LEDs for your truck

Fantom · 10-16-06, 01:36 AM

Hi guys,
I know this has been covered before but I decided to toss my 2 cents in. I already put a thread in my local club discussion so here is the link to it
LEDs for your truck
I just finished changing all the lights to LEDs and here is the result and the part numbers for everything.

Spook50 · 10-16-06, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantom

Hi guys,
I know this has been covered before but I decided to toss my 2 cents in. I already put a thread in my local club discussion so here is the link to it
LEDs for your truck
I just finished changing all the lights to LEDs and here is the result and the part numbers for everything.

Looks like you get pretty good spread with the instrument lights. How do you like 'em? I know an issue that's been discussed alot also is their ability to dim. How are yours for that? They look pretty bright in the pic. Were you able to get any pics of the flashers for comparison?

sandcruiser · 10-16-06, 03:30 PM

i've been trying to convert mine- couldn't get the speedo to work with a darn, so I went back to the green sleeved lights for that. Still working on the rest.

How would you compare those Luxeon bulbs in the parking/reverse lights to the stock bulbs? I know that they claim to be brighter.... are they?

Fantom · 10-16-06, 10:07 PM

Spook50 - I love the LEDs in the dash, just have to find a way to even them out a bit, the tach is a little dimmer then the rest. The dim fine with the switch, a little less control then with the stock lights but I'm happy. What do you mean by a pic of the flashers for comparison?
Sandcruiser - What's up with your speedo? Like I said in the other post I spend a bit more time on this and used the aluminum tape (used for duct work, cheap and works great), attached it to every surface inside the clusters, at the back of the gages, on the back of the trim rings, in the outside lights. If works great and improves dispersion. It is a more time consuming project, I did mine in about 4hrs and 5 beers for everything. The Luxeon bulbs are great, they are brighter then stock bulbs but I don't think they "throw" as much light out. They have a 180 deg. dispersion so it's great for that but I noticed they don't reach as far (minor difference). Also they have the usual white (almost blue) LED light to them, it does not bother me but some people might not like it. The most important thing is I don't have to replace them ever again. Also the other thing you need to look at is your wiring if you have problems with lights being dim.
Let me know if you have any more questions.

lonelydriver · 10-17-06, 12:04 AM

How did you mount the m1 sidemarker? I bought some and it doesn't seem like the holes line up or that it will fit? Any tips?

sandcruiser · 10-17-06, 11:29 AM

interesting news. I already ordered some led's from that site, just waiting to fly up to DC to receive them, then bring 'em back and install them.

I'm sure that the wiring is old/tired and not as good as it could be, that's part of why I'm switching to the leds... less draw means that the thinner/older wires will be able to supply power with less voltage drop (I hope)

how did the flashers work for you (in dash)? Mine are almost too bright w/ the LEDs in there...

sl33py · 10-17-06, 12:14 PM

Fantom - nice writeup on the other board. Can you snap some pics of the flasher unit and what you had to do to modify it to fit? Any pics of the dash disassembled w/ the reflective tape? Curious how you did yours - i'd like better light on mine - especially the tach.

Sandcruiser - he did 1 bulb LEDs for the blinkers - what i need to do before i have a convulsion from the strobe effect. lol.

rob

FJ60-Hokie · 10-17-06, 01:54 PM

Off subject, what kind of stearing wheel is that, its sharp?

Fantom · 10-17-06, 11:44 PM

FJ60-hokie - that is a steering wheel out of an 1967 Triumph, yes the original true wooden steering wheels. I sacrificed my old wheel for the center spline part and manufactured a piece and welded it onto it. The British have different splines so I just built a custom thing, even the horn works! I saw if at a wrecker for $40 and had to have it.
As for the rest of the questions:
Sl33py - if you really want I can take a picture of the relay but I would have to take it out again. The only thing you have to do is:
1-remove the old relay and take the cover off.
2-solder off the old "slot" connectors from the relay (only the 2 upright) then cut one of the tabs off (once you look at it and compare to the new LED relay this will make sense).
3-solder off the 2 "slot" connectors from the new relay after you take off the cover.
4-solder on the old connectors onto the new relay and insert into the old housing. Drink Beer. Install - looks like stock!
I also did not take any pics of the aluminum tape on the back of the dash but the only thing you have to do is cut the strips you need, tape and then use an x-acto to cut out the pieces that you don't want or block something. Just be carful not to get too close to anything electrial in housing as it will short it out.
Sandcruiser-all of the "idiot" lights are single LED wide angle, in the other thread I have the part numbers, just remember that the backlight LEDs I got are too large, so you can either order the model smaller or you will need to take all the guages apart and install them from the inside - just make sure you have the right polarity before you close everything up (I learned the hard way).