Changing Dash Cluster Color

[Rangurr]

I stopped down at O'Reilly's today to pick up some some parts and came across red LEDs that are generally used for the third brake lights for $10. I went ahead and picked them and installed them.

I took a picture of the red lights next to the green ones illuminated but it didn't turn out very well so I'll wait until it's dark and then I'll post a picture of how they look.

 

[Rangurr]

Here's the picture that I promised. Trust me - they look worse in real life than they do in the picture.

The problem that I have with these bulbs is that the light is too concentrated in one spot. It makes everything directly above the bulb shine like crazy and everything else is dim to not there at all. The bulbs did, however change the color of the cluster nicely. I think if I were to buy a nice 360* bulb, it would light the whole cluster up. I think I'm going to go ahead and order 7 of the red 360's and one white one (for the center of the A/C headunit) unless anyone on here happens to have a better idea of how to make this all work?

 

[Rangurr]

I apologize for the late response; I assumed, due to the lack of response, that this thread was dead by now. I did decide, however, that perhaps this information will be useful for others sometime in the future so I may as well post.

I made a cart with the LEDs that I will need on the website in order to light the dash cluster, a/c head unit, 2 factory fog lamp switches, the 4x4 switch, and the headlamp switch. The total cost for these LEDs came to around $56 before shipping was added on (here's a link to the cart if you are interested http://www.superbrightleds.com/cart?cart_shared=2d77855b239464b4be355e067c1c5f87).

I also pulled a spare dash cluster apart and decided I would follow Lil-Pony's advice and have a logo put in there. I have a family friend who works professionally as a graphics artist who is in the process of making me vinyls that say "Rangurr" that look like the factory Ford Ranger badges for my year. He is also recreating the EDGE font for me because we can't find anything close to it (I know it's not related to this thread but I know a lot of people are trying to get a hold of new stickers). I will post pictures of both when I am done. Also, if there is enough interest, my friends may be willing to produce and sell vinyls to go in place of the gear indicator (Ranger, Ford, 4.0 DOHC, 2.5 SOHC, EDGE, so on and so forth).

 

[Lil-Pony]

These stickers/decals will be interesting to see. And cant wait to see the dash lit up

Btw this thread isnt dead yet

 

[Rangurr]

My lighting project has been going extremely slow, as have about a dozen other planned things for my truck, due to tuition deadlines rapidly approaching - being a poor college student bites. I did, however, find time today to go get the vinyls for the gauge cluster finalized and cut out. Unfortunately, the vinyls are small enough that the details were hard to maintain, but they still look really, really good IMO. I wound up grinding the lip off of the little insert that goes behind the cluster in order to bring the vinyl closer to the front. I'll install it sometime tomorrow and post finished pictures for you guys. Also, lighting has been put on hold because I'm currently trying to decide if I want to put power locks and windows in, as well as an analog clock that I tore out of an '07 Chrysler pt Cruiser. That will determine how many additional bulbs I will be buying.

Currently, the vinyls are just that - vinyls. We are, however, playing with the idea of putting black vinyls over a piece of frosted white plastic and placing an LED cluster behind it in order to illuminate the letters to match the dash cluster at night. I'll update if we end up doing it.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the people who I had cut the vinyls for me said that they would be willing to make/sell others if any of the members are interested. They can pretty much say whatever you want them to (2.3 DOHC, 4.0, 5.0, 4BT Cummins, Ranger, Explorer, so on and so forth). Let me know if you're interested.