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Instrument panel upgrade help

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Old 07-08-2006, 01:06 AM
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Instrument panel upgrade help

I been trying to locate a good set of white overlays for my gauges and cant seem to find a good place to look?..plus I also cant find the correct bulbs for the lighting.The current ones are a 194LL(long life) and no local auto store stocks them.The bulbs are not removeable from the sockets,you have to purchase the whole socket bulb assembly.
Where can I find these items and has anybody replaced these with LED lights? Shoot me some input.
Second ,can anybody tell me the stock wattage of the instrument lights?
Old 07-08-2006, 02:08 PM
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Originally Posted by jstrdn90rs
I been trying to locate a good set of white overlays for my gauges and cant seem to find a good place to look?..plus I also cant find the correct bulbs for the lighting.The current ones are a 194LL(long life) and no local auto store stocks them.The bulbs are not removeable from the sockets,you have to purchase the whole socket bulb assembly.
Where can I find these items and has anybody replaced these with LED lights? Shoot me some input.
Second ,can anybody tell me the stock wattage of the instrument lights?
Well, I'm not sure about the rest, but the bulb/socket assembly is actually a PC194 or GM part#25089350. Your local GM dealer should have them or be able to obtain them within a day or so. Not sure about the wattage.
Old 07-08-2006, 02:21 PM
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The white overlays are all over e-bay.
Old 07-08-2006, 02:28 PM
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Car: 1982 Camaro, 1985 Z28
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194 bulbs from any auto part store or WalMart is the same just not the heavy duty filiment like the long life ones. The factory put in regular bulbs not long life. The LL bulbs should not be permanent in the sockets unless someone glued them in. If tou need sockets they are in every GM car in the junk yard.
Old 07-08-2006, 02:58 PM
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Car: 90 RS/90 Z-71/73 Vega
Engine: 3.1/5.7 TBI/5.7
Transmission: 700R4/700R4/350turbo
Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Thanks guys...reason I ask cause I pulled off the dash and two of the bulbs were burned out and the bulbs where locked in ..not removeable from the sockets.I broke them out and installed some regular 194 and those worked a while and now those burned out.So I am just trying to figure out if I have a problem other then bulbs..thought that maybe the 194's wont work cause of the wattage or ?..I went to auto zone and the sockets are smaller then the ones they had on the shelve.I was told by auto zone/pep boys rep's that it took that bulb 194LL and they didnt have none.

And ya I seen those overlays on Ebay... have anybody used them?..want to know if there are of good quality..I dont want some Chinese looking stuff on my dash that will start to peel?
Old 07-08-2006, 04:40 PM
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If by chance you can't find any bulbs I have a small bag of them.
Old 07-08-2006, 11:46 PM
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Car: 1982 Camaro, 1985 Z28
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I don't know about the overlays, I fabbed a custom guage panel with Autometer Ultra-lite guages in it.
Old 07-09-2006, 12:20 AM
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Car: 90 RS/90 Z-71/73 Vega
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Transmission: 700R4/700R4/350turbo
Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Thanks again..I'll keep that in mine 82 Iron duke..I see what I can dig up.I'll try the dealer this Monday and go from there.
Old 07-11-2006, 02:56 PM
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Transmission: 700R4/700R4/350turbo
Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Originally Posted by jstrdn90rs
Thanks again..I'll keep that in mine 82 Iron duke..I see what I can dig up.I'll try the dealer this Monday and go from there.
I hit another parts store today and they didnt have them and told me to go to the dealer.So I went to the dealer and they told me they need a number off the back of the socket.He also said it wasnt a 194 bulb..and to top it off he said they didnt have any.He asked me the engine size ,and that stikes me as being odd?..is there a difference in the v6 and v8 dash bulbs?So in other words I have to remove the dash ,and check the numbers and put it back together cause its going to take a few days to get them.Just thought I'd post this... case someone else runs across this problem.What upsets me is its not like this car is 2 years old its 16...you would think they would have these bulbs stocked.
Old 07-11-2006, 03:40 PM
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Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Originally Posted by Vaneat-91RS
Well, I'm not sure about the rest, but the bulb/socket assembly is actually a PC194 or GM part#25089350. Your local GM dealer should have them or be able to obtain them within a day or so. Not sure about the wattage.
Okay,tore apart the dash..and both people are right..does take PC194 and PC161 bulb/socket assemblies.I had to break out the bulbs cause they are permanent in the socket and installed a 194 bulb.I thought they were blown but they just a bad connection.So am good ,no need to order nothing.
Old 07-12-2006, 11:08 AM
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I bought these plastic assemblies the fit the dash and let you replace the bulb with a standard 194 bulb. So what I did was use these and put 194 LED lights in place of the bulbs. When I get home from work, I'll take a pic so you can see what I'm talkn about.
Old 07-12-2006, 11:58 AM
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Those bulbs must have been glued in, all of the socket assemblies from four different year dashes I was able to pull the bulbs right out of them.
Old 07-12-2006, 03:54 PM
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Car: 90 RS/90 Z-71/73 Vega
Engine: 3.1/5.7 TBI/5.7
Transmission: 700R4/700R4/350turbo
Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Originally Posted by Klortho
Those bulbs must have been glued in, all of the socket assemblies from four different year dashes I was able to pull the bulbs right out of them.
After running around town,and back to the dealer again,I finally found what I needed.Yes,the bulbs and sockets that arent removeable are PC(PC 194 or PC 161) numbers they are complete assemblies,these are the original ones.I tried breaking out the bulbs and installing standard 194 bulbs(had to move the contact wires over the sides of the tabs on the socket to work)ANyway,I went back to the dealer and they cannot order just the sockets..SO FORGET THAT..took a chance and hit another Auto Zone and whata know they had 194LL bulbs and the sockets..two different sizes.The Part no.is 85835..by motormite.They have a 1/2 and 5/8 size and our dashes take the 1/2 .I got the last two on the shelve..So I also understand that the 194 bulbs are mainly used for illumination and the 161 bulbs are used for idiot light or indicators lamps.Again I hope this helps for someone dealing with this issue.
Old 07-12-2006, 05:08 PM
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Car: 90 RS/90 Z-71/73 Vega
Engine: 3.1/5.7 TBI/5.7
Transmission: 700R4/700R4/350turbo
Axle/Gears: 3.23/3.42/3.42
Does anyone have them white overlays and some LED blue or white bulbs in them?...I am considering installing a set and would like to see if anybody has a pic of day and night to see how they look?..

Plus,if you have the LED lights.. I understand the dimmer wont work on the LED's? is this true?
Old 07-12-2006, 05:18 PM
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I have white LEDs and they dim with the panel lights, I just order white face overlays and amber LEDs. So I'll post some pics when it's all installed. Check these guys out www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb-notes
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