T/A Blue Gauges - WRITE UP
Originally Posted by 1998TA__1991RS
ill take it back then and just get some brighter ones, what size resistor should i use?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
Originally Posted by jsturdivant
Why has this not been put in the FAQ section? Half the questions of blue LED interiors would be answered with this.
On The Tree
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
why do u need to cut out the gauges? Looking at that website u reffered us too procarparts.com does'nt that white template just replace the factory black template? And okay the trans am u can't change the color of the bulbs from the back of the cluster no matter what the color stays red, but with those procarparts ones what is that transformer for? Whay can't u just get a template to replace the factory one and replace bulbs on the back of the cluster to change the color to blue?
thanks for any help
thanks for any help
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
The cluster has a red film underneath it to make the gauges glow red. You can take it off, but it's a PITA there is still shading underneath so it is uneven afterwards. The transformer is for the overlay and helps to change the voltage which let's you go from blue to green. The reason you have to cut the overlay is to get a perfect fit. The overlay is a little big and needs to be trimmed around the edges. Frozen, if I had to guess, I'd bet that you cut into the conducting strip embedded along the outer edge and broke the circuit, thus the overlay is pretty much worthless now. You can tell for sure if you pull it back out and look at it from the backside, if you cut into the line on the back around the edge then game over. Sorry for the bad news.
I noticed you have, or what it looks to be, a LED replacement bulb in your gauges on the pillar. Im assuming thats something pretty easy to do? I just installed my ProComps and the white light inside is way too dim and yellow compared to the dash.
Can you help me out with info to do that? Thakns...
Can you help me out with info to do that? Thakns...
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
I used the Wedge Matrix LED bulb from here:
http://autolumination.com/194.htm
If you have white face gauges, be careful a friend put the same bulb in his pillar gauges and they're BLINDING bright! I have carbon fiber faces, so I'm guessing the black is absorbing alot of the light. It's a good thing in my case those!
http://autolumination.com/194.htm
If you have white face gauges, be careful a friend put the same bulb in his pillar gauges and they're BLINDING bright! I have carbon fiber faces, so I'm guessing the black is absorbing alot of the light. It's a good thing in my case those!
Thanks buddy.. I have the ProComps so Im hoping mine wont be as bright, like yours.
Appreciate it... BTW, I forgot to mention in my first post... your lighting is amazing man. Good work!
Appreciate it... BTW, I forgot to mention in my first post... your lighting is amazing man. Good work!
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
Originally Posted by Avengeance
Thanks buddy.. I have the ProComps so Im hoping mine wont be as bright, like yours.
Appreciate it... BTW, I forgot to mention in my first post... your lighting is amazing man. Good work!
Appreciate it... BTW, I forgot to mention in my first post... your lighting is amazing man. Good work!
Originally Posted by InfiniteReality
If your have a Trans Am, how would you like blue gauges? I’ve always wanted something different than red ones, but never really took the time to see how to do it till the other day. After doing a lot of research on Camaro gauges versus Trans Ams, I found that they’re very similar in fit. And so, my project begins….
In this write-up, I am not responsible for any damage you do to your car.
MATERIALS
Camaro Reverse Indiglo Gauges (Pick what style, I have the 2nd one)
http://www.procarparts.com/store-lis...0&cat=3&sub=37
FOUR #74 Blue LED Replacement Bulbs
http://autolumination.com/74.htm
98-up Camaro HVAC & Headlight Switch
E-Bay is your best bet for this or an F-Body Salvage Yard
ONE 5mm Blue LED & 390 Ohm Resistor
Radio Shack is you easiest bet
SPEEDO & TACH GAUGE CLUSTER
Remove the outside bezel of sorts and make sure to unplug your fog light switch. Be careful around the clear lense of the cluster as you can EASILY scratch it. Then, just four 9/32” bolts around the perimeter of the cluster and it pulls out. Also, again, be careful of the clear lense. Once this is out, you can see how to pop the clear lense off. Now it’s time to start cutting up your brand new Reverse Indiglo Camaro Gauges! CAREFULLY cut the sides around where the indicator lights go as well as the very bottom corners. This will be trial and error till you can fit them. I kept putting mine up to my bezel to get them to fit properly before actually installing them. When you have it nice and pretty, slide them on top of your gauges. Get all the needles through the holes and slide it in place. After this, I used some double-sided tape to keep the gauges in place because the connector for them is at the bottom and when I went to install mine they slide around. Now put your lense back on and be careful that all the needles are out of the way before popping it on.
Time to wire up the transformer for your gauges. I wired mine up to my fog light switch for the reason being that the wire was bigger than the parking light switch. I used a Quick Splice connector to tap into the wires. I’m sorry, but I don’t know the color of the wires off hand. Use a multi-meter to test them and tap the proper ones. I mounted the switch under the dash, which will be the next section. Before you install the cluster bezel back, go down to HEADLIGHT SWITCH and do that step, then afterwards you can reverse the above procedure to put the gauges back in the car. Make sure to test them to make sure they work before putting it all back together.
MOUNT DIMMER SWITCH & DISCONNECT STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS
To remove the knee panel, remove the two 9/32” bolts at the bottom, 2 Phillips head screws and remove. Remember to unplug the hatch button as well. If you look by the steering column you will see a set of 4 wires coming out covered in a gray sheath. Follow it and it will follow to a plug. If you cut the gray wire on it and tape it up, that will be the one for the illumination. Since I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen, I just unplugged the entire plug. While under there you can find a place to mount the dimmer/color switch for your gauges. Sorry I have no pictures of where I mounted mine. Before putting the panel back on wait till it’s dark so you can adjust the brightness and color of your gauges to you liking.
HVAC SWITCH
Carefully pop off the bezel around the radio. Remove the two 9/32” bolts on the sides of the HVAC and slide it out. Remove the ***** around the gauge by sliding them off. Then you’ll see a set of tabs on the top and there is also some on bottom. Pop that off and the face will slide right off. Careful of the defroster button and spring. Now you can put the Camaro face on and replace the ***** with the T/A ones or Camaro, you’re choice. If you look on the back of the HVAC, you’ll see 2 little sockets. Unplug those, pull out the stock bulbs and replace with 2 blue #74 LED bulbs. Test them to make sure they work. If they don’t, pull them out and flip 180 degrees in put them back in. Reverse everything to put it back together.
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
Carefully pop out the switch and unplug it all. Remove the dimmer switch from the side, it will just pop off. Now remove the clear plastic around the switch. Twist the actual switch itself and you will be able to remove it. You will see a small circle with a slit in it for the illumination. Using a small flathead screwdriver, remove the bulb. Using a grinding wheel, I ground down my LED to fit inside the hole on the switch itself. Be careful not to go too far and grind on the metal piece inside the LED as that’s for the light.
Now you can solder the resistor to the positive side of the LED leg. It will be the longer leg of the 2 on the LED. Now place the LED in the hole on the switch and solder the contacts. The positive contact should be the ones closest to the edge of the switch. Now you can put the switch back together. Peel off the face of your stock switch and off the Camaro switch very carefully and slowly. Put the Camaro face on your Trans Am switch. Now you can plug ALL plugs back into the switch and test. Then push it back in the dash.
DOOR LIGHTS
Remove the Phillips head screw and pop off the door lock cover. Carefully slide off the door handle bezel and remove the bulb in the back. You will need to drill out the red lense inside where the bulb goes. ONLY drill out the bottom of it and leave the top intact so you will have something to lock your socket back in place. This will be trial and error. I’d drill a little bit, check to see if all the red lense was gone with a flash light and keep going until it was. When you have all the red gone you can bring it back to the car. On the socket, remove the #74 bulb and replace it with the #74 blue LED bulb. Verify it works and re-install it back to the door. Repeat on the other door.
You should be done, wait till night time (or in a garage) to adjust your brightness of the gauges and admire your work!!!
In this write-up, I am not responsible for any damage you do to your car.
MATERIALS
Camaro Reverse Indiglo Gauges (Pick what style, I have the 2nd one)
http://www.procarparts.com/store-lis...0&cat=3&sub=37
FOUR #74 Blue LED Replacement Bulbs
http://autolumination.com/74.htm
98-up Camaro HVAC & Headlight Switch
E-Bay is your best bet for this or an F-Body Salvage Yard
ONE 5mm Blue LED & 390 Ohm Resistor
Radio Shack is you easiest bet
SPEEDO & TACH GAUGE CLUSTER
Remove the outside bezel of sorts and make sure to unplug your fog light switch. Be careful around the clear lense of the cluster as you can EASILY scratch it. Then, just four 9/32” bolts around the perimeter of the cluster and it pulls out. Also, again, be careful of the clear lense. Once this is out, you can see how to pop the clear lense off. Now it’s time to start cutting up your brand new Reverse Indiglo Camaro Gauges! CAREFULLY cut the sides around where the indicator lights go as well as the very bottom corners. This will be trial and error till you can fit them. I kept putting mine up to my bezel to get them to fit properly before actually installing them. When you have it nice and pretty, slide them on top of your gauges. Get all the needles through the holes and slide it in place. After this, I used some double-sided tape to keep the gauges in place because the connector for them is at the bottom and when I went to install mine they slide around. Now put your lense back on and be careful that all the needles are out of the way before popping it on.
Time to wire up the transformer for your gauges. I wired mine up to my fog light switch for the reason being that the wire was bigger than the parking light switch. I used a Quick Splice connector to tap into the wires. I’m sorry, but I don’t know the color of the wires off hand. Use a multi-meter to test them and tap the proper ones. I mounted the switch under the dash, which will be the next section. Before you install the cluster bezel back, go down to HEADLIGHT SWITCH and do that step, then afterwards you can reverse the above procedure to put the gauges back in the car. Make sure to test them to make sure they work before putting it all back together.
MOUNT DIMMER SWITCH & DISCONNECT STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS
To remove the knee panel, remove the two 9/32” bolts at the bottom, 2 Phillips head screws and remove. Remember to unplug the hatch button as well. If you look by the steering column you will see a set of 4 wires coming out covered in a gray sheath. Follow it and it will follow to a plug. If you cut the gray wire on it and tape it up, that will be the one for the illumination. Since I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen, I just unplugged the entire plug. While under there you can find a place to mount the dimmer/color switch for your gauges. Sorry I have no pictures of where I mounted mine. Before putting the panel back on wait till it’s dark so you can adjust the brightness and color of your gauges to you liking.
HVAC SWITCH
Carefully pop off the bezel around the radio. Remove the two 9/32” bolts on the sides of the HVAC and slide it out. Remove the ***** around the gauge by sliding them off. Then you’ll see a set of tabs on the top and there is also some on bottom. Pop that off and the face will slide right off. Careful of the defroster button and spring. Now you can put the Camaro face on and replace the ***** with the T/A ones or Camaro, you’re choice. If you look on the back of the HVAC, you’ll see 2 little sockets. Unplug those, pull out the stock bulbs and replace with 2 blue #74 LED bulbs. Test them to make sure they work. If they don’t, pull them out and flip 180 degrees in put them back in. Reverse everything to put it back together.
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
Carefully pop out the switch and unplug it all. Remove the dimmer switch from the side, it will just pop off. Now remove the clear plastic around the switch. Twist the actual switch itself and you will be able to remove it. You will see a small circle with a slit in it for the illumination. Using a small flathead screwdriver, remove the bulb. Using a grinding wheel, I ground down my LED to fit inside the hole on the switch itself. Be careful not to go too far and grind on the metal piece inside the LED as that’s for the light.
Now you can solder the resistor to the positive side of the LED leg. It will be the longer leg of the 2 on the LED. Now place the LED in the hole on the switch and solder the contacts. The positive contact should be the ones closest to the edge of the switch. Now you can put the switch back together. Peel off the face of your stock switch and off the Camaro switch very carefully and slowly. Put the Camaro face on your Trans Am switch. Now you can plug ALL plugs back into the switch and test. Then push it back in the dash.
DOOR LIGHTS
Remove the Phillips head screw and pop off the door lock cover. Carefully slide off the door handle bezel and remove the bulb in the back. You will need to drill out the red lense inside where the bulb goes. ONLY drill out the bottom of it and leave the top intact so you will have something to lock your socket back in place. This will be trial and error. I’d drill a little bit, check to see if all the red lense was gone with a flash light and keep going until it was. When you have all the red gone you can bring it back to the car. On the socket, remove the #74 bulb and replace it with the #74 blue LED bulb. Verify it works and re-install it back to the door. Repeat on the other door.
You should be done, wait till night time (or in a garage) to adjust your brightness of the gauges and admire your work!!!
what if im using the white faces, does this awesome look still exist??? pm me if u have time..
Ok, I have a bunch of questions....
First, someone mentioned that the stock gauges have a orange-clear film behind them that makes the numbers look orange. How do the overlays, since they are placed over the stock gauges, display blue numbers when lit if the gauges behind are orange?
Why are you switching to the Camaro HVAC switch, and can the Trans Am switch be used?
Do you have to cut the overlays perfectly to fit inside the frame, or do you take the frame off and slide them behind? It seems it would be really difficult to cut them perfectly to fit inside the frame.
What do you mean by "I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen,"? Does this mean that the steering wheel control lights can`t be switched to blue?
Why do you have to adjust the brightness before putting everything back together, since we already have a stock dimmer switch that dims the gauge and interior lights?
Why are you switching to the Camaro headlight switch? Can the stock Trans Am switch still be used?
Originally Posted by InfiniteReality
98-up Camaro HVAC & Headlight Switch
E-Bay is your best bet for this or an F-Body Salvage Yard
After this, I used some double-sided tape to keep the gauges in place because the connector for them is at the bottom and when I went to install mine they slide around.
Since I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen, I just unplugged the entire plug.
Before putting the panel back on wait till it’s dark so you can adjust the brightness and color of your gauges to you liking.
Peel off the face of your stock switch and off the Camaro switch very carefully and slowly. Put the Camaro face on your Trans Am switch. Now you can plug ALL plugs back into the switch and test. Then push it back in the dash.
E-Bay is your best bet for this or an F-Body Salvage Yard
After this, I used some double-sided tape to keep the gauges in place because the connector for them is at the bottom and when I went to install mine they slide around.
Since I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen, I just unplugged the entire plug.
Before putting the panel back on wait till it’s dark so you can adjust the brightness and color of your gauges to you liking.
Peel off the face of your stock switch and off the Camaro switch very carefully and slowly. Put the Camaro face on your Trans Am switch. Now you can plug ALL plugs back into the switch and test. Then push it back in the dash.
Why are you switching to the Camaro HVAC switch, and can the Trans Am switch be used?
Do you have to cut the overlays perfectly to fit inside the frame, or do you take the frame off and slide them behind? It seems it would be really difficult to cut them perfectly to fit inside the frame.
What do you mean by "I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen,"? Does this mean that the steering wheel control lights can`t be switched to blue?
Why do you have to adjust the brightness before putting everything back together, since we already have a stock dimmer switch that dims the gauge and interior lights?
Why are you switching to the Camaro headlight switch? Can the stock Trans Am switch still be used?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
1. The overlay is reverse indiglo. which means only the numbers light up blue and it lays on top of the stock faces.
2. Can't use T/A HVAC or headlight due to the red/orange film behind it like the gauges. Only option is to put blue LEDs in the sockets and use a camaro face.
3. You pull the bezel off and cut. Doesn't have to be perfect, just take your time. The bezel will cover up any imperfections.
4. I have since sold that screen in lieu of a new one that happens to light up blue and allows me to use a PAC SWI-X for my steering wheel controls. Do a search, I've swapped those out as well as my TCS and conv. top lights.
5. The new guage overlay has it's own brightness control and where I mounted no one can see and I can't touch, so I had to adjust it prior to putting the dash back on.
2. Can't use T/A HVAC or headlight due to the red/orange film behind it like the gauges. Only option is to put blue LEDs in the sockets and use a camaro face.
3. You pull the bezel off and cut. Doesn't have to be perfect, just take your time. The bezel will cover up any imperfections.
4. I have since sold that screen in lieu of a new one that happens to light up blue and allows me to use a PAC SWI-X for my steering wheel controls. Do a search, I've swapped those out as well as my TCS and conv. top lights.
5. The new guage overlay has it's own brightness control and where I mounted no one can see and I can't touch, so I had to adjust it prior to putting the dash back on.
Originally Posted by Hawk312
Ok, I have a bunch of questions....
First, someone mentioned that the stock gauges have a orange-clear film behind them that makes the numbers look orange. How do the overlays, since they are placed over the stock gauges, display blue numbers when lit if the gauges behind are orange?
Why are you switching to the Camaro HVAC switch, and can the Trans Am switch be used?
Do you have to cut the overlays perfectly to fit inside the frame, or do you take the frame off and slide them behind? It seems it would be really difficult to cut them perfectly to fit inside the frame.
What do you mean by "I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen,"? Does this mean that the steering wheel control lights can`t be switched to blue?
Why do you have to adjust the brightness before putting everything back together, since we already have a stock dimmer switch that dims the gauge and interior lights?
Why are you switching to the Camaro headlight switch? Can the stock Trans Am switch still be used?
First, someone mentioned that the stock gauges have a orange-clear film behind them that makes the numbers look orange. How do the overlays, since they are placed over the stock gauges, display blue numbers when lit if the gauges behind are orange?
Why are you switching to the Camaro HVAC switch, and can the Trans Am switch be used?
Do you have to cut the overlays perfectly to fit inside the frame, or do you take the frame off and slide them behind? It seems it would be really difficult to cut them perfectly to fit inside the frame.
What do you mean by "I can’t use my steering wheel controls due to my screen,"? Does this mean that the steering wheel control lights can`t be switched to blue?
Why do you have to adjust the brightness before putting everything back together, since we already have a stock dimmer switch that dims the gauge and interior lights?
Why are you switching to the Camaro headlight switch? Can the stock Trans Am switch still be used?
Originally Posted by InfiniteReality
2. Can't use T/A HVAC or headlight due to the red/orange film behind it like the gauges. Only option is to put blue LEDs in the sockets and use a camaro face.
Originally Posted by InfiniteReality
4. I have since sold that screen in lieu of a new one that happens to light up blue and allows me to use a PAC SWI-X for my steering wheel controls. Do a search, I've swapped those out as well as my TCS and conv. top lights.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
yup still orange HU if stock. It can be changed using 3mm LEDs though, just more time consuming.
There's 2 other threads. One for the steering wheel lights and one for the shifter lights if you have an auto.
There's 2 other threads. One for the steering wheel lights and one for the shifter lights if you have an auto.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 14
From: Vinton, Louisiana
http://www.evlls1.com/ls1.html
Doesn't show shifter lights, but does have my write-up on steering wheel lights
Doesn't show shifter lights, but does have my write-up on steering wheel lights
