When I restored my 69 Camaro 22 years ago, the fiber optic cable from the instrument cluster to the ashtray was damaged pretty bad and didn't transmit light much at all so I just threw it away. Back then, I didn't think twice about it. But for several years now it has bothered me that the FO ashtray light was the only thing on my Camaro that didn't work. Well I decided to fix that. I bought a used FO cable off eBay for $20 last week. After completing the installation this evening, I wanted to see how well it worked in total darkness. So I turned off all the shop lights, turned the flash off on my phone camera, put a towel over the console gauges to block their light and a towel over the instrument cluster to block that light. I am really amazed at just how bright it is. I've attached a few pictures to this thread so you can see it. I hope you like it as much as I do. Although I don't smoke, I think it's really cool looking. LOL
Bigfish45
69 Ashtray Fiber Optic Working Now
When I restored my 69 Camaro 22 years ago, the fiber optic cable from the instrument cluster to the ashtray was damaged pretty bad and didn't transmit light much at all so I just threw it away. Back then, I didn't think twice about it. But for several years now it has bothered me that the FO ashtray light was the only thing on my Camaro that didn't work. Well I decided to fix that. I bought a used FO cable off eBay for $20 last week. After completing the installation this evening, I wanted to see how well it worked in total darkness. So I turned off all the shop lights, turned the flash off on my phone camera, put a towel over the console gauges to block their light and a towel over the instrument cluster to block that light. I am really amazed at just how bright it is. I've attached a few pictures to this thread so you can see it. I hope you like it as much as I do. Although I don't smoke, I think it's really cool looking. LOL
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Nice! Also, if you remove the green lens for the speedo and other gauge, you can see them quite easily.
I changed the bulbs in the tach and speedo to 2825s a while back and done a little white paint work in the unseen parts of the reflectors and it really brighten them up. Also changed the gauge pod bulbs to 1816s and painted the underneath of the gauge cover white. It really brightened them up too. LOL
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LMAO.......Hey buddy, long time no hear from. Hope all is well. I'm just trying to get my car to the point so I can compete against yours! LOL
I didn't know that older Camaros had an ashtray light. Mine is a 79 and my brother took it on himself to make one from scratch about 25 years ago. It has a peanut bulb in a red plastic cap from a spray can of WD-40.
I'm going to have to dig in the box of spare parts to find the optic cable that I know I have. Can't let BigFish45 get the better of me. I have LED bulbs in my instrument lights. They look good, but don't dim very well.
It's my understanding that the FO ashtray light was only available if the dealer ordered optional RPO code ZJ9, which was the auxiliary light package. Someone correct me if I'm wrong please.
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