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73-87-91 instrument cluster bulb question

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7387chevynut

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Hi Guys,

my 90 blazer needs some new bulbs in the cluster, but like all the other old 73-87's I've owned, even with new bulbs in the cluster, they never light up worth a Sh%t compared to my 95 chevy.

so what gives? Did the 92-up (needle guage) GM truck clusters use a brighter watt bulb compared to older 73-87's?

I think 194 is the biggest watt I can go, but bottom line I want the cluster to "bright" like my 95 chevy.

any suggestions?
 
Over on nastyz28 they have also tried led bulbs with good results but you gave to make sure you get polarity right. Also painting the plastic back piece silver or chrome helps.
 
I hear ya, mine's dim and I think one of the speedo bulbs is dead.

There's a thread (or a dozen) on here about the mod of painting the back plastic. Some folks really got into it. Think dhcomp was one of them.
 
I've done the gauge cluster paint mod on a few of them now with excellent results every time using Krylon's chrome paint.
41SjqZRNbML._SL500_AA300_.jpg


I wonder how well it would work paired with LED bulbs.:thinking:
 
I dont' remember what bulb numbers I used when I did my dually awhile back, I know most of the packages have a wattage amount on the back somewhere, I did the silver/chrome paint thing to the back side of the gauge cluster with brighter bulbs and it was alot brighter, still no comparison to the newer dashes, but definately easier to read at night.

I also used the chrome paint to paint the not-so-reflective surface of the taillights too, made them much brighter as well.:D
 
I guess I'd like to know what makes the newer dashes so bright then???

I've never had to take the cluster out of my 95 chevy yet.......so I'm not sure what Watt bulb they use, but my guess is 194's.


Also I didnt know that for the 1990 model year.............the cluster bulbs are not removable from the socket........they are permently fixed.....gotta replace the whole thing.

I know 89 was old style, cause I got a cluster out of 89 k5, and its the old style for 73-87.

Apparently by 1988 and definately by 1990 GM was using as many newer C/K electronic parts as possible on the suburban and K5's to keep em updated.
 
I guess I'm the oddball on this one. I have to have my cluster lights as dim as possible. Most vehicles dont go dim enough for me before they just shut off. I cant even stand the radio illumination. Had one once that would shut down the face plate lights if ya didnt touch it for awhile. Man I miss that deck.
 
what part of the cluster are you painting chrome exactly....i don't see what you'd paint when looking at a cluster. Maybe due to me not being a member and seeing that thread.
 
Behind the face that you see and the gauge's mechanicals is a white plastic...uhm...form I guess you'd call it. The light reflects off of that. By making it super shiny you can better see the light in the cluster face. Sorta like the reflectors of your tail/head lights.
 
pull cluster.

diss assemble completly

clean out dust/dirt from white or light blue housing that hold all the gauges.

also the main cover that goes over all the gauges on the backside facing the gauges.

then paint these 2 items chrome.

let dry and reassemble and when its all out of the truck good idea to upgrade to new bulbs as once you reinstall you know there will be a bulb out.

168 is brightest of the bulbs. and 194 tends to be high beam and turn bulbs.

send me a private meassage with your email and i can send you pics.
 
I put LED's in my crewcab dash. I don't remember the part number but they are a 6 LED bulb. Very bright. Problem with LED's, you can't dim them at all. On or off is all you get.
 
7387chevynut said:
Also I didnt know that for the 1990 model year.............the cluster bulbs are not removable from the socket........they are permently fixed.....gotta replace the whole thing.
Click to expand...

What? My 1990 has 194s in it. Yes, electronic speedo. Bulbs pull out of the things that twists in.
 
cybrfire said:
I put LED's in my crewcab dash. I don't remember the part number but they are a 6 LED bulb. Very bright. Problem with LED's, you can't dim them at all. On or off is all you get.
Click to expand...

Havent tried it yet but i guess if you add another resistor between the light switch and the cluster you can you can make them dim like normal. I have a few variable resistors laying around and saturday is a blazer day so if i get a chance ill try it out.
 
xpndbl3 said:
what part of the cluster are you painting chrome exactly....i don't see what you'd paint when looking at a cluster. Maybe due to me not being a member and seeing that thread.
Click to expand...

membership has its privileges......
attachment.php

The inside "nest" for gauges /\
attachment.php

The front of the gauge cover facing the driver /\
attachment.php

The back side of the above facing gauges /\
 
plyr2k said:
What? My 1990 has 194s in it. Yes, electronic speedo. Bulbs pull out of the things that twists in.
Click to expand...

Well keep in mind GM is notorious for ROLLING CHANGE features on its model year vehicles, and trucks are no exception.

my 90 K5 was built in Febuary of 90, so its very possible yours was a "last of the old style bulb socket design" while mine was of the "new style"


The old black 73-87 bulb sockets will NOT work on my cluster because the socket ports on the cluster housing are (smaller) compared to the older clusters.
 
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