red instrument light?

[GRU]

i want to change my 92 instrument cluster to illuminate red. does anyone know how to go about doing this? simply changing to red bulbs doesnt work. just thought id ask before i tore into things.

 

[flareside_thun]

The green is a tint in the cluster skin itself.....your options on how to change to red are pretty much null short of finding aftermarket cluster skin.

 

[rjjp]

The green is a tint in the cluster skin itself.....your options on how to change to red are pretty much null short of finding aftermarket cluster skin.

He's right, but you may be able to get the green tint off, like David did on his truck (his was an 85 IIRC).

 

[travelinman31]

Not sure how you would go about it with your truck, but I just did mine in red yesterday. Not sure how I like it yet as I haven't had the truck on the road with the new red lights. I'll take some pictures and post for you to see the outcome.

 

[riotwarrior]

IIRC there is a big blue/green lens that is inside the cluster that the bulbs light passes through thus getting the tint...I suppose you could try removing the blue/green part and get some red bulbs or paint em red and try that....always LEDs as an option too..

 

[Ididriver]

What about leaving the greenish blue tint and putting in blue bulbs or blue LEDs for a blue cluster? How would that work with green tint??

 

[Optikalillushun]

u need to remove the guage cluster, remove the needles, pull off the actual guage face and scrap the green tint off. Then u can use stained glass paint to illuminate and color u want. Bulbs will work OK but there will be some spots that wont look as nice.

see pictures here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v...ucks/Tu-Tone Terror/Interior/Guage tear down/

 

[DaytonaBill]

Hmm, I happen to be in the middle of a dashboard swap... I've already got the instrument cluster off and would love to find out about changing the illumination to a red or maybe a deep orange color before I put it all back together again... That would be awesome to do...

Is it risky to split the cluster case?

 

[Optikalillushun]

the nice thing about our clusters is they are modular. the needles come off easy enough as well, just be sure to put it back on the same spot it came off. I used some upolstly glue to put the face back on the cluster.

i never put that cluster in my truck...one of those things i forgot about.

 

[DaytonaBill]

Optikalillushun, have you pulled the needles off before? How did you do it?

Never mind, I wonder if the '92 - 97' are any different?

 

[Optikalillushun]

Take a look at the link i posted, just pull it straight off. I just marked the face with a dab of white paint pen to mark the spot it was resting at. btw that was for use on my 93 F-150. same as the fellas aski here.

 

[DaytonaBill]

Thanks, looks easy enough to do... Were you able to do the same with the color of the needles?

I was just wondering, because in your pictures, where the needle was, it looks as if the face piece is actually clear blue green plastic... Thanks again...

 

[Optikalillushun]

I didnt mess with the needles. I think the lightning needles were orange. i really wanna know if these would work for us: http://www.usspeedo.com/ford-needles/

 

[h2odrx]

I know the early 80's just had green condoms, remove those and use red bulbs, I tried red bulbs in my 97 but it was to dark.

 

[rjjp]

What about leaving the greenish blue tint and putting in blue bulbs or blue LEDs for a blue cluster? How would that work with green tint??

With LEDs it's obnoxiously bright at night.
This doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVA-...xt=C35191dfUDOEgsToPDskLh_5whEJoAgKUPuRxCmP0u