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Installed my New Macewen Gauges and LED's (1991 Z28)

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Old Mar 13, 2004 | 11:58 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
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Installed my New Macewen Gauges and LED's (1991 Z28)

Well...the gauges went in great....got'em in....in about an hour. The LED's look OKAY....but could look much better. Here are a few pictures. I wish I could install a couple more LEDs.....but I don't know how. I just changed the 4 gauge cluster bulbs into LED's...(194 replacemt LEDs at superbrightleds.com...)

sorry the pictures came out blurry....the LED's are the 4 in one type and are white.

Last edited by Sickness91Z28; Mar 15, 2004 at 05:26 PM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:00 AM
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another

Last edited by Sickness91Z28; Mar 15, 2004 at 05:26 PM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:01 AM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
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also installed one of the LEDs in my HVAC controls. Anyone know how I can install a few more leds in my gauge cluster?

Last edited by Sickness91Z28; Mar 15, 2004 at 05:26 PM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:07 AM
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that is typical of led lighting in any application, that the light is concentrated in spots, a cheap and quick way of possibly increasing brightness would be to take the cluster apart, and spray paint the inside with either white or silver/chrome paint, increasing reflectivity
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:19 AM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
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before I put the LED's in....I had the regular bulbs in. The light coming off of the bulbs spread out a bit better....but they wren't bright at all. The LED's are very very bright....but just don't spread out as much. I thought they would have spread out a little more since I got the 4 in 1 type LED's....
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:23 AM
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yeah dont they always make it look good in the pictures online or in catologs?
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 12:58 AM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
I've done a search...and people say that they can add alot of LEDs to their gauge cluster. Does anyone know how this is done (90-92)? There is a circut board on the back...seems like you wouldn't be able to drill through that.......

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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 01:00 AM
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it involves buying leds that are seperate, soldering them and then mounting them behind the gauges
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 01:01 AM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
Originally posted by d_johnsen
it involves buying leds that are seperate, soldering them and then mounting them behind the gauges

that doesn't sound bad....I just don't understand how they are mounted. Seems like they would have to be mounted on the gauge cluster..behind each gauge....
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 01:03 AM
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you could probably take a stick of acrylic, drill holes in it to mount the leds into, then drill holes in the side of the cluster, where there isnt any circuit board, and fasten the acrylic stick like that, suspending the leds behind the gauges
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 02:36 AM
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Dude..... those needles look SWEET
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 09:45 AM
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what is "stick of acrylic"?

Thanks TPIROC...I think the actual needles look awesome too....now I just need to get the numbers brighter


and what is the difference between "polarized and non-poloarized" LED's?

Last edited by Sickness91Z28; Mar 14, 2004 at 10:51 AM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 11:15 AM
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it is plexi glass cut to resemble a long slim shape

Last edited by d_johnsen; Mar 14, 2004 at 11:19 AM.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 01:36 PM
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Originally posted by 84customZ28
and what is the difference between "polarized and non-poloarized" LED's?
It's the difference between having to insert them in a particular manner so that + hits + on the led, and - hits - likewise. Non-polarized is like a bulb, it will operate regardless of insertion as long as one side get a + signal, and similarly for a - signal. That's my understanding.

BTW; I just got your latest PM (never seem to get them for weeks), how's the gauge project going?
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 02:20 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
BTW; I just got your latest PM (never seem to get them for weeks), how's the gauge project going?
Works perfect man, thanks for the help

I just ordered 7 more LEDs...I drilled more holes in the back of the cluster where there was no circut board and it seems that it will be more brigher and even placed. For the others....I guess I'll have to wire them...positin them...and use JB weld to hold the in place.....as long as the won't wobble around or anything..I think they will be fine. I have to do that because I can't drill anymore hole because I can't drill through the circut board. Now I have to wait a few days before I get the other LEDs because I have to order them....
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 06:48 PM
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you know that u cannot simply wire up leds to 12 volts right?
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 09:45 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
Car: 1991 Z28 Camaro
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
Originally posted by d_johnsen
you know that u cannot simply wire up leds to 12 volts right?

yeah..I just figured that out....I may not even mess with it...I really don't wanna mess up my cluster....it looks alright...just not as bright as I want it to be.
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 09:47 PM
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it is very simple, u need to use resistors with the leds, then they will be able to work with 12 volts
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Old Mar 14, 2004 | 11:07 PM
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did you sand your needles down and paint them?

cheers

blake
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 12:46 AM
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whoa... pretty sweet lookin!
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:49 AM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
Originally posted by Blake
did you sand your needles down and paint them?

cheers

blake
nope, never touched'em!

I'll take another picture later....I adjusted the angle of the LED's, and they look a little more even now....I'm pretty happy with'em
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 04:36 PM
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So your needles are still orange when not lit up? jeepers thats cool, and how did you get the green numbers? Is that just the macewen overlay? Im confused I want greeen *** damnit!
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 04:50 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
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Originally posted by grngryoutmyway
So your needles are still orange when not lit up? jeepers thats cool, and how did you get the green numbers? Is that just the macewen overlay? Im confused I want greeen *** damnit!

Well..since mine is a 91...my needles are actually white/yellow...the 92's got the orange needles. When I don't have the dash lights on...the needles are white/yellow. It's kind of cool how all of the numbers turned out green....those are just the Macewen Gauge Overlays back lit with four "4 in 1" leds. I think since the LED's are sooo intense....it just made the true colors come out
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 04:54 PM
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From: Marietta, GA
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Do the macewen overlays have blue numbers or something? ..yellow mixed with blue = green.. and you said you had white led's right?

any pics of them not lit up.. that would help me
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 04:57 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
Axle/Gears: 3.23 For Now
Originally posted by grngryoutmyway
Do the macewen overlays have blue numbers or something? ..yellow mixed with blue = green.. and you said you had white led's right?

any pics of them not lit up.. that would help me

The Macewen numbers are pefectly clear...I held a flashlight up to them when I got them to see. And yes, I used clear LEDs. It's weird how intense the numbers turned out. If you give me a few...I can go get a few pictures for ya.
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:21 PM
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do the 90-91 dashes have green numbers? I thought they were the same as mine, ur seriously confusing me dude.. how did you make them green?
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:23 PM
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alright, here are a few pictures. No, the 90-91 didn't have green numbers. All I did was change from regular crappy 194's to LED's....that's it...
Attached Thumbnails Installed my New Macewen Gauges and LED's (1991 Z28)-gagues1.jpg  
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:24 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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Transmission: Jasper 700R4 Stage II
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another
Attached Thumbnails Installed my New Macewen Gauges and LED's (1991 Z28)-gagues3.jpg  
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:25 PM
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From: Chesterfield, Indiana
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also installed an LED in my vacuum gauge....looks freakin awesome
Attached Thumbnails Installed my New Macewen Gauges and LED's (1991 Z28)-vacuum.jpg  
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 05:46 PM
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Originally posted by 84customZ28
also installed an LED in my vacuum gauge....looks freakin awesome
:rockon:
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 08:22 PM
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Looks sweet man, looks sweet man.............:hail:
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Old Mar 15, 2004 | 08:28 PM
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From: Mililani, HI USofA Search Posts: 2848.............. Whore Posts: 47.................. Magical Whore Posts: 1
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well when I finally saw them, "I was like that is pretty sweet"
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