interior light conversion

[bobbyr]

maybe i didnt search for the right keywords, but i got no helpful results

i am wanting to convert my gauge pod backlights, hvac backlights, and the other various backlights to blue or maybe an orangeish red like the birds have.....can anybody point me to a good writeup on how to do this or post some good instructions on how to go about this.

any help is appreciated.

[bobbyr]

and how do i get this damn gauge pod out..ive twisted and turned it every way possible...

[silvachris1]

Ok, to get the gauge cluster out, you've got two options.
Number 1) Try again with the steering wheel tilted all the way down (you gotta hold it down without it springing back up to the first latch. It is possible to get it past the wheel without taking anything apart.
Option number 2) This is the easier option. Lower the steering column. Take the four screws out of the pad under the steering column. Then there is a triangular piece of metal bolted in, remove the nuts and set that piece aside. Then remove the two nuts holding the steering coulmn up. This makes removing the gauge cluster extremely easy.
With the lights, I changed everything in my car to red (it's a Camaro), with spray paint.
The back of the cluster is snapped in place I believe (it's been a while since I removed it), and might have screws in it too. You'll be able to figure out how to get to the bulbs by looking at it though. Take out 7 of the 9 large bulbs from the back of the cluster (don't do anything to your signal indicator lights unless you get new bulbs). If you want to paint them, it works fine, otherwise, buy new bulbs. I think DMiller0112 (AIM name, can't remember his board name) put blue LEDs in his gauges.

The HVAC controls have 2 or 3 TINYYYYY bulbs inside it. They twist into the HVAC control, pop them out, and then try to pull them from the black bulb holders they are in. If you can't remove them, pliars will break them so be careful. If you decide to paint them, use a q-tip. However, the AC part that lights up blue will not show very well at night if you paint it.

I also did the radio, here's a writeup that explains how to replace the bulbs in the radio. http://www.camarov6.com/ubb/ultimate...f=30;t=000015. If you just paint the bulbs like I did, don't worry about removing them, just dab the paint on with a q-tip. If you're doing LEDs, check this http://www.xse.com/leres/ss/leds.html.
I painted the courtesy lights in the door panels too. Those are self explanatory.

Another bulb that gets ignored is the bulb in the console that indicates what gear your in (for autos only). I painted it, it's self explanatory too, and it's easy to get too. It's hard to remove the bulb from the holder though. So, same rules as above.

One last bulb, it's in the headlight/parklight/domelight switch. This bulb is INSANELY TINY. I'm talking the size of the head of a stick pin. I can't remember how to get it out, so, just paint it lol.

In the end, it will turn out like this.

Not too bad compared to what the stock Camaro lights look like.
Good luck, hope it helps.

[bobbyr]

wow, that was more than enough information.
thanks man, i really appreciate it.

[bobbyr]

ok, couple more questions for ya
what kind of spray paint did you use and is it possible to order replacement bulbs for the hvac and headlight control switch if i screw em up?

[silvachris1]

Lol, on the spray paint, I just used some orange engine paint (I was hoping for it to glow orange), but any spray paint will work. Yeah, you can get replacements for them. They don't have to be removed though, I just mentioned that incase you were switching to LEDs. I don't remember the bulb number though, but they had some at Advance Auto, they're hard to mistake. If you do shatter the bulb like I accidentally did (not while painting though, different incident), use some needle nose pliars and grab the wires from inside the bulb and pull. It's prolly the only way you'll be able to remove it after its broke, but careful, cause those wires break easy too.

[dmiller_2005]

Hey, I bought some bright white LED bulbs for my gauge cluster. And since there is like a blue film on the back of the gauges they show up blue.. I really like the look of it.. I dont have any pictures of the net though.. Sorry

[bobbyr]

yet another question for silvachris.........did you remove that film from your gauges and hvac and so on....

[silvachris1]

Nope, sure didn't. The intensity of Derek's LEDs light up the film or something. But no, the light shined through the film fine, in fact, I didn't even know about the film till he mentioned it to me.

[jc Kyle]

i've been meaning to do that

[bobbyr]

well, got the gauge lights done and they look pretty good..but then i tried painting the headlight control unit bulb and the red didnt show through. it still glowed a kinda pale white. i tried removing the film and screwed it all up. any suggestions?

[dmiller_2005]

Here is my gauges! I put white LED's behind the gauges and this is how it turned out..

[bobbyr]

did u change your other interior lights too?
i was tryin to figure a way to put a led in those, but i dont know how that would work.

[bobbyr]

did u change your other interior lights too?
i was tryin to figure a way to put a led in those, but i dont know how that would work.

[articacid]

so the bulbs behind the cluster did you do the qtip on them on just take them out and spray them. also the paint u used was just solid not transperant right?