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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 181 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 181 | Hi gang! I am in the process of rebuilding my instrument cluster and I was toying with the idea of replacing my dash illumination lights with some colored LED's. Anyone ever done something like this or have some suggestions? Thanks, David 
The only thing more amazing than my ability to cram 60 minutes of work into a 9 hour day is my talent for making it look effortless! My 1962 Chevy C-30 | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | i ahven't doen it, but have considered it. The only real problem I can see (or can't see, which is the issue) is that LEDs work best as direct illumination. Guages tend to be back-lit, so they may come up as very dim as there won't be enough scattered light to illuminate the guage. I have seen on one site (can't remember which one, but I think it's in the Links) that has LEDs for dash lamp illimination. They have a wide angle LED cluster, I recall that they migh even have them pointing to the side, too. Might be worth checking out.
If you do it, and it works out, let us know. I may consider it, too.
OT, I have used LED lamps, the ones the kiddies use on their ricer cars for lighting under the sills, as under dash lighting. Works very nicely to add some light in the foot well area. Not too harsh, just enough to see.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | I've thought about using them as indicator lights, and bought a bunch cheap online somewhere. Also got a handful of resistors, and some of that perforated layout board. And then got distracted by something else and three years later haven't finished it.
I'd be interested in how using them as instrument lighting works out.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 | their is a tech article on the h.a.m.b. website about gauge restoration and using led's to light up the instrument panel. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 181 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 181 | do you by any chance have a link to that tech article? I would be interested in seeing it. Thanks,
David
The only thing more amazing than my ability to cram 60 minutes of work into a 9 hour day is my talent for making it look effortless! My 1962 Chevy C-30 | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 275 | David,
Go to the 'tech' archive on the HAMB, read the sticky at the top, follow its directions to alphabetize the list & the look for the thread 'Interior, gages on the cheap'.
Then, join the Alliance.
Doug | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 | I used LED's for turn signal indicators and hi-beam light Drilled them into the stock panel faceplate. Works great. | | |
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