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LED'S in the gauge cluster

Cornfield creations

Cornfield creations

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Has anyone does this? I was at the parts store and saw LED light strips with multiple LED's on them. Some can be cut to fit. I was thinking to brighten up the gauge cluster, what about glueing those strips in the back of the cluster for extra light?
 
I just installed the higher wattage bulbs in mine, and did the chrome or silver paint thing on all the backings and whatever in there would reflect the light, it's much brighter, just from that.

How blinding do you really want your gauges at night anyways?
 
It's been so long ago now i honestly don't remember, but if you go to any parts store and look through their 194/168 type bulbs, you should see the wattage rating in the lower corner of the package, all i did was found the brighter ones, i believe they were 5 watts each.
 
There is a great thread on this. Hopefully someone can link.

The issue with LED's is they aren't dim-able without a controller.
 
I'd like my trucks dash lights to be brighter too,but I'm too lazy to take the whole cluster out & apart and paint the insides silver,but I would be willing to try brighter bulbs...my dash lights are DIM,they look like the whole dash has a ONE candlepower bulb in it--a birthday candle !...I carry a LED flashlight with me when I drive it so I can read the speedo & the gauges...been thinking of duct taping it right to the steering colum!...
 
168 is brighter bulb.

and i did the chrome paint truck with 2 coats and a fresh coat of ultra flat black on the front of the gauge cover that covers all the gauge area. and i also used chrome paint on the back of that gauge cover.

love it at night now. i can see and read them good.
 
dhcomp said:
There is a great thread on this. Hopefully someone can link.

The issue with LED's is they aren't dim-able without a controller.
Click to expand...

I have yet to drive an old Chevy truck that I felt the need to DIM the dash lights on.:D
 
Ya,I know now where "Da Yoopers" got the lyrics for their "Rusty Chevrolet" song !..they must have had a 73-87 GM truck!..

Oh,rust & smoke,the heaters broke,the door just blew away--
I STRIKE A MATCH TO SEE THE DASH,and then I start to PRAY (hey!)
Oh what fun it is to ride,in a rusty Chevrolet!

The mufflers broke,smoke & choke,the radio it's OK
Oh what fun it is to ride in a rusted Chevrolet....


I fear my dash will crack and crumble if I try removing it,its already got some battle scars..I've replaced all the burnt out bulbs,maybe a few are still not lighting up because of the printed curcuit board but I'm pretty sure they are all working..(except the "Brake" light,I put that one in the ash tray,because I cant get the proprtioning valve to re-set and keep the light off,despite the brakes being 100% bled and working fine!..

I remember my old 66 Buicks having fiber optic cables that came off a 194 bulb socket ,they used themto illuminate the ash tray,hetar controls,etc..maybe I can scrounge some of those bulbs & cables up somewhere and try using them to brighten the dash cluster up...for now my LED flashlight is good enough I guess..my truck isn't exactly a dragster with a 6.2 diesel,so chances are good it'll never get me pulled over for speeding anyway!...maybe my eyes are spoiled,being used to seeing bright dash lights on the newer vehicles I use too!..
 
cdoggwsu said:
I have yet to drive an old Chevy truck that I felt the need to DIM the dash lights on.:D
Click to expand...


If you upgrade the bulbs, and do the chrome trick with the right paint, you will need to :waytogo:

AND, with LED's, i bet you would too.

I run mine about 1/2 of their brightness after the upgrade.

And really, if you are too lazy to do this upgrade/repair....you need to find a newer vehicle. This is a simple job.
 
Yeah higher wattage bulbs and the chrome paint trick were the first things I did to both of my rigs.

They're sufficiently viewable now, but certainly not bright enough that I would feel the need to turn them down at all.:dunno:
 
i was happy just putting all new working bulbs in my '90.....weird twist on bulbs. mine has that fiber optic thing in the ashtray but it doesn't work, does anyone know where the bulb is for that thing? i haven't looked since i found out i have it.........cool thread and thanks.
 
ash tray fiber cable is off 1 of the dash bulbs. lots of people pull the cluster and rip it off with out knowing it.
 
Last night I was throwing out a string of old christmas lights ,the small ones with the push in base..I noticed they were really bright when 12V was applied to one!..hmmmm!..maybe there's some 1/4:" holes in the dash cluster I can shove one in to brighten up things!...if not I might make some!..and I can choose what colors look best--red,green,clear,or blue!..
 
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