L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gregbr · 12-24-2005, 01:15 PM

Anybody installed LED's in the instrument panel for the gauges? I found these replacements for the 194 bulbs, they have several styles to choose from. From what I've read elsewhere, it's best to use the bulb assemblies with at least 4 LED's. I'm curious which color to use....white or green. Any ideas??

http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm

BowTieMan · 12-24-2005, 01:32 PM

Hmmm. thats a good idea. Paint the area around the gauges gloss white and add a green bulb and that would be pretty bright. What do you guys think about that?

byrd · 12-24-2005, 02:52 PM

I have installed and sold several sets of the 4 point LEDS, and they look and work great. I sell them for $5 per bulb in about the same variety of colors as the do. I always paint the inside of the tins white(backing plate, and inner tin) to achieve the best possible reflection of light. If you have a stock black cluster the colored bulbs won't really show up that well, mainly the color is for the white dashes and then you get a huge difference and a very cool effect. Just my .02 Randy

BowTieMan · 12-24-2005, 02:54 PM

So what is it on the stock gauges that gives it that green glow?

70c10 · 12-24-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BowTieMan

So what is it on the stock gauges that gives it that green glow?

The inside of the tin is factory painted a pale green. If you do what Randy said and paint it white it looks alot brighter.

BowTieMan · 12-24-2005, 03:30 PM

But If I just paint it white will it glow white or will it still have a green glow?

krue · 12-24-2005, 03:48 PM

It should glow white.

gregbr · 01-06-2006, 07:06 AM

The 4 LED bulbs are a liitle brighter than the original bulbs when installed in the turn signal lights & hi beam indicator. The 6 LED bulbs installed in the open holes appear a little brighter than the stock bulbs, but they don't disperse the light evenly around the gauges, they make bright spots dirrectly in front of the bulb. Might should try the 5 LED bulbs that have 4 LED's around the sides. I left the tins stock green and used green LED's. I also noticed the dimmer switch will NOT dim the LED's, they are either on or off. Both LED bulbs fit the regular sockets and the housing with no problem (no mods), the 6 LED bulbs actually are a little smaller than the 4 LED bulbs....somehow. Greg

byrd · 01-06-2006, 07:43 AM

LED are like flourescent lights, can't dim them. The reason you aren't seeing a big change in lighting is that you left the inside of the tins the factory green(very poor reflection) had you painted the inside white it would have made a huge difference. I try to see if I can get a pic of the LED in the dash one with a white background finish and one with the factory color green. The white also really helps to spread the light out so that the LED light looks more even. My .02 Randy

67chevemall · 01-06-2006, 09:20 AM

Any pics? sounds cool!

gregbr · 01-10-2006, 04:15 AM

Thanks Randy, would love to see pics. Greg

70c10 · 01-10-2006, 08:39 AM

Certain LED's will distribute the light more evenly than others. If you look at the Duranged website for our trucks, the light is cast in an Up and Down pattern. I would try different LED's for the best pattern.

dinnut · 01-10-2006, 05:56 PM

my friend has the 5 led's in his 96 tahoe... he can dim them all the way till they are out...

shaneschevys · 01-10-2006, 07:06 PM

this is what mine looks like with blue bulbs and white gauges.

byrd · 01-10-2006, 10:22 PM

Shane you are the first person who has gotten a good pics of them at night, beside durange. How did you get them to turn out and could you get some better pics? Randy

70c10 · 01-13-2006, 06:57 PM

What type of LED bulbs did you use?

12-24-2005, 01:15 PM	#1
gregbr Senoir Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC USA Posts: 1,214	L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? Anybody installed LED's in the instrument panel for the gauges? I found these replacements for the 194 bulbs, they have several styles to choose from. From what I've read elsewhere, it's best to use the bulb assemblies with at least 4 LED's. I'm curious which color to use....white or green. Any ideas?? http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm __________________ 67 Chevy, Small back glass, Factory 4WD, Factory Shortbed, Factory V8, Lifted 4" 70 GMC Sierra Grande, Factory Shortbed, Factory 402/400 turbo, Super Custom Interior. Numbers matching with SPID & Build Sheet. 68K Original Miles. Restored 2010 70 GMC Restoration Pictures http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...00&ppuser=4424

12-24-2005, 01:32 PM	#2
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? Hmmm. thats a good idea. Paint the area around the gauges gloss white and add a green bulb and that would be pretty bright. What do you guys think about that? __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo

12-24-2005, 02:54 PM	#4
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? So what is it on the stock gauges that gives it that green glow? __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo

12-24-2005, 03:30 PM	#6
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? But If I just paint it white will it glow white or will it still have a green glow? __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo

12-24-2005, 03:48 PM	#7
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? It should glow white. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

01-06-2006, 07:06 AM	#8
gregbr Senoir Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC USA Posts: 1,214	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? The 4 LED bulbs are a liitle brighter than the original bulbs when installed in the turn signal lights & hi beam indicator. The 6 LED bulbs installed in the open holes appear a little brighter than the stock bulbs, but they don't disperse the light evenly around the gauges, they make bright spots dirrectly in front of the bulb. Might should try the 5 LED bulbs that have 4 LED's around the sides. I left the tins stock green and used green LED's. I also noticed the dimmer switch will NOT dim the LED's, they are either on or off. Both LED bulbs fit the regular sockets and the housing with no problem (no mods), the 6 LED bulbs actually are a little smaller than the 4 LED bulbs....somehow. Greg __________________ 67 Chevy, Small back glass, Factory 4WD, Factory Shortbed, Factory V8, Lifted 4" 70 GMC Sierra Grande, Factory Shortbed, Factory 402/400 turbo, Super Custom Interior. Numbers matching with SPID & Build Sheet. 68K Original Miles. Restored 2010 70 GMC Restoration Pictures http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...00&ppuser=4424 Last edited by gregbr; 01-06-2006 at 07:11 AM.

01-06-2006, 09:20 AM	#10
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? Any pics? sounds cool! __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

01-10-2006, 04:15 AM	#11
gregbr Senoir Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rock Hill, SC USA Posts: 1,214	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? Thanks Randy, would love to see pics. Greg __________________ 67 Chevy, Small back glass, Factory 4WD, Factory Shortbed, Factory V8, Lifted 4" 70 GMC Sierra Grande, Factory Shortbed, Factory 402/400 turbo, Super Custom Interior. Numbers matching with SPID & Build Sheet. 68K Original Miles. Restored 2010 70 GMC Restoration Pictures http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...00&ppuser=4424

01-10-2006, 08:39 AM	#12
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? Certain LED's will distribute the light more evenly than others. If you look at the Duranged website for our trucks, the light is cast in an Up and Down pattern. I would try different LED's for the best pattern. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

01-10-2006, 05:56 PM	#13
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? my friend has the 5 led's in his 96 tahoe... he can dim them all the way till they are out... __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

01-10-2006, 07:06 PM	#14
shaneschevys Its always something! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: FT Worth,TX Posts: 4,992	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? this is what mine looks like with blue bulbs and white gauges. Attached Images __________________ 79 p10 stepvan 72 Short Fleetside 72 Suburban 67 GMC One Ton Flatbed 64 Short Fleetside 57 Chevy 2DR Hard Top 57 Chevy 2dr wagon 65 f* short fleet 63 C 60 Flatbed Member of the patina club** Last edited by shaneschevys; 01-10-2006 at 07:06 PM.

01-13-2006, 06:57 PM	#16
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Re: L.E.D. lights in gauge cluster?? What type of LED bulbs did you use? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

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