Topic: While the speedo and tach are out
in Forum: C3 Interior
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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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Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #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
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....
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....
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
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...
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #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
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! 
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Bulbs do get dimmer with age, you just may need new bulbs.
Dave
Lifetime Member #116
Dave's '82 
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.
Former Member
Send PM
East Hampton, CT - USA
Joined: 10/20/2010
Posts: 27
Vette(s): 1975 Corvette with T-Tops
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
|UPDATED|3/2/2012 7:11:53 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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
|UPDATED|3/2/2012 7:11:53 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 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.
I will take a wild guess and say you are a diesel mechanic. That reads a lot about electronics. How close am I? 
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|
Former Member
Send PM
East Hampton, CT - USA
Joined: 10/20/2010
Posts: 27
Vette(s): 1975 Corvette with T-Tops
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.
I'll shoot you back an email about the LED question you had.
in Forum: C3 Interior
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