High beam / turn signal indicators

[donandal]

I am looking for some ideas to use for my dash
in my 53 Chevy pickup.

I would like to have turn signal and high beam indicator lights.

I know some instrument companies will put LED indicators
in the gauges, but I'm looking for some other ideas first.

I plan on hollowing out the throttle and choke knobs and installing
amber and red LED's for check engine and parking brake warnings.

I just need a more period looking answer for the turn signal and high
beams, hopefully without too much cutting of the dash.

[donandal]

I made up a piece this morning to hold 3 LED's.

two green turn signals and a blue high beam.
I didn't drill the dash yet.

What do you guys think?

[mr48chev]

That is the style of light I was going to suggest. I'd have cheated and drilled three holes side by side in the dash on a line where your top two are and been done with it.

[donandal]

I thought about that too...

I am trying to stay disciplined and not rush any details.
I want to complete all of the cab interior details before
it goes off to be painted.

[mr48chev]

I think I still have the three lights I bought for my truck several years ago stashed away in a box or bin waiting to be used I made the dash out of some 1-12 inch exhaust tubing and a piece of flat sheet metal in about 1981 and later put a piece of aluminum on it and was going to put the indicators in that between the speedometer and tach.

[AB6DO]

You are doing the exact same thing I am doing this New Year weekend. I like your triangular shaped piece to hold the LEDs. Where did you get the LEDs? I have not found that style.

[YukonXL04]

What about moving between the colum and gauges to make it a little more subtle? I think when I do mine I will end up putting them towards the bottom of the dash or up in the defrost holes... not sure yet

[Donaldo]

I'm using the original high beam indicator light placement, and added green LED's for the turn indicators inside the speedometer. I like less holes in the dash.

[_Ogre]

what do you guy's think?

color me impressed
i like it

[donandal]

Originally Posted by Donaldo

I'm using the original high beam indicator light placement, and added green LED's for the turn indicators inside the speedometer. I like less holes in the dash.

how did you choose the led and what are you using to dim them
for night driving?

[donandal]

Originally Posted by YukonXL04

What about moving between the colum and gauges to make it a little more subtle? I think when I do mine I will end up putting them towards the bottom of the dash or up in the defrost holes... not sure yet

Interesting idea using the defrost holes....hmmm.

pretty tight in the lower area between the gauges and
column on mine. I modified it some to center the column.

[donandal]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

color me impressed
i like it

thanks...
I'm not completely sold on the placement yet.
I do plan on polishing and buffing the piece to look like chrome.
It's made from aluminum.

[donandal]

To go along with this piece and these three LED's,
I made some new knobs. One is for the headlight.
The other two are in place of the old throttle and choke cables.

There are LED's in there also. (amber and red)
These will be check engine and parking brake indicator lights.

[47 Fasttoys]

Looks good Donandal, now what interests me is the shifter switch indicator you've got on the lower R. side of the dash. I built a electronic shifter myself and if you care to share, I'd like to know your plans. Your welcome to mine they are posted on my build thread.
Rob

[donandal]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

Looks good Donandal, now what interests me is the shifter switch indicator you've got on the lower R. side of the dash. I built a electronic shifter myself and if you care to share, I'd like to know your plans. Your welcome to mine they are posted on my build thread.
Rob

I've read and reread your thread many times!
It is awesome!!!

I'm not that talented....
so I plan to buy the shift indicator from Classic instruments.
They have one in 2 inch diameter (as my cardboard pattern is
drawn) and have a sending unit that attaches to the tranny
shift arm linkage.

[donandal]

Originally Posted by AB6DO

You are doing the exact same thing I am doing this New Year weekend. I like your triangular shaped piece to hold the LEDs. Where did you get the LEDs? I have not found that style.

I found them at Oznium.com

they are the ALUMINUM LED INDICATOR LIGHT.

I am still experimenting with resistors to add to
dim them down a bit, as I think they are too bright
for night time.
They come with one resistor already installed.

[wolffcub]

Make sure you have them close enough together if you put them between the gauges. I put my signal ones there first but then found out the hard way that the aftermarket gauge retainer brackets hit them. I ended up doing something simple and just installed them along the center axis from left to right with the high beam in the middle

I think that cluster you made for the middle is awesome.

You can see my two oops plugs. Will weld it up next season.

[donandal]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

Make sure you have them close enough together if you put them between the gauges. I put my signal ones there first but then found out the hard way that the aftermarket gauge retainer brackets hit them. I ended up doing something simple and just installed them along the center axis from left to right with the high beam in the middle

I think that cluster you made for the middle is awesome.

You can see my two oops plugs. Will weld it up next season.

That looks very nice on the center line.

I think you are right about the gauge brackets also.
I'll order my gauges today, and wait til I have the brackets
in hand. Thanks for the heads up!

Did you try those LED's at night, and did you need to dim
them? The dimmer rheostat on the headlight switch I have doesn't
work with the LED, except to turn completely off or on.

[wolffcub]

Been driving it now for 2 seasons and they are perfect. I used the painless wiring ones.

[Donaldo]

Originally Posted by donandal

how did you choose the led and what are you using to dim them
for night driving?

They are just small 12volt LEDs not a lot of lumens, they will only be lit when the turn signals are in operation....

I have never noticed dimming of turn signal indicators. I'll pay more attention next time out at night..

[donandal]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

Been driving it now for 2 seasons and they are perfect. I used the painless wiring ones.

I see that painless has quite a few different models.

Are those incandescent or LED, and what diameter?

[YukonXL04]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

Make sure you have them close enough together if you put them between the gauges. I put my signal ones there first but then found out the hard way that the aftermarket gauge retainer brackets hit them. I ended up doing something simple and just installed them along the center axis from left to right with the high beam in the middle

I think that cluster you made for the middle is awesome.

You can see my two oops plugs. Will weld it up next season.

Out of curiosity what is the switch above the key for? It looks great there

[wolffcub]

its my push button starter switch. Always glows blue. The hole above that now has my rad fan switch and its red when the fan is turned on. They fit perfect and sit perfect as the hole has the raised flat area around it.

[wolffcub]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=634603

[wolffcub]

sorry my bad.... i never used the painless ones it the the Ron F ones from summit racing

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/rfw-db32