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Topic: While the speedo and tach are out

in Forum: C3 Interior


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While the speedo and tach are out (1/14)
 12/14/11 10:38am
The RookLifetime Member
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Pittsburgh, PA - USA

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1979 L-82, 3 spd auto, car was originally Lt. Beige currently painted Sportsman Red, Doeskin leather interior, 103,000 miles......


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Posts: 600

Has anyone ever tried repainting the inside of your speedometer and tachometer housing?

 All my bulbs are working, but I really noticed that the tach and speedo arent very bright at night. If I painted inside the housing would that improve the brightness?
 
Also the housing is green, I assume thats why the back light is greenish.
 
Do you think painting it flourescent white would make it look much different than the color of the small gauges?
 
Opinions or ideas please.......


|UPDATED|12/14/2011 7:38:57 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (2/14)
 12/14/11 2:36pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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In one of the previous Shark Bytes issues, one of our members had changed all of his instrument bulbs to LEDs. Has a really nice write-up with pics. That's what I would suggest.
Perhaps your bulbs are the wrong candlepower? I have no problem seeing my speedo/tach at night...lights seem plenty bright. In fact, I usually turn the knob on the headlight switch to DIM them. Maybe you need to twist yer knob the other direction?
I wouldn't recommend painting the inside of the housing without determining if you have the correct bulbs and such....Thumbs Up


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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (3/14)
 12/14/11 8:49pm
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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Bifocals!Geek

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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (4/14)
 12/15/11 12:53pm
The RookLifetime Member
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Pittsburgh, PA - USA

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1979 L-82, 3 spd auto, car was originally Lt. Beige currently painted Sportsman Red, Doeskin leather interior, 103,000 miles......


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Posts: 600

I will look into the LED's.....
 
I do have the knob turned all the way up to just before the dome light kicks on and they do dim down as well...
Re: While the speedo and tach are out (5/14)
 12/15/11 1:53pm
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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I'll look and see if I can find the Shark Bytes article on them. It's been several years, but the end results was great...very easy to see the gauges. He did have to slightly modify the bulb holders to accommodate the LEDs, and you have to install resistors on them, but it appeared to be a fairly easy mod. I plan on doing it to my Goldwing gauges...I can't see them at night, either! LOL

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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (6/14)
 12/16/11 1:21pm
DaveMLifetime Member
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Flanders, NJ - USA

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1982 Black, ZZ4, Hooker Side Pipes, 3.55 Rear, Rebuilt & upgraded 700R4, All new suspension, brakes, & new Charcoal interior.


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Bulbs do get dimmer with age, you just may need new bulbs.
Dave


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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (7/14)
 12/16/11 6:41pm
spf720
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Scarborough, ME - USA

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My first post on this forum - 

I must like a bright dash as I have found most C3  instruments to be too dim. I have installed the LED in my 70 and they are much brighter. They plug right into the existing sockets.

Two issues - they are expensive for decent ones. I think mine were around $75 for all the dash bulbs and second you can not dim them with your standard light switch. 
You may want to see someone that has them before you make the investment. I personally really like them but not being able to dim them isn't always the best. 


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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (8/14)
 3/2/12 10:11am
leggomymako
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East Hampton, CT - USA

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1975 Corvette with T-Tops


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On a somewhat related topic, does anyone know where I can find some of those sockets for the lamps?  I contacted Ecklers and they don't have them, and had no idea where I could find them.  I broke one off of the wire the last time I had the dash panel off. 

Also in regards to the LEDs not being able to dim, that is because LEDs in general do not like to dim without some sort of driver that can interpret something like a 0-10v control signal or another protocol.  In the 12 volt world, I would guess that pulse width modulation would probably be the answer.  In general, that applies more to LED lights that you would put in your house, but the principal is the same.  The main reason being that the LED is flashing on and off very quickly rather than the incandescent bulbs which are constantly on.  That is why some LEDs will strobe if you try to dim them and they either are not designed to dim, or if you give them a signal that "confuses" them. 
Guess what line of work I am in Lamp


|UPDATED|3/2/2012 7:11:53 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: While the speedo and tach are out (9/14)
 3/2/12 12:36pm
tb2k82ceLifetime Member
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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

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1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.


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I will take a wild guess and say you are a diesel mechanic. That reads a lot about electronics. How close am I? Thumbs Up Thumbs Down
You can send this guy an email on what you want vettsteve@aol.com . I bet he has them. If not let me know.
when you can look at the PM I'm going to send you. It has an attachment that lists light bulbs one has the socket. If memory serves me is the one that is the correct size.
 
I would put it as an attachment to this post (I made it into a pdf) but I do not believe it is possible to do that.
 
The info came from this site which may be interest http://www.memotronics.com . it is a great site even has lots of light bulbs or LEDs at great prices.


|UPDATED|3/2/2012 9:36:19 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Re: While the speedo and tach are out (10/14)
 3/2/12 2:44pm
leggomymako
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East Hampton, CT - USA

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1975 Corvette with T-Tops


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Nope, not a diesel mechanic, although that sounds like an interesting job.  I work for a lighting manufacturer rep, I do lighting calculations and AutoCAD layouts, and we deal a lot with LED lighting for building interiors and parking lots.

I'll shoot you back an email about the LED question you had.
Re: While the speedo and tach are out (11/14)
 3/2/12 7:08pm
eboLifetime Member
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

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Darn it I was going to guess Extieror illumination....Right along side Clark Griswald!
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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (12/14)
 3/3/12 1:44am
dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

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1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops, Going to remain as Stock as possible. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vetts Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!!


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The lights in my speedometer and tach seem to be a lot dimmer that the light on my raido???  I have no idea why.  I have changed bulbs.  I'm thinking that it may be the light swith and the reostat that needs to be replaced!!
DanLOL  What do you think Mr. EBO??


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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (13/14)
 3/3/12 10:23am
CCasey
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New Albany, OH - USA

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1980 Coupe / Snowcrest White / L48, 350 / Comp Cam / Edelbrock Heads / Cyclone Intake / Holley Carb / Holley Fuel Pump / Patriot Headers / Dual Exhaust / Magnaflow Mufflers / 1964 Coupe / Riverside Red / L76, 327, 365hp


Joined: 8/17/2010
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I have always thought that my dash lights were too dim in my '80.  I recently converted the 85 MPH speedo to a 140 MPH, so while I had everything out, I replaced all the dash bulbs to see if it would make a difference.  No luck.  I think that it is still too dim.  But it has always been that way, so I just live with it.



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Re: While the speedo and tach are out (14/14)
 3/3/12 5:39pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

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1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


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The place I would check for a socket for the bulb would be lectric limited..they got everything!

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