about to wire in some LED's here and there. a few to come on with the dome, and a few to come on with the headlights. post pics of what you've done, for a lil inspiration before i start. if you remember the stats of the bulbs, and resistance used, post that too! want to make sure my math is right. and where did you connect them too? dome is easy, pretty sure there is a slot in the fuse for it, and then just a ground after that. not too sure about the headlight ones just yet. but if you've done some work, show it off here!

 

I used LED strips (3 inches long) in the floor boards up front, attached the the under dash panel - 12 volt from any auto parts store, no resistor required - they shine a glow into the floor boards without actially seeing the lights themselves.

I used two of the windshield washer nozzle LED's for the rear floorboards - again makes a glow, but can't see the LED's since they point downwards. I drilled holes in the corners of the center console, and installed them there.

I used a LED license plate bolt inside the center console - just put it on the hole in the front on the console (that's meant to be for the **** to adjust the center console clock). Only 1984/85 cars had the center console clock, but all center consoles (for the Camaros) have the provision built in for it - just stick the bolt in the hole and tighten nut on the backside.

All these so far in my car are green, as my exterior is Teal green. Makes nice lighting to see, but not bright enough to distract driving.

Next I plan on using 12" LED strips in the rear quarter panels inside, behind the open vent-looking places on each side (like where the "glove box" is at, and the opposite side), green as well, to make the rear hatch area have a green glow.

For connecting - there is a empty slot in your fuse box, only one slot so it won't haold a fuse (fuse has two blades) - it is marked LPS for lamps. That slot takes a standard 1/4inch male spade connector, and supplies 12v+ anytime the lights are on - so makes it very easy - just run a wire to that slot, crimp on a 1/4inch male spade connector and stick it in, and run a ground wire anywhere to metal - then connect all your extra lights to those wires.

These lights will NOT brighten and dim with the headlight switch, and I didn't want/need them to.

Now - if you want your added lights to come on/off with the door open/close as well as with the headlight switch, you have an obstacle to overcome - the door switches for the on/off dome light makes a ground connection instead of a 12v+ connection - when the door is opened, the spring door switch is extended, and a ground is made.

To get around this, you have to use relays. You have to 'convert' the switching of that ground from the door switch into a switching of a 12v+ for the lights. So you conect the relay so that the relay has 12v+ always, and when the door switch makes a ground, the circuit is complete, which activates the relay, which then sends 12v+ from the fuse panel to the lights (which are already grounded). Make sense?

I also swapped out my overhead dome light for a 36 LED panel - I just cut the wires from the socket, attached to the leads from the LED panel, and the stock bulb socket perfectly holds the LED panel in place without any glue, tape, etc. - just squeezes inbetween the prongs for the festoon bulb that was in there. This is bright white light, and 200% brighter than the stock festoon bulb ever was - you could sit in my car at night and read a book for hours with no eye strain at all.

Also, I'm doing a headliner recover this year - when that happens, I'm going to replace my overhead console swivel light with a green LED as well, and rewire it so that it comes on with my other lights (headlights and door). The center console area is awefully dark, and I'd like a subtle glow shining on that area as well, and the swivel light is perfect since it can be 'aimed' to not shine in the eyes and point where I want on the center console/shifter area. I have a map-light mirror so I don't need the swivel light, and with the 36 LED panel in the dome light, there's really no need for even the mirror map lights.

Sorry no pics - too small of spaces to get any focus out of my camera to show you exact locations.

 

awesome. it all makes sense except the part about not having a constant positive source in the doors. i guess theres only one way for me to understand that... so i'll dig into it next week when i have time to pull it apart. i never really liked those led lights from auto stores. nor the pre resisted bulbs even. the wiper lights are a good idea. thats what i wanted to see the most, is how you guys mounted them without bulbs showing. where did you pick up your LED panel? i dont think i have ever come across a panel like that before.

 

I got the white 36 LED piece off ebay, like $2 including shipping - have to wait a few weeks for it to arrive - comes on a slow boat from china. If you can wait a few weeks, every LED imaginable is available from China and such for very little cost - alot of thing I've bought at Autozone for $15 is on ebay for $2 - just have to wait for the shipping times from the far east.

 

This is like the 3 inch LED lights I used under the dash panels, only mine is green and shorter obviously:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-30C...item3363f00488

Here's what I used to replace my dome light:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Light...item336519cc58

See the rediculously low prices?

I just bought this one to replace the light in the rear hatch area:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Car-I...item2c588fdf46

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4x-T1...#ht_5664wt_756
Do you think these will spread light enough for the dash lights. On other sites they tell you how much degrees the srpead is. I don't understand what th letters and numbers mean. I just know 194 wedge

 

4 x T10 194 W5W 5-SMD 5050

Qty 4 (you get 4 units for the $8.69)
T10 is base type
W5W I don't know
5-SMD means there are 5 LED lights on each bulb, one on the top, 1 on each of 4 sides
5050 is the chip that controls the SMD (LED)

States 3 chips so each SMD (each spot of light) has 3 actual points of light

For $8.69, try 4 and see what happens

 

Well with that info you gave me, I can compare them with the site evrybody here talks about. Sperbright or something. I want to order all the light I need for my car. Will also try exterior light upgrades as well as under the hood.