Notices
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

DIY LED Dash Lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 15, 2017 | 10:55 PM
  #1  
LukeStreeter's Avatar
LukeStreeter
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
DIY LED Dash Lights

Hey guys. I read some threads about doing LED lights on my dash and thought I would give it a try. I ordered 5 of these from superbrightleds.com

Then removed the dash and cluster. I tried to use the supplied adapters that came with the lights, but found that the LEDs went too far into the cluster and were bottoming out before I could lock them in. After lots of trial and error I realized I could use the stock light bulb sockets and the LEDs fit perfect. I buttoned the dash back up and I think it came out great. I was too impatient to wait for it to get dark for a before and after, so here you go.

 
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2017 | 11:01 PM
  #2  
z31freakify's Avatar
z31freakify
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,278
Likes: 1,658
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
Looks great, next MOD I have to do.
 
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2017 | 12:08 PM
  #3  
paintubturner's Avatar
paintubturner
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Plymouth Indiana
Very nice! I need to do that!
 
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2017 | 12:54 PM
  #4  
knottyrope's Avatar
knottyrope
Lead Driver
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Shutterbug
Loved
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,220
Likes: 1,342
From: Bahstun
looks good
 
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2017 | 05:44 PM
  #5  
mcali2's Avatar
mcali2
Fleet Mechanic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 2
From: Fallon NV
I put in LEDs but had problems with stuff so I removed them.
 
Reply
Old Aug 19, 2017 | 10:33 PM
  #6  
LukeStreeter's Avatar
LukeStreeter
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mcali2
I put in LEDs but had problems with stuff so I removed them.
Yes\a it was a bit tricky to get it right, but once i switched to the original sockets it went smooth. No issues thus far
 
Reply
Old Aug 20, 2017 | 12:03 PM
  #7  
B-Rad88's Avatar
B-Rad88
More Turbo
Veteran: Navy
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 538
Likes: 42
From: Southwest Missouri
I have some I got at O reillies in mine now. 2 of them are the crappy ones that my buddy gave me, so they flicker. I have those all the way to the right so it doesn't bother me a whole lot, but it sort of does. They did get brighter, but damn yours are cool looking. I want to remove the green film on mine, so that they would just be clear, and any color LED I put in will shine through and not mix with the green. Did you do that, or is the picture just distorting the color a little bit, because that looks sort of white. I really like it though.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2017 | 08:45 AM
  #8  
pwjackson42's Avatar
pwjackson42
Tuned
10 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 318
Likes: 7
Yes, I want to know did you remove the green film from behind the gauges or did the blue light just mix with the green and still show blue?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

 Brett Foote
story-2

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-7

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 21, 2017 | 10:14 AM
  #9  
madpogue's Avatar
madpogue
Lead Driver
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
Likes: 37
From: Madison, WI
Seems like the color of the LEDs swamps anything else. Notice how the needles are blue rather than red? And you don't see the yellow/red marks on the gauge faces? I found the same thing happened when I installed green LEDs once; turned all the needles green. The one exception, I would think, would be white LEDs; I think they would retain all the original colors of the backing, the needles, etc.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2017 | 10:16 AM
  #10  
B-Rad88's Avatar
B-Rad88
More Turbo
Veteran: Navy
5 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 538
Likes: 42
From: Southwest Missouri
Originally Posted by madpogue
Seems like the color of the LEDs swamps anything else. Notice how the needles are blue rather than red? And you don't see the yellow/red marks on the gauge faces? I found the same thing happened when I installed green LEDs once; turned all the needles green. The one exception, I would think, would be white LEDs; I think they would retain all the original colors of the backing, the needles, etc.
i have seen what blue LED's look like when you put them in. They mix with the green and it's a blueish-green color. Still doesn't look bad, but it just depends on your color preference. I am wanting to do either all white or blue to match my gauge pod gauges just because im picky.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2017 | 06:39 PM
  #11  
Fuzzynuts's Avatar
Fuzzynuts
New User
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Looks good. Gave it a nice modern look.
 
Reply
Old Aug 21, 2017 | 10:49 PM
  #12  
LukeStreeter's Avatar
LukeStreeter
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by B-Rad88
I have some I got at O reillies in mine now. 2 of them are the crappy ones that my buddy gave me, so they flicker. I have those all the way to the right so it doesn't bother me a whole lot, but it sort of does. They did get brighter, but damn yours are cool looking. I want to remove the green film on mine, so that they would just be clear, and any color LED I put in will shine through and not mix with the green. Did you do that, or is the picture just distorting the color a little bit, because that looks sort of white. I really like it though.
I did not mess with the green film at all. Like it was mentioned, the blue LED seems to just drown out the green. Ill try to take a better picture tomorrow
 
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2017 | 10:32 PM
  #13  
LukeStreeter's Avatar
LukeStreeter
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Here is a pic of the dash in the morning around 7 am. Very bright even in the sunlight. It looks a bit green here but it is much more blue in person

 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2017 | 12:24 PM
  #14  
Minnesota_Duane's Avatar
Minnesota_Duane
Cross-Country
10 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
From: Climax, MN
Originally Posted by LukeStreeter
Here is a pic of the dash in the morning around 7 am. Very bright even in the sunlight. It looks a bit green here but it is much more blue in person

Love the look but no way could I drive that at night. I'd be blinded, I keep mine turned all the way down now and sometimes cover the Alpine because that thing is too bright.
 
Reply
Old Aug 27, 2017 | 04:50 PM
  #15  
LukeStreeter's Avatar
LukeStreeter
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Minnesota_Duane
Love the look but no way could I drive that at night. I'd be blinded, I keep mine turned all the way down now and sometimes cover the Alpine because that thing is too bright.
You can actually use the factory dimmer function still and with it all the way turned down i would say its comparable to the factory bulbs on middle brightness
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Corner Gas
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
May 7, 2008 05:36 PM
chromedaddyo
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
May 17, 2005 01:10 PM
gunner9821
Electrical Systems/Wiring
2
Feb 4, 2005 12:14 AM
jimcope
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Feb 18, 2004 06:02 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:27 AM.

story-0
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition

Slideshow: 10 ways Ford is losing to the competition

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 09:52:01


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now

Some great targets in today's expensive world.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-15 09:35:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-4
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE