Instrument Panel Improved Lighting ???
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More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2007
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Thanks for making me aware that these lenses even existed; I am sure there are many out there that are just as unaware as I was.
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Thanks for pointing that out.
I had my mind set on red LEDs in the panel; I sure would have been disappointed if, after all that work, my needles disappeared when the lights were on.
I wish it weren't such an act of congress to investigate this.
Has anyone installed the red LEDs that can shed more light on this ?
I had my mind set on red LEDs in the panel; I sure would have been disappointed if, after all that work, my needles disappeared when the lights were on.
I wish it weren't such an act of congress to investigate this.
Has anyone installed the red LEDs that can shed more light on this ?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/80-86-Ford-...YAAOSwn91bz~lA
Lead Driver
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From: Sheffield, AL
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
Once upon a time, we had a pretty good thread on this topic but most of the pictures are gone so I guess it's kinda useless now.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-clusters.html
I converted to red non-LED backlighting, painted the gauge backgrounds silver and used black needles. I figured out the black doesn't fluoresce enough and can be hard to see at night.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-clusters.html
I converted to red non-LED backlighting, painted the gauge backgrounds silver and used black needles. I figured out the black doesn't fluoresce enough and can be hard to see at night.
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More Turbo
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After looking at those pictures, I believe I will ditch the Red plan; it does not look at all how I had envisioned it.
Thanks for the picture; that helps me to better understand what I need to eliminate.
Thanks. What makes pictures disappear ? I often see articles where there are little red Xs where the pictures were supposed to be.
Thanks for the picture; that helps me to better understand what I need to eliminate.
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Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
After looking at those pictures, I believe I will ditch the Red plan; it does not look at all how I had envisioned it.
Thanks for the picture; that helps me to better understand what I need to eliminate.
Thanks. What makes pictures disappear ? I often see articles where there are little red Xs where the pictures were supposed to be.
Thanks for the picture; that helps me to better understand what I need to eliminate.
Thanks. What makes pictures disappear ? I often see articles where there are little red Xs where the pictures were supposed to be.
Dave ----
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From: Virginia
Most of the red x's in the old posts have come from this site. They were located in the old program for this site, and when they changed things around they "lost" them. They did keep them for a long time but you could not access them, and then finally they got rid of them. I can still find some of mine by doing a google search. Apparently google has a cache that keeps most everything, but only in thumbnail form.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,860
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From: Angier, NC
Most of the red x's in the old posts have come from this site. They were located in the old program for this site, and when they changed things around they "lost" them. They did keep them for a long time but you could not access them, and then finally they got rid of them. I can still find some of mine by doing a google search. Apparently google has a cache that keeps most everything, but only in thumbnail form.
When they did the switch they might have gone back a few months or a year with back ups so curent posts at the time were not lost.
Yes I was in the I.T. filed for about 15 years so know a little, now everything is in the cloud!
Dave ----
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Tuned
Joined: May 2015
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From: Baltimore
Now that I think about it, I didn't remove the lenses when I put in my led bulbs. That would probably have given me more clearance and I wouldn't have had to grind the bulbs down. Now I'm thinking of redoing them with blue bulbs since I have white gauges and removing the lenses.
Tuned
Joined: May 2015
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From: Baltimore
I'm also thinking of replacing my instrument cluster lens since it has a lot of scratches but it looks like the only ones available are without the trip meter hole. I assume I could just drill a hole for it.
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More Turbo
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You also may be able to polish out the scratches on your existing one; I have a bottle of stuff somewhere around here that is specifically made just to do that; I will have to find the bottle and see what it is.
About fifteen years ago, we had --- and still have --- a 1990 Dodge/Cummins that the panel cover/lens was very badly scratched and skint all over; I don't know how anyone could have done so much damage in the location where they are; I doubt I have even touched mine in years.
Anyhow, we used this stuff and the lens looked better than brand-new once we got done.
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From: Virginia
Believe it or not, this stuff you can buy at Walmart called Blue Magic works great on plastic also. It will not get deep scratches out of the speedo lense, but once you clean it, and then you end up with all those spider web looking scratches in it, this stuff takes it right out. It's made for metal but works well for the cluster I have used it several times. I also have used it for hazy plastic headlights.
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More Turbo
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Thanks for making us aware of that stuff and the fact that it will polish plastic.
Everything I own and drive has real glass lights; in fact, I often refuse trucking jobs when the truck has those stupid plastic lights; however, the wife insists on driving this piece of crap little toodle-around car that does have those plastic lights and her's are so badly hazed over that you have to get close and strike a match to tell if they are lit.
I may feel benevolent and see if I can polish the lenses, although it goes against my grain to waste time on such disposable vehicles.
Everything I own and drive has real glass lights; in fact, I often refuse trucking jobs when the truck has those stupid plastic lights; however, the wife insists on driving this piece of crap little toodle-around car that does have those plastic lights and her's are so badly hazed over that you have to get close and strike a match to tell if they are lit.
I may feel benevolent and see if I can polish the lenses, although it goes against my grain to waste time on such disposable vehicles.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
LR, If the wife's car lights are that bad hit it first with wet / dry sand paper water with a little dish soap in it. Use 600, 1200, 1600 & 2000 before using any type of polish. Sand with 600 till it does not turn yellow then use the others to remove the sanding marks and final with polish.
The only other option is to replace. Can find cheap on Ebay or Amazon maybe even Rock Auto.
Dave ----
The only other option is to replace. Can find cheap on Ebay or Amazon maybe even Rock Auto.
Dave ----
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More Turbo
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