Gauge Mod!!
01-09-08, 01:13 AM
#28
01-09-08, 12:48 PM
#34
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Much better pics. Not meaning to bust your *****, put the pics mean a lot for the look and detail.
I like it. I would love to see if there was a blue light available and see how that looked. Do you know if you can get that right bulb or lighting in blue?
I like it. I would love to see if there was a blue light available and see how that looked. Do you know if you can get that right bulb or lighting in blue?
01-09-08, 03:25 PM
#38
just try it. its super easy.
1. remove 2 or 3 bolts under the gauge cluster dash
2. pull gauge cluster + dome straight out towards the steering wheel. the're clip'd-in.
3. unplug the gauge wires. each of them are different in size and shape. you can't mess it up.
4. unbolt and remove the main gauge cluster assembly from the back
5. scratch off orange behind plastic gauge face
6. twist and remove bulbs from behind the gauge assembly.
7. replace stock bulbs with the LED ones. plug and play
8. put gauge cluster + dome back into the car. becareful not to force the dome in if the clips are not aligned. may crack the dome if you're too violent...
i ordered my bulbs today. thanks hardbodeez for the info. i'm gonna put these LEDs in as soon as i get them.
01-09-08, 06:24 PM
#41
no no.. don't need to remove the actual plastic gauge face or the needle. just lightly bend the edge out with a finger or 2 so u can reach behind it w/ a razor blade. to shave the orange. since they're soft plastic, they snap right back when you let go. Don't need to access the entire back of the face, just behind the lines and numbers.
01-09-08, 07:28 PM
#44
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no no.. don't need to remove the actual plastic gauge face or the needle. just lightly bend the edge out with a finger or 2 so u can reach behind it w/ a razor blade. to shave the orange. since they're soft plastic, they snap right back when you let go. Don't need to access the entire back of the face, just behind the lines and numbers.
Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Either way, take your time.
It will still be just a little bit brighter in the areas where the bulbs are, but you have to really stare at them to notice.
Realistically, the best way to remedy that is to use a film of white behind the gauge faces, and that may or may not work depending on the brightness of the bulb. Bottlefed wired in extra bulbs to help and used resistors.
Personally, this looks great with minimal effort, just the right bulbs. And I searched for quite some time to find them.
Last edited by hardbodeez; 01-09-08 at 07:36 PM.
01-09-08, 07:38 PM
#45
Personally I don't like that idea. I did not want to scratch the gauge with a razor for fear of tiny scratches, so I used nail polish remover. Yes, I did take the faces off to do a good job. I know there was no way I'd be able to scrape properly just by pulling the edge back, but hey, that's just me.
Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Either way, take your time.
Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Either way, take your time.
Nail polish seems like it'll remove more than just paint since it melts plastic a bit. It's probably the more correct way to do it though, by removing the needle. I used a regular Xacto blade, but if you use the long side of the blade scraping sideways instead of the pointy sharp corners, you won't get any fine scratch since the orange coating comes right off even when you do it very lightly.
01-09-08, 07:47 PM
#46
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ahh.. i see. sorry man.. i'm totally thread jacking and answering questions.. lol
Nail polish seems like it'll remove more than just paint since it melts plastic a bit. It's probably the more correct way to do it though, by removing the needle. I used a regular Xacto blade, but if you use the long side of the blade scraping sideways instead of the pointy sharp corners, you won't get any fine scratch since the orange coating comes right off even when you do it very lightly.
Nail polish seems like it'll remove more than just paint since it melts plastic a bit. It's probably the more correct way to do it though, by removing the needle. I used a regular Xacto blade, but if you use the long side of the blade scraping sideways instead of the pointy sharp corners, you won't get any fine scratch since the orange coating comes right off even when you do it very lightly.
Whoever has any help, questions or ideas....chime in!
I'm still trying to get a bulb # for the overhead map lights. I did use the #74 white(extra ones that I had) in the key light socket, and it does help but there is still that orange cover on it. IMO looks cheese, and like 1993.
P.S. Where is Jimlab? I thought he would come on here, congratulate me on a job well done and tell me how he admires my work ethic and enthusiasm for fabrication?
He could give me a job as Chief Electrical Engineer for his crew at Jackstand Racing.
01-09-08, 09:53 PM
#47
In aviation white light at night is a bad combination. White light is too bright and can screw up your night vision and ability to focus. I personally wouldn't do this mod, but to each his own. I don't feel it would be safe. Night visibility in our 7's is already poor enough with the stock head lights and with the height of the 7 allowing other cars light beam to be distracting.
Of course where talking about cars here; you're not flying through the air at 250 mph. Lighting is also used more in aviation for identifying objects, but I still feel this could possibly reduce your ability to see a cat or dog running across the road. In my opinion replacing the lights with red LEDs would be better.
Of course where talking about cars here; you're not flying through the air at 250 mph. Lighting is also used more in aviation for identifying objects, but I still feel this could possibly reduce your ability to see a cat or dog running across the road. In my opinion replacing the lights with red LEDs would be better.
01-09-08, 10:26 PM
#48
I agree with 1QWIK7. IMO the white looking like Lexus gauges look nice.
it is true white lights at night is quite a bit of stress on your eyes. Red for one is the same if not worse. Red color vibrates the most when perceived by your eyes, hens that's why they're the strongest color for your brain to interpret and can cause agitating or irritation overtime. which is why usually products like our gauge needle, tail/brake lights, stop sign, fire extinguisher ...etc.. are all red. to raise alertness.
orange and green colors are the easiest on eyes. which is why signal lights are orange from factory. so flashing them won't blind people.
If someone wants to change their dash light to red, my suggestion would be to stay orange.
Mazda later made the dash lights to green after 99spec changes. just want to throw that out there.
it is true white lights at night is quite a bit of stress on your eyes. Red for one is the same if not worse. Red color vibrates the most when perceived by your eyes, hens that's why they're the strongest color for your brain to interpret and can cause agitating or irritation overtime. which is why usually products like our gauge needle, tail/brake lights, stop sign, fire extinguisher ...etc.. are all red. to raise alertness.
orange and green colors are the easiest on eyes. which is why signal lights are orange from factory. so flashing them won't blind people.
If someone wants to change their dash light to red, my suggestion would be to stay orange.
Mazda later made the dash lights to green after 99spec changes. just want to throw that out there.
