I decided to post the picture of the Xenon lights at night here, instead of my last post, because I figured people wouldn't want to read through 16 posts just to see some final pics

When its daylight, I will post good pics of the guages.

You can click on the link to get a higher res picture.

***Update
I updated the pictures, I learned how to use my camera a little better now, and increased the exposure. These pics are a bit more realistic, but still not 100% the brightness that it is.

<a href="http://www.crosswinds.net/~sonarun/tgp/Picture_Guages01.jpg"> </a>

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Houston f-body Member Page
Third Gen Project (New Site)
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Flowmasters
Edelbrock Open Element

"Stock?! Theres nothing "stock" about a stock car."

[This message has been edited by Sonar_un (edited February 27, 2001).]

 

Is the brightness on those cranked all the way up?

 

To each man his own, but I personally do not like them. Perhaps, if the entire gauge was light up, I'd like them, but it seems like they'd be hard to read.

 

Yeah, what happened. Is the dimmer switch turned down or something? It looks like your guages have cataracts!

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89 Formula 305 TBI
160* stat, 200* fan switch, K&N, Headers, 3in Flowmaster (hollow cat) back, pullies, 1.6 full roller rockers, B&M trans cooler, home-made ram-air
3.73 Richmond gears and SLP Zexel Torsen Posi (waiting for install)

 

I think the effect you're seeing there is due to the film. I'm sure the gauges would appear much brighter in living color, so to speak.

 

Yes, the exposure was not long enough. A longer exposure would have yielded a much better picture (probably as it looks in real life).

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86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4
K&N Air filters
Next mod = trans-go shift kit (level 1)

 

Can we get a part # and brand name on those bulbs? Where did you get them?


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86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4
K&N Air filters
Next mod = trans-go shift kit (level 1)

 

Yeah... the exposure wasn't very long. My camera doesn't do it justice AT ALL. The guages are MUCH brighter than that.

I bought the bulbs from MacEwen. http://www.macewen.net

I will see if I can get some better pics of the guages up. I just bought the camera yesterday, and haven't learned all the features of it.

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Houston f-body Member Page
Third Gen Project (New Site)
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Flowmasters
Edelbrock Open Element

"Stock?! Theres nothing "stock" about a stock car."

 

Yeah, Im sure its just the pic - I have the same overlays/bulbs in my 86, and it is a much more even lighting of the gauges.
Its hard to make a pic like that come out right though - so, just trust us, it looks bad@$$ ..LOL


Ken

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Bright red 86 Iroc-Z Choo Choo Customs Convertible
A few free mods
ChevyKen's Camaros

Administrator @ ChevyWorld.net (Now in a BRAND NEW Design)

 

Hey Sonar, not to ask a stupid question but, you did put white overlays on the gauges right? Second, does anyone know if you just change the color of the bulbs will it change the look of the gauges. I have the stock gauges in my Formula and dont want the overlays.

 

Pookey,

I like the look of the stock guages in my 85 IROC too, but I didn't like the dimness of the cluster bulbs. I swapped them out for clear xenon/krypton bulbs, and the difference is remarkable--what GM should have done in the first place. Highly recommended.

JamesC

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Well.. you can't really put the guages on wrong. Thats for sure. The brightness is REMARKEBLY brighter than the old lights.

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Houston f-body Member Page
Third Gen Project (New Site)
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Flowmasters
Edelbrock Open Element

"Stock?! Theres nothing "stock" about a stock car."

 

I've got the Entire 145mph guage cluster at home with the white overlays and Xenon bulbs to replace my 85mph stock cluster. Spring break in 10 days! CAN'T WAIT!

 

Sonar_un: Do the bulbs light up all of the gagues evenly? Are those the blue bulbs on the Mceawen (sp) site? How long did it take to put on the overlays and install the bulbs? Thanks, it looks great

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1992 Camaro RS
305ci automatic, all stock til I get some cash.
My 1992 RS

 

Does anybody have pictures of those gauges with red lights? That's what I think I would like, that or blue.

 

The bulbs light up the guages pretty evenly. No differen't than the stock ones that you have. They are just brighter.

The guages took me WAY too long to install. Any idiot can install them really, but I am a dumbass, thats a totally different story lol. I could probabally install them now in about 30 min to an hour. Lets just say I learned a WHOLE LOT about my guages and the dash of my car while I installed them.

Those are the bulbs on MacEwen's site.

------------------
Houston f-body Member Page
Third Gen Project (New Site)
1989 305 tbi Camaro RS Red/Red
Ram Air II Hood
Flowmasters
Edelbrock Open Element

"Stock?! Theres nothing "stock" about a stock car."

[This message has been edited by Sonar_un (edited February 28, 2001).]

 

(grins) I'm probably the only one that keeps my gauges dimmed as hell, eh?

 

hey guys, I was looking on the net last night, and AN ALTERNATIVE to MacEwen's Xenon 194's would be #168 lights. The 194 lights (each light) has a candlepower of 2. The 168 series lights have a canplepower of 3. Also they have a higher luminance rating. The BEST/Easiest/Cheapest alternative would be the 168 lights. oh Sh*t the bank closes in 10 min. gotta go!

 

I took my dash apart 4 times!! to put my gagues on and I did learn a lot. I put those bulbs in my car and they are not that bright but I only have four bulbs back there unlike older cars that have double that amount.

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Mike Kenny
Current: 1991 RS 305 TBI
Past: 1990 RS 305 TBI (A woman forgot what red lights are for)
Current: mostly stock - newer 305 w/ 12,000 on it
Eclipse speakers all around w/ 10" tube powered by a Alpine V12 in back
K&N filter w/XStream flow lid - It is sweet!!
Future: 2" Cowl hood

 

I havent had lights on my gauges in over four years. If someone passes me I'm driving too slow, If I pass a cop I'm driving too fast. Who needs lights?

 

SlowCamaro,

The McEwen bulbs, if I remember correctly, are rated at double the stock (5 watts?). The guage faces are illuminated by reflection from the black metal bezel that covers them--which is blue on the backside--so I would imagine perfect coverage would be near impossible. Nonetheless, the xenon bulbs will considerably improve dash lighting.

JamesC

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yeah, I know. I'd guess the #168's are a 3 maybe 4 watt then, and the stock are 2 watt? The new ones that I put in last night are WAY brighter. I took off the bezel today to paint the backside a slightly darker blue to see if it's a more blueish brilliant color. If it doesn't work right, I'll try orange, yellow or white. Maybe even red. I'll prolly get some interesting results.

 

The lighting looks good to me despite the pic.I Might have to tear off a page from your play book and copy the gauges/custom lighting.

 

I think they look great! I know that they're brighter in person. I personnaly think xenon bulbs without the faces look best at night, but you can't beat the white faces during the day!!!!

 

I repainted the blue side a darker blue, and it's definately worth it. It looks cool. SO now all the lights have been replaced w/ 168's instead of the stock 194's. The needles have been painted red, and the reflector side of the trim plate has been repainted a darker blue. I guess it's time to get my white overlays.

 

how would those bulbs look on my stock black guages? just make it easier to see at night? where did you get the white face overlays and how much are they?

 

Superz,

I swapped the bulbs into my stock, black-faced cluster. Looks great.

JamesC

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thanks for the info. i went to macewen's website and got other info there too. i may put the bulbs in my stock dash thanks for the input.

 

ok guys here it is.... for ultimate brightness, paint the back side of the metal trim plate white instead of the stock light blue. W/ the 168's my dash is incredibly bright. I'm actually curious how BRIGHT it'd be w/ MacEwen's 194 xenon/high output lights. It's super bright now.

 

Are the white faced guages available for an 85-mph speedo? i didn't see them on the link. Or would it be easy to adjust the speedo so it accomodates a 140 mph guage(which would be preferable)?