Cluster freshening up...

[Andy4639]

I'm starting on my daughter's dash cluster and got to wondering. Why did Chevy use this green color on almost every Chevy I have ever took a part it's this same color. There has to be a reason. Even so I'm going with a silver inside to hopefully make the old 194 bulbs look brighter at night.
I painted the needles last night and tonight decided to take it all part and clean it up and brighten it up I hope. May even go with some LED dash lights.
Any good links on LED lights for these cluster? With part numbers and if they will work with the dimmer.

[firedemon]

I used chrome paint on the back and kept the green on the front used the led bulbs made a huge difference in brightness and still keeps the green

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by firedemon

I used chrome paint on the back and kept the green on the front used the led bulbs made a huge difference in brightness and still keeps the green

Do your LED's dim when you dim the lights?
Do you have a link where you got them?

[phlegm]

I just finished doing this to mine have not completely reinstalled it yet what was able to get these pictures. They did a great job they do down but they're not as responsive as regular light bulbs are. I'm not sure if that's the case with all of them. But you do have to turn it almost off and they go down a level or two. I don't know how but I bought two packs and I never could figure out if it was my socket oh, the LED, or the circuit board that wasn't driving but in a couple of spots I had to switch LEDs and switch sockets and move stuff around to get it all to work. But it works out now then I think it looks great. I stay Green what these LEDs. And I did not get the brightest LED I can find either because to me there just wasn't the point I don't want to be blinded going down the road.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07T6...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Andy4639]

Thanks,
I ordered them. They should be here Friday and I can get it put back together and check them out.

[palallin]

The muted green keeps the glare of the lights from overwhelming the driver's night vision.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by palallin

The muted green keeps the glare of the lights from overwhelming the driver's night vision.

Maybe it will be like driving with a HUD system in the truck!

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by palallin

The muted green keeps the glare of the lights from overwhelming the driver's night vision.

Most likely that yet I also think they may have been using something like what was utilized on war planes. I think its a zinc,phoshate style of paint.

[volksworld]

think they were going for the color of the old luminescent radium watch dials and aircraft instruments...to imitate "cutting edge atomic age technology"...

[BigBird05]

I just got some LED's from a junk yard late model chevy cluster. Has anybody used these yet? How do they look?

[rpmerf]

Originally Posted by phlegm

I don't know how but I bought two packs and I never could figure out if it was my socket oh, the LED, or the circuit board that wasn't driving but in a couple of spots I had to switch LEDs and switch sockets and move stuff around to get it all to work.

Be aware that LEDs are are diodes and can only be installed in 1 direction. If you switch up positive and negative, they will not work. Incandescent bulbs can be installed in either direction.

[Andy4639]

volksworld,
think they were going for the color of the old luminescent radium watch dials and aircraft instruments...to imitate "cutting edge atomic age technology"...


I hadn't thought of that before, that maybe true since that was a big thing back in the day.

Well I have the panels painted the chrome spray paint for now. I'm going to clean the lens up good and repaint the dash outer rim with the chrome paint as well and see how it looks then decide if I need to buy a new one.
Hope it want be so bright it blinds her when driving it. I can always go back to the regular bulbs.

[phlegm]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Well I have the panels painted the chrome spray paint for now. I'm going to clean the lens up good and repaint the dash outer rim with the chrome paint as well and see how it looks then decide if I need to buy a new one.
Hope it want be so bright it blinds her when driving it. I can always go back to the regular bulbs.

Thats kinda why I stayed green and got the lower powred LEDs. Cant wait to see the update!

[Andy4639]

I have a old plugin out of a old truck that I'll hook the cluster up before installing and put power to the lights and check them out, stay tuned. Yes LED lights are polarity-sensitive so they have to be wired right are they want come on. This is why I plan to check them before installing the dash.

BigBird05
I just got some LED's from a junk yard late model chevy cluster. Has anybody used these yet? How do they look?

Do you have pictures of them? Do they have the same connector as our truck, the ones I've seen have the mini connectors. They are white instead of black.

[OregonNed]

Originally Posted by volksworld

think they were going for the color of the old luminescent radium watch dials and aircraft instruments...to imitate "cutting edge atomic age technology"...

I like this answer!

[Andy4639]

Temporary have the dash together with a old cluster dash I had. Waiting on the one I'm gonna use to dry. This was with the incandescent bulbs also. I did a mod to the cluster also to use pipe foam cover for the lens pads and it blocks off the light shining places it doesn't need to.

I used the GM converter my dad gave me to light it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29t-_jFCiqg

You Tube

[phlegm]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Temporary have the dash together with a old cluster dash I had. Waiting on the one I'm gonna use to dry. This was with the incandescent bulbs also. I did a mod to the cluster also to use pipe foam cover for the lens pads and it blocks off the light shining places it doesn't need to.

I used the GM converter my dad gave me to light it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29t-_jFCiqg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=29t-_jFCiqg

yea I had bleed over from the gas gauge to the rt turn signal on mine, but being the 3 gauge cluster it was a little easier for me just to isolate that one side. I used some contact cement and a little bit of the same color green felt as the paint on the inside of the cluster.... worked out great so far. Ill post mine buttoned up when I get there.

[randy.powell]

168 bulbs are a little brighter than the 194 bulbs.
Randy

[Andy4639]

Here it is all done. The bulbs showed up right after I posted the other pictures.

I think it turned out great though. Video and pictures. Look at the last one. It where I placed the pipe wrap to cushion the lens and block off the light bleeding through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPXrJSpJq5U

You Tube

[phlegm]

Looks Great

[Andy4639]

Well after a few test here is the lights dimming down. I hooked all of them up to do this to show it better.

I will be taking the cluster out of the Ramp truck and adding these to it as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYEE6VDmwo0

You Tube

[71gmcC15]

I did the same thing a couple years ago but only painted the needles. Also kept the old bulbs. It maches my pickup well. Not to noticeable that I did any thing but made it look better

[Toro]

Andy, what chrome paint did you use?

Also does anybody know what paint matches the original green?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Toro

Andy, what chrome paint did you use?

Also does anybody know what paint matches the original green?

The paint is Wal mart brand I had here at the house. It turned out OK but it had a few spots in it. I took red scotchpad to it before I painted it to. I don't understand why it soted like it did though. Not bad for a spray can though.
I can say this about the green. My local paint store can zap it I bet and get dang near perfect color. They did my 64 SS Impala and it's a 100% match up. I may take a old dash to them and see what they come up with.
Here are some pictures of the Impala. I painted the dash, tack cup, steering column and the center console with a can of spray paint.

[littlehopper]

Great job, this is one of my winter projects.