Mopply

iTrader: (1)

I've grown tired of the yellowish-green lights on the dashboard and I'm really into the idea of changing them out for LEDs. Also, the door lights and the center light I'd like to switch to white LEDs. Is this switch doable, as in a DIY job? What LEDs do you guys recommend for this sort of swap?

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

It's easy to do with the door lights and center console. You just need to purchase the replacement LED equivalent bulb for these lights online. If you can change an automotive light bulb, then you can do this.
As for as the lights on the dash, the bulbs are installed a little differently but it's the same concept. Harder to gain access behind the dash though, vs taking off the cover for the door or center console lights.

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

Oh okay. So basically the dash lights will be where the time goes. Are the lights just a bunch of small bulbs lighting up their section? And I'm thinking of blue for the dash lights to give it a more modern appearance. Any suggestions?

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

Here , this should help .
I don't know what led bulb number you would need, but if someone finds the answer please chime in...
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-problems-fixes-117/dash-clock-light-out-621510/

OperationDarkie

iTrader: (1)

All my interior lights are LED as well as my plate light is an LED, I don't think I will do the dash though, not a fan of bright light on the dash, just the interior lighting to be light.

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

Where did you get your LED interior lights?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

www.superbrightleds.com

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

The problem with going to a different color is that you'll also need to remove the colored film. The bulbs are normal bulbs so there is a colored film that make it that light green color. Remove the film and replace with blue LEDs and that should work. Another issue maybe how the light of the LEDs refract. LEDs can only shoot light off in one direction.

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

Hmm maybe I'll just change the colored film then to blue or something.

fsttyms1

You can't just change the colored film. Its printed on the gauges. You can carefully remove it then use what ever color bulb/led you want.

Mr Marco

Seems like a ton of work for little reward. How much faster will the car be if you do this mod?

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

Um... Not sure if calling me a ricer or wrong thread post. Either way, I'm not a ricer, just trying to update the cars looks a bit.

I think I'm just going to deal with the lights.

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

Don't get discouraged man , not everybody is going to agree with what you like . Do it if you wanna do it , if not the lights are sufficient already .

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

LEDs look sick in the dash and gauges. Especially in white.

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

I'll look into it more. I gotta find out the sizes of the lights that'll fit and all that right?

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

LEDs give off less of a visible light spectrum usually. Unless u get some super dooper high efficiency one. Cause i put a so called good one by the license plate and it produces a third the light..

likewise i did my interior dome lights and instantly noticed the LACK of ambient light.. yes it looks cool but functionally it's garbage.

so from my experience, LEDs are not as great as I thought.. however they do produce more light for the electrical input. therefore LEDs are great if u can use a lot of them in place of one incandecent.

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

My dome light went hallogen, 2 light led , 8 light led . The 2 light sucks, the 8 is way better than the hallogen.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Exactly. Thats why in the LED gauge conversion DIY, you wire in like double or 3x the amount of bulbs in a stock cluster.

fsttyms1

This is what mine looks like. I still have to get back in there and finish it. I need to illuminate the odo better and adjust a few of the white lights. Getting pictures accurately is hard, in person its much better looking.





Blue switched off and switched to red



background lighting off

Mopply

iTrader: (1)

The blue looks sick! I gotta do this now! What was the average cost of doing this and how much time estimated?

fsttyms1

I had maybe 40 bucks or so in LED's? Time? depends on how hard you work at it. I had maybe 8 hours start to finish? Carefully removing the color off the back of the gauges took the longest. You have to use something like Graffiti Remover, but if you touch the front of the gauges you will take the finish off of it so TAKING your time on this part is the hardest part.

mikebikelife

iTrader: (3)

Have a link as to where we could buy bulbs ?

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

Insedanity

That looks phenomenal, nice work!

I got a LED interior light kit from a guy who works at Delphi Packard, he helped design the kit as it was to be the one to go in the new Mustang (contract ended up going to a Chinese supplier, buy Ford/American, lol). It changes colors on demand or can lock on one color. I have it installed in the footwells and in front of the back seats (if that makes sense) and would love to do my dash like yours to match.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

you know what pisses me off??

how does the cl not have foot well lighting when u open the doors..

my POS ford probe had that!!! and it had motorized lumbar support...

but the absence of foot well lighting has always pissed me off personally.
im really surprised no one on the site makes a stink about it. only think i have heard one person talk about it on zine ever

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

My CL has foot well lighting

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

and that just aint right :-)

fsttyms1

Add it on your own? Pretty easy and cheap to do

fsttyms1

Thanks.

I want to redo mine so that the tach lights up as the needle swings up some how.