Heres a topic I've been seeing alot. Some of you with the standard gauges have been talking about back lighting. Well I have yet to do this. But for those few who have, how about sharing the details with the whole board.

The current method of lighting looks like poop no mater what I attempt.

PS: I have updated my Guide, with better info and now have just about every guage template, for Camaro & Firebird. I fixed the links so you can download them and compressed the file sizes to under a meg each.

this may be a supid question, but for those of you who have done your own white faced guages, what did you do about backlighting? Or does the template you place over the originals sort of mask any backlighting?

bttt

I'd like to see if they could be back-lit with the indiglo style gauges that I'm seeing for the 4th gens and ricers. It would seem like a great way to back-light our gauges, as long as it's thin enough to mount right to the current gauges. Especially if they came out with red.

tanager11.....

I recently attempted this..... The backlit gauges are hard to work with and can become frustrating. I have a '90 RS. The problem with the '90 thru '92s (especially '91s) is that there were actually different gauges per year, even if the readings were the same. For example, one style of 110mph gauges has a different spacing in the readings than the other. You need to look at the numbers in the lower left corner of the speedo plate to get a match. This is why the '91-'92 gauge plate on the poor man's guide did not fit my speedo. Anyway, the following was suggested to me by another board member about a week ago. First you need to scan the origional face plate. Then you need to use a paint program and edit everything you wish light to shine through by changing it to white (i.e. all the yellow numbers need to be white-you'll see why in a second). Edit the entire plate so the black IS black. It can be printed on standard paper. This will be your back drop that will be used behind the whiteface.
Next, you need to invert the colors of the plate in the paint program. Now the numbers should be black, and the backing white. You need to change the color of the numbers and everything else the light shines through to a color that light can be seen through. I used the blue and faded it from dark on the bottom to light at the top of the numbers and lines. Print this out on glossy paper.
Finally, very carefully cut the holes for the odometer, tripometer, and needle, as well as any other places that where cut out on the factory gauge plate. I say very carefully because otherwise it will look like crap. Also be sure to cut the hole around the needle big enough for the light to shine through to reflect off of the needle(Use the factory plate as a reference). The last thing to do is glue your black back drop to you white face and install it on the gauge

A few more side notes about this method.... The factory face can be used as the back drop, though the light doesn't shine through the yellew numbers to well... Also, on the tach's back drop, use white or colored lettering for the INFL REST, Service engine, Security, Seat Belt, etc, so it can shine through when lighted.

I don't have access to a digital camera to show how mine came out. It looks sweet during the day, though not all of my back drops lined up perfectly with my whitefaces, so shadows can be seen at night when it is lighted. Not bad looking,though I'll probebly go back and re-align them.

A few side notes:
-It can get frustrating, know that you're not alone on this and it may take more than one try to get it right.
-MAKE SURE NOT TO LOSE CALIBRATION!!! Follow the guides in the DIY and Poorman's tech articles on how to properly remove and reinstall the needles.
-Be creative; ad symbols or designs in open areas to make your gauge clauster unique.
-Done correctly, it WILL look better than any you can buy, just be ready to take some time when doing this.

Best of luck to anyone who has backlit gauges and tries this. Post a topic or e-mail me at: r_wake80@yahoo.com if you have any questions, and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

Hey guys, I just got some igh Intensity Blue Bulbs and put behind my gauges, and it shines just like the indigo ones in the newer Camaro's.

do the high intensity blue bulbs plug into where the stock lights are behind the gauges?? where did u get the bubs??

Yes, you just have to buy the size of your bulb. I bought them in Wal-Mart, the Auto section of there store. The guy said they would light it pretty good, and they did. It looks exactly like the indiglo (at least what the indiglo's look like in pictures) There in a orangish color case. You'll need a couple of them cuz there is only 2 bulbs per pack, and there's about 10 bulbs back there. Don't remember the exact number. I also put these bulbs in my A/C controls, and my Shift Indicator. So all my interior lights match, even under the dash courtesy lights are this color.

So you have any pics? That should look real good! I like your car by the way!

Mark

I sort of messed my dash up when I put new bulbs in. All the bulbs are 194's so I got high intensity red bulbs to replace the stock ones...for some reason, some of the bulbs don't shine all the time, and it's really annoying. I am going to try removing my xenon headlights this weekend before I sell her (it did do something to the electrical system) to see if that helps, but I don't know what it is...contacts on the back or what...I've removed the cluster dozens of times and I can't get it to work the right way.

I went out and tried to take some pictures, but they aren't turning out too good, you'd have to see them. But here is something kewl I found today, I am thinking of getting these for my gauges.



Here is an ok shot, they don't look as bright (or blue) in the picture, but they are.

what is that first pic of??

Those are these needle kits I found, they attach to the back of the needle to give it a neon glow. If your asking about the car, I'm sure it is an import since the place works with them, but the make them for any car.

where do you get those things that make the needle glow

It's a place I found that deals with Import crap, I don't know for sure if you can get them made for the Camaro, but I am emailing them today.

gotta a website for the neon needles? Thanks

Let us know what develops with the needles. I love my white gauges, but with the red bulbs, it washes out the needle so bad I have to stare at my gauges to see what the hell speed I'm doing. I'd love to have a glowing needle like that.

I think I'm going to email macewen about the indiglo gauges too.

This may sound stupid and it's been awhile since I've been in my cluster. But what about mounting actual neons in the cluster? StreetGlow makes the mini-neon that's the size of a #2 pencil and comes on lengths of 6" or 9". There is also another one that might work. It's here at their site.StreetGlow

The following is an email I got in return to the question of getting this kit for our cars. I hope this helps, it is from the same site as the import dash above is from.

"Sorry the camaro's are designed with a solid needle which isn't compatible
with the kit.
-Matt
www.ImportIntelligence.com "

Mark

That actually a good idea if there is enough room for one of those neon sticks

I just had my dash apart tyring out different designs of white gages and I believe that it would work because they have 5" tubes (for tach and speedometer) and I believe I saw 3" tubes on their site that would work for the others. I guess it would depend on the year aof the car too. I have an 86 IROC and I am sure it would work in mine. I just wander about the needles and how they would look.


http://www.streetglow.com/site/images/an3-5.gif

Mark

I'll try to get a night time picture soon...

Actual, that is not the website that makes these custom needles The website says they will work on any Lexan needles, which if you have white needles in your car, this is your kind of needle. How bout using the neon rope lighting in there???? That is an idea.

Where would you find neon rope? Depending on how big in diameter it is it would fit right behind the metal bezel that covers the gages. That should look good.

Mark

stret glow makes aneon rope its really thin