LED Guages
Senior Member
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From: New Milford CT
Car: 1991 Trans Am
Engine: 305tbi to 350 carb'd
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: Stock
Re: LED Guages
would these fit in a 91 firebird dash??
Quantity Product Price Base Shipping Options Subtota 9 WLED-x5 LED Wide Angle LED bulb $ 2.99 $ 0.00 Green WLED-G5 1.15
$37.50
Quantity Product Price Base Shipping Options Subtota 9 WLED-x5 LED Wide Angle LED bulb $ 2.99 $ 0.00 Green WLED-G5 1.15
$37.50
Re: LED Guages
HELP!!!! i just went and bout some 194 led lights from autozone (just the bulb) i FINALLY get my dash off and go to put the lights in and there is the bad news....the little bracket that holds the light is a entire assembly and it says you have to replace the ENTIRE thing you cant just pull the light out and replace it with the led!! WTF good news there is only 4 194s and like 6 161s on a 1990 camaro rs...
ok to the point anyone know where i can get the ENTIRE assembly and the led (194 bulbs) for my camaro gauges??
ok to the point anyone know where i can get the ENTIRE assembly and the led (194 bulbs) for my camaro gauges??
So you untwist it from the cluster you can then pull the bulb out of the base and replace it, reusing the old base. If you can find some of those, then you can put your LEDs into that, and put that into your 90 cluster. Not sure why GM decided to go with a 1 piece thing in the later models, really stupid.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 1
From: Port Orchard,WA
Car: 89 Camaro RS
Engine: 355 SD TPI
Transmission: WCT5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 Posi
Re: LED Guages
do them by hand, took me a half hour and it looks better, plus i kept the bill under $10, couldnt ask for a better result, i have people pulling up next to me at night commenting the blue glow
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 52
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From: Atlanta, Ga
Car: 1990 Camaro Rs
Engine: 350 Carb
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: shetty
Re: LED Guages
ok i got my buddies 87 cluster twist locks for the bulbs and that worked just fine...and i put 4 led bulbs and it looks pretty dang good already cant wait to see what it looks like with all of them in....(only 4 cuz thats all they had at autozone)
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From: plano texas
Car: 91 RS Vert, 87 SC T-Top
Engine: LO3, LG4
Transmission: 700r4's
Axle/Gears: 2.73, not sure yet
Re: LED Guages
ok so im going to do this, what exactly do i need to order to get it to look like this
PS i have a 91 Camaro
i want blue
PS i have a 91 Camaro
i want blue
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 403
From: Oyth
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: LED Guages
I want to do the LEDs in my dash. I see they now offer a 9 LED bulb here
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...gi?product=CAR
Will that fit? I see the 6 fits but I was just wondering about the 9. Plus the 9 has to be alot brighter. I aslo want to get these white faced gauges.
http://www.whitegauges.net/whitegaug...productsID=941
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...gi?product=CAR
Will that fit? I see the 6 fits but I was just wondering about the 9. Plus the 9 has to be alot brighter. I aslo want to get these white faced gauges.
http://www.whitegauges.net/whitegaug...productsID=941
Last edited by 84 1LE; Jan 2, 2009 at 11:34 PM.
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From: plano texas
Car: 91 RS Vert, 87 SC T-Top
Engine: LO3, LG4
Transmission: 700r4's
Axle/Gears: 2.73, not sure yet
Re: LED Guages
Yes, 9 LED lamps will work, but you have to install them from the front by removing the gauges & pulling the bulbs only.The 9 LED units are too big for the hole the socket goes into.The hardest part is the speedo(at the cable driven ones).Since you have to release the cable from behind the cluster to remove it.Or you can hassle with it & try to install the LEDs with long needle nose plies!
Here's what mine looks like after i switched from white LEDs to blue (matches OEL pioneer deck).You will need 194 LEDs an# of LEDs will work.Just depends on how bright & how much your willing to spend.I spent about $25 on 6 four LEDs & 3 nine of the blue LEDs.All from superbrightleds.com.Pic is from my cell so the color is a little off, but its plenty bright though.

Here's what mine looks like after i switched from white LEDs to blue (matches OEL pioneer deck).You will need 194 LEDs an# of LEDs will work.Just depends on how bright & how much your willing to spend.I spent about $25 on 6 four LEDs & 3 nine of the blue LEDs.All from superbrightleds.com.Pic is from my cell so the color is a little off, but its plenty bright though.

yours looks like the light leaks through on the sides, i dont want that
whats the brightness off the pic i showed? if you know, if not anyone else?
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 403
From: Oyth
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: LED Guages
The gauges in your link look to be back lit.Camaro gauges are front lighting(early years anyway).Meaning the light bouces off the gauge bezel & onto the face of the gauges.The units in your link are are illuminated from the back.So the light passes thru the #s.Kind of like the gear indicator is lit.There is little to no leak thru.Its the camera phone, Im guessing.If you dont want that much bleed thru though.Then use LEDs with less then 9 or even 6 LEDs per.Try 4 or less, but they wont be as bright & you will have dim/dark spots as well.There is little you can do about though since camaro gauges dont use back lighting.
Last edited by 84 1LE; Jan 2, 2009 at 11:50 PM.
Supreme Member




Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 48
From: Tracy, CA
Car: '87 IROC
Engine: LB9
Transmission: TH700R4
Re: LED Guages
http://www.superbrightleds.com/instrument.html
I did my dash lights similar to this:
https://www.thirdgen.org/leddash
FWIW, I soon tired of the blue color. It actually sucks, IMO. I went back to red 194 LED replacements.
Re: LED Guages
the 91/92 cluster is a backlit cluster, the real problem with these clusters is the yellow writing.
So a blue LED combined with the yellow of the writing on the gauges is going to give a greenish glow.
That's what I'm running into, I want to use white LEDs (to get that bright whitish/bluish look) but the yellow letters ruins everything.
I tried to remove the yellow, but it won't come off the gauge face. I think the only way 91/92 cluster can have a different color is to have new gauge faces made. Which is costly, but when I finally get back to working on my car, I'll eventually just pay to have new ones made with white letters.
So a blue LED combined with the yellow of the writing on the gauges is going to give a greenish glow.
That's what I'm running into, I want to use white LEDs (to get that bright whitish/bluish look) but the yellow letters ruins everything.
I tried to remove the yellow, but it won't come off the gauge face. I think the only way 91/92 cluster can have a different color is to have new gauge faces made. Which is costly, but when I finally get back to working on my car, I'll eventually just pay to have new ones made with white letters.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 403
From: Oyth
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: LED Guages
Doesnt green & yellow make blue?Maybe green LEDs will give better results.Paint some bulbs green & try them out before spending any money on green LEDs though.Worth a shot anyway.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 403
From: Oyth
Car: 89RS vert
Engine: Erod
Transmission: 4L65e
Axle/Gears: BW, 3.27
Re: LED Guages
They are plug & play.Meaning you remove the stock bulbs & install the LED.Just make sure its a 194 style & watch the polarity.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 349
Likes: 4
From: Wichita, KS
Car: 1987 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 327
Re: LED Guages
In my world, green and yellow make greenish yellow....not blue. Blue and yellow makes green, however. Not that it matters...
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From: plano texas
Car: 91 RS Vert, 87 SC T-Top
Engine: LO3, LG4
Transmission: 700r4's
Axle/Gears: 2.73, not sure yet
Re: LED Guages
the 91/92 cluster is a backlit cluster, the real problem with these clusters is the yellow writing.
So a blue LED combined with the yellow of the writing on the gauges is going to give a greenish glow.
That's what I'm running into, I want to use white LEDs (to get that bright whitish/bluish look) but the yellow letters ruins everything.
I tried to remove the yellow, but it won't come off the gauge face. I think the only way 91/92 cluster can have a different color is to have new gauge faces made. Which is costly, but when I finally get back to working on my car, I'll eventually just pay to have new ones made with white letters.
So a blue LED combined with the yellow of the writing on the gauges is going to give a greenish glow.
That's what I'm running into, I want to use white LEDs (to get that bright whitish/bluish look) but the yellow letters ruins everything.
I tried to remove the yellow, but it won't come off the gauge face. I think the only way 91/92 cluster can have a different color is to have new gauge faces made. Which is costly, but when I finally get back to working on my car, I'll eventually just pay to have new ones made with white letters.
Re: LED Guages
Does anyone have pics of the 85-90 Firebird dash lit up? Did you go with white or red bulbs?
Thanks!
EDIT:
What would the single LED 79 cent bulbs be ok? What veiwing angle? Or would I be better off getting the 4 led bulbs?
from super bright led.com
Thanks!
EDIT:
What would the single LED 79 cent bulbs be ok? What veiwing angle? Or would I be better off getting the 4 led bulbs?
from super bright led.com
Last edited by 88TransAmFreak; Apr 3, 2009 at 10:34 AM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Car: 92 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: Auto :/
Re: LED Guages
Dont know if anyone is still looking but here are some on ebay not sure how well they fit or work, but for $9.00 if they look like crap pitch em if anyones interested. Id love to see some pics if anyone get these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/i504-90-92-CHEVY-CAMARO-IROC-Z28-WHITE-FACE-GLOW-GAUGES_W0QQitemZ290322760010QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item439895c14a&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/i504-90-92-CHEVY-CAMARO-IROC-Z28-WHITE-FACE-GLOW-GAUGES_W0QQitemZ290322760010QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item439895c14a&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: LED Guages
Nice guys!
Ive been thinking of this for a while. So now im in the mood of buying some LEDs for my 1989 Camaro.
Im going to buy from http://www.superbrightleds.com
So could someone link or give me the exact name/number of the LEDs I need.
I want blue ones, and shall it have a large/wide angle ? do be best ?
I want good light so it can be shown at day/dusk/dawn/night etc. But not over bright so you need to wear sunglasses when driving the car.
Shall I have 90 or 120 degree ones ?
is these the ones I need ? :
WLED-x-x LED bulb
12VDC 1-LED Wedge Base Bulb (194/168 type) with 90 or 120 degree Wide Viewing Angle LED
Select LED Color and Viewing Angle

They cost $0.79 each
Is those the right ones to get a good light, and good spread over the dash so it wont be super bright on some spots and less light on some.
Please help me out guys
EDIT:
This one: http://i41.tinypic.com/2yxgrd3.jpg (picture from above)
looks pretty bright, you have any other picture with a "better" camera ? at maybe daylight and maybe a nightshot again ?
Is it superbright so you get annoyed when driving at night or is it good ?
Also how many light do I need 11 ?
I want the turn signals and highbeam to be the stock colours.
Ive been thinking of this for a while. So now im in the mood of buying some LEDs for my 1989 Camaro.
Im going to buy from http://www.superbrightleds.com
So could someone link or give me the exact name/number of the LEDs I need.
I want blue ones, and shall it have a large/wide angle ? do be best ?
I want good light so it can be shown at day/dusk/dawn/night etc. But not over bright so you need to wear sunglasses when driving the car.
Shall I have 90 or 120 degree ones ?
is these the ones I need ? :
WLED-x-x LED bulb
12VDC 1-LED Wedge Base Bulb (194/168 type) with 90 or 120 degree Wide Viewing Angle LED
Select LED Color and Viewing Angle

They cost $0.79 each
Is those the right ones to get a good light, and good spread over the dash so it wont be super bright on some spots and less light on some.
Please help me out guys

EDIT:
This one: http://i41.tinypic.com/2yxgrd3.jpg (picture from above)
looks pretty bright, you have any other picture with a "better" camera ? at maybe daylight and maybe a nightshot again ?
Is it superbright so you get annoyed when driving at night or is it good ?
Also how many light do I need 11 ?
I want the turn signals and highbeam to be the stock colours.
Last edited by Theking; Aug 27, 2009 at 02:43 PM.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,301
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From: Chicagoland
Car: 1983 Daytona Trans Am
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: LED Guages
the 90 or 120 degree blue ones ?
they ones I have a linked picture on (from brightleds) are they the correct ones for a 1989 Camaro ?
Tha looks awesome the picture you linked, I want that kind of light
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,022
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From: Newington, CT
Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 5.7 RamJet
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana44 4.10
Re: LED Guages
I hate the yellow myself, but with the red leds I used, the numbers light up pure red at night. I was a little worried they would be too orange, but the red must overpower the yellow.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,123
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From: North Central Mass.
Car: 1985 Berlinetta
Engine: Megasquirted TPI
Transmission: Transgo 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: LED Guages
has anybody ever done this to the berlinetta's digital cluster? Mine is super dim.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,800
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From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: LED Guages

They look much brighter than the picture shows and much more red.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: LED Guages
Soldered ? They shouldnt be I hope, is it easy to change even if they are soldered or is it a big chance of destroying the board then ?
But it feels wrong if they are soldered, cause you should be able to just replace them if they go bad, cause the stock ones are regular bulbs right ?
But it feels wrong if they are soldered, cause you should be able to just replace them if they go bad, cause the stock ones are regular bulbs right ?
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: LED Guages
But if you look at this guide: https://www.thirdgen.org/leddash

The lights/connections dosent look the same as for these :

or does that led go inside this socket?:

I live in Sweden so I dont wanna order the wrong ones.
Wich have the best light, 90 or 120 degree diod ?

The lights/connections dosent look the same as for these :

or does that led go inside this socket?:

I live in Sweden so I dont wanna order the wrong ones.
Wich have the best light, 90 or 120 degree diod ?
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 2
From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: LED Guages
By soldered, I meant to the socket and they twist out as an assembly. Yes, the LED fits inside that socket. The same site also has LEDs alredy in a twist-lock socket if you find you might need the whole assembly. Might have to take some measurements to see which ones fit best. Fortunately, the lights for my 89 weren't soldered in, but on my 92 they were.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/instrument.html
http://www.superbrightleds.com/instrument.html
Last edited by Al Hasse; Sep 6, 2009 at 05:32 PM.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 930
Likes: 6
From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: LED Guages
1990 changed dash and I think they was soldered after that, before that it was replaceable bulbs without soldering, I just ordereed 15 blue 120 degree angle leds and 3 white leds (I think the transmission light is the same bulb so I orderd some extra blue and white to test 
Thanks
Ill get back with info when I got them home and installed them

Thanks
Ill get back with info when I got them home and installed them
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 2
From: Bremerton, WA
Car: 1992 RS / 1989 RS
Engine: 3.1L MFI / Vortec 383 TBI
Transmission: T5 / LS-T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open / 3.73 Eaton posi
Re: LED Guages
I also painted the back side of the bezel (the metal piece in front of the gauge faces) metallic silver to aid reflecting the light onto the gauge faces. The stock pale blue is just weak. Since you'll have it out anyway, it only takes a couple of minutes more.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 123
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From: Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Car: 1984 Berlinetta,'82 and '86 Camaro
Engine: Rebuilt 350
Transmission: Automatic. =[
Axle/Gears: Stock
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Huntington, NY
Car: 1983 Pontiac Firebird
Engine: LG4 305ci 4bbl
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt open diff.
Re: LED Guages
hey 82FirebirdTA-
i also have an 83 Bird- i like the way your gauges turned out- looks great. 10 of those bulbs were enough for all the gauges? i'd only be doing the gauge lights, not the indicators.
i also have an 83 Bird- i like the way your gauges turned out- looks great. 10 of those bulbs were enough for all the gauges? i'd only be doing the gauge lights, not the indicators.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,301
Likes: 13
From: Chicagoland
Car: 1983 Daytona Trans Am
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: LED Guages
Supreme Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 0
From: North Central Mass.
Car: 1985 Berlinetta
Engine: Megasquirted TPI
Transmission: Transgo 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: LED Guages
If you take the dash apart, it is a vacuum fluorescent display wich is sealed in glass. I think the only way to change the color would be to either use some sort of filter and deal with the reduced brightness, or have a custom replacement made.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,942
Likes: 20
From: Boston, MA
Car: 1983 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona 500
Engine: Crossfire 305ci V8
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 4 speed Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip/posi
Re: LED Guages
al hasse now those are some awesome evil gauges
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 235
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From: Minnesota
Car: 89 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 5.7 350 TPI L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Borg-Warner 3.27
Re: LED Guages
Ok, I just got done swapping out all the stock 194 bulbs in the gauges for the superbright 194 LED 5-wide in red. While it does look better than stock I was hopping for more, the red is nice but it's in no way as bright as I thought it was gonna be. If I swapped out the stock gauge bezel for white faced gauges would it be brighter? Should I have bought a different bulb with more lights or what? The dimmer switch still works for the lights if anybody cares.
I also broke the plastic gauge lens while doing this, anybody know where I can get a nice one for cheap?
I also broke the plastic gauge lens while doing this, anybody know where I can get a nice one for cheap?
Last edited by Transmetal; Sep 17, 2009 at 01:22 PM.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia
Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: TH700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.43 posi
Re: LED Guages
Ok, I just got done swapping out all the stock 194 bulbs in the gauges for the superbright 194 LED 5-wide in red. While it does look better than stock I was hopping for more, the red is nice but it's in no way as bright as I thought it was gonna be. If I swapped out the stock gauge bezel for white faced gauges would it be brighter? Should I have bought a different bulb with more lights or what? The dimmer switch still works for the lights if anybody cares.
I also broke the plastic gauge lens while doing this, anybody know where I can get a nice one for cheap?
I also broke the plastic gauge lens while doing this, anybody know where I can get a nice one for cheap?
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,942
Likes: 20
From: Boston, MA
Car: 1983 Pontiac Trans Am Daytona 500
Engine: Crossfire 305ci V8
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 4 speed Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.23 limited slip/posi
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Car: 1982 Camaro Berlinetta
Engine: LG4
Transmission: One that shifts hella hard
Re: LED Guages
so, are the LED's able to fit in the pre-existing wireing or do you have to rewire some stuff? from what it sounds like this seems like a plug n go type deal....?
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I second that mesaure we need pictures!! 
