Instrument Cluster lighting ??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68_Bowtie · 02-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Has anyone upgraded their instrument cluster lighting ? When I had my 86' Monte SS, I took the cluster out and painted all the back part silver so that it would reflect the light better, and added #2825 bulbs in place of the 194's. Just curious if anyone has any ideas or has done one. I've already fabricated new aftermarket gauges into where the factory gauges were at and am pleased with the way they turned out. Thanks in advance

Longhorn Man · 02-06-2009, 12:55 AM

there's a LOT of us who paint the inside of the housing white instead of the stock green, white overlays on the guage faces are very common, and 168 bulbs have twice the output as 194s (never heard of the 2825 bulbs, is that the real large ones?) and many of us have upgraded to led bulbs.

Gumby'sC20 · 02-06-2009, 02:31 AM

Any insight as to the LED cluster light swaps?

They just involve replacing the filament bulbs with LED replacements that fit right into the stock bulb sockets?

I'm LED crazy so...this will be a Must for me haha

*MonteSS454* · 02-06-2009, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby'sC20

Any insight as to the LED cluster light swaps?

They just involve replacing the filament bulbs with LED replacements that fit right into the stock bulb sockets?

I'm LED crazy so...this will be a Must for me haha

Yup.

packer · 02-06-2009, 02:54 AM

Where and what part number for the LED replacement light bulbs?

kamikazekyle05 · 02-06-2009, 11:48 AM

I replaced all mine with led's, sorry dont have pics, but they look awesome, the cluster bulbs are just a led 194 bulb, the a/c panel use b9 bulbs, i also put a led panel in the dome light, i bought mine from v-leds.com, kinda expensive but def. worth it

C20-67_N_MO · 02-06-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packer

Where and what part number for the LED replacement light bulbs?

Yeah I want to know about this as well.

Have to check out v-leds.com and see what they have as well.

Thanks everyone, great info as always.

68_Bowtie · 02-06-2009, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the ideas ya'll. The 2825 bulbs are 5 watts, opposed to the 194's which are 3. They are definetly brighter than the 194's. Any parts store should have them (Advance Auto Parts does sell them in a box of 10 that are reasonably priced in their commercial department).I'll go ahead and paint the housing white. I'm old school and don't really care for the white face gauges, not saying they don't look good, I just prefer the black face. Thanks again.

02-05-2009, 08:58 PM	#1
68_Bowtie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Claremore OK Posts: 52	Instrument Cluster lighting ??? Has anyone upgraded their instrument cluster lighting ? When I had my 86' Monte SS, I took the cluster out and painted all the back part silver so that it would reflect the light better, and added #2825 bulbs in place of the 194's. Just curious if anyone has any ideas or has done one. I've already fabricated new aftermarket gauges into where the factory gauges were at and am pleased with the way they turned out. Thanks in advance __________________ 68' SWB 355 CID since 1987 89' S15 4WD 4.3 08' VTX 1300R 08' Chevrolet HHR (Wife's ride) "That man right there is the best sprint car driver in the whole ---damned country!" 1974- Indianapolis- AJ Foyt pointing out Jan Opperman in the garage.

02-06-2009, 02:31 AM	#3
Gumby'sC20 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Binghamton, N.Y. Posts: 116	Re: Instrument Cluster lighting ??? Any insight as to the LED cluster light swaps? They just involve replacing the filament bulbs with LED replacements that fit right into the stock bulb sockets? I'm LED crazy so...this will be a Must for me haha

02-06-2009, 02:54 AM	#5
packer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: midlothian va. Posts: 20	Re: Instrument Cluster lighting ??? Where and what part number for the LED replacement light bulbs?

02-06-2009, 11:48 AM	#6
kamikazekyle05 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vernon, Texas Posts: 331	Re: Instrument Cluster lighting ??? I replaced all mine with led's, sorry dont have pics, but they look awesome, the cluster bulbs are just a led 194 bulb, the a/c panel use b9 bulbs, i also put a led panel in the dome light, i bought mine from v-leds.com, kinda expensive but def. worth it

02-06-2009, 06:17 PM	#8
68_Bowtie Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Claremore OK Posts: 52	Re: Instrument Cluster lighting ??? Thanks for the ideas ya'll. The 2825 bulbs are 5 watts, opposed to the 194's which are 3. They are definetly brighter than the 194's. Any parts store should have them (Advance Auto Parts does sell them in a box of 10 that are reasonably priced in their commercial department).I'll go ahead and paint the housing white. I'm old school and don't really care for the white face gauges, not saying they don't look good, I just prefer the black face. Thanks again. __________________ 68' SWB 355 CID since 1987 89' S15 4WD 4.3 08' VTX 1300R 08' Chevrolet HHR (Wife's ride) "That man right there is the best sprint car driver in the whole ---damned country!" 1974- Indianapolis- AJ Foyt pointing out Jan Opperman in the garage. Last edited by 68_Bowtie; 02-06-2009 at 06:17 PM.

02-06-2009, 12:55 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Instrument Cluster lighting ??? there's a LOT of us who paint the inside of the housing white instead of the stock green, white overlays on the guage faces are very common, and 168 bulbs have twice the output as 194s (never heard of the 2825 bulbs, is that the real large ones?) and many of us have upgraded to led bulbs.

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