how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69ChevyRazorback · 10-20-2008, 09:03 PM

man, I have installed all new LED's and im disappointed to say the least. it is still just as dim as before. what do u guys do to really make ure gauges light up???

BadgerTheFerret · 10-20-2008, 09:17 PM

I'm not sure about the 67-72 trucks, but I had a 79 K5 and it was so dim at night I could hardly read anything.

Stock the plastic is a non reflective green'ish color, so what I did was take that cheesy "Chrome" spray paint, and paint over the green'ish color. It made a world of difference I can tell you that!

69ChevyRazorback · 10-20-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadgerTheFerret

I'm not sure about the 67-72 trucks, but I had a 79 K5 and it was so dim at night I could hardly read anything.

Stock the plastic is a non reflective green'ish color, so what I did was take that cheesy "Chrome" spray paint, and paint over the green'ish color. It made a world of difference I can tell you that!

hmm, good thought I guess. the chrome paint would make it more reflective...got any pics??? im not sure if my LED's are just low grade and not bright or what. I bought the LED's that are inverted and have a 360 degree light. just the way our factory dashes are made, its so hard to get alot of light to our gauges. maybe I went wrong by putting in red, I might of shoulda went with a bright white...

Longhorn Man · 10-20-2008, 09:42 PM

Paint the tin white, it makes a HUGE improvement.
I think I saw in another thread you did white overlays too... I have plain old white 194 bulbs in my burb, and they are too bright with the white tin and white guages... and in the longhorn, i have blue 4 diode led 194 replacements, and with the white tins and overlays, they look awesome, but again, just a tad too bright.

kyull67 · 10-20-2008, 09:55 PM

Yeah, 194 bulbs with white overlays are a little too bright at night, kind of hard to read the numbers.

byrd · 10-20-2008, 10:03 PM

White paint is the only way to go, that being said with the white gauges LED's do seem to make a glowing effect. The white paint on the inside gives a brighter more even lit(sp) cluster. I drive my truck a lot at night and the stock 194's are plenty bright, when the inner tins are painted white

69ChevyRazorback · 10-20-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyull67

Yeah, 194 bulbs with white overlays are a little too bright at night, kind of hard to read the numbers.

well i do have the white overlay, maybe it is just the Red LED's.... or maybe after I put the dash together not all the bulbs were lit up...i will try again tomorrow

byrd · 10-20-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyull67

Yeah, 194 bulbs with white overlays are a little too bright at night, kind of hard to read the numbers.

I sell a lens that has a different color green numbers on it and they are a more transluscent paint and they will actually light up better with the LED's
Here is a pic of said lens...

BadgerTheFerret · 10-21-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byrd

I sell a lens that has a different color green numbers on it and they are a more transluscent paint and they will actually light up better with the LED's
Here is a pic of said lens...

Thats pretty slick looking! What is the asking price on that item?

kyull67 · 10-21-2008, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69ChevyRazorback

well i do have the white overlay, maybe it is just the Red LED's.... or maybe after I put the dash together not all the bulbs were lit up...i will try again tomorrow

While installing my LED's, I noticed the bulbs only worked one way. If some don't work take them out and turn 180 degrees.

70' GMC · 10-21-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byrd

I sell a lens that has a different color green numbers on it and they are a more transluscent paint and they will actually light up better with the LED's
Here is a pic of said lens...

What does it look like at night?

70c10 · 10-21-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70' GMC

What does it look like at night?

This my lens I got from byrd

You can see the numbers and letters very clearly. I use the refractor type LED bulbs that have the 5 LEDs per bulb

70' GMC · 10-21-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70c10

this my lens i got from byrd

You can see the numbers and letters very clearly. I use the refractor type led bulbs that have the 5 leds per bulb

wow!!!!

byrd · 10-21-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadgerTheFerret

Thats pretty slick looking! What is the asking price on that item?

$35 shipped,

byrd · 10-21-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70c10

This my lens I got from byrd

You can see the numbers and letters very clearly. I use the refractor type LED bulbs that have the 5 LEDs per bulb

Steve,
I love this pic!!! Copied and Saved!!! Thank you for posting that!

72BlckButy · 10-21-2008, 08:19 PM

I've always loved your gauge panels byrd... nice work!

69ChevyRazorback · 10-22-2008, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70c10

This my lens I got from byrd

You can see the numbers and letters very clearly. I use the refractor type LED bulbs that have the 5 LEDs per bulb

man i wish you could show me a pic of your dash before you put in his lens. how much brighter and better did it make it???? your LED's might just be brighter than mine??? I have the inverted ones that are supposed to shoot light 360 degrees, dont seem very bright though.

*MonteSS454* · 10-22-2008, 12:46 AM

Who sells white faced gauges?

69ChevyRazorback · 10-22-2008, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonteSS454

Who sells white faced gauges?

whitefacegauges.net I believe is their website.

go to ebay and search "67-72 white face gauges" they are stickers that go over your factory gauges for 25 bucks and look pretty nice.

byrd · 10-22-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonteSS454

Who sells white faced gauges?

I sell the overlay kit as well, just a little cheaper at $20 a set shipped(tach and vac gauges are $3 more each).Mine are a little different than the ones you buy from their web site. I have mine to include the hot mark on the temp gauge to be red, not black as they come from them, also I punch my one holes in the speedo for the mounting screws which gives the speedo face a little cleaner look.

67chevemall · 10-22-2008, 11:08 AM

Byrd= the man
Buy from him.

0.02

*MonteSS454* · 10-22-2008, 01:03 PM

PM Sent byrd

69ChevyRazorback · 10-22-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byrd

I sell the overlay kit as well, just a little cheaper at $20 a set shipped(tach and vac gauges are $3 more each).Mine are a little different than the ones you buy from their web site. I have mine to include the hot mark on the temp gauge to be red, not black as they come from them, also I pump my one holes in the speedo for the mounting screws which gives the speedo face a little cleaner look.

sorry byrd ordered before i knew you had these goodies

kamikazekyle05 · 10-23-2008, 10:17 PM

Hey byrd, do you have any night pics of the green ones glowing?

chevy4ever · 10-30-2008, 12:39 AM

whats a good site to buy the overlays? I have a 90 burb and im tryin to match the lighting to a blue color theme i have going. Im going to order the led bulbs. I found a few sites for them. Anyone got any links for the over lays and or the bulbs.

10-20-2008, 09:03 PM	#1
69ChevyRazorback Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Searcy, AR Posts: 92	how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? man, I have installed all new LED's and im disappointed to say the least. it is still just as dim as before. what do u guys do to really make ure gauges light up???

10-20-2008, 09:17 PM	#2
BadgerTheFerret Be nice, it was a work truck! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Coquille, OR Posts: 60	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? I'm not sure about the 67-72 trucks, but I had a 79 K5 and it was so dim at night I could hardly read anything. Stock the plastic is a non reflective green'ish color, so what I did was take that cheesy "Chrome" spray paint, and paint over the green'ish color. It made a world of difference I can tell you that!

10-20-2008, 09:42 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? Paint the tin white, it makes a HUGE improvement. I think I saw in another thread you did white overlays too... I have plain old white 194 bulbs in my burb, and they are too bright with the white tin and white guages... and in the longhorn, i have blue 4 diode led 194 replacements, and with the white tins and overlays, they look awesome, but again, just a tad too bright.

10-20-2008, 09:55 PM	#5
kyull67 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Springfield/Kansas City Posts: 1,842	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? Yeah, 194 bulbs with white overlays are a little too bright at night, kind of hard to read the numbers. Attached Images __________________ The first '67 The current '67 '63 Biscayne

10-21-2008, 08:19 PM	#16
72BlckButy Tot Roddin' Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 24,461	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? I've always loved your gauge panels byrd... nice work! __________________ -Nate 1969 CST SWB - Project Blank Slate (4.5/6" ECE Static Drop, 6-lug disc brake upgrade (manual), Billet Specialties Vintec 20x8.5 255/40 (F) 20x10 295/40 (R), 250 I-6) 1960 AMF Skylark - Tot Roddin' (Lowered with custom frame; soon to include custom push bar and interior) 2008 Silverado CrewCab 1LT (5.3L, 3:73, 4x4, LT1, Z-71, Towing Package)

10-22-2008, 12:46 AM	#18
MonteSS454 Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 821	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? Who sells white faced gauges?

10-22-2008, 11:08 AM	#21
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? Byrd= the man Buy from him. 0.02 __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

10-22-2008, 01:03 PM	#22
MonteSS454 Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 821	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? PM Sent byrd

10-23-2008, 10:17 PM	#24
kamikazekyle05 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vernon, Texas Posts: 331	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? Hey byrd, do you have any night pics of the green ones glowing?

10-30-2008, 12:39 AM	#25
chevy4ever Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Corpus Christi, Tx Posts: 156	Re: how do you guys make your factory gauges GLOW?? whats a good site to buy the overlays? I have a 90 burb and im tryin to match the lighting to a blue color theme i have going. Im going to order the led bulbs. I found a few sites for them. Anyone got any links for the over lays and or the bulbs. __________________ email is matthew.solar1984@gmail.com 1980 Malibu Classic 2door(sold) 8-( 2001 Silverado single cab 4.3 V6(stolen and the totalled) 1979 GMC sierra swb stepside 350(sold) 1990 chevy suburban 4x4 350 2001 tahoe 4x4 2001 suburban 4x4



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