Does anyone have a picture of a stock gauge cluster that has blue leds in it?? I have already converted all of my hvac/cruise etc. already and want to get rid of my blue aftermarket gauges and convert the stock gauges to blue now. I was thinking of doing white possibly, but I have been reading that you have to sand the back of the stock gauges, is this true? What if you used super bright white leds, would you still have to sand?? Also, if I use blue, I don't need to sand anything right? Thanks.

Yes you still have to sand. Its easy.

I dont have any pictures because the cluster isnt in the car right now, but I put "Cobalt Blue Translucent" vynil from a sign shop behind them AFTER sanding the orange off.

After I add a few leds in a couple spots, and sanded/painted the back of the needle Guards Red, it looks very VW like.

Originally posted by teklein
Yes you still have to sand. Its easy. I dont have any pictures because the cluster isnt in the car right now, but I put "Cobalt Blue Translucent" vynil from a sign shop behind them AFTER sanding the orange off. After I add a few leds in a couple spots, and sanded/painted the back of the needle Guards Red, it looks very VW like.

How hard is it to take off the needle and not fuck it up, I am really hesitant to do this because I don't want to fubar my needle and not be able to read a gauge. And how do you put it back on once you've done doing it. Someone should do a how to on the gauge sanding and all. I have had my cluster out quite a few times and am very familiar with it all, I just don't want to screw up my needles.

Youll need to recalibrate regardless.

Basically you pop the needles over the peg, and let them hang until they stop.

Mark the position with some tape, and use a fork to pop them off.

This is how I calibrated mine.

For gas gauge it was easy, I just filled it up and popped it on at full.

Temp gauge I put it to the mark where it is when the car is at operating temp.

Tach I just put it to where it always is.

Speed is a little harder, I left the clear plastic cover off and the car on when I was putting the needles back on. For speed I paid attention to what RPM 60mph was, then I went to that RPM on the highway, and pushed it on.

Its pretty accurate.

Also, there is a pretty good write up by azdave on the other forum, but I forget which one. Maybe he will chime in.

Originally posted by teklein
Also, there is a pretty good write up by azdave on the other forum, but I forget which one. Maybe he will chime in.

It was not my write-up but I did help turbosax2 copy my LED dash process and do the three related tech topics on tuners.

My write-up on HIDPlanet was more about my tail light conversion and only had a little bit of info on the overlays.

Wow I always wanted my cluster to look like that! that's awesome...
Can the needles be painted to achieve another color?

Originally posted by Cyexmaster
Wow I always wanted my cluster to look like that! that's awesome... Can the needles be painted to achieve another color?

Yes. Or you could use different color LEDs, or both. I have been thinking about doing this for a while now, but with blue LEDs.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/274519-how-light-gauge-cluster-leds.html

Sweet, I need some input on one more thing, where would I get the best and brightest 74 leds from. I want some really high quality white ones. Thanks
Edit: Also, what would be best, the ones that scatter like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10pcs-T5-74-37-70-3-LED-Super-White-Wedge-Base-LED-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem190289692001QQitemZ190289692001QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Or just normal ones??

Originally posted by 97AllMtr
Sweet, I need some input on one more thing, where would I get the best and brightest 74 leds from. I want some really high quality white ones. Thanks Edit: Also, what would be best, the ones that scatter like these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10pcs-T5-74-37-70-3-LED-Super-White-Wedge-Base-LED-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem190289692001QQitemZ190289692001QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories Or just normal ones??

I would get something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-100-BLUE-LED-15K-16Kmcd-3mm-Free-Shipment-LEAD-FREE_W0QQitemZ200314443331QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item200314443331&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

It's a lot better deal than the one you posted. 100 LEDs should be enough to do the project.

Originally posted by adamzty

Originally posted by 97AllMtr Sweet, I need some input on one more thing, where would I get the best and brightest 74 leds from. I want some really high quality white ones. Thanks Edit: Also, what would be best, the ones that scatter like these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10pcs-T5-74-37-70-3-LED-Super-White-Wedge-Base-LED-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem190289692001QQitemZ190289692001QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories Or just normal ones??

I would get something like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-100-BLUE-LED-15K-16Kmcd-3mm-Free-Shipment-LEAD-FREE_W0QQitemZ200314443331QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item200314443331&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50 It's a lot better deal than the one you posted. 100 LEDs should be enough to do the project.

Are those a really high quality BRIGHT led?? Also, I am looking for white since I have to sand anyway. :)

Yes, they are good quality and bright. I have ordered from that seller a few times.

You are going to have to solder them all up in series to put them in the gauge cluster

Originally posted by adamzty
Yes, they are good quality and bright. I have ordered from that seller a few times. You are going to have to solder them all up in series to put them in the gauge cluster

No no no no.....I am buying the leds that just replace the old yellow bulbs. Not soldering anything. They are #74 leds, just pull the old ones out and replace the bulbs with leds, and you're set right? That's what I read in another thread somewhere here.

Originally posted by 97AllMtr

Originally posted by adamzty Yes, they are good quality and bright. I have ordered from that seller a few times. You are going to have to solder them all up in series to put them in the gauge cluster

No no no no.....I am buying the leds that just replace the old yellow bulbs. Not soldering anything. They are #74 leds, just pull the old ones out and replace the bulbs with leds, and you're set right? That's what I read in another thread somewhere here.

Oh, my bad I thought you were talking about this http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/274519-how-light-gauge-cluster-leds.html

But yeah, those would be a lot easier then :)

Originally posted by adamzty

Originally posted by 97AllMtr

Originally posted by adamzty Yes, they are good quality and bright. I have ordered from that seller a few times. You are going to have to solder them all up in series to put them in the gauge cluster

No no no no.....I am buying the leds that just replace the old yellow bulbs. Not soldering anything. They are #74 leds, just pull the old ones out and replace the bulbs with leds, and you're set right? That's what I read in another thread somewhere here.

Oh, my bad I thought you were talking about this http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-exterior-interior/274519-how-light-gauge-cluster-leds.html But yeah, those would be a lot easier then :)

Yeah, I still might do it the other way if these aren't bright enough. So, does anyone know where I can get quality super bright white #74 leds??? Thanks.

Originally posted by 97AllMtr
So, does anyone know where I can get quality super bright white #74 leds??? Thanks.

If such an item existed I would not have spent hours doing my LED conversion with strips of bright white LEDs wrapped around inside.

There are a lot of LED PNP bulbs out there but the really bright ones seem to burn out too quickly and the regular ones are too dim for my taste.

I have no idea about the PNP bulbs in this link but I've purchased many other accessories from them and always received great service. It's up to you to experiment to see if these bulbs are worth your trouble.

http://autolumination.com/74.htm