HELLO DAVE, DON'T KNOW IF YOU DEAL WITH ANY EDSEL FOLKS. IF YOU DO YOU MIGHT
RUN THIS BY THEM:
UNIQUE TO THE '58 IS A SEPARATE DASH LIGHT DIM / BRIGHT SWITCH THAT IS UNDER THE
DASH, RIGHT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND HIDDEN FROM VIEW. THIS IS BECAUSE THE
HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS A TOGGLE SWITCH THAT ONLY TURNS ON AND OFF, WITH NO
CONNECTION TO THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT DIMMER.
THE ORIGINAL FACTORY SWITCH WAS NO GOOD FROM DAY ONE ------THE SPRING INSIDE
WOULD MELT LEAVING THE DASH FULLY BRIGHT OR FULLY BLACKED OUT WITH NO WAY TO
ADJUST THE LIGHTS. OVER THE YEARS I'VE PULLED 6 OR 8 OF THESE OUT OF PARTS CARS
AND EVERY ONE WAS BAD---------NOT ONE OF HENRY'S BRIGHTER IDEA'S FOR SURE.
THE ONE IN MY '58 WAS BAD WHEN I GOT THE CAR AND I WAS LUCKY TO FIND AN N.O.S.
SWITCH, IN THE BOX, DOWN AT THE SAN DIEGO AUTO SWAP MEET. PAID BIG BUCKS FOR IT
AND GUESS WHAT? PUT IT IN, USED IT TWICE AND IT BURNED OUT TOO!!!!!
A FEW YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A 1991 MITISUBISHI PICK UP FROM A FRIEND OF MINE, THIS
THING WAS LIKE NEW WITH LOW MILES AND I BROKE MY VOW TO NEVER BUY A JAP RICE
ROCKET. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT IN THE DARK THE DASH LIGHTS SURE SEEMED DIM
AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO GO HIGH OR LOW WITH THE LEVER ON THE STALK. HALF WAY
HOME I GOT TO THINKING THIS THING COULD HAVE A SEPARATE SWITCH LIKE THE EDSEL,
SO I REACHED UNDER THE DASH IN THE SAME PLACE IT IS ON THE EDSEL. THERE IS A
NEAR IDENTICAL SWITCH, IN THE SAME PLACE AND GUESS WHAT-----IT WORKS
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE HOLE THRU THE DASH BOTTOM REQUIRES BEING REAMED OUT SLIGHTLY BUT OTHERWISE
IT'S A DIRECT PLUG-IN REPLACEMENT FOR A COUPLE OF BUCKS AT THE BONE YARD, AND
EVERY ONE I HAVE FOUND, UNLIKE HENRY'S, WORKS!
IF YOU KNOW OR DEAL WITH ANY EDSEL GUYS, YOU MIGHT RUN THIS BY THEM. THE LITTLE
DODGE DURANGO PICKUP IS THE SAME AS THE MITSUBISHI PICKUP AND YOU CAN STILL FIND
THESE IN THE JUNK YARDS.
HOW THIS CAME UP NOW, AN EDSEL OWNER FROM UP IN SANTA BARBARA HEARD ABOUT THIS
FROM SOMEONE IN THE FAB.50'S CSR CLUB, AND GAVE THIS GUY MY PHONE NUMBER. SEEMS
HE HAS BEEN DRIVING WITH NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FOR 17 YEARS. IT TOOK ABOUT 3
MINUTES TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEM---------------HE DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS A SEPERATE
SWITCH AND THOUGHT THE HEADLIGHT / TAIL-LIGHT TOGGLE SWITCH WAS BAD. TO ADD
INSULT TO INJURY, HIS SWITCH ACTUALLY WORKS---------THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I’VE
EVER SEEN THAT DOES!!!!!
I GAVE HIM ONE OF THE JAP UNITS AND I'M SURE HE WILL NEED IT
SOON.------------TONY.
Thanks for the heads-up, Tony. The only insight I can add is this: That
wire-wound resistor is made from ni-chrome (nickel-chromium) wire, usually
mounted on porcelain (for high heat).
If you put too many (or higher wattage) lights in the dashboard circuit, the
wire-wound resistor will overheat and burn open. Ford should have used thicker
wire for a greater load.
My 1990 Mustang has a separate dash dimming wheel, mounted just left of the
column.
Dave