Yowsa, nice work TruckNRod! I did not think there would be clearance around that area that would allow the installation of the LEDs like that. Any reason you did not swap out the blue OEM lights to LED first? I use a 3 led board to replace the OEMs when I do faceplate swaps and also coloriize the OEM needles from white to orange, I wonder how much different this is compared to those changes? I would imagine this is quite a bit brighter but just for the center needle area???.Yes, you can. I did that very thing to mine for the same reason you are looking to do it...hard to see at times during the day. I used a double pull, double throw relay in order to turn them fully on with the ignition during daylight, but return them to normal dimmable operation at night. Even then, during daytime, the gauges can be hard to see. I took it a couple of steps further and added LED ribbon lights around the entire inside perimeter of the gauge housing and also made LED light rings that I mounted on top of the stepper motors to further illuminate the gauge needles.
Many folks change their gauge faces and/or needles to a different color, making them easier to see. I wanted to keep the black gauge face, so I chose to go a different route.
Dragon,Any reason you did not swap out the blue OEM lights to LED first? I use a 3 led board to replace the OEMs when I do faceplate swaps and also coloriize the OEM needles from white to orange, I wonder how much different this is compared to those changes? I would imagine this is quite a bit brighter but just for the center needle area???.
I found a couple of “not-so-great” pics showing “night” and “day” gauge lighting. Zoom in a bit on the gauge cluster to see the difference. The brighter green is “day” lighting. For some reason the needles are washed out in the “day” picture...they actually glow as red as the needles in the three-gauge dash pod.I wonder how much different this is compared to those changes? I would imagine this is quite a bit brighter but just for the center needle area???.
When you get back home another picture of the gauge installed during daytime operation would be cool![]()
Thanks for the information and pictures. Looks like a great installation. I get nervous when pulling a dash apart to do mods like this but with previous experience shared by people like you, it makes it much easier to accomplish.Yowsa, nice work TruckNRod! I did not think there would be clearance around that area that would allow the installation of the LEDs like that. Any reason you did not swap out the blue OEM lights to LED first? I use a 3 led board to replace the OEMs when I do faceplate swaps and also coloriize the OEM needles from white to orange, I wonder how much different this is compared to those changes? I would imagine this is quite a bit brighter but just for the center needle area???.
When you get back home another picture of the gauge installed during daytime operation would be cool![]()
Love the changes you have made to your interior. Really one of a kind!I found a couple of “not-so-great” pics showing “night” and “day” gauge lighting. Zoom in a bit on the gauge cluster to see the difference. The brighter green is “day” lighting. For some reason the needles are washed out in the “day” picture...they actually glow as red as the needles in the three-gauge dash pod.
I’ll post better ones in a few days when back home. View attachment 570800 View attachment 570801
Who sells the other colors and how difficult is it change them? I have nightmares about previous dashboard removals in other cars I have owned.I don't have trouble seeing mine, changed many faceplates to white w/red needles.
Other colors available.
Dicktator
Thanks for the info. Probably others already know how to do this but I have only owned my 05 R since August. There is a wealth of information here that is freely shared and greatly appreciated.U.S. Speedo makes and sells the faceplates and needles. Many after-market vendors sell them, including E-Bay...usually in the $110-120 range...needles around $65.
Pretty easy install...Dictator has the process documented in his “how-to” library.
@Dragon2U is from Warner Robins, GA and he did mine on my way home from Maggie Valley.Who sells the other colors and how difficult is it change them? I have nightmares about previous dashboard removals in other cars I have owned.