Gauge Mod!!
02-04-09, 06:44 PM
#101
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Ok, bringing this thread back.
Since I first purchased my bulbs for this mod I have noticed that there are many new bulbs available now. This brought to my attention by my good friend khoveraki.
So I went ahead and purchased WLED-WHP 13(look like stoplights). I found them to be much brighter white...but realized that the upper range on the tach(4000-6500 rpm) was still dark. This was after taping the top light so it didn't show bright.
So I thought I would try and make it as even as possible. I also purchased the new cool white 74-CWHP3, and used 2 of them in the cluster as well. This array brightened up the left side of the cluster much more (fuel level side), and made the whole thing more uniform.
The last trick I used on the cluster itself, was to actually open up the cluster and go over to the lower bulb on left side (water temp), and tape the top part of the bulb. I used I decent size tape, about the width and length of your thumbnail. This prevented the gauge from being overly bright on the top.
Now...getting to the other lights.......
I purchased the NeoWedge bulbs in red (3 mm) for the lighting behind the pushbuttons(lights, cruise..etc.). All of the bulbs you will need are 3mm, except the one for the actual pop up light button, which is bigger(either 4 or 5 mm). It made the lighting more crisp, but not by much. And, they were not a good fit on some of the switches. So rather than using some LEDs I just put the stockers back in.
For the A/C panel, I used the 74-CWHP3 bulb only over the blue in the temp control. The rest of them I used that same bulb, but in red 74-RHP3, and with tape over the top bulb. This will make all of the lighting bright but the last defog emblem. It is not as bright but if you turn the dimmer down just a bit they will all even out.
The lighting behind the pushbuttons on the A/C panel....I left the stock bulbs in there, as the replacement bulbs were a tight fit, didn't seem to work on all of them, and really were not that much different to begin with.
I like the way the gauge mod looks now. Everything is almost perfectly even in lighting. I realize now that the only way to brighten the spot on top of the tach is to add another bulb. No brighter bulb will help out the area since the bulbs are farther away.
It's not a huge difference from before, but enough that it is almost completely even, which are the things you notice while glancing at your gauges if you are driving around mainly at night.
Since I first purchased my bulbs for this mod I have noticed that there are many new bulbs available now. This brought to my attention by my good friend khoveraki.
So I went ahead and purchased WLED-WHP 13(look like stoplights). I found them to be much brighter white...but realized that the upper range on the tach(4000-6500 rpm) was still dark. This was after taping the top light so it didn't show bright.
So I thought I would try and make it as even as possible. I also purchased the new cool white 74-CWHP3, and used 2 of them in the cluster as well. This array brightened up the left side of the cluster much more (fuel level side), and made the whole thing more uniform.
The last trick I used on the cluster itself, was to actually open up the cluster and go over to the lower bulb on left side (water temp), and tape the top part of the bulb. I used I decent size tape, about the width and length of your thumbnail. This prevented the gauge from being overly bright on the top.
Now...getting to the other lights.......
I purchased the NeoWedge bulbs in red (3 mm) for the lighting behind the pushbuttons(lights, cruise..etc.). All of the bulbs you will need are 3mm, except the one for the actual pop up light button, which is bigger(either 4 or 5 mm). It made the lighting more crisp, but not by much. And, they were not a good fit on some of the switches. So rather than using some LEDs I just put the stockers back in.
For the A/C panel, I used the 74-CWHP3 bulb only over the blue in the temp control. The rest of them I used that same bulb, but in red 74-RHP3, and with tape over the top bulb. This will make all of the lighting bright but the last defog emblem. It is not as bright but if you turn the dimmer down just a bit they will all even out.
The lighting behind the pushbuttons on the A/C panel....I left the stock bulbs in there, as the replacement bulbs were a tight fit, didn't seem to work on all of them, and really were not that much different to begin with.
I like the way the gauge mod looks now. Everything is almost perfectly even in lighting. I realize now that the only way to brighten the spot on top of the tach is to add another bulb. No brighter bulb will help out the area since the bulbs are farther away.
It's not a huge difference from before, but enough that it is almost completely even, which are the things you notice while glancing at your gauges if you are driving around mainly at night.
02-04-09, 07:50 PM
#103
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Good write up man, can't wait to see the pics. So did you replace that single LED bulb (the smallest one) on the far left, above fuel gauge? I'm a little confused with where the two other bulbs went.
Glad to hear the WHP-13s worked well for you. I told you they were a tight fit though ;D
As far as even lighting by the oil pressure etc, I broke off 1/2 of the plastic tab for the heat and oil pressure backings. Helped a lot.
Glad to hear the WHP-13s worked well for you. I told you they were a tight fit though ;D
As far as even lighting by the oil pressure etc, I broke off 1/2 of the plastic tab for the heat and oil pressure backings. Helped a lot.
02-04-09, 08:15 PM
#104
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STRAIGHT FLOSSIN'!! Yea, yea.
As you can see from the pics, the light is as even as I can get it without actually adding lights.
Don't mind the gauges up top, I'm still waiting on my triple gauge pod from Prosport.
My Autometer Nexus gauges look great. In the pic they look like a much brighter white, but that is from the camera. When you are standing here, the Autometer gauges look similar to the factory.
Funny how when I needed pics of the Autometer Nexus gauges, nobody had them so I could see what they looked like. Call me the guinea pig.
As you can see from the pics, the light is as even as I can get it without actually adding lights.
Don't mind the gauges up top, I'm still waiting on my triple gauge pod from Prosport.
My Autometer Nexus gauges look great. In the pic they look like a much brighter white, but that is from the camera. When you are standing here, the Autometer gauges look similar to the factory.
Funny how when I needed pics of the Autometer Nexus gauges, nobody had them so I could see what they looked like. Call me the guinea pig.
02-04-09, 08:19 PM
#105
ballin!! That is exactly how I want mine. So can you post a link to the NeoWedge bulbs you used? What all lights did you replace with them? The dimming light switch, headlight up/down switch and what else?
The white is shining through on the A/C a little much. Maybe put some tape on that too.
And the last defog emblem looks fine.
The white is shining through on the A/C a little much. Maybe put some tape on that too.
And the last defog emblem looks fine.
Last edited by DMoneyRX-7; 02-04-09 at 08:21 PM.
02-04-09, 08:20 PM
#106
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I hate ugly gauges and interiors in cars, and is one of the very few things I dislike about the older Skylines.
Keep in mind I have nothing against different light combos on the interior of the RX7. Everyone has their own personal preference, and I applaud the efforts of people trying to do their own thing to make it just that little bit different. From experience, I just don't like the A pillar gauge pods. I had it on the car two different times and had to take it off. The light being that close to my face gets annoying. Personally, I think this looks the best.
And again from looking at these pics, the Autometer gauges don't look anywhere near that bright in person.
Keep in mind I have nothing against different light combos on the interior of the RX7. Everyone has their own personal preference, and I applaud the efforts of people trying to do their own thing to make it just that little bit different. From experience, I just don't like the A pillar gauge pods. I had it on the car two different times and had to take it off. The light being that close to my face gets annoying. Personally, I think this looks the best.
And again from looking at these pics, the Autometer gauges don't look anywhere near that bright in person.
02-04-09, 08:30 PM
#107
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ballin!! That is exactly how I want mine. So can you post a link to the NeoWedge bulbs you used? What all lights did you replace with them? The dimming light switch, headlight up/down switch and what else?
The white is shining through on the A/C a little much. Maybe put some tape on that too.
And the last defog emblem looks fine.
The white is shining through on the A/C a little much. Maybe put some tape on that too.
And the last defog emblem looks fine.
It really isn't that much brighter on the A/C, just looks like that from the camera.
I didn't end up using any of the Neo bulbs. But here is the link: (3rd down)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b....30675&next=50
I kept the Cool White WLED-CWHP6 bulbs, Cool White 74-CWHP3, and Red 74-RHP3. For the rest of the push button switches I kept the factory bulbs, and painted them red(which is what I already had). If you buy 6 bulbs of each you should have enough.
I also used the Red 74-RHP3 for the cigarette lighter and key bulbs. They look great.
02-04-09, 08:38 PM
#108
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I would becareful of buying from superbrightleds... I changed out some gauge lights with their LEDs on another car, and after 3 months of LIGHT use, they started to die on me. One side was flickering like crazy and eventually became really dim. I'm not the only one who's encountered this problem either with their LEDs
02-04-09, 09:01 PM
#109
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One last thing I forgot to mention.
When starting this project, don't the needles off to clean the back of the gauges. The problem I had, even when I thought they were on properly, was that the gauges did not move smoothly, like they do from factory. And I had them marked perfectly when I took them all off. It just stripped the mechanism inside.
I ended up getting another set when I first did this, and just pulled the face around so I could clean little areas at a time. You can do all of the gauges like this with the needles still on. Well, it was actually my GF who did the cleaning, so I owe that to her.
When starting this project, don't the needles off to clean the back of the gauges. The problem I had, even when I thought they were on properly, was that the gauges did not move smoothly, like they do from factory. And I had them marked perfectly when I took them all off. It just stripped the mechanism inside.
I ended up getting another set when I first did this, and just pulled the face around so I could clean little areas at a time. You can do all of the gauges like this with the needles still on. Well, it was actually my GF who did the cleaning, so I owe that to her.
02-04-09, 10:47 PM
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03-04-09, 12:52 PM
#114
anyone have an actual picture of the "orange film" youre suppose to scrape off? is its like a tape/film or like a paint that you have to scratch off?
also to clarify, the 74xhp3 are for the hvac controls and all that other junk on the center console?
also to clarify, the 74xhp3 are for the hvac controls and all that other junk on the center console?
05-03-09, 09:27 AM
#117
Have any links to keep the stock color instead of the white?
Hardbodeez, What kind of tape did you put over the top SMD? Electric tape or Scotch?
I was thinking about putting clear silicone over the top SMD so it would still shine but displace the light and be slightly dimmer. We'll see which looks better.
Your HVAC is a more dark red compare to mine. Any ideas why
05-04-09, 06:09 AM
#118
One last thing I forgot to mention.
When starting this project, don't the needles off to clean the back of the gauges. The problem I had, even when I thought they were on properly, was that the gauges did not move smoothly, like they do from factory. And I had them marked perfectly when I took them all off. It just stripped the mechanism inside.
I ended up getting another set when I first did this, and just pulled the face around so I could clean little areas at a time. You can do all of the gauges like this with the needles still on. Well, it was actually my GF who did the cleaning, so I owe that to her.
When starting this project, don't the needles off to clean the back of the gauges. The problem I had, even when I thought they were on properly, was that the gauges did not move smoothly, like they do from factory. And I had them marked perfectly when I took them all off. It just stripped the mechanism inside.
I ended up getting another set when I first did this, and just pulled the face around so I could clean little areas at a time. You can do all of the gauges like this with the needles still on. Well, it was actually my GF who did the cleaning, so I owe that to her.
Don't remove your needles.
05-04-09, 06:51 AM
#119
I would becareful of buying from superbrightleds... I changed out some gauge lights with their LEDs on another car, and after 3 months of LIGHT use, they started to die on me. One side was flickering like crazy and eventually became really dim. I'm not the only one who's encountered this problem either with their LEDs
05-20-09, 02:31 AM
#120
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It really isn't that much brighter on the A/C, just looks like that from the camera.
I didn't end up using any of the Neo bulbs. But here is the link: (3rd down)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b....30675&next=50
I kept the Cool White WLED-CWHP6 bulbs, Cool White 74-CWHP3, and Red 74-RHP3. For the rest of the push button switches I kept the factory bulbs, and painted them red(which is what I already had). If you buy 6 bulbs of each you should have enough.
I also used the Red 74-RHP3 for the cigarette lighter and key bulbs. They look great.
I didn't end up using any of the Neo bulbs. But here is the link: (3rd down)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b....30675&next=50
I kept the Cool White WLED-CWHP6 bulbs, Cool White 74-CWHP3, and Red 74-RHP3. For the rest of the push button switches I kept the factory bulbs, and painted them red(which is what I already had). If you buy 6 bulbs of each you should have enough.
I also used the Red 74-RHP3 for the cigarette lighter and key bulbs. They look great.
How many led are needed to do the work?
09-17-12, 10:41 AM
#123
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If you look at my pictures, i just took off my guage face, and switch my led bulbs on to his. It should look idential to the picture I posted, not sure why it cam out like crap. I am trying to retrace my steps from 3 years ago but I gotta be honest, i have not had a FD3s in years and my box of parts are all given away so i dont have any spares for the FD. I will try to do what I can to help but the picture you provided is all wrong, looks like there is no leds in it at all, just regular bulbs.
1st, has anybody touched it sinc you got it back 3 years ago?
I will do what I can, its just hard to remember back three years ago. Either way let me know.
09-17-12, 11:00 AM
#124
I'm discussing it with Azcamel. He's been a good dude. I jumped the gun a bit when I thought I had no way of contacting him. I ended up finding his phone number somewhere. Whew.
Yea man, the cluster wasn't touched. It literally had a thick layer of dust and cat hair on it before it was installed on my car. Thanks for taking the time out to help me.
Also, welcome back hahaha.
Yea man, the cluster wasn't touched. It literally had a thick layer of dust and cat hair on it before it was installed on my car. Thanks for taking the time out to help me.
Also, welcome back hahaha.
