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Change dash lights??

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Old May 28, 2003 | 09:15 PM
  #1  
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

I wanted to change the color of my dash lights in my 91 Ranger, but i dont really want the white faced gauges, so i was woundering if i can pull the dash out, and just insert blue bulbs instead of the factory green ones? Or is it more complicated then that? I am capable of hardwiring a new one in if its neccesary, or if its an lcd bulb. Or is the green color just given by a green tint in between the bulb and the dash display? And also, i do want to change the light color of the ac face to blue too. I dont need to change the radio though, cause it is an aftermarket. Anyways, has anybody ever done this?? Does the idea even sound theoretically possible?? Thanks in advance, i appreciate it.
Stan

'91 Ranger XLT Standard Cab, Long Bed, Crystal Blue Metalic, 2.3L w/ 5 speed.
 
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Old May 29, 2003 | 07:59 PM
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

Nobody have any ideas??
 
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Old May 29, 2003 | 10:19 PM
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Change dash lights??

well, i did this in a friends honda, and they are green LED's that you can replace with blue led's, but you have to have a steady soldering hand, they are a tight squeeze....
 
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Old May 30, 2003 | 01:01 AM
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From: Eastern WA
Change dash lights??

I did this years ago on an old ride of mine by using glass stain. You might/should be able to buy it at a hobby/craft store. FYI, this will make the bulb run hotter and probably shorten the life depending upon how dark you paint it. My experience was that I had to stain them darker than I expected in the beginning to get the color to really show, but in the end the dash was a bit dim
 
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Old May 30, 2003 | 09:22 PM
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

hmm... so i guess then the thing to do is to just completely change the bulb out eh?? I have a fairly steady hand (this ofcourse from building and pinstriping models, lol) But im a fairly patient person, maybe ill brave it up one day. How many bulbs are there behind the speedo and tech and other gauges? Im assuming that there is only one behind the ac face, ill prolly change it first to see how it looks. Do you think you could kinda tell me more about the process when you changed the whole bulb trojan? Thanks.
 
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Old May 31, 2003 | 03:22 PM
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Change dash lights??

Traxxis, the dash bulbs are clear 194 bulbs. The green tint on the numbers comes through the plastic, so there's no changing that.

Don't stain your bulbs, you gan get Sylvania 194g (green) 194b(blue) and other colors, but it will only change the color of the needles and odometer window.

Now, if you want to look real sharp, get an indiglo or a real sharp looking silver reverse-indiglo dash gauge set. I just got one for $40 on e-bay and the silver and blue match the Ford colors perfectly and look like they were made for the truck. Here's a set on e-bay to look at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33677

Enjoy!

Bob
 
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Old Jun 2, 2003 | 07:04 PM
  #7  
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

Cav, ya those are pretty awesome, i do like the colors, but the background looks white, is it white or silver? Silver would be okay, better than white atleast, but i really would like to stay with black, but blue numbers.

So it is actually a tint then? Crap, lol. Okay, i may try to find another one of these like Cav found.

How does it go on with out removing the needles cav?? If you had pics, that would be pretty awesome??!! LOL, i know i ask you for them all the time, but if you could... Thanks Cav.
 
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Old Jun 2, 2003 | 08:20 PM
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Change dash lights??

Yeah, it looks white in the pics, but it's a sharp looking silver. The numbers glow a real nice shade of blue, too. I can't take any pics until the weekend, but I'll get some up there. I bought a set of the white glow gauges, but they were so bright it was like looking at a laptop screen and lit up the whole cab at night! Way too bright. I love these and I keep it wired to the ignition so the numbers are lit up all the time. Looks cool even in the day.

The new ones have holes in the center just large ehough to slip over the needles and you can't even notice the holes once installed.
 
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Old Jun 3, 2003 | 08:50 AM
  #9  
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

ya, i hear that about the display being too bright, lol, my radio is the same way.
So can these be wired w/ a dimmer? Do you reccomend wiring to the ignition or the lightswitch? And, it said on the auction that its reccomended that a professional install it, what do you think?? Simple enough for a pea brain like me?? Anyways, would love to see some pics, ill keep an eye out. Thanks man.
 
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Old Jun 3, 2003 | 08:50 AM
  #10  
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

ya, i hear that about the display being too bright, lol, my radio is the same way.
So can these be wired w/ a dimmer? Do you reccomend wiring to the ignition or the lightswitch? And, it said on the auction that its reccomended that a professional install it, what do you think?? Simple enough for a pea brain like me?? Anyways, would love to see some pics, ill keep an eye out. Thanks man.
 
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Old Jun 12, 2003 | 11:09 AM
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Change dash lights??

Been away for a bit. Work Work Work! I'm heading home this weekend, so I can get those pics up for ya. Sorry for the delay!
 
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Old Jun 12, 2003 | 01:30 PM
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From: Claremore
Change dash lights??

oh hey, no prob, i appreciate it. Just let me know when you get them up, im in no hurry. Thanks Cav
 
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