BlaKK54Speed
1/2 ton status
ok so i heard about spraying the back of the cluster to make the lighs brighter so i went and bought some paint and tore my cluster out. heres my step by step.
Remove the dash pad (if you want to it makes it easier to get the gauge cluster out, only a few more screws.)
undo the cluster from the dash. one wire from the right side that goes to the ash tray, the speedo cable (held in by a retainer clip, supress it to remove the cable it slides right out) one cable with light that goes to the (choke) light, master connecter just left of the speedo cable, and one harness that goes to the clock (right side)
take the cluster apart, 6 screws. this is what it should look like disassembled.
this is a picture of the backside of the front of your cluster, it reflects the light back onto your gauges from the bulbs.
now i taped the electrical contacts off so that i would not spray paint them.
and then i painted the inside of the cluster and the back of the bezel front. here is what it looked like afterward:
here is a pic of just the bezel front
its a much better reflective surface than the light blue original
now put the gauge cluster back together!!!
hint: bend the tabs up on the bulb retainers just a tad as to ensure good contact with the board: see pic below
now this is what it should look like assembled (without the plastic cover, i forgot it for the picture)
now put the cluster back into your truck. heres how mine came out:
now enjoy. there are 12 total blulbs, i had only a few working so i replaced them all while i had it apart!!!
Remove the dash pad (if you want to it makes it easier to get the gauge cluster out, only a few more screws.)
undo the cluster from the dash. one wire from the right side that goes to the ash tray, the speedo cable (held in by a retainer clip, supress it to remove the cable it slides right out) one cable with light that goes to the (choke) light, master connecter just left of the speedo cable, and one harness that goes to the clock (right side)
take the cluster apart, 6 screws. this is what it should look like disassembled.
this is a picture of the backside of the front of your cluster, it reflects the light back onto your gauges from the bulbs.
now i taped the electrical contacts off so that i would not spray paint them.
here is a pic of just the bezel front
its a much better reflective surface than the light blue original
now put the gauge cluster back together!!!
hint: bend the tabs up on the bulb retainers just a tad as to ensure good contact with the board: see pic below
now this is what it should look like assembled (without the plastic cover, i forgot it for the picture)
now put the cluster back into your truck. heres how mine came out:
now enjoy. there are 12 total blulbs, i had only a few working so i replaced them all while i had it apart!!!
