Here's the bulbs I tried, from MacEwen

Xenon Blue
Bright Red
Bright Orange
Bright Green
Clear Xenon

Results:

The Orange and Red bulbs produce excellent color which easily overpowers the yellow tinting. The Red, unfortunately just does not seem to be "bright enough". I'll probably try the red again later, like with the cluster in the car.

The Green light is not really that dark and combines with the yellow tinting to make a really nasty color.

The Xenon Blue just gives the yellow a slight funny tint.

The Xenon Clear is BRIGHT!!! I'm not sure I'd even use this in this cluster. Color is the stock yellow, of course.

I tested these bulbs with the cluster, headlamp switch, and wiring harness out of the car. I tested both at 12.12 V and ~15V. To do this, I used the automotive 12V battery out of the 91 Camaro. For the 15V I used the car battery and a 6V lantern battery in series. Yes, I realize 12+6 is 18V. However, the lantern batteries cannot source **** for current. Measuring across the BULBS I got ~15V. I think that would be pretty representative of the voltage you could get in the car.

So far, I think I'm going to go with orange. If I could get the red bright enough I'd use it, because it's a really nice red. HMMMM, I wonder if it is possible to modify the cluster to accept more bulbs .

On to the next challenge. Looking at the designs of the other lights in the car, I'd imagine it would be pretty simple to change the color of the shift indicator and the climate controls. Now, does anyone know how to change the defrost and fog lamp switches?????????

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"Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master"

'84 Black Camaro ZZ4 M5 (V-6 in a former life) -- street beast
'91 Medium Blue Metallic Z28 A4 (UB-HSTRY's old ride) -- currently broken
'99 Navy Blue Metallic Firehawk #120 M6 (99.44% stock) -- daily driver

 

This might be much to ask but...could you post pics of how they look with the various bulbs? I'm gonna be ordering the inlays soon and I'm really not sure which color bulb to use (don't know how they'd look with the white inlay). That would help me a bunch and others too..i'm sure. Thanks

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1992 Z28 (305) TPI.
160' stat, Accel 8mm, Accel Cap & Rotor,
Flowmaster, high-flo cat.

 

I can post pics if I can get a digital camera. Maybe I should do that this weekend. I don't really want to spend MORE money on film .

 

like you said, the shift indicator and the climate controls are easy to change, but the foglight switch i am not sure of. If you find out, let me know because once i get my new cd player, all lights in my car will be red (except the foglight switch). I have had that switch apart once, but the bulb in there is tiny. Maybe you could use a red transparency type paper to go there which would change the existing bulb to go to red (or orange in your case). If you could find one, you would actually need the small green one in there to be read also. If you made that one red, it might look good. Please figure it out.

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91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

[This message has been edited by jm91rs (edited March 29, 2001).]

 

All right, I got a digicam. I'll try and take some pictures tomorrow. Just takes too long to set it up to do it tonight.

 

Hmmmm...I have the Xenon clears on my 90 . I love it . The clear makes the yellow flouresent like bright at night , but its never been TOO bright or bothersome.

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Derek 90 IROC 5.7[/i]
Mods: All the usual bolt ons , 2500 stall , 373's , SS hood , lotta reduced weight.
Best Et: 13.16@101

 

you could always dim them alittle too.
I tried the blue bulbs and did not like them really, they look kinda green to me. I am going to try the clears and see what happens cause I like the way the stock bulbs look, just they aren't bright enough.

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90 IROC 5.7l (L98)
ram air, K&N's, air foil,Flows

LIKE A ROC

 

Alright guys and gals.

I recently found out how to change the color of the fog/def. switches. These were done to a 89 GTA, but I am sure the same method could be used for your switchs... sort of. How, i swhta you would have to find out.

Pop the buttons of the switch off of their studs, inside the BACK of the button, there is a plastic shield. Usind a pin, or something similar, hold the switch from the sides, and push DOWN on the plastic part. Two pieces of plastic, and their carrier will fall out. On top of the plastic sheet with the logo of the switch, there will be a red strip. Get rid of it. Use transparent paint to replace with color of your choice. Reassemble and enjoy.

Remember, this was for 89's.... mess around with it a bit, and I am sure you could get it to work. BTW, they arent BULBS in the switches, they are LED's.... various colors are available... try an electronis store.

Later, hope this helps,
Tristan

 

I just installed the Mcewen set on my bird. The kit is excellent. I have about 9 bulbs for my dash lights and would have spent a small fortune on bulbs. So I took out my stock bulbs and painted them red. Only use a light coat but cover everything. It looks great in red. I would use bright colors if you decide to paint or else it will look weak and too dark.

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89 TRANSORMULA WS6 5.7
Dark Purple Hardtop!
Ram Air II Hood
Z28 Hi-Rise Spoiler
HYPERTECH THERMO MASTER
10-BOLT POSI, 3.23 GEARS
MODIFIED TRANSMISSION
K&N FILTER CHARGER
MODIFIED MASS AIR SENSOR
PORTED & POLISHED INTAKE
ACCEL COIL & 8.8 WIRES
EMISSIONS DELETE
DYNOMAX EXHAUST W\ TIPS
CUSTOM SOUND SYSTEM
BEST TIME 14.32 @98.3 mph
(====] [====)
Power buldge hood
^^ FOR SALE ^^

 

Quick Question?? Is the dash really orange, or is it the bulbs that are orange?? If so, i would think that any colored bulb would shine through its color. But i dont know if it si the bulbs, or the dash that is orange. Just wondering.....

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1991 WS6 Trans Am
Medium Green Metallic
Beechwood interior
305 TPI
TH 700-R4, Auto
T-Tops, PW, PL, PM
Keyless entry, alarm
Flowmaster Muffler
Monza Dual Tips
K&N Filter

 

Look at the color of the numbers during the day.

The 91 Camaros use a yellow dash with white bulbs.

My Hawk has white numbers during the day, so I am assuming it uses red bulbs.

 

When are you posting pics?

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

 

The Pontiacs have a layer of red sandwiched in between the guage plates . So Pontiacs look white unlit and red all lit up . They use clear bulbs to light the dash because of that.


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Derek 90 IROC 5.7[/i]
Mods: All the usual bolt ons , 2500 stall , 373's , SS hood , lotta reduced weight.
Best Et: 13.16@101

 

I haven't forgotten, I've just been a lot busier than I'd plan in this weekend. Hopefully I'll get to it sometime this week.

 

where can I get transparency paint. I want to change my guade needles to clear. is this possible?

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91 Z28 5.7l Camaro
T-56,McLeod Street Clutch, Cross Drilled Brakes, KYB's,AFPR, 3.73 Gears, Borla Adjustable Cat Back, Hypertech Chip, Hooker Headers.
more to come....
My 91 Z28

 

chris,
me and mike harvey both changed our needle colors, you have to remove your needles you are aware of, and then with that. readjust your gauges.
multi grades of sandpaper, the rougher to get paint off, and the finer to make the needles clear as possible, ive been thinking about what you want to do, but i believe you need some type of backing to keep the light within the needle sometime, ill think about it, and ill try finding some needle somewhere, and trying it out for ya, ttyl chief

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91 FireBird 305 V-8
no true mods,
ghetto rigged cold air intake,
People dont have a soul, its just something parents made up to frighten little children, like the boogie man, or micheal jackson..."

GheTTo Riggers INC.
We Make Mcgyver look Like Crap