NEW Interior LED Mod Thread
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
if they make you feel ricer just order white ones, they will be whiter and cleaner looking than stock, draw less power, and your window and DIC controls wont be hot to the touch anymore!
they really aren't that bad, but here is my experience with them...the housings suck. they are too tight of a fit and when you try to twist them they break. if you ever put one in backwards good luck getting it out to rotate it. there is a simple solution, this is what I did. buy enough neo wedges for all of your controls. use a pair of needle nose pilers to remove the LED and tiny circuit board with the resistor out of it. do the same to your stock lights (follow instructions on spdkilz.com for pictures of how to use pliers to disassemble the lights) then install the new LED and resistor assemblies into the stock neo wedge bases. they fit right in. once you have done this they will fit like stock.
to me they are brighter than stock and I wouldn't want them any brigther. they really clean up the interior look and after the quick base swap plug in perfectly. trust me, don't even try to install them using the black bases provided. I still have a piece of one inside my hatch/fog lights switch assembly that I can't get out. sometimes when it falls into the wrong place, I can't push the hatch release button because the piece of the junk base is jammed in there.
they really aren't that bad, but here is my experience with them...the housings suck. they are too tight of a fit and when you try to twist them they break. if you ever put one in backwards good luck getting it out to rotate it. there is a simple solution, this is what I did. buy enough neo wedges for all of your controls. use a pair of needle nose pilers to remove the LED and tiny circuit board with the resistor out of it. do the same to your stock lights (follow instructions on spdkilz.com for pictures of how to use pliers to disassemble the lights) then install the new LED and resistor assemblies into the stock neo wedge bases. they fit right in. once you have done this they will fit like stock.
to me they are brighter than stock and I wouldn't want them any brigther. they really clean up the interior look and after the quick base swap plug in perfectly. trust me, don't even try to install them using the black bases provided. I still have a piece of one inside my hatch/fog lights switch assembly that I can't get out. sometimes when it falls into the wrong place, I can't push the hatch release button because the piece of the junk base is jammed in there.
I have that spdkilz.com saved under my favorites as I came across it the other night and saw all the good instructions there.
That sounds like a good plan. The controls DO get hot so I guess replacing them does help.
Any photos of white LEDs? Everyone seems to post those blue/red LEDs photos.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 21
From: centennial colorado
I installed the neo's I bought from Autolumination that are advertised as 30% brighter. I had the 3mm discreet leds w/resistors I built a year or so ago in there. These new ones are difinitely much brighter than the discreets I had in there! I was surprised!! JW is right about the housings they come in though. They were very tight but I didnt break any. The second one down in the drivers side wouldnt go in, not deep enough. So I'm going to de-base the neo's and put them in the stock housings like mcgilles suggested. Thats a good idea! I would like to put use these in my hvac as its not quite as bright as my radio. I took the blue film out of my radio so its brighter than my hvac. They are too expensive for my tastes but I do like the brightness.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
While LEDs versus stock;
I'm not sure what happened in this pic but the LED Radio on top is much better looking then this depicts;
Good discussion on the pitfalls of the NEOs bases, like Tom I never had a problem other then the depth issue in the Driver's Door switch. However it's been a few years since I messed with em. Now here's no thing you can do. Shaven 3mm installed in stock bases. this may be your best compromise;
Please check out jdmvette's Thread on his White LED install, there is an issue with the HVACs;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...over-pics.html
Tim
I'm not sure what happened in this pic but the LED Radio on top is much better looking then this depicts;
Good discussion on the pitfalls of the NEOs bases, like Tom I never had a problem other then the depth issue in the Driver's Door switch. However it's been a few years since I messed with em. Now here's no thing you can do. Shaven 3mm installed in stock bases. this may be your best compromise;
Please check out jdmvette's Thread on his White LED install, there is an issue with the HVACs;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...over-pics.html
Tim
Last edited by tstar; Jul 23, 2009 at 03:41 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Thanks Tim. I like the first picture (door switch panel).
I don't want to spend a lot of money on this stuff and I think it'd be fun anyway to try to learn this. I noticed on the auction site you can get 100 white LEDs WITH resistors included for like $7 shipped..
But they are all 5mms. The first post only talks about neo wedges for the controls.
I probably won't do all the lights but I want to try doing the door switches now.
Do you know which ones might need 3mm instead of 5mm? Or can I just buy that 100 pack and be done with it?
I don't want to spend a lot of money on this stuff and I think it'd be fun anyway to try to learn this. I noticed on the auction site you can get 100 white LEDs WITH resistors included for like $7 shipped..
But they are all 5mms. The first post only talks about neo wedges for the controls.
I probably won't do all the lights but I want to try doing the door switches now.
Do you know which ones might need 3mm instead of 5mm? Or can I just buy that 100 pack and be done with it?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
5mms won't fit down in any of the bases and will be too long to properly seat in a few locations. Keep looking for 3mm White LEDs w/resistors. I can't believe there are none on Fleabay...
Also Gary did his Vette in White LEDs many moons ago, he's one of the pioneers in this area along with Carlton. I'm surprised his Silver Vette hasn't popped in here yet,I hope he's well.
Tim
Also Gary did his Vette in White LEDs many moons ago, he's one of the pioneers in this area along with Carlton. I'm surprised his Silver Vette hasn't popped in here yet,I hope he's well.
Tim
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I do see 3mm ones, although not as cheap for some reason.
I have a question though, many of them have different MCD rating. From like 5000 to 20000.. which ones are better suited for interior lighting?
I have a question though, many of them have different MCD rating. From like 5000 to 20000.. which ones are better suited for interior lighting?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,518
Likes: 37
I just did a blue LED conversion for someone and used the 5mm ones without the bases. Just soldered them in with the resistor inline. The only place they were too big was the HUD panel and I had to trim them smaller diameter wise. They were the $7 for 100 ones on ebay.
Don't forget to file the tops flat, don't let the top lens stay clear and rounded.
Don't forget to file the tops flat, don't let the top lens stay clear and rounded.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I just did a blue LED conversion for someone and used the 5mm ones without the bases. Just soldered them in with the resistor inline. The only place they were too big was the HUD panel and I had to trim them smaller diameter wise. They were the $7 for 100 ones on ebay.
Don't forget to file the tops flat, don't let the top lens stay clear and rounded.
Don't forget to file the tops flat, don't let the top lens stay clear and rounded.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 480
From: Brea CA
I've been following the questions by karateboi87. A way back in this thread are pictures of my vette's interior. I used the 3mm White LED's that have a 8000mcd rating. I have not shaved the tops of the LED's and have them placed in the bases so that the bottom of the LED is at the top of the base. I had posted pictures in a previous post of how I built the assembly.
Gary
Gary
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 21
From: centennial colorado
I havent tried the brightere neo's. They are too damn expensive. They are allot brighter though.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
I've been following the questions by karateboi87. A way back in this thread are pictures of my vette's interior. I used the 3mm White LED's that have a 8000mcd rating. I have not shaved the tops of the LED's and have them placed in the bases so that the bottom of the LED is at the top of the base. I had posted pictures in a previous post of how I built the assembly.
Gary
Gary
I found the neo wedge ones a bit cheaper on e-bay. Under $2 per bulb. I'm hoping to find larger quantities because they are selling them in pairs and you got to pay another $1 per pair for shipping.
And I reread some of the posts in the thread and noticed some people have caused "a little smoke" in their circuitboards.. and I have absolutely NO experience in soldering. Maybe I'll stick to the neo's P&P idea
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Yes, you need to file the tops so it disperses the light to a larger area. Here are a couple pics of the neo's used in my hvac. I use a 3 led strip behind the passenger word to cover it better.
I havent tried the brightere neo's. They are too damn expensive. They are allot brighter though.
I havent tried the brightere neo's. They are too damn expensive. They are allot brighter though.
But nevertheless, neo's don't look bad at all! Thanks for sharing photos.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 480
From: Brea CA
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
It'll be a while. The 3 pairs I got were from the auction site.. and it'll probably be like 2 weeks for shipping 
I bought them just to try them out. If they work well I'll replace the dimmer/HUDs too.
Hopefully I won't have too much trouble with pulling out the bulbs and fitting them in and stuff. The instructions say "unscrew it like a screw" or whatever, so I guess you just put a phillips head and turn it counter clock wise? If so I think I'll be fine.
I'm more excited about the painting bezel gauges though... I saw someone's post on it and it looks AWESOME.. I found the exact same paint at walmart. So the results should be similiar.
I bought them just to try them out. If they work well I'll replace the dimmer/HUDs too.
Hopefully I won't have too much trouble with pulling out the bulbs and fitting them in and stuff. The instructions say "unscrew it like a screw" or whatever, so I guess you just put a phillips head and turn it counter clock wise? If so I think I'll be fine.
I'm more excited about the painting bezel gauges though... I saw someone's post on it and it looks AWESOME.. I found the exact same paint at walmart. So the results should be similiar.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Flat-tip screwdriver... 1/4 turn. 
You mean Jason's Thread? Yeah the painted bezel rings look really good, I'll be doing the same some day. I like the way the UVs reflect of off it, it should match my damn purple faceplates!
Tim
You mean Jason's Thread? Yeah the painted bezel rings look really good, I'll be doing the same some day. I like the way the UVs reflect of off it, it should match my damn purple faceplates!
Tim
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
You should do it. I normally don't even think about anything that "modifies" the car (as in can't return to stock) but I think it should have came stock painted like that. The color is like metallic silver or something.