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Instrument cluster lights

Old Sep 11, 2005 | 11:40 PM
  #1  
Kuejo's Avatar
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
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From: Woodland Hills, CA
Car: 1988 IROC
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Instrument cluster lights

I was checking the bulbs on a spare cluster I have (for what it's worth, its a 145mph cluster) and discovered something very different about this cluster from mine. The backlighting bulbs are labeled 12v5w and have a blue color to the glass. The ones that are currently in my car (and every other one I've ever looked at) have always been clear.

For fun I hooked them up to a hot socket to see what they looked like - they definitely glow hotter and whiter than the standard bulbs.

I'm going to run them for a bit and see if I like them, but I'm also intrigued by the idea of swapping to LEDs. If you haven't seen the tech article, check it out. I also found a company, Jamstrait (www.jamstrait.com ) that markets an amber bulb replacement for sidemarker and indicator lamps. They apparently come in a variety of other colors as well, though I have not found those yet. These might make very nice dash lights, but I suspect are non-dimmable, being LEDs. (These were carried by Autozone, btw).

Jonathan
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Old Sep 11, 2005 | 11:58 PM
  #2  
jimp2001's Avatar
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 860
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From: Albany, NY Area
Car: Red on Red 89 RS
Engine: LO3 305 TBI
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt / 2.73
I bought a few of those LED bulbs, but to make my headlights glow (see sig) I'm going to get a few more of them for my cluster, they are SUPER bright and have a very slight blue/violet tint to them.

Note, the lights in my sig are blue bulbs that were installed. I just installed the LED setup yesterday.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:26 AM
  #3  
Kuejo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
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From: Woodland Hills, CA
Car: 1988 IROC
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Not to sound stupid, but how did you install them in your headlights?

Did you have to drill and run a new plug? It LOOKS good... Do you like them? Are you running LEDs anywhere else? (turn signals, brake lights?)

Jamstrait seems to carry an interesting variety - if I can find them I might try the dome light too...

Jonathan
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Old Sep 14, 2005 | 12:36 AM
  #4  
Kuejo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 59
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From: Woodland Hills, CA
Car: 1988 IROC
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
I'm a dumb*ss.

Found the answer to my own question.

Those bulbs are standard Autozone variety replacement "variety" bulbs. Guess they offer them in green, red, and i think yellow too.

They DO seem to burn a bit brighter though - so maybe I'll swap them in anyways.

Jonathan
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