thelastsession Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Have a question that I didn't see on any of the other threads. I feel like I have extra bulbs if you guys are only replacing 10. I have 8 BA9 style bulbs, has anyone replaced these single post style bulbs with an LED bulb? If I count correctly I will need 10 194 style bulbs and 8 BA9 style bulbs, plus 2 more BA9 style bulbs for my console lights under my shifter. (will the bulbs work in the console?) The car is a 1970. Does anyone have a pic of the back side of their cluster? Thanks a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Dustin here is a picture of my old cluster I used the same 194 led blubs in all the sockets even the turn signals and high beam light. there is a total of 15 blubs to swap out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black07ss Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 I wonder what red led lamps would look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelastsession Posted November 24, 2012 Author Share Posted November 24, 2012 Black 07ss, I will take pictures and post them once I'm done installing. I am going to do the red LED's and I plan on using 2 green bulbs for the blinkers. I have the cluster completely out right now, my clock is dead and I am going to be buying and installing a tach where the clock was. This is the back of my cluster. I only have idiot lights (because its a 70 there are no small gauges) I have 2 extra bulbs here, 2 194 style and 2 BA9 style. (left side) What I mean- 194 style BA9 Style- Also, is this circuit board damaged on the part under the tab? I was going to replace it just to be sure, you can see its wrinkled a bit. It was working fine when I took it out but man that was a tight squeeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Keep in mind that the letting on the 70 cluster is green so the red blubs so you might end up with a odd color. Now on the 71-72 I could see doing the red color blubs as the gauges have a white tint to them vs the green tint found on the 70 gauges. You will not need green for the turn signal blubs as there is a green lens on the cluster housing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan91 Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 I bought a 8 led 194 bulb at a swap meet and they looked like this This is a before pic left bulb burned out This is the after. again only replaced 1 bulb to test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Hey Dustin, have you ordered your tach yet? Are you going with Shiftworks? PM me before you order, I have a new 70 tach from Shiftworks but I need a 71/72 style.....maybe we can make a deal?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 That's seems to make quite a difference, I've been considering doing something for mine as I also find those 194s to be quite dim. I assume the LEDs are dimmable with the headlight knob rheostat? As far as your flexible circuit board goes it looks good to me. I've seen them in pretty bad shape and working. As long as the individual circuits are not cut you're good. I had a short in mine a few years back and was able to fix it by soldering in a splice from one I got in a junk yard. If you notice that some of the circuits are exposed, cover them up with some brush on (liquid) electrical tape, you don't want them to come into direct contact with any metal parts in the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 the LED's are not dimmable by the factory head light switch. Here is my old stock 70 cluster with the strand 194 blubs and when I changed over to the LED's I stayed with the clear LED's the bottom left corner is dim as the blub was in wrong. Since those pictures that cluster has been removed in flavor of a newer style which has the display lit up during the day and at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Thanks for sharing those photos, Robert. I am about to start a project to upgrade my dash cluster to full gauges and am also considering a conversion to LEDs at the same time. In the last photo, I am wondering what the "newer style" of cluster is that you are referring to? I love the idea of the gauges being brightly illuminated during daylight (even with the headlight switch off) since they are so deeply recessed that I can't read them in full daylight when wearing the dark sunglasses I prefer here in sunny Florida. Short of buying a totally different cluster, I wonder if there is any electrical change I can make to get the instrument panel to illuminate without the headlight switch on (i.e a parallel circuit powered off the IGN port that bypasses the headlight switch)? I suppose the simplest solution is to just engage the park/running lights during daylight driving. On a lighter note, according to the gauge indications in the last photo, it looks like that photo was taken while you were cuising 145 mph and clocking 7300 rpms!!! Since neither of those conditions are likely, why do your gauges have non-zero rest positions?? Just curious ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Dennis the last picture is the Dakota digital cluster. That picture was taken while the cluster was in demo mode. I do have my stock cluster box up and for sale. When demo mode is not on the gauges do rest at zero for all the gauges in the cluster, the newer cluster has a elec speedo so change rear gear and tire size is easy. Dennis to solve the head light item like you want I have seen on the Dakota digital website a system to give your car the automatic feature like newer cars. And they also have the feature for acc staying on after the switch is turned off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Robert, thanks for the info, I'm not too keen on the non-dimmable part so that's good to know. By the way you must have a steady hand and nerves of steel to be taking a pic of the dash at 145mph... and at night ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Truth be told the last picture was taken during the day and in the inside the garage. Even the trip meter and the miles are still zero Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I swore I read there are dimable LED's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mcarlo Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I swore I read there are dimable LED's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Originally Posted By: Sam (Bones) I swore I read there are dimable LED's Double ditto...I think the word "not" was added later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70bowtie Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I have a question did you have to remove the dash to get the gauge cluster out or can this be done with just the pad of. I have to replace my circuit board and I hate the thought of removing the dash. Leo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 You can remove the cluster by just undoing the bolts on the drivers side and the center bolt by the a/c control panel and loosen the passenger side to be able to pull the dash out at an angle. There is 7 1/4" or 5/16" headed bolts that hold the cluster to the dash which has to be removed along with the headlight switch and the speedo cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70bowtie Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thanks good info, I realy didn't want to pull the dash. Leo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Leo, If you like, check out the pictures I took several years ago when I pulled the heater core and entire dash from my 71 NO A/C Monte. I added a few tips to the pictures about removing the headlight switch knob, speedometer cable, clock knob and the shift indicator cable. If any help, great. Bruce 71 NO A/C Heater core replacement pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70bowtie Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Thanks Bruce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallaby Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I have heard that a 168 bulb has 3 candlepower, the 194 has only 2. They both fit in the same socket. It might not make a tremendous difference, but it's a cheap step in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny7833 Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Superbrightleds.com has dimmable led replacements. A nice vehicle search section as well. I like the Dakota Digital dash, but a little out of the budget at this time. I'll try the superbrights first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbolt Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Just checked the superbrightleds website, how can you tell if the led's are dimmable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donny7833 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 http://www.superbrightleds.com/carbulb_notes.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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