just looking for some input, i wanted to change my dashboard gauges out to look similar to those of the new cars.... like with the white gauges that turn blue at nite, i was wondering has anyone had any success with doing such a thing... i've been calling alot of car modding places and they have been advising against doing such a thing... anyone have any input on this or any success stories on changing out the dashboard guages?

thanks for any input....

 

reverse glow, check ebay

 

your stock gauges have white numbers so you could keep them stock and then change the bulbs out to blue ones. i did that on mine and i love it because i kept it stock and those glow gauges look like poop.

 

I did reverse glow and lvoe em... Only thing was the speedometer guage, the hole was really small, so it took a heck of a lot of force to get on and aroudn the needle center (hope that makes sense...) I ended up bending the inside of the guage up a lil so my speedo sticks at bout 55-70 mph...I just haven't opened up the cluster again to snip off whats sticking up...I may order another set of just gauges, cause the inside centimeter of the speedo is rough...but w'ell see...

Aside from that .....They're really not that hard to put on, I think my MPH gauge was just retarded...and they definately look sweet as long as u do a dash conversion of LED's...

 

I'd do an LED conversion

 

I hate to sound crazy, but can someone quickly explain reverse glow versus completely changing out the gauges?

 

disregard my previous post, so i guess now my next question is where would i found the blue led lights for the dash to do a LED conversion?

 

LED are your best bets but you have to be a hell of a good solderer (did I spell that right) I got reverse glow guages and it was easy as hell to do unlike everybody esle says I just popped the needle off (make sure there all at neutral the very bottom resting on the black tab) and layed the faces write over my guages pushed the needles back on and presto -- looks very nice and updated plus matches my headunit and indash tv when its closed. + I only payed like $5.00 shipped for the guages.

still if I could soldier I would go led

 

http://www.superbrightleds.com is your best bet for finding LED bulbs and no, you dont have to solder them. you just take out your old ones and put the new ones in their spot.

 

interesting DAEMONICUS have you dont this mod yet pop them in there spot man if it was that easy I'll do mines asap. but I dont see how this can possibly be done with soldiering them.

can you explain or is this just a guess you took

plz enlighten me

 

i'm not sure what to you want me to explain...1) because your grammar is impossible and 2) because i already explained it. the bulbs shown on http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html are the bulbs that will replace your stock ones on the instrument cluster. when you remove the instrument cluster, on the back you'll see all the bulbs. there should be 6 large black wedge type bulbs that control your gauges. simply turn the bulbs to unlock them and pull them out and then put the new LED bulbs in their place. i'm not sure how else to explain it but i can assure you there's no soldering involved.

 

Is there a DIY LED conversion around? I did a search but only found sec gen.
DAEMONICUS does all the bulbs on that sight work or do you have to pick a certain one? Never tried to take apart gauge before but sounds easy to change some light bulbs.

 

you have to use a certain bulb for the gauges. i'm not 100% sure about what type bulb they are but i believe it's 194. it's actually fairly easy to replace the bulbs but the pain in the ass part is actually getting the gauge cluster out. you need to remove the vent trim and it breaks extremely easily (trust me, i've gone through 2 of them and the third one i had to glue back together). when you take out the old bulbs, just look at what number they have written on them and then order those bulbs from the site.

 

here's a picture of the back of the cluster. the bulbs circled in red are the ones that need to be replaced. there should be 6 of them and all you do is turn them to one side and pull them out.

 

Also, just another quick question, has anyone done the HID KIT? and if so is it something thats easy to do or would it require professional installation.......?

 

haha sorry for the grammar I typed that @ 1:30 in the morning but I did not know that they sold the led's with the housing already on them (the black part you circled) but since you said they do I guess it would be extremely easy. Do they also sell the smaller ones for the gear selection panel on the instrument cluster

 

There the -- (Twist-Lock type) instrument LED bulbs consist of a T1-1/2 (#73/74) miniature LED bulb installed in a twist-lock socket base.

are those the one's

 

Daemonicus: save this picture for future reference! It will come in handy for new members.

 

how does it look when you're done, i like the new RL guages, its a second gen guy that did it i think, i know it has to be some place in houston that makes custom guages, wonder how much it costs!!!!

 

I want to do a LED conversion on my dash gauges, anyone know what LEDS i need to purchase?

 

You need (5) 168/194 bulbs.... get the wide-angle kind.

 

Do you know the part number or what kind of bulb it is I would like to do something similar but maybe a red bulb?

 

Im an idiot and will read the entire thread next time.

I visited the Super Bright LEDs... sooo any of the bulbs that are replacing 194 and 168 should work correct?

 

ahh, so this is what my roomate was talking about before... i will do it as soon as i figure out how to take the dashboard apart!

 

Fairly easy, just have to disconnect the HVAC controls and the clock, then gently pry out the vents on either side. 6 bolts and 3 connectors after that, your gauge cluster'll be in your hands.

~Cheers~

 

how many or which screws did you take out to get the cluster out.

 

4 four the outer trim/vents, 4 more for the gauge cluster itself.

~Cheers~

 

thanks I got it.

 

What color LED would you recommend putting in?

 

I have the reverse glow gauges, so should I even put LEDs in? Or should I? I'm kind of confused. :p

 

No I don't think that it is worth it to put LEDs in.

 

Thanks.

 

You're right. You can't see the lights anyway because the indiglo gauges aren't translucent.

~Cheers~

 

Just wondering does the LEDs last? cause I don't want to change them if they burn out fast. I already waste money on cheap H4 bulbs on ebay that I have to change every few months.

 

If you get higher quality ones they do. Also, don't have the dimmer switch set all the way up. The higher charging voltage will cause the LEDs to die. Roll it all the way up, then lower it just a few ridges. It's greatly improve the life.

~Cheers~

 

They will last for a while if you buy good quality bulbs. It all depends on where you buy your bulbs from.