Let There Be Light,,,,Cluster LED LightS!!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 36
From: Cedar Park TX
Every bulb that I used was a cool white, at night time, in the dark, it looks even brighter.
However, It's not just a matter of taking out the incandescent bulb and replacing it with an LED.
You need to pick different LED's for different locations There is a lot to consider, such as, total lumens, number of LED's that the bulb actually has, is it a side firing, or forward firing, just to name a few.
The kit's may be a better way to go, but I chose to experiment with different LED's for the various locations and not just the speedo/tach.
However, It's not just a matter of taking out the incandescent bulb and replacing it with an LED.
You need to pick different LED's for different locations There is a lot to consider, such as, total lumens, number of LED's that the bulb actually has, is it a side firing, or forward firing, just to name a few.
The kit's may be a better way to go, but I chose to experiment with different LED's for the various locations and not just the speedo/tach.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
Sorry for the long delay, Mike. Yes, they are vinyl overlays with the original gauges and they are leds that plug right into each original light socket! I also went ahead and converted the tach to electric and the clock to quartz movement while I was at it... Thanks!!
Last edited by redcruz1120; Mar 22, 2016 at 10:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
That turned out great!
Are those hydrographics?
I tried the bulbs- white and red- just didn't have the light I wanted- as I'm running the stock green letter gauges.
I ended up using LED strip lighting and made a length long enough to wrap around twice. Looks better- but I'm going to get a hold of some cool white strips and see if it looks any better. I could also add some LED bulbs in the stock location and see if that makes a difference.
Albeit my gauges are totally custom- you can still do this to stock gauges-
They do!!!
Are those hydrographics?
I tried the bulbs- white and red- just didn't have the light I wanted- as I'm running the stock green letter gauges.
I ended up using LED strip lighting and made a length long enough to wrap around twice. Looks better- but I'm going to get a hold of some cool white strips and see if it looks any better. I could also add some LED bulbs in the stock location and see if that makes a difference.
Albeit my gauges are totally custom- you can still do this to stock gauges-
They do!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
my Vette is a '72 vert, well started out that way at one point...
years ago I went white overlay on the speedo/tach having done white aftermarket gauges and console panel years earlier.....
since the car is green with black and tan/dark saddle interior, I put in GREEN LED's on the entire group.....they don't dim, but so what???
nice and bright, another thing, back some 20 years ago, I got tired of pulling a dozen bulbs to pull the dashes.....so hell with that, I put a 4 pin molex plug in the line....R-L-instrument gray, and one other function they all unplug with one connector, tach is '75? electronic so another plug, and the speedo cable and the dash is mine....pull it out in about 15 minits, same on install....GOD I"m lazy......
AND the turn signal lights can be SEEN now!!!! how about THAT!!!!
years ago I went white overlay on the speedo/tach having done white aftermarket gauges and console panel years earlier.....
since the car is green with black and tan/dark saddle interior, I put in GREEN LED's on the entire group.....they don't dim, but so what???
nice and bright, another thing, back some 20 years ago, I got tired of pulling a dozen bulbs to pull the dashes.....so hell with that, I put a 4 pin molex plug in the line....R-L-instrument gray, and one other function they all unplug with one connector, tach is '75? electronic so another plug, and the speedo cable and the dash is mine....pull it out in about 15 minits, same on install....GOD I"m lazy......
AND the turn signal lights can be SEEN now!!!! how about THAT!!!!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 136
From: PHOENIX, AZ Yes, it's true. You are a good woman. Then again, you may be the Antichrist.
Good job, guys. They all look great!
LED's have come quite a ways. I wish the strips had been available years ago when I was changing the lighting in my C5. Converted everything to blue LED's, but I was using the bare LED's. Getting the radio done was a major PITA! Had to de-solder all the tiny incandescents out and solder in the LED's, each of which needed a resistor soldered in-line also. Looked great when it was done, but it took some doing.
LED's have come quite a ways. I wish the strips had been available years ago when I was changing the lighting in my C5. Converted everything to blue LED's, but I was using the bare LED's. Getting the radio done was a major PITA! Had to de-solder all the tiny incandescents out and solder in the LED's, each of which needed a resistor soldered in-line also. Looked great when it was done, but it took some doing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,783
Likes: 400
From: Paoli, IN
St. Jude Donor '17, '19
Did you have to rewire or put resisters in?
My 1980 has the original wiring harness and I want co upgrade the lighting behind the dash to yellow LEDs (outside of my car is yellow). But wasn't sure if I would need to replace the wire harness.
My 1980 has the original wiring harness and I want co upgrade the lighting behind the dash to yellow LEDs (outside of my car is yellow). But wasn't sure if I would need to replace the wire harness.
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