Just got back from the junkyard where they had a new 'clunker' Ramcharger and 1st gen truck.
Among the stuff I got was a map light. Had my 92 CTD for a couple of years before I found out what the strange hole in the gauge bezel was for. Until today, I'd only seen pics of them. Paid $5 and it even works! It was hanging loose in an earlier model Ramcharger. But...it's smaller than the opening in the bezel (see pic).
Is this the right one? It has metal brackets that don't fit the bezel or the dash. Without the brackets, it would fit two slots up in the dash (higher up than the ones for the bezel), but it's a tight fit. I'm concerned about the heat from the bulb damaging the dash, since it's in great shape, with no cracks.
The housing has numbers on either side of the switch:4363033 and 23916. There's also a 205 next to the switch (date code?).
So, is this light correct for my 92, and how should I mount it? Those two mounting slots up in the dash don't have any clips for screws to grab onto.
I'm tempted to just glue it to either the bezel or those slots, but I'd much rather have it done 'right'.

Other things I got were some badly needed door panel clips and original door lock ***** to replace the cheesy 'anti-theft' *****.

I'd like to say this is a great site. It has renewed my interest in the old truck, which has been mostly retired since I bought a new Honda Civic two years ago.
I've always appreciated it though, and hope it will last forever. Been doing a lot of things to it the last few weeks to make it better. Thanks!

 

That looks like my light does.

 

How is yours mounted? To the bezel, or up in the dash with some kind of clips to hold it to the brackets?
If it uses clips, they must be different from the ones the bezel attaches with, because I slipped one off and tried to put it on the light bracket but it really doesn't want to go on. The light bracket looks a little different, too: The slot for the screw isn't as wide.
To get it on, I'd have to use so much force, the bracket might snap off.
I know this dash is 17 year old plastic, and I can just see myself breaking one of the mounting brackets...DOH!

 

This is how the lamp assembly is mounted to the insturment panel bezel, there is a one-piece bracket that is pop riveted to its edge.



Here is the view from the top.

The bezel has to be installed into the dash without the light assembly in place, you can either tuck it back into the dash out of the way or poke the lamp through the hole and let it hang through the front.

Then after you snap the bezel into place you can reach up and work the light into place and then have fun getting the screws into the bracket using a magnetic screwdriver.



This is the actual light; it will have a Festoon Base lamp



Here I made my replacement using an LED module.



I removed the mounting bracket and used its existing holes to mount my lexan base.



Here is what it looks like at night; you need to reduce its brightness by about 25% due to the timed exposure.



I hope this helped answer your question.
Jim

 

Wow...hey thanks, Jim. That does explain it very well. That bracket seems to be the key.
Were these lights optional? I noticed my bezel doesn't have rivet holes for the bracket as in your second picture.
I've never seen a block-off plate in any of the bezels. Maybe since this is a rootin' tootin' pickup truck, they didn't need any sissy block-off plates for folks who didn't order the light. The hole is kind of hidden, too.
I tried mounting the light on the bezel with industrial Velcro, and you're right - it won't go in. Even if I had spliced an extra few inches to the light's wiring.

Guess I'll take a break from the light for a while and work on some other truck projects. I doubt I will find one of those brackets. Might go back to the junkyard tomorrow and see if the truck the light was in has one. The light was just hanging out of the dash, but it might have one.

 

The tabs you have attached to your light look like they have been cut from the bracket and flattened out for some reason, Ill bet that if you were to bend them back into a Z shape they would work, you would just have to drill 2 small holes in your bezel to mount them.

I would mount the light to the bracket first and then center it in the opening to see where to drill the holes.

I have heard a lot of people with stock model trucks have never know there was a light in there or know what the opening was for.

BTW was there a connector in the dash to plug in the light?

Jim

 

You sure have a good eye for details, Jim. But I already knew that from reading your "how-to" posts.
Thank you very much!
I'll be sure and let you know how it turns out...

 

You can get LEDs bulbs that fit the OEM holder at superbrightleds.com. I've installed them in my Ramchargers a couple years a go & love them. You can even get them in assorted Colors!!!

 

mhh how come when ever I see a Jim Lane posting, I now I am going to see some LED lights some were in it and get jealous

 

Well, finally finished all the things I was doing to the dash and the map light is installed. Pretty cool - lots of light now.
Had to buy a timer - $15 at NAPA.

Now on to installing the glovebox light, then headlight relays. Thanks, Jim!