Fitted (and modded) LED dash conversion pics

First up, big thanks to Heckler for supplying all the parts done for me so I just had to fit them! and I hope he doesn't mind me posting this either, I'm sure it won't do his LED conversion business no harm

Anyway, I noticed when installing the bulbs for the speedo cluster, that there were bright spots on the sides and dim spots on top of the dials. This is because there are only 4 bulbs lighting up the entire cluster, and the diffusion isn't great. You can see what I mean on Hecklers pic:

http://www.internetwork.org.uk/led_guide/dash2.jpg

Bright spots are on the 20mph, 1000rpm, 7000rpm and 'C' areas. This is directly where the bulbs fit in.

So I thought I'd have a go at modding the gauges to get a better light distribution

The bulbs heckler supplies for the dials are 3x 501 bulbs, and a T5 bulb. The 501 bulb looks like this:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6078/img3175g.jpg

You can see that the light will predominantly shine upwards, which is why you get the bright spots in the dials.

After a bit of searching on ebay, I found that you can get other LED bulbs that have a better light distribution:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2669/img3177.jpg

These are known as 'flux' or 'refractor' LEDs, and you will want the 501 size (also can be found if you search for W5W or 194 bulbs - they are the same)

Now as these are slightly bigger than the holes on the back of the dials so won't go in from the back, so you need to take your dials apart to fit the bulbs:

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/5528/img3179w.jpg

Once I installed these, I saw that were are bits of plastic that would block where the light shines - so I cut away a lot of the plastic to allow more of the light to shine through:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8130/img3181r.jpg

So once you have cut the plastic away and put your bulbs in, test them in the car before replacing the dials to make sure they are the right way round, cos you won't be able to change them once the dials are back!

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8523/img3183a.jpg

This looks like a better distribution of lights, so now you can replace the dials and marvel at your handiwork!

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/5871/img3198g.jpg

And the rest of the car done:

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4041/img3190l.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8843/img3193q.jpg

Nicely done

that looks so much better (than stock) and im also liking the mods you done to distrbute the light better.

Think i`ll have to get mine done at some point now

That looks absolutey perfect mate. Well jealous! That's exactly how I want my dash!

looks nice , is that an 310RB headunit? ive got one of those fitted

looks nice , is that an 310RB headunit? ive got one of those fitted

Yeah it is, haven't really played with it too much yet, waiting to install the rest of my ICE before I set it up properly.

The pulsetouch is weird as well