JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Should you be unfamiliar with the two types of overhead consoles and/or their installation, check the following links:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...oth-types.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/step-by-ste...e-installation

If your car is equipped with an overhead console, you’re no doubt aware that lengthy exposure to bulb heat will distort the plastic around the rear bulb prongs, rendering it unstable. 84 1LE suggested installing LED’s, which produce very little heat and add the benefit of brighter lights. He mentioned the following, which I used to good effect (1156-PCB-W36 White LED Lamp--or the color of your choice):

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...?product=OTHER

If your overhead is in good shape, you may wish to start with step 5.

1) With the overhead console dropped, I removed the prong, which has tiny clips that can be depressed with a small needle nose pliers.

2) I used a Dremel to remove a badly melted section.

3) I cleaned the area and reinstalled the prong.

4) With the prong in place, I coated the backside with JB Weld to reinforce the area and allowed it to dry. Pic 1.

5) I installed the LED’s, which wedged firmly between the original prongs. Pic 2.

6) I soldered (black to black, red to orange--the LED leads are shortish, so cut them as long as possible), then used shrink wrap and a dab of automotive caulk to hold the wiring in place. Pic 3.

A faster and less permanent install would be, as 84 1LE points out elsewhere, to simply wrap the LED leads around or through the prongs to make contact and then push the LED’s into place.

JamesC

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Installation with and without dome light cover. BTW, opening the door in the garage at night is a revelation.

JamesC

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

I also ordered an LED replacement for the map light (T13x6 Wedge Base LED Bulb – White T13-W6, which is an 906 replacement).

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...=2095971.28409

The install of the above is a simple pull-out, push-in affair.

JamesC

Demon355

iTrader: (1)

Sweet! This be much harder with just the dome light instead of the overhead console version?

85_ZED28

Looking good James! I used the same led board in my dome light a few years ago:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/body...ght-cover.html

80schild

iTrader: (5)

I'll bet!

Does the LED increase the brightness of that little round map light? Mine is so dim it's useless.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Yep.

JamesC

Net-Viper X

Awesome stuff guys, I just got a overhead console mounted in my bird and was looking for a low heat alternative to those super hot bulbs. I ordered the little Led panel and the one for the map light. Rock on!

Thanks for posting the links to that store and the part numbers for the Leds. I can't wait to see them installed when they get here.

racing geek

iTrader: (5)

I could have really used this last weekend during Third Gen Fest. I have the overhead counsel, but it was VERY difficult to read the directions to the motel at 1:00am. We ended up having to stop in a parking lot so we could see the map because the "map" light could barely cast light on the center counsel.

Was it just me, or is the T13-W6 not on the linked page. Well... it was there, but it wasn't listed as the replacement for the 906. Is that still the right bulb?

Mike

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Yes. If you go to the following Bulb Cross Reference page you'll find it:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/bulb_cross.htm

JamesC

racing geek

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for confirming it. I'll probably just get the map light for now because it is a simple pull out push in change, but I'm going to hold off on the dome light for now because I have too many other big projects going on at the moment. Does anyone have pictures of the other color lights? I'll probably go with white, but maybe I'll like the red or something.

Thanks again,
Mike

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Yeah.. im doin this, its too cool to ignore it, but i've concerns that someone may have hacked out my map light wiring because it has never worked. How does the console come down anyway (not in my car right now to check it)

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Two screws in the dome light, then pull backward if you have a hardtop or push forward if you have T-tops. The following pic shows the piece of harness that connects the console to the car:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...s-dsc00328.jpg

It may be, of course, that the bulb is burned out--or perhaps the switch is bad.

JamesC

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Avast!!! That harness in my console is missing !. Where can I get that connector, and what line do I tap into ?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

The pic is from the classifieds where I have that part for sale. PM me should you be interested. Terminate the black wire with a small ring terminal and bolt in place (the hole should already be there). Join the orange and white wires with the ones in the car (pics in the second link above), then plug the harness into the console.

JamesC

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

i have a 9 red LED 561 bulb in my overhead that i bought off ebay a year ago it looks very evil at knight and it compliments my red lights in my dash

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Im going to take the console out today and if it is missing, then I will hit you up for that wire .

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

Did the same to my overhead console. Works great and have much better lighting inside. Also replaced the bulb in the HVAC controls with a super white round l.e.d. like the stock 194 bulb. There is now more than enough light to make out the lettering at night. Oh yea, even the fan logo by the fan switch glows now.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

How did you take apart the HVAC Contols?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Just remove the bezel and you'll see a two or three bolts holding the control head in place, IIRC. Pull it out and you can access the bulb (I used a higher intensity 194 throughout).

JamesC

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

please post some photos

87CIZ

iTrader: (8)

i looked at those i wonder how much brighter the one with the 9 surface mount led's would be? T10-PCB-WHP9... Yours is rated at 57 lumen and that one is at 120!

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Humm, my bad. Whether your application is like a Camaro, I'm unsure. Sorry, no pics.

JamesC

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

I have a 1983 Pontiac Trans am Daytona 500 Edition. I am not sure if they changed the HVAC unit in 1985 Camaro

my82roc

iTrader: (101)

Any idea which one you would use as a replacement for the 194 bulbs in a camaro console clock?Id like my clock to be a little brighter at night

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Check the link in post #3.

JamesC

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

Have to post some pics of my L.E.D. conversion of the dash. As soon as my sis brings me back my camera.

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

I thought I'd throw in my ,

I actually bought some LED strips and installed them parallel to the center console. My headliner is made of out black ducktape for now (haha, great against leaks) so they stick on easily. Although I think the stock overhead light is in a good spot, the strips work MUCH better. I plan to put a longer LED strip parallel to the back seat to illuminate back there...

MY87LT

iTrader: (2)

Is that switch in the overhead console by the dome light the l.e.d. switch?

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

awesome skills dude

HCR13

iTrader: (5)

no, actually I forgot what that does I think I had some red LEDs once in the overhead console and that was the switch, but I took those out. The LEDs come on and off with the regular door switches...

Thanks kitt

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

If your thinking of putting a 9 LED lamp into the HVAC unit.It wont fit...too big &/or too long, tried it.I do have one in the map light though & i thnik also the underdash (courtesy) sockets.For the HVAC i think i have either a 4 or 6 LED & i believe i had to install it from the front by removing the face from the HVAC.If you dont want to do this, just use the biggest LED that will fit thru the socket.Usually the big 10mm lamps just fit.Im using one in the shift indicator.

MunkyJoe

Do you have night time pics of this? Might be getting a red third gen camaro and want to see how this looks. I didn't see any pics on your cardomain site or TGO profile that show off the red LEDs at night.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

when i get a chance i will do it tonight

hickman

Guys, I am at work offshore, and cannot get to my car. I need to know how many 194 bulbs I would need to do the inst panel (except high beam and signal indicators) and HVAC controls, as well as mirror mounted map lights x 2, and shift indicator, I plan on going with blues to match my Kenwood head units trim lights, can anyone help me out? Also, are all of the inst panel bulbs 194's or is there another size involved there?

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

I believe its 11 for the inst cluster.HVAC= 1,gear ind=1,Mirror?, total= 13
All 194.I think the mirror uses two 194's, but dont quote me.ALso this is on my 84.Later models 91-92 may differ by qty.

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Here's a helpful number chart for the cluster:

http://www.macewenmotorsports.com/howmabudoine.html

BTW, some of the cluster bulbs are 161's.

JamesC

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

wow, my dash takes 11 bulbs

hickman

They show only needing 4 bulbs to change dial color, is this for the 194 bulbs, or ? They don't give a breakdown of the bulbs in the cluster, I know there are more bulbs than this back there, but I'd hate to order too many of them and for sure don't want to order too many of the wrong one and not have what I need.

Thank you James.

I wonder if I took a piece of gel paper like is used for theater lighting and installed it behind the guage face, if it would give me blue illumination, without the bright spotting of an led? Anyone tried this? Anyone installed leds in their dash have any issues with light/ dark areas on the guages or #'s?

hickman

ok. Checked into it more, and the same led will replace 194, as well as 161 bulbs, anyone installed these yet and know if replacing all inst bulbs will do like colored bulbs and cause bright and dark spots on the guages.

This will be my last post on this as I realize I hi-jacked the thread from its original intent.

RED_DRAGON_85

couple questions.

first,
if i install LED's in my dash, will they still dim?
logic says it will, but i may be wrong.

second,
how do i get behind the light if i dont have a overhead console? it is just on the ceiling.


as for using gel paper, in the dash, the turn signals are colored green with little pieces of plastic.
if you have a firebird, then blue lights will light up the dash blue and it will look freakin awesome.
firebirds have shine through gauges, so it looks better.

for us camaro guys, we have lights shining on the gauges from a reflector, and it will still look blue, but not as good, and it will still be splotches of color as before.

however, you can buy LED's in whatever color you want, so there is no reason to fool with gel paper if you dont want to.

hickman

yeah, just trying to keep from getting the blotchy look, it is why I pulled the red 194's out I used to have installed.
In reply to your question, yes, your leds will dim with the dimmer, I do not know exactly how much they will dim, but they will dim to some extent. I've never checked voltage readings while using the dimmer switch, but my helper installed a big-azz tach in his Mudstain, we had to add a varistor into the line feeding the tach illumination to to dim it separately from his dashlights to keep from blinding him at night. I mention this as it may be of help to someone in the same situation.

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

i will take more photos my camera sucks

it is very bright

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

Hey guys, I just received this 36 LED panel from the seller on the link below.I was looking for LED tailights for my bike & saw this panel.So i ordered both.This thing is BRIGHT.I thought the one ive been using from superbrightleds was bright(it is).This one is even brighter.I can see the diff in the daylight, but ill take some nighttime pics to show the difference.Price is cheap too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/High-Power-36-SM...3A1%7C294%3A50

Current 36 led from superbrightleds.

New one, more than twice as bright!

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

James, do you still have that wire ?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Yes.

JamesC

omnipotentgoku

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the wire, hope you got the cash ? How do I validate you as a seller ?

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Hey, R,

Yes, I received your cash--many thanks. I'm not sure how the whole classifieds rating business works.

JamesC

KITT1983

iTrader: (3)

any updates?

ShMaCk2004

I made an LED roof light as well, i used 7 super bright 10mm LEDs on mine. im diggin the duct tape headliner