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I put cool white leds in gauges. Pics!

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Old 12-13-2009, 03:34 PM
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Default I put cool white leds in gauges. Pics!

Today I put cool white leds in my gauge cluster, doors, hvac and shifter. They look blue but I like them. Much better then the stock color. I got the lights from superbrightleds. Got the bulb numbers from the list on here. Here is one pic. Have to resize the other pics yet
Attached Thumbnails I put cool white leds in gauges. Pics!-led-lights-008.jpg  
Old 12-13-2009, 04:00 PM
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they look kinda blueish on the hvac may just be the pic though. looks sweet
Old 12-13-2009, 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by spikester7878
they look kinda blueish on the hvac may just be the pic though. looks sweet
It isn't the picture...the overlays have a blue film on them that taints the light output. I hated that blue tint enough to order a full set of overlays from 6LE just so I wouldn't have to look at it anymore.
Old 12-14-2009, 02:11 PM
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Ya, all my lights that I put in have a blue tint to them. Even the doors and shifter. And the shifter doesn't have an overlay. I kind of like the blue tint. Still looks way better then the stock lights. I'll be ordering new overlays from 6LE soon.
Old 12-14-2009, 04:35 PM
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How hard was it to replace them in the guage cluster?
Old 12-14-2009, 04:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Scira
How hard was it to replace them in the guage cluster?
The hardest part is figuring out how to get the cluster out...once you've done it once, it takes about 10-15 minutes. Once you have the cluster out, it is simply a matter of pulling the bulbs and replacing them with the LEDs. If you do this, do NOT forget to test them first to make sure they are installed correctly...most LEDs I've dealt with are polarity sensitive, so if they are installed backwards, they won't light, and if you put everything back together already, you'll be pissed because you'll be taking it all right back out.
Old 12-14-2009, 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
The hardest part is figuring out how to get the cluster out...once you've done it once, it takes about 10-15 minutes. Once you have the cluster out, it is simply a matter of pulling the bulbs and replacing them with the LEDs. If you do this, do NOT forget to test them first to make sure they are installed correctly...most LEDs I've dealt with are polarity sensitive, so if they are installed backwards, they won't light, and if you put everything back together already, you'll be pissed because you'll be taking it all right back out.
I've been looking on superbrightleds, and I'm trying to cross reference the bulbs. The ones for the guage cluster are the #74 ones, correct?
Old 12-14-2009, 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Scira
I've been looking on superbrightleds, and I'm trying to cross reference the bulbs. The ones for the guage cluster are the #74 ones, correct?


No. The gauge lights are 194 bulbs. The doors, hvac and shifter are 74 bulbs. The light switch is a 3mm neo light. There is a list on here. Search for bulb to led and you'll find it!
Old 12-14-2009, 09:39 PM
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Anymore pics?
Old 12-15-2009, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Ls1CamaroGuy87
Anymore pics?
I have to take new ones. The wife deleated them on me. I'll get more pics this weekend for ya!
Old 12-16-2009, 01:13 AM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
The hardest part is figuring out how to get the cluster out...once you've done it once, it takes about 10-15 minutes. Once you have the cluster out, it is simply a matter of pulling the bulbs and replacing them with the LEDs. If you do this, do NOT forget to test them first to make sure they are installed correctly...most LEDs I've dealt with are polarity sensitive, so if they are installed backwards, they won't light, and if you put everything back together already, you'll be pissed because you'll be taking it all right back out.
^^ Exactly true!!

And to test the new bulbs, just plug in the cluster and turn on the lights. The needles will do a little dance, but thats normal. If they all light up (there are 8 total, but only 5 light the cluster's backlight, the other 3 are turn signals and highbeam) then you're good to go. Just slap it back together....and remember...the stock gauge face has a tint to it too. You can sand it down ever so slightly to get it clear for now, or get some 6LE overlays....but I think you mentioned that already.
Old 01-10-2010, 09:54 PM
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What color would give the brightest original color ? I bought the bulbs in red but the hvac controls dont look as bright as i thought they would be .... the blue doesnt even light up...should i got with white led's ? the doors and headlight switch look good but the hvac doesnt..any help ? thanks !
Old 01-10-2010, 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by RGV_PEWTERBIRD
What color would give the brightest original color ? I bought the bulbs in red but the hvac controls dont look as bright as i thought they would be .... the blue doesnt even light up...should i got with white led's ? the doors and headlight switch look good but the hvac doesnt..any help ? thanks !
I ended up using #74 size LEDs with 3 surface mount "bulbs" on them - one fires forward, and the other two are on the sides 180 degrees opposite each other. That was the only way I could get the HVAC panel to light up as bright as I wanted - with the 3-way firing LEDs, it is WAY brighter than the stock bulbs, and the light is uniform.
Old 01-11-2010, 12:09 AM
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^^Are the HVAC bulbs plug and play, or do you have to solder them in?
Old 01-11-2010, 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
I ended up using #74 size LEDs with 3 surface mount "bulbs" on them - one fires forward, and the other two are on the sides 180 degrees opposite each other. That was the only way I could get the HVAC panel to light up as bright as I wanted - with the 3-way firing LEDs, it is WAY brighter than the stock bulbs, and the light is uniform.
are they brighter than single-SMD bulbs?
Old 01-11-2010, 02:24 AM
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aw man, I hate the ******* color.

Like the el glow gauges or the Chrysler 300 glow gauges. blah..

But I like the LED idea, just find a better color ( I know it's supposed to be white)
Old 01-11-2010, 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
It isn't the picture...the overlays have a blue film on them that taints the light output. I hated that blue tint enough to order a full set of overlays from 6LE just so I wouldn't have to look at it anymore.
I know the feeling though, f@ckin AQUA is what it is
Old 01-11-2010, 02:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Sommer86@6LE
^^Are the HVAC bulbs plug and play, or do you have to solder them in?
Plug and play. 2 bulbs, same style as the shifter and door panels.
Old 01-11-2010, 03:41 AM
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your thread title deceives. you said pics....not pic. looks good.
Old 01-11-2010, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Trans Am Jam
your thread title deceives. you said pics....not pic. looks good.
I need to buy a new camera yet. I'll get more pics after I get the new camera. The lights aren't as blue as they look in the pics. They are blue, but more white then blue.


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