521 Door Dome Light switch adaptation

[jcard]

This is a trivial thing certainly but I've wanted to modify my 1972 521 to have switches in the door frames to activate the little dome light in the cab.

I've seen what appears to be mount points in the door frame for switches but these were never implemented at the factory. Could those used for 510 or 240z cars

of the that same time frame be mounted and associated wiring done to accomplish this function?

 

Has anyone done this? if so any tips? I realize that dome or cab light is pretty anemic but would still be nice to have it come on when it's pitch black out.

 

Jerry

[DanielC]

Yes, it has been done. 

I believe the same switch as the under hood light is used. 

You have to run a second wire from the dome light back to the switch in the door post, because the dome light is always supplied with power, and is switched on by grounding the light.

 

If your dome light cover is yellowed, a plastic polish will remove the yellow. 

[thisismatt]

At least later lights have the wire. Other markets had the switches. You can buy them on eBay.

Edited February 27, 2020 by thisismatt

[yenpit]

Yup, my 72 521 has the door jamb switch holes.  These holes were very likely the same as the 510 & Z car................Japanese typically did not re-engineer stuff!  I bet you can follow the 510 or Z car wiring schematic to wire up the 521........?

[mainer311]

An LED bulb could help the brightness situation. You can even get nice "warm" white LED's that aren't that horrible blue color.

 

I always thought my dome light was broken because it didn't come on when the door was opened, but now I guess I understand why. 

[bilzbobaggins]

My 521 has switches on the doors, do not know if it was factory of if someone put them in at some point.

[Charlie69]

DATSUN INTERIOR SWITCH DOOR DOME LIGHT 410 411 520 521 620 B110 KB110 JAPAN

[Crashtd420]

9 hours ago, Charlie69 said:

DATSUN INTERIOR SWITCH DOOR DOME LIGHT 410 411 520 521 620 B110 KB110 JAPAN

I dont like that style but it seems to be what they sell for it....

They rely on bare metal to make contact to ground.... I would prefer something with a dedicated ground wire.... 

Edited February 28, 2020 by Crashtd420

[Crashtd420]

Damn they are expensive....

 

 

I suppose you could solder a ground wire to those other ones...

[yenpit]

Niles was an OE manufacturer for Datsun!  I don't see why you can't solder a ground wire to those cheaper ones.  If I recall, all the 510 & Z car switches were 2 wire.

[BrothersGarage]

Try a couple of these? 

https://www.ebay.com/i/124027544478?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=124027544478&targetid=876734235039

https://www.onlinecomponents.com/c-k-components/8532mzqe2-11113648.html

 

Edited February 28, 2020 by BrothersGarage

[dat521gatherer]

I've done it a few times. Page 3 with pics.

I really liked the 9 led bulb for the dome light I got from superbrightleds but it's been discontinued.

Edited February 29, 2020 by dat521gatherer

[mainer311]

Keep in mind, the dome light is reverse polarity. Incandescent lights don’t care about current flow direction, so they just work. If you get an LED bulb (BA9 type), the positive has to be on the case, with the negative on the center conductor.