47-55.1 LED gauge/speedo bulbs? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

vintovka · 07-21-2023, 11:19 AM

Any one upgrade the old incandescent bulbs in the original 1954/55.1 gauges to led? Need bright ones. Recommendations?

**mr48chev** · 07-21-2023, 01:54 PM

With LED lights you aren't going to be able to use the dash light dimmer rheostat on your headlight switch, What you see is what you get unless you have a separate dimmer switch designed for the job.

vintovka · 07-21-2023, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr48chev

With LED lights you aren't going to be able to use the dash light dimmer rheostat on your headlight switch, What you see is what you get unless you have a separate dimmer switch designed for the job.

Dimmer is not connected. Need brightest lights i can get. i tried so sa9s white leds and they aren't bright enough (plus half are duds out of box).

leegreen · 07-21-2023, 03:15 PM

You might want to go with multiple LEDs rather than just replace the 4 behind gauges. I welded new gauge bodies into an old rusty cluster, then glued an LED strip around the outer edge and put 2-3 discrete leds into center. Something like that might work for you if you have the gauges out of dash and are willing to take the face off.

this picture is not the final result, I added a longer LED strip and the center LEDs since this one was taken. It works fine, does still have some of the brighter spots around the edges thing going on. I think you can get more diffuse LED strips now. And RGBW strips which would let you play with colors as well as white light with the right controller

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And for a dimmer I used this: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09V37S2KS looks like that link is not available but you should see similar items. You can get cheaper versions that are just exposed circuit boards, but I opted for one packaged with just three wires coming out. The face plate is removable. Same dimmer does my main 2 clusters plus a led backlit tach and A/F. Happily they all seem to dimm at the same rate.

dsraven · 07-25-2023, 01:02 AM

how about this led set up

https://www.amazon.ca/Brightest-Rech...30184177&psc=1

just kidding. I couldn't help myself/
you might have to take the cluster out and rework it so some led strips will fit in or on it.

chevyguyase · 07-25-2023, 09:14 AM

contact these guys. I've had good luck with them.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/

07-21-2023, 11:19 AM	#1
vintovka Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Hunkered Down Posts: 1,882	LED gauge/speedo bulbs? Any one upgrade the old incandescent bulbs in the original 1954/55.1 gauges to led? Need bright ones. Recommendations? __________________ 1954 USAF 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=714917

07-21-2023, 01:54 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,635	Re: LED gauge/speedo bulbs? With LED lights you aren't going to be able to use the dash light dimmer rheostat on your headlight switch, What you see is what you get unless you have a separate dimmer switch designed for the job. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

07-21-2023, 03:15 PM	#4
leegreen Registered User Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Surrey BC Posts: 874	Re: LED gauge/speedo bulbs? You might want to go with multiple LEDs rather than just replace the 4 behind gauges. I welded new gauge bodies into an old rusty cluster, then glued an LED strip around the outer edge and put 2-3 discrete leds into center. Something like that might work for you if you have the gauges out of dash and are willing to take the face off. this picture is not the final result, I added a longer LED strip and the center LEDs since this one was taken. It works fine, does still have some of the brighter spots around the edges thing going on. I think you can get more diffuse LED strips now. And RGBW strips which would let you play with colors as well as white light with the right controller And for a dimmer I used this: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09V37S2KS looks like that link is not available but you should see similar items. You can get cheaper versions that are just exposed circuit boards, but I opted for one packaged with just three wires coming out. The face plate is removable. Same dimmer does my main 2 clusters plus a led backlit tach and A/F. Happily they all seem to dimm at the same rate.

07-25-2023, 01:02 AM	#5
dsraven Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: calgary alberta Posts: 8,185	Re: LED gauge/speedo bulbs? how about this led set up https://www.amazon.ca/Brightest-Rech...30184177&psc=1 just kidding. I couldn't help myself/ you might have to take the cluster out and rework it so some led strips will fit in or on it.

07-25-2023, 09:14 AM	#6
chevyguyase Registered User Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: st charles missouri Posts: 220	Re: LED gauge/speedo bulbs? contact these guys. I've had good luck with them. https://www.superbrightleds.com/



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