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Tachometer/speedometer upgrade help!

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Old Jan 28, 2014 | 04:27 PM
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Default Tachometer/speedometer upgrade help!

Well I have removed my instrument cluster and sent my tachometer and speedometer to redline for an upgrade to the speedometer (140 MPH) and a resurfacing of both. While I have the cluster assembly apart and on the workbench I am considering changing out the bulbs. Do I go with LED or incandescent? I would like a brighter display at night, but not to bright that excessive heat will cause problems. I have bought a new circuit "sheet" for the lights and was thinking that maybe this, with new incandescent bulbs, would satisfy my display parameters. I am open to suggestions. My car is a 1982. Winter projects in Florida are a bit better than summer projects because of the dip in temperature and humidity.
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Old Jan 28, 2014 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by scorpion18z
Well I have removed my instrument cluster and sent my tachometer and speedometer to redline for an upgrade to the speedometer (140 MPH) and a resurfacing of both. While I have the cluster assembly apart and on the workbench I am considering changing out the bulbs. Do I go with LED or incandescent? I would like a brighter display at night, but not to bright that excessive heat will cause problems. I have bought a new circuit "sheet" for the lights and was thinking that maybe this, with new incandescent bulbs, would satisfy my display parameters. I am open to suggestions. My car is a 1982. Winter projects in Florida are a bit better than summer projects because of the dip in temperature and humidity.
I had actually ordered the proper LED bulbs for my 74. I planned on changing all of them while the dash was out. I planned on converting them to red. For one, the red doesn't offer a very visible wavelength, and if you plan on using your headlight dimmer switch...forget the LED idea. They wont "dim" like you'd think. They are basically on or off for all practical purposes. For that reason, I broke down and replaced them all with Phillips Heavy Duty. too big a pain in the keester to change the bulbs. Those cost me more than the LED's did.
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Old Jan 29, 2014 | 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Patro46
I had actually ordered the proper LED bulbs for my 74. I planned on changing all of them while the dash was out. I planned on converting them to red. For one, the red doesn't offer a very visible wavelength, and if you plan on using your headlight dimmer switch...forget the LED idea. They wont "dim" like you'd think. They are basically on or off for all practical purposes. For that reason, I broke down and replaced them all with Phillips Heavy Duty. too big a pain in the keester to change the bulbs. Those cost me more than the LED's did.
For the reason Patro46 stated I put LED strip lights in mine. I have full diming with LED and change the color to any color I want.





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Old Jan 30, 2014 | 01:48 AM
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Default led lights

OK Tim 1973 where is the wright on this
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Old Jan 30, 2014 | 10:55 AM
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Default lights

Looks great...what are you doing for the cluster lights?
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Old Jan 30, 2014 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Aquarian
Looks great...what are you doing for the cluster lights?
The same as the speedometer... I'll have to see if I took a picture of it.

When I'm into doing things I space out taking pictures....

I will do a write up... Might need to take some more pictures of the center console, Its not mounted so not a big deal.

Last edited by Tim 1973; Jan 30, 2014 at 01:03 PM.
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Old Jan 30, 2014 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Tim 1973
The same as the speedometer... I'll have to see if I took a picture of it.

When I'm into doing things I space out taking pictures....

I will do a write up... Might need to take some more pictures of the center console, Its not mounted so not a big deal.
Where did you get the parts? I'm eventually going to have to take apart my dash to fix my tach, making it multicolor like that would be awesome. Thanks
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Old Jan 30, 2014 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by taylor34
Where did you get the parts? I'm eventually going to have to take apart my dash to fix my tach, making it multicolor like that would be awesome. Thanks
When I started installing LEDs I used the following link, but found the same stuff a lot cheaper. When I do the write up I will put a few links but most of the others come from china and take a few weeks.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/morei...emote/110/519/
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