matched the ones in my 1973 Datsun.

[datzenmike]

The part you want is 26260-89900 used till 11 '75 in the 610 then it changed. It was used in...

 

610

PL510

B110 and in the 620 truck through '79

 

Find any one of these cars in a field, back yard or wrecking yard and there you go. Did you post a want ad? It's free and probably several people out there willing to part with one.... http://community.ratsun.net/classifieds/category/7-electrical/?sort_key=date_added&sort_order=desc

[flatcat19]

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/vehicle-bulb-sockets-adapters/168-194-921-t3-14-twist-lock-wedge-base-socket/704/962/

[610StaWag]

I used my digital caliper to compare the Superbright socket 704/962 sizes with a socket from the 610 and I find all my sizes were bigger. My max dia is 20.08 and Superbright has theirs at 18.42. So I checked some pennies, officially at 19.05 and my caliper said 19.04.

 

I buy stuff from Super bright, I will check with them about the dimensions.

Thank you flatcat19.

 

And thank you datzenmike, great to get those numbers. I will post an ad.

[flyerdan]

Keep in mind that these were a de facto standard for a while, and were used on a lot of Japanese cars.  I know that Toyota used them in the 70's, and I would imagine that a lot of manufacturers that used 194 bulbs for dash illumination employed them as well.  This should be an easy find from someone local who has parted something out.

 

I just checked a 91 S-10 that I'm parting out, it has the same circuit board panel but the lights are integrated into the socket and the circumference is much smaller, but that indicates that GM probably used them as well which really opens the field.

[datzenmike]

 

 

I put a 720 dash in my 620 and these were the sockets used. The right most one (Black) was from a 620 and early 720 (Brown). The left (smaller) were later 720 and maybe a Hardbody.

[610StaWag]

Can't find any place that has the socket. They all tell me to find a used one.

 

I have tried ads to no avail. I have worked on/rebuilt several old cars over the years, 1960's Nash Metropoliten, 1947 Jeep station wagon, 1964 (I think) German Opel Kadett 1.1 (I rebuilt the engine down to 100% bare all parts. I was intrigued with the valve gear that reminded me of a 283 Chevy. When I was done I drove from Fresno to a city near Santa Barbara and averaged 49 mpg. I measured the gas before and after the test trip. I had an early 1960's Dodge panel van and didn't do much to it. The slant six need too much work. I spent about thirty years (part-time) restoring a 1978 Fiat (parts were the easiest to get for this car since it is so common).

 

I found that after a car is over twenty years old it is very hard to find used parts. For twenty years I have looked for a 610 being parted out without luck. The parts I need are, of course, often the same parts that failed on someone else's 610.

 

Same situation for the driver's door handle. That is the door handle most often used, so it is the first to fail, and so is the toughest to find used.

[flatcat19]

No Datsun in any junkyards near you?

[Lockleaf]

A 610 just dropped in a yard north of me here in Utah along side an 810. Both wagons. If i manage to make it up there on Saturday i will see what i can find for you.

 

https://www.ksl.com/classifieds/listing/45789980

 

Here's the ad they put out

[610StaWag]

Thanks Lockleaf. I called them but it appears I was too late.

Yes there are several junk yards but I they told me they cannot afford to keep cars that are over ten years old.

[610StaWag]

Almost there.

I now have the: Headlights (low&high), turn signals (and dash indicators), exterior emergency flashers and dash flashers indicator light, fan. both dome lights, radio, fuel level needle works, temp level needle works, seat belt light, charging light, back –up, brake lights, side running lights, windshield wipers and washer pump and horn working.

Question #1.

All that is missing is the illumination to the gauges: Temp, Fuel, and Speedometer. Please see the Question #1 photo. I think that is a plug meant to go into the back of the dash/gauge console panel. It seems like the female plug would just reach the back of the dashes male plugs if the dash where put back together.  That would mean I would have to work under the dash in a very confined space. I have a physical limitation with my hands that would make this very difficult for me. Is it ok to splice in wires to extend the length of the plug wires? This would allow me to make the connections while the dash was pulled out and open.

What do you think of using IDC splicing boxes? Should I solder with heat shrink to extend the wiring?

Question #2

I do not recall where this light should go. The bulb turns on when I turn on the headlights. The dash gauges have twist sockets that have their own wedge bulbs.

 

 

Last 2 questions by Donald Broz, on Flickr