here is a crude representation that might help to illustrate my previous
post about LED dash light experiment.

Please view in a fixed-width font such as Monaco or Courier.

                        /-\            /-\
                LED    |   |          |   |
                       |   |          |   |      LED inserted into
                       -+-+-       -+--+-+--+-   holder. Wire leading
                      \ | |         |\ | |  ||   thru base and attached
                       \\ |         | \\ |  ||   to resistor and then
                          |         |    |  | |  back up to external
  wire soldered to legs   |          ----+--+ |  bulb contact
  one wire bent back to   |              +--+-+
  form contact            |              +--+
                          |

                      ---------
                       |     |
                       |     |
                       |     |
                       |     |
         bulb holder   |     |
                        -----+