Back light for gauges? -help

[spinem]

I can hardly see by gauges, espically the temp... i know you can paint the reflector white, but still. i need more. what have you guys done? pics!!??

[joe231]

I painted the inside and outside of mine white and put in all 168 bulbs, they are brighter.
here is the paint. i used the Krylon Fusion plastic paint.





test on the bench before it was re-assembled



here it is in the truck before:





and after







I'm extremely impressed with the amount of light it puts on the gauges now. This to me is a must do if you are keeping the stock ones.

[fbird68]

A guy I just sold an engine to mentioned that he used LED lights that fit in the original location on his dash. He was using white faced gauges and wanted to change the color of the light but I imagine they would brighten things up with just a clear bulb.

Might be something to look into.

Richard

[andrewmp6]

Joe hit the nail on the head,The leds you can get at radio shack for about 20 bucks.You can go as far to get fluorescent orange model car paint for the needles.

[b454rat]

Be careful if you have the whiteface gauges!!!! I had them in my old truck with the stock bulbs, they were friggin brite!!! Looks like your filming a movie in there....

[Chips-resto]

I'm using the white face gauges,with blue leds in mine and work good. Got the leds off ebay that have more than one led per light,4 I think but love them

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by joe231

I painted the inside and outside of mine white and put in all 168 bulbs, they are brighter.
here is the paint. i used the Krylon Fusion plastic paint.

I'm extremely impressed with the amount of light it puts on the gauges now. This to me is a must do if you are keeping the stock ones.

Good idea to paint the housing. I just did the back of the reflector.

Any idea what year they started using the 168 bulbs in place of the 161's?

I just saw that CSK is doing a closeout price on the 168 bulbs for only 99 cents.

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductD...pe=312&PTSet=A

[joe231]

I'm not sure about the year of the bulb change. I know both of my clusters had mixed bulbs.
I got the ideas from BLE' BURB and I am happy with the results.

[spinem]

hummmmm right on, thanks guys ill have to switch to the 168's...... and also, mine were mixed also.
thats some serious inspiration joe!
MANY THANKS!

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by spinem

hummmmm right on, thanks guys ill have to switch to the 168's...... and also, mine were mixed also.
thats some serious inspiration joe!
MANY THANKS!

Did they put the brighter 168 in the warning lamp locations and the 161 in the main cluster lighting locations?

Maybe this explains the color difference in the bulb sockets. Blue for one bulb type and black for the other.

[Mr.Scary]

i just put the white face gauges in mine with 168 blue light and painted the front and back of my reflecter and man its a world of diference and a must if you plan on keeping the stock gauges.

[spinem]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

Did they put the brighter 168 in the warning lamp locations and the 161 in the main cluster lighting locations?

Maybe this explains the color difference in the bulb sockets. Blue for one bulb type and black for the other.

Yes they did! however at the time I thought one of the previous owners did it, after asking I soon realived I was the first to open it... so once again, yes, 168's in the warnings are factory.

[slick78]

So I wana get more light too and paint it white too. I wana know exactly what to paint tho. Is it the part behing the gauge lense? Or the part where the gauges are held in? Or both? Sorry for the dumb question. I just wana do it right.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by slick78

So I wana get more light too and paint it white too. I wana know exactly what to paint tho. Is it the part behing the gauge lense? Or the part where the gauges are held in? Or both? Sorry for the dumb question. I just wana do it right.

The cover over the gauges has a light blue painted surface behind the black outer face. Paint this gloss white. It can be steel or plastic depending on what year your truck is.

If you have the time & patience and it is not bright enough with just the reflector housing painted and all 168 bulbs in the lighting circuit then tear it completely down like shown above and paint the blue area of the housing behind the gauges.

[slick78]

right on thanx!! u guys are alot of help.im trying to build my first truck so i need as much help.thanx again