Wanting To Change Dash Globes

[Riksta]

I'm wanting to pull my dash out and put a different colour globe behind there (more than likely blue) to light up the factory fascia with.

I've heard a rumour that you can get kits containing all the bulbs necessary to do it all in one hit? If so, who makes these and what is the best place to get them?

Otherwise, if someone can let me know exactly what type of globes/bulbs I'll need, I'll see about getting blue versions of them all before I pull the thing to bits.

I don't wanna do all my fan controls, just the actual dash gauges. Any help appreciated, thanks!

[bodes-sh]

you can get silicone covers for them, repco sell them, the only problem is that you need 1 or 2 clear globes in there also otherwise the needles are really hard to see at night, i know someone did a good write up on doing this at some stage, it is on this site somewhere

[JC]

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

you can get silicone covers for them, repco sell them, the only problem is that you need 1 or 2 clear globes in there also otherwise the needles are really hard to see at night, i know someone did a good write up on doing this at some stage, it is on this site somewhere

That might have been me, and that was converting the globes to LEDs.

If you have a series one with the orange needles, then you just scrape the orange off, and the blue will work fine. If you have an AU2 with the red plastic needles, then scraping doesn't work, and you can't really see the needles, unless you use a red LED or 2.

[T-Pak Addict]

I used the covers on mine, got orange to match the odo

[InfernoSR]

Sounds like a fun mod IMO... might try it if i can get an XR cluster...

[T-Pak Addict]

I have the econ, lpg, & demister on the dash and did those too

[JC]

Here's a link that includes the LED write up if anyone wants it:
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=92940

[T-Pak Addict]

woohoo I have a series 1

[Riksta]

Thanks JC, yeah its a series 2 with the red needles.

Will check out the write up when I get home and decide whether or not I want to go ahead.

[T-Pak Addict]

Rik get a series 1 cluster from U-pullit and scab the needles

I might find a use for the leftovers LOL
Taxi one would be fine for what you want it for

[Riksta]

Yeah that's not a bad idea, any idea what they charge for the whole cluster though?

If its gonna be too much I might just scab the needles from it.

Another thought I just had, was some super thin electro luminescent style tape or ribbon to attach to the needles, although that would probably be so much of a pain it wouldn't be worth it.

[T-Pak Addict]

$30 i think..... check the board

[T-Pak Addict]

not the best pics but you get the idea

[InfernoSR]

Doesnt look to bad in red... food for thought i think

[T-Pak Addict]

its orange same as the odo but its only my phone camera which is crap but always handy

I thought you had seen it before Rik. has been done for ages....

Did it mainly cos of my misses car.... white = T-bar... Orange = Column LOL

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by AU Falcon 99

Did it mainly cos of my misses car.... white = T-bar... Orange = Column LOL

are the other parts of the car that much similar that you can only tell the difference between them by the colour of the dash?

[FGII-XR6]

forget blue as mentioned i did it and it was a PITA at night i ended up changing back

[T-Pak Addict]

I jump in the wifes car and always go for the column (habit) then if I drive hers for most of the day I go for the T-bar in mine, yes dash is identical as they are both S1 Au's

[b2tf]

just get a T Series cluster fascia - blue numbers, red needles, and no need to change any bulbs.

[T-Pak Addict]

Originally Posted by b2tf

just get a T Series cluster fascia - blue numbers, red needles, and no need to change any bulbs.

would need the whole cluster as they go to 240kmh not 220

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by AU Falcon 99

I thought you had seen it before Rik. has been done for ages....

Nah, I don't think I've ever seen your car at night (last Tue night you bought out your wife's), its always been day time, and I haven't even thought to look at your cluster and get you to turn the lights on!

Will suss it out next time you're out though hey

[T-Pak Addict]

Boss290 has seen it once, thought you had too.......
well if your not busy one night and I am not working can give you a hand pulling your dash out. There is an art to it if it wants to be a pain.... have done it a couple of times or more LOL

[Riksta]

Holy crap, just reading through the how-to that JC linked to, its for coloured LED's that looks like real pain to do it. I was hoping to just change colour globes, anyone know what size the globes are, I'll see if I can just get blue globes to save the soldering and resistors and stuff.

[T-Pak Addict]

they are T5 globes.... you can get them in most colour or through ebay as LED's

or just use covers like I have..... can give you a hand if you want Rik

[Riksta]

Thanks Jim, so I know to ask for T5 globes when I hit the shops tonight!

As for a hand, I may just need it, depends if you're free on the weekend, I'm really hoping to do the changeover Saturday if possible. I'll talk to you about it via MFC PM.

And thanks to everyone else for your help and stuff too!

[T-Pak Addict]

getting the dash out is/can be fun.... give me a call, so we can organise some thing
ring my mobile and I will give ya my home number

[Riksta]

Well, I've got four blue T5 LED's here, and two white (for needle illumination).

I can't seem to see in the pics which two need to be the white ones best for the needles, so any help here before I pull the thing apart tomorrow would be great!

[T-Pak Addict]

I would think the top middle and bottom middle ones, you might have to experiment tho.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Well, I've got four blue T5 LED's here, and two white (for needle illumination).

I can't seem to see in the pics which two need to be the white ones best for the needles, so any help here before I pull the thing apart tomorrow would be great!

From memory, there's one that' positioned between the speedo and tacho - this is the only one you'll need, but the blue and white light will lend, resulting in a less bright blue light, which still won't light up the needles. You need to use a red or orange globe if you have red needles - the colour of the dash lights then changes from blue to purple, to orange/red, back to purple, then blue. It's actually pretty cool; not as good as all blue, but different, and definitely ricey!.

[Riksta]

Thanks JC, I now have the decision to make then, whether to shoot down to my local auto parts retailer and grab an orange T5, or whether to shoot down to the wrecker for some series 1 needles.

If I was to go the needle option, how hard is it to open the cluster to remove the needles?