Blue Meter Cluster

[DLGonzo]

Since I plan on keeping my truck a while, and it's paid for I'm trying to make it as pleasing as possible. I went ahead and replaced all the 194 bulbs in the meter cluster today. It wasn't the easiest thing because the old bulbs had to be removed from the holder and the new ones put back in. I'm please with the results. I would like it to be a bit bluer, but I haven't found any LED to replace the 194.



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I also replaced my fender marker lights with the LED from LED R US. I love them. They really do cut down on the glare. LED's for the Courtesy and Dome lamp next.

 

[DLGonzo]

Found the LED for the meter. Ordered some and will install them when they arrive. I post a new picture.



http://www.autolumination.com/

 

[MCrossley]

Out of curiosity did you go with the blue or green? I have thought about doing this but I am not sure whther or not the dimmer will still work correctly LED's are not really meant to be dimmed... Anyone know if the headlight switch has a bulb that is replacable or not mine burned out today...

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Sweet. My guages went blue after the white face install.



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And the side markers I put on 2 yeras ago and they STILL are the brightest thing on the truck. In fog / heavy snow the cut right thru. Best lighting mod ever.

 

[ramonram]

does anybody know if there is a after market white face gauge re-placement for a 1999 ? i guess i'm not thinking the whole cluster, gauges and all , just a cover face? thanks, ramonram

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Those are for 99 on up trucks.

First Thread



Install Thread

 

[DLGonzo]

MCrossley,



I went with blue, but I also ordered the UV Blacklight bulb just to see what they would look like. I'm not sure if the LED will work on the reastat dimmer or not. The blue bulbs that I used here (from Advanced Auto) have faded with about 1 hour of use and aren't quite as blue as in the beginning, that's why I'm going to try the LED's. The Bright Light indicator does have a bulb that can be replaced. It's a 194 also. I put a blue one in and it just makes it bluer than it is already







ramonram,



JC Whitney used to have a white aftermarket face for the Dodge trucks, wasn't too cheap though. You still have to pull you needles off and replace the face. I don't know of any full Meter assembies with a white face.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

DLGonzo, So didja get em yet ? Oo. Oo. I puked a bulb and welll I was thinking ... ... LOL!

 

[DLGonzo]

I haven't gotten them yet. I just orderd them Sat. Night of the internet, so I hope to get them this week. I post as soon as I get them in.

 

[CATCRACKER]

are there any for 94-97

 

[DLGonzo]

Should be the same bulbs. Check your owners manual in the back and see what bulb it calls for in the interior lights maintainance section. Any 194 bulb should be able to be replaced with an LED, or colored bulb with a little enginuity. The only tricky part is removing the existing bulb from the holder and installing the new one.

 

[TKremer]

How many bulbs did it take?? and how did you get rid of the stock green? I thought it was a plastic green plate not green bulbs. thanks!!!!

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by DLGonzo

I haven't gotten them yet.

How about now ? LOL!

 

[DLGonzo]

My truck took 7 194 bulbs, but a couple are for the flashers and one for the hi-beam indicator I think. The original meeter may have a bit of a green filter, but the blue lights shine through for a blue light. I think the LED's will be even better.



I don't know if a '96 will be exaclty the same, but I had a '97 before this one, and If I remember correctly it was very similar

 

[DLGonzo]

TOOLMAN,



I got my bulbs today, but haven't had time to get them installed yet. I should have time do get it done tomorrow afternoon. I'll post when I do

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Yeeehaw ! I am juuust dyin' to know Oo.

 

[DLGonzo]

Well, I couldn't wait untill tomorrow, so I put the so called Black light bulbs in. They have a decent black light glow, but really are just a deep purple. It makes the meter pretty dim, but it looks cool. I'd say I'll leave it that way for a while. The pictures don't really do it justice but I'll post it anyway. The needles for the little gauges show up nice, but the two big ones don't have a direct light under them so they are a bit dim. The odometer is very dim. For about $15 in bulbs and 1/2 hour not too bad.



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[ToolManTimTaylor]

HAHA! DL you are a carbon copy of my Mail order doings. "Ill wait til tomorrow ... ... . Naaaahhh" Now are those brite spots just happenstance where the bulbs are under the guage face? Maybee I didn't loose a bulb after all?? I dunno. So so are they dimmable?

 

[MCrossley]

so these are the blacklight LED bulbs or the incandescent one? Did you go with the clear lense or the opaq one?

 

[DLGonzo]

OK,



I ordered both the Opaque blue LED's and the blacklight LED's. The Blacklight ones are the ones I Installed.



I ordered n = 5 Oval blacklight LED's, but I received 3 oval, 1 inverted and one 4 LED clear focused. Anyway I made due with what I had. I tried several different arrangement to get the best lighting, and heres where I ended up



http://www.autolumination.com/



Upper LH side = Oval

Upper RH side = Oval

Center = Inverted

Lower LH = 4 LED Clear Focus

Lower RH = Oval



The inverted bulb has the best "flood effect"(no hot spot), but is the dimmer one. The two upper small gauges look great. The needles glow and the numbers are all clear. The bottom two small gauges are good, slightly dimmer than the uppers. The tach and the Speed-o are visible OK, but the needles don't glow like the others. I think the use of the oval bult in the center will give better illumination, but will have more of a hot spot.



I have a '98 with the non-illuminated liquid crystal odometer, so it doesn't show up very good with the blacklight, but I'm ok with that. s The newer ones with the green LED odometers should be no problem.



It looks better than the picture shows, but there are some hot spots over the bulbs, and its a bit dim, but I guuess thats the nature of LED's.



When I had the Blue incandeccent bulbs in it was dimmer than factory but a little brighter than the blacklights, but I like the colore of the blacklights better.



I did install one of the blue opaque LED's last night, and it was bright blue with a small hotspot. I could be happy either way.



I think the amber ones would do nice too.