Brighter Instrument Bezel Lights - But not with LED's

[Old Yeller 1970]

70c10 - which way do the 5 bulbs in each LED point? Do they all point forward or is it one forward and four sideways? And what about your tach, how is it lit?

[70c10]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller 1970

70c10 - which way do the 5 bulbs in each LED point? Do they all point forward or is it one forward and four sideways? And what about your tach, how is it lit?

The bulbs point out to the side and one points straight ahead. This is the seller I bought mine from. He gives a good description of the bulbs here and his prices are the cheapest I have seen. My tach is a Sunpro and I replaced the factory LED that came in it with a blue one. :http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...68365912QQrdZ1

I'm planning to buy the amber and red for my clear markers.!

[4x4Poet]

Which color painted to the inside of the dash would be more neutral for the instrument bulb lighting, white or chrome?

Great info, BTW.

[toddtheodd]

What if I want mine brighter, but like the original green color?

[70c10]

Originally Posted by 4x4Poet

Which color painted to the inside of the dash would be more neutral for the instrument bulb lighting, white or chrome?

Great info, BTW.

I would think the flat white would be the best bet. The factory did these in a flat finish probably because they realized it would cut down on glare. I didn't think of that when I painted mine gloss white. You can always try it both ways to see what you like better.

[Old Yeller 1970]

Originally Posted by toddtheodd

What if I want mine brighter, but like the original green color?

I'd say leave the inside painted green and just install a set of white LED's.

[Old Yeller 1970]

Originally Posted by 70c10

The bulbs point out to the side and one points straight ahead. This is the seller I bought mine from. He gives a good description of the bulbs here and his prices are the cheapest I have seen. My tach is a Sunpro and I replaced the factory LED that came in it with a blue one. :http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...68365912QQrdZ1

I'm planning to buy the amber and red for my clear markers.!

Thanks for the info. Last night I found the same guy on ebay too and agree he is cheaper than the others.

[Green Monster]

I was considering going with LED's before I read this post. I can read my guage cluster pretty well, it's the heater and A/C control this is near impossible to read. Am I the only one? Has anyone replaced the heater and A/C control display with the LED's?

Now I have been convinced to buy the LED's. I was looking at the five point refractor style in green.

http://www.whitegauges.net/products_list.php?catID=4550

The guy on ebay, emblemslover, has some pretty cool looking LED's.


I found these too. Ebay seller: CNBSN

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-1...66532738QQrdZ1


My stock setup looks green to me, is there a lens making it look green or am I just imagining things. I have a green display radio and want everything to match. Would I need white LED's or green LED's?

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller 1970

I'd say leave the inside painted green and just install a set of white LED's.

The inside is painted green? That is what makes the panel apear green when lit?

LED's are sold in green, all I can find is the four point though. If I cannot find the 5 point wedge in green, I may have to go with the four point in green.

http://www.whitegauges.net/products_list.php?catID=4550

[Old Yeller 1970]

The inside of the bezel is painted green. I don't know if it makes any difference using green LED's or not because if you use white LED's it will still have a green glow. And you will only need 4 LED's to light your bezel. Don't know about heater controls though.

[sdmahr]

I knew I shouldn't have started reading this thread. Got bulbs on order now. Guess I'll be havin' me some LED's for dash bulbs. Never have to fuss with them again !

[Old Yeller 1970]

Originally Posted by sdmahr

I knew I shouldn't have started reading this thread.

Well guess what, I started all this by talking up brighter old school bulbs and now (drum roll please) byrd, Palf70Step and 70c10 talked me into LED's. tadah!

Yes, this morning I ordered a set of 4 LED's (white refractor 5 bulb per LED) from the same vendor 70c10 ordered his from. When I get them in I'll take a photo for the benefit of all to enjoy.

If nothing else this has been informative.

[Green Monster]

Found the green five LED refractor bulbs... click here.

Do the LED lights respond the the instrument dimmer?

[70c10]

Originally Posted by Green Monster

Found the green five LED refractor bulbs... click here.

Do the LED lights respond the the instrument dimmer?

Yes, mine work with the dimmer!. I used a blue led in my heater control but it's dim because it's a different type of led (1895 I think).

[Green Monster]

If the LED's can be dimmed, why are guys so concerned with the lights being too bright?

1895's are for the heater control lights.
I found the five point "matrix" or "reftractor" style led for that in green too. This is going to look awesome.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Purchased four 194's for the dash, and two 1895's for the heater control. I will post before and after pictures. All in green and all in the five point "matrix" or "refractor" style led.

[70c10]

I agree about the dimmer switch. Your Blazer looks awesome! . I didn't realize I could get the refractor in the bayonet style bulb but that sure is pricey for one bulb. If you paint the tin white it should look really bright and if you go with the white face gauges it will look even brighter.

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by 70c10

I agree about the dimmer switch. Your Blazer looks awesome! . I didn't realize I could get the refractor in the bayonet style bulb but that sure is pricey for one bulb. If you paint the tin white it should look really bright and if you go with the white face gauges it will look even brighter.

Thanks for the compliment about the blazer looking nice. You truck is clean. Can you dress up my crummy looking engine to look like yours?

I searched and searched for the refractor style in the bayonet style. I was so happy when I found it, especially in green. Should look good. The bulbs were pricey. I dropped ~$45 on bulbs. I think it will be worth it though. I like my truck to look clean, but with slight enhancments that are subtle. I'm staying with the black face gauges. I just have to paint the needles bright orange to cover up the faded paint. I will take up your advise and paint the inside of the cluster white if these bulbs are not bright enough for me.

Do you know if the heater instrument housing is painted, or can be taken apart to be painted? I have a feeling it will not be bright enough for me, even with the new 1895 green LED refractors in there.

[70c10]

I don't know how you could paint inside the heater control. I used Krylon Glow Orange paint to do my needles. It's in a glass bottle and does actually glow

[DEFIANT NCC-74205]

I usually just take out those green plastic covers that they put inside most older car gauges. You lose the green glow, but it really lights up the gauges, but now that I've seen these, I'm gonna get 'em. Still waiting on an eyeball Green Monster. I want to see those LED lights!!

[1LoC10]

I made a thread about my LED's and nobody cared about it...LOL, here it is again http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=196815

[DEFIANT NCC-74205]

I care...checked it out pretty cool.

[Green Monster]

Originally Posted by DEFIANT NCC-74205

I usually just take out those green plastic covers that they put inside most older car gauges. You lose the green glow, but it really lights up the gauges, but now that I've seen these, I'm gonna get 'em. Still waiting on an eyeball Green Monster. I want to see those LED lights!!

I'm still waiting for the bulbs to show up. I'll send an update when they show up and are installed. Don't worry.

The needles will get the krylone orange glow paint... Thanks 70c10.

[Green Monster]

I need a little help. I need some photos of the temperature sending unit at the engine block and the wiring at the temperature gauge. The previous owner installed a Sunpro temp. guage in the cluster. I want to go back to stock since I'm going to pull the cluster to change the bulbs. I'm not sure what I'm missing or need to do this.

This is the gauge that is currently in the truck.


This is wire coming through the firewall. Nice work.


This is the wire going into the, sending unit. See very center of photograph with the teflon threads?

[TugOwar]

Green Monster, I'm sure you know this but I'll mention it anyway. Thats a manual temp gauge. If that "wire" gets bent or kinked the gauge won't work right, if at all. Ask me how I know. And I wouldn't want mine touching the back of the header either, may give false reading.

When you take your cluster apart you're going to find that some cutting was done to get that after market gauge in there. To go back with a factory gauge and have it look right that part will have to be replaced.

I'll see if I can find a pic of it for you.

[TugOwar]

This is the part that has been cut on yours. The area with the white circle has been removed, if not more.