Refurb dash

[Ray Smith]

I intend to refurbish dash over the winter months, whilst doing it I would like to improve the instrument lighting any tips?

Ray

[DJT]

Ray,

First thing is to by-pass the rheostat. Dramatic improvement can be made by fitting LED lights inside the dials. There is quite a lot on here if you use the search facility.

[jleyton]

Totally agree with Dave. I did it and it has helped.

You can also paint the inside of the housings white or use reflective tape: http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.p...05fa3b59ef7e1b Although I've not done this, I used the tape inside my rear lights and it has made a big improvement.

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[V Mad]

Also special high intensity LED bulbs are now available, albeit expensive.

[uzbek]

Out of interest are you going to refurb the existing wood?

I'm interested in doing the same and any tips/ideas would be good. Stripping the old lacquer and re-finishing etc.

I rather like the barely-adequate instrument lights. Period character!

[404ROD]

Also special high intensity LED bulbs are now available, albeit expensive.

Do these simply replace the existing bulb or are they the line of bulbs some owners have put round the instrument?

Rod

[jakesmig]

Totally agree with Dave. I did it and it has helped.

You can also paint the inside of the housings white or use reflective tape: http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.p...05fa3b59ef7e1b Although I've not done this, I used the tape inside my rear lights and it has made a big improvement.

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

I used 'chrome' aerosol paint fro Halfords in the instruments and rear lights to good effect.

John

[milothedog]

Totally agree with Dave. I did it and it has helped.

You can also paint the inside of the housings white or use reflective tape: http://www.ldparts.co.uk/shop/shop.p...05fa3b59ef7e1b Although I've not done this, I used the tape inside my rear lights and it has made a big improvement.

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

I have a couple of rolls of something very similar to this, if not the same? I believe it is what is used for Air Conditioning installations for taping up the insulation.

If anyone would like some FOC contact me via pm and I'll give you an address to send an SAE to.

Ian

[Ray Smith]

Out of interest are you going to refurb the existing wood?

I'm interested in doing the same and any tips/ideas would be good. Stripping the old lacquer and re-finishing etc.

I rather like the barely-adequate instrument lights. Period character!

I am going to use walnut trim kit from Walnut dash co, they say to clean surface with alcohol wipes, unless anybody has a better way.

Ray

[KOY 23]

Filament lamps give a soft diffused light which evenly lights up the instrument, albeit dimly. Replacing the existing bulbs with LEDs give a bright narrow beam of light, so you get patches if light and dark, fitting high intensity lights makes the situation worse. Martin has made it work using multiple LEDs facing in different directions. Hopefully he will be let in to comment. Some of us have fitted strips of LEDsaround the inside of the cans, which gives a very bright even illumination. Suggest you search the forum as there are detailed threads with photos.

[elvimto]

IMG_2897.jpg I put strips of green LEDs I ran them through a dimmer might be a bit bright for some also painted the inside and used Led bulbs in the old bulb holders i don't do much night driving .

cheers

[V Mad]

Do these simply replace the existing bulb or are they the line of bulbs some owners have put round the instrument?

Rod

A friend of mine used direct replacement high intensity screw in LED lamps. He says it has made a big improvement, but as you can see from the other replies, people have had different experiences.

I seem to remember Martin was one of the people who listed a set of screw in LEDs that did the trick. Since he is now posting again he might like to refresh our memories.

[V Mad]

Filament lamps give a soft diffused light which evenly lights up the instrument,

Filament lamps with a clear glass do not give a diffused light, in fact they give out quite a harsh light. The diffusion is done by using a special type of reflective surface such as the painted surface inside the instrument.

Just try fitting a clear lamp in a clear glass lampshade in the home, instead of the (diffuse) pearl lamps.

[KOY 23]

I was using the word diffused in the sense that a filament lamp has a wide angle of view, an LED especially a high brightness type has a narrow angle of view, hence multiple arrays are made but I'm sure you knew that Chris.

[V Mad]

I know that a clear filament lamp is not diffuse John, but it can be misleading for others that may not know. I also think the term 'soft' is misleading as I dont understand that.