Interior LED Lighting Upgrades - 1967-68 Mercury Cougar XR-7

Tired of the dim incandescent bulbs in your Cougar's interior and gauges? We have LED upgrades for all of them! This was originally done as a part of our interior improvements video ( • Interior Improvements ... ), but we decided to split them up into separate features.
Changing the bulbs is pretty easy, and the results are dramatic. Brighter, whiter light, less power draw, and less heat are all benefits of LED's.
We'll put together a more itemized list of links, but for now, here's a look at all the LED bulbs we offer, including the ones shown in the video: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com...

[@rustyjebbia8269]

I just finished my upgrade to LED’s in my 68 XR7’s interior. I did everything that Don has shone in his video. From the dash lights to the door courtesy lights and everything else in the interior. What a fantastic improvement. I would highly recommend this upgrade to everyone that has an early Cougar.

[@Primus54]

I had forgotten just how many interior lights were included in the XR7 package. The LEDs really modernize the car without losing its 60’s charm.

[@wanyelewis9667]

Had a '67 XR-7 in college. It was already 12 years old when I got it so, even though you couldn't tell right away, rust would eventually claim it. Gold/Brown exterior with a white vinyl top; beautiful brown leather, etc. One of the prettiest aspects of the interior was the way the dashboard & interior lighting looked at night. And once I went over it, every light worked. Of course, there were no LED light bulbs back in 1980, but even new incandescent bulbs made a difference.

[@peter455sd]

Hahaha,watching these videos is like traveling in time,the things i used to do in my cars when i was young,awesome !

[@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488]

Hopefully some of those things were various women haha

[@jasmynmedia5649]

Great video! Just recently purchased a 68 XR7 and I'm definitely thinking of doing this.

[@johnvoit9629]

Thank you for these videos. We just got my mom's 67 cougar back up and running and these videos have been amazing. It's the base model, so if you have a dash panel removal video that would help.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

We don't have a video for the 67 Standard specifically, but it is basically the same as the 68 XR7, and we do have a video for that: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/How-To/Dash-Pad-Removal-and-Restoration

[@gojoe2833]

You can do this for virtually any old car. The old bulbs make the instrument panel and interior lights look tired, these LEDs add a bright crispness and life to the interior!

[@erikwilson9498]

i like the brightness but like the warm white better than the bluish daylight color

[@georgeotty8833]

Yeah, what you called the orange light which is more often called "warm white" is far nicer and correct for these special old cars. The cold white glare of early LED replacement bulbs are fast disappearing, thank goodness.

[@uniflo2609]

Great video. But in my opinion, white light looks awful in a classic car.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Totally understandable, not everyone likes the "cool white" look. We were just talking about this. They do make most of these same LED bulbs in "warm white" color temperature, which looks more natural but is still brighter. We may try to source these and make both options available.

[@donrush5690]

My 67 std with the lighter aqua interior really POPPED when we put in these icy blue bright lights. The video may not show it but they do have a slight blue hue to the 1156. As I get older I just cannot see as well with no dome light, especially on the dark colored interiors. It is also nice that you can leave your doors open for 3 hours and not kill your battery. A must for your trunk light whether you like the color or not.

[@twistedjosh14]

I was having that same problem with the blinkers nice to know there is a way to fix it

[@jcfireman2215]

Don...we need a video for the 69 console cars to change to LED

[@henrietn]

I think it looks awesome. Some don't really like the bright white. I tried the warm white LEDs, but it's not the same brightness

[@leoandradelw]

I tend to prefer warm white low intensity lights in classic cars. Led cold light does not fit them to me But its just a personal preference… Led bulbs add a lot more bright light with a giant life time In my car i have installed warm white led bulbs By the way mercury cougar will always look beautiful

[@RobertL78]

I may have missed it in the video, but I did the LED swap in my gauge cluster a while back and now the ALT light is always on because it takes so little amperage to trigger the LED. Is there an inline resistor to install to turn it off? Or do I just put that one back to incandescent?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Putting LED's in shouldn't make the ALT light come on - you likely have something else going on, like an alternator that's about to fail.

[@MrRustyvango]

anyone else notice the corrosion on that positive battery terminal ?? its at 3:13 .

[@brianromero643]

Does the Steering wheel adjust

[@paulpelis9321]

Great video! In the video, you show the part number for the Blue infusers. Were the Blue infusers installed? Maybe I missed it? If not what if any infusers were used? Also, how difficult is it to to install the infusers?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

The diffusers are located inside of the instrument cluster and diffuse the light as well as tint the light color. They are available in blue (oem color), yellow or red: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/Search.aspx?SearchTerms=panel%20diffuser&CatID=0. They are only held in by one screw, so once you have the cluster opened up, they are not difficult to replace, but you may or may not need to replace them depending on the condition of your originals. Here is a pic of where they are located inside of the 70 cougar cluster: secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/17924/32036/housing-instrument-cluster-used-1970-mercury-cougar.html

[@thorn3686]

Don, one I didn't area I didn't see addressed was the lower console shift indicator light. Too dim. And should that light illuminate anytime key on, or just when headlights are on? thanks

[@donrush5690]

Just when the lights are on and I chose not to do that one as it seems bright enough

[@thorn3686]

would it be the same bulb as door courtesy lights, clock, etc? I'd like to make my shifter display light brighter. I've thought about wiring to be on with key on. But I can just drive with my running/marker lights on and achieve the same thing.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

The shift indicator light uses a 1445 bulb, inside a metal shroud that focuses the light. We haven't tried putting an LED in there, but don't think it would fit because of the shroud. If you find out otherwise, let us know!

[@punkinsgarageandpaint8299]

I want to led my truck but was told EVERY bulb needed a relay. Because it pulls let power is that true

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

It's true that LED's draw less power, but each one doesn't need its own relay. Usually what happens when you change all your turn signal bulbs to LED is, the factory flasher relay will "hyperflash" as if a bulb is out, because it isn't getting the amount of current it expects. So in most cases you only need to modify or replace the flasher relay to be compatible with LED's. Cougars are a little more complicated because of the sequential turn signal system.

[@markhawkins6276]

Are these dash lights still dimmable?

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Good question! Yes they are.

[@donrush5690]

Yes!

[@punkinsgarageandpaint8299]

Why a difference. Is this the guys car that belonged to his grand mother?I been searching for all the builds on the car.

[@WestCoastClassicCougar]

Nope, he's still not done with it...

[@elitenutrition879]

Great Videos but you need more videos of 70 cougar

[@phnx4life]

LEDs are a big no no for indoor use whether car or home..

[@beezowdoodoozoppitybopbopb9488]

You dont like lower power consumption and long service life?