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Hello, 1982 owner. For aesthetic reasons, I wanna add backlighting to my AC panel. Yes im aware of the overhead light that projects down onto it, and yes it works functionally for me, but it just doesn't look good. I've only seen one other post where the person briefly mentioned they added a light on the passenger side panel that apparently back lights it, but theres no other posts or sources. Has anyone done this before?
Alternatively, if someone could send me a pic of the early 70's ac panel and how thats backlit, that would be helpful. Specifically, maybe a picture of the front panel removed, showing the removed panel as well as the housing with bulb underneath it. Maybe I can reverse engineer something into my AC panel with that.
On g bodies and caprice/impalas they had an edge lit acrylic, similar to how the A/T selector strip is on C3's.
heres an example. they have the clear lens with the letters screened on.. and a backing plate to cover light housing with a slit, for the bulb, to illuminate the edge and make the letters glow.
These are just random pix i found. i have no idea if these(lenses or controls) can be modded to fit a vette, But maybe you can use the c3 lenses and add a led strip to try and light the edges?
On g bodies and caprice/impalas they had an edge lit acrylic, similar to how the A/T selector strip is on C3's.
heres an example. they have the clear lens with the letters screened on.. and a backing plate to cover light housing with a slit, for the bulb, to illuminate the edge and make the letters glow.
These are just random pix i found. i have no idea if these(lenses or controls) can be modded to fit a vette, But maybe you can use the c3 lenses and add a led strip to try and light the edges?
Holy crap thats amazing thank you so much. This forum is truly priceless. That whole unit looks very similar to mine actually I wonder if they are interchangeable. Im gonna see if I can buy one of those and try to fit it, otherwise ill try to reverse engineer it onto mine.
Edit: yea dont think they're directly interchangeable, but I can def manipulate it without too much trouble I think
Edit 2: ok so it looks like im not gonna be able to mod the plates at all considering the whole caprice unit is too wide, and I dont wanna cut my center console. So ill have to mod the corvette plate itself and figure out lighting. ill draw up some designs soon.
AC panel backlighting 1982
