Blue LEDs in Gauges

[chlh]

I have seen some trucks with blue LEDs behind their gauges instead of the stock green ones. How do you do this? And where do you get the bulbs and find the right size?

[thekl0wn]

What year is your truck?

SuperBright LED's is who I used. No complaints.

[kirk]

Gotta know what year truck. Some are a PITA that require soldering, and some have removable bulbs that you just replace.
I got my LED's from superbrightleds.com

[WhiteSilveradoZ]

I have a 05 Avalanche, can I do it?

[kirk]

I have a 05 Avalanche, can I do it?

Yes, you can do it to any truck, but yours will require soldering.

[WhiteSilveradoZ]

Figures!

How difficult is it to do??

[Macedawg]

Gotta know what year truck. Some are a PITA that require soldering, and some have removable bulbs that you just replace.
I got my LED's from superbrightleds.com

i take it my 2001 would not need soldering?..so do we just need type 74's?..i just bought a denali cluster and i might as well swap it over to LED's while i have it out of the truck..i dont care about changing the signals but can you change the illumination colors with the LED's?

[98[GMC]z71]

Heres a few pics to get you motivated!

through 35% tint
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/Black03Blaster/DSC00705.jpg
The bulbs I used
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/Black03Blaster/DSC00689.jpg

[Macedawg]

:head: WOW..did u get those through superbright's website or somewhere else?..and can u still use the factory dimmer b/c thats absurdly bright if its that bright through tint :eek:

[98[GMC]z71]

superbright led's website is where i ordered them from. my dimmer will only turn them on or off. Probably the simplest job i've ever done...

[zebra86]

:head: WOW..did u get those through superbright's website or somewhere else?..and can u still use the factory dimmer b/c thats absurdly bright if its that bright through tint :eek:

you can if you wire in some resistors to make the load the same as what incandescent bulbs would draw

[kirk]

i take it my 2001 would not need soldering

Right, you just need new twist locks and new bulbs. I got the 5-LED bulbs.
My dimmer works, but it only dims a little. Definitely noticable, but it won't get as dim as a regular bulb. They cut off before they get that dim. Here's a pic of mine in my 01, as bright as they get. It's bright, but not so bright that it bothers me, even up to 6-8 hours of driving at a time at night.
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/rotaryturtle/leds2.jpg

It's a crappy pic, I know. And my needles are clear now. I can get you a new pic if you want.

[98[GMC]z71]

Wonder why mine are so much brighter?

[Macedawg]

that looks sweet man i'm gonna have to order me a set..do you remember if it was the type 74 listed on the website?

[SoCalZ28]

Does a 94 require soldering?

[kirk]

z71;4092793']Wonder why mine are so much brighter?

Because my pic was taken with a crappy cell phone camera:aniteef:
I have another pic somewhere that shows how bright they are, but it's really blurry. Mine are actually about as bright as yours.

[98[GMC]z71]

Shouldn't.

[98[GMC]z71]

Are they THIS bright??? :smokin:

I know...its a blurry pic
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/Black03Blaster/DSC00701.jpg

[kirk]

z71;4092813']Are they THIS bright??? :smokin:

I know...its a blurry pic
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n135/Black03Blaster/DSC00701.jpg

Chit, forgot your first pic was looking through tint. Mine aren't quite that bright. Do you still have the green film on the back of your cluster? If not, that would make yours brighter.
Better pic of mine, but blurry:
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa247/rotaryturtle/DSC_0106.jpg

[98[GMC]z71]

nahh...i think only the moonie gauges have the green film but anyhoo the chrome around ur gauges looks BA.

[chlh]

I have an 05 Silverado. How difficult will this be for someone who has pretty much no experience? Also what size bulbs do I need? Thanks.

[kirk]

I have an 05 Silverado. How difficult will this be for someone who has pretty much no experience? Also what size bulbs do I need? Thanks.

On an 05 you'll need to solder in all new bulbs. From what I've heard, it's a PITA, and honestly, not something I'd do (mostly because I don't have near enough patience, and don't like soldering). I think there's a sticky somewhere around here, I'll find it for you and post a link.

[sLOWrado01]

kirknd - you say you used the 5LED blubs? do you have any bright/dark spots? i used the superbrightleds.com 4LED bulbs and i get somewhat noticeable bright/dark spots - it doesnt look like you do but it could just be the picture, if the 5LED bulbs are the ticket to full coverage ill do that when i get my esky cluster, thanks.

[kirk]

kirknd - you say you used the 5LED blubs? do you have any bright/dark spots? i used the superbrightleds.com 4LED bulbs and i get somewhat noticeable bright/dark spots - it doesnt look like you do but it could just be the picture, if the 5LED bulbs are the ticket to full coverage ill do that when i get my esky cluster, thanks.

Nope, no hot spots on mine. That's why I got the 5-LED over the 4-LED, because the 5-LED spreads the light out more, which makes hot spots less likely.
However, with my Esky cluster, they did have some hot spots. I think it's because the Esky cluster has more area that lights up, but I'm not really sure.

[305axmurder]

What about a 93 Chevy fullsize, any soldering?

[Lee91]

I got a 96 chevy. any bulbs or is there soldering on mine? would like to get some red l.e.d.'s to match truck..

[tekkitan]

Hate to join the "will it work in my..." train,

but how about a 2003 Tahoe LT? soldering or plug-n-play?

[Jaymez]

Another me too.

Would my 95 S-10 require soldering?

[zebra86]

for the "will it work" guys...

99-02 FSC - bulbs & sockets
03+ FSC - solder
OBS - from what i remember, it's bulbs & sockets

S10 - not sure (just pull the dash trim off, remove screws, unplug gauges, & look)

[kirk]

for the "will it work" guys...

99-02 FSC - bulbs & sockets
03+ FSC - solder
OBS - from what i remember, it's bulbs & sockets

S10 - not sure (just pull the dash trim off, remove screws, unplug gauges, & look)

:word:
95+ OBS I know is bulbs and sockets, I don't know for sure what is involved in the 88-94 clusters, but I'd guess it would just be bulbs and sockets too.

[Chevy89Silvy]

:word:
95+ OBS I know is bulbs and sockets, I don't know for sure what is involved in the 88-94 clusters, but I'd guess it would just be bulbs and sockets too.

Bulb and sockets in my 89... you would just have to remove whatever it is in there that gives in the green tint.

[BigChevy17]

i hate to sound stupid but what bulbs do i need for my 02 i cant find the 5 led bulbs that would fit in my truck
thanks

[Pre-Game]

looks cool, did you use the t-1 5 led twist lock ones?