Gauge mod

jel · 02-09-2008, 03:02 AM

Here's another photo essay. Changing the gauge facade and backlight LEDs. This mod is not that difficult, but you have to know how to solder. If you're uncomfortable doing that, have someone do it for you because you can use too much heat and damage the circuit board. I recommend vacuuming the dash after you get everything exposed to lessen dust and grime (edit: before removing the gauge clear plastic face - don't vacuum the surface of the gauges). You don't want any dust to be around the gauge assembly. It's also a good idea to wear latex or cleaning gloves while you do this mod because any oil from your hands will show up later on the gauge facade.

jel · 02-09-2008, 03:04 AM

More of the gauge mod

jel · 02-09-2008, 03:06 AM

Conclusion of the mod

SSGTBARCLAY · 02-10-2008, 02:20 AM

Dude that looks realy good where did you find the backing at? Is there a website?

jel · 02-10-2008, 02:36 AM

Do a search for Black Cat Gauges. Excellent instructions and sharp product. Although my camera makes the LEDs look a little orange, they're red. You can pick the color you want including the face plate, logo, and 140 or 160 top speed, and various other variables. The website has the details.

**Skip** · 02-10-2008, 02:49 AM

after marking where the needles are at rest, and you install a new faceplate, where do you mark where the needles go back on ? In other words please fill in the steps that are not in pictures and remember to make it simple enough for Mike of Marlboro....Skip..hehehe..

jel · 02-10-2008, 03:03 AM

Skip, I was hoping you wouldn't ask that - and where's my damn Cuban cigars, Michael? What I did was put the needles back on where I had marked them on the old facade. And then I put the old face plate over the new one so I could see the center of each gauge through the old needle holes (you can't see through the old face plate). In the photo essay pic with the pencil, there's a barely visible pencil mark below the first "n" in "spinning" and where I have the pencil pointing. These areas are covered when assembled. I then moved the old gauge plate slowly in the direction of the line of the needle for each gauge and could tell if the needle was in the right position. This probably isn't the way it should be done, but I'm kind of a Rainman and I could tell when I got them in the right position.

One thing to remember is that after turning off the car, the needles drop significantly below the "zero" mark, so don't skip marking them and assuming that they're at "zero".

**Skip** · 02-10-2008, 03:12 AM

Well you know Mike is on vacation and as soon as he sees this thread it will be question time...I also alerted a mod to make this thread a sticky....Skip...

Good work...

**Skip** · 02-10-2008, 03:21 AM

I think after the fourth month Mike was wanting to use a Solstice faceplate cause of the color of the LEDs. Now he did not know how to take apart the dash , but now there is a sticky about that. And now he has a sticky about taking apart the guages and redoing the LEDs and faceplate So be prepared and don't be within 50 miles of him or he will bring over a sixpack and watch you do it for him....Skip...

ThunderSky · 02-10-2008, 12:00 PM

Looks great, nice job.

What brand and part # of LEDs did you use as the replacements.
I have wondered about changing the LED color. Do you find with the red it's still OK to see the guages in the daytime ??? Looking back, would you have rather used a brighter LED ???
I have access to several different mfr's LEDs but want to be sure about the light output (lumens) and light dispersion angle.

Thanx

jel · 02-10-2008, 04:06 PM

Post 5 has the info and they sell the LEDs also. The red is VERY red and VERY bright so daylight viewing isn't a problem. Here's another shot of the panel to give you an idea of the brightness. Kind of hard to tell in a daylight photo.

marklynn70 · 02-10-2008, 07:35 PM

Great job, Missy's tach is about 500rpm low after I changed hers last year. I must have bumped something the wrong way putting her back together. I will take another go at fixing it later this month I think.

COSky · 02-16-2008, 07:02 PM

Just a quick reminder for those of you trying to change the color of the lighting. LED's do NOT have the same resistance the lamps that are factory installed do. If you try to simply put 2 LED's in place of each lamp you will release the magic smoke from your instrument cluster and then you have a cool blackish color lighting

I would recommend getting the lighting kit from the aforementioned manufacturer, as you will spend about the same amount of money buying resistors and LED's that will make it all work properly.
Good luck to all, and Green looks really cool as well, I'll post pics when I get my camera working again :P

darkpark · 02-20-2008, 08:01 AM

hi,

i´m german. and i will made a custom gauge for my opel gt.
can you scann the original sky gauges for me please?

Sky_Pilot · 04-19-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jel

Do a search for Black Cat Gauges. Excellent instructions and sharp product. Although my camera makes the LEDs look a little orange, they're red. You can pick the color you want including the face plate, logo, and 140 or 160 top speed, and various other variables. The website has the details.

If you change to a 160, don't you have to recalibrate the speedo?

marlboromike · 04-20-2008, 01:41 AM

Jel...u r truly a man of great talent. I would never touch those factory LEDs...soldering no less. That takes balls...(can i use that term?). I myself will wait until I can get a R/L instrument cluster...it is definitely much richer than the stock they gave us. I believe that can be interchanged with the CLASSIC SKYS...but I applaud you on taking on this job....and yes SKIP, if he lived on this side of the CONTINENT...i would use him to pull apart my dash...wouldn't YOU?

CJsSky · 04-20-2008, 10:16 AM

Looks Great. Definitely one for the futures list.

jel · 04-20-2008, 12:40 PM

Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy the end result of this mod. I may have posted a similar pic on another thread, but this is what it looks like with everything in place.

marlboromike · 04-20-2008, 12:47 PM

that looks great...but what r u doing with the rest of the LED lights on your steering wheel and radio...r u changing the LEDs or letting them remain?

jel · 04-20-2008, 01:25 PM

Mike,

I changed out my radio. All I have on my steering wheel is the cruise control LED. Other than that, the original amber (ugly) cluster indicator is the only thing still stock.

BlueSkyRL · 04-20-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jel

Mike,

I changed out my radio. All I have on my steering wheel is the cruise control LED. Other than that, the original amber (ugly) cluster indicator is the only thing still stock.

Jel, You did a nice job

I too don't like the amber LEDs. Did you get all of the LEDs from Black Cat??

02-09-2008, 03:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Gauge mod Here's another photo essay. Changing the gauge facade and backlight LEDs. This mod is not that difficult, but you have to know how to solder. If you're uncomfortable doing that, have someone do it for you because you can use too much heat and damage the circuit board. I recommend vacuuming the dash after you get everything exposed to lessen dust and grime (edit: before removing the gauge clear plastic face - don't vacuum the surface of the gauges). You don't want any dust to be around the gauge assembly. It's also a good idea to wear latex or cleaning gloves while you do this mod because any oil from your hands will show up later on the gauge facade. Attached Thumbnails __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights Last edited by jel : 02-10-2008 at 02:49 AM.

02-09-2008, 03:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	More of the gauge mod Attached Thumbnails __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights

02-09-2008, 03:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Conclusion of the mod Attached Thumbnails __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights

02-10-2008, 02:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
SSGTBARCLAY Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 186 My Photos: (14)	Dude that looks realy good where did you find the backing at? Is there a website? __________________ 2007 Red Sky Redline (Doing It Topless!!!) -Eibach Sportline Lowering Springs -Pioneer AVIC-D3 DVD/GPS/Bluetooth/IPOD -RPi GT Series Exhaust, RPi Intercooler Stage 2, RPi Down Pipe http://www.imsaturn.com/profile/William

02-10-2008, 02:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Do a search for Black Cat Gauges. Excellent instructions and sharp product. Although my camera makes the LEDs look a little orange, they're red. You can pick the color you want including the face plate, logo, and 140 or 160 top speed, and various other variables. The website has the details. __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights

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02-10-2008, 02:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
Skip First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: deep in the land of cotton where good times there are not forgotten Posts: 4,736 My Photos: (0)	Jel after marking where the needles are at rest, and you install a new faceplate, where do you mark where the needles go back on ? In other words please fill in the steps that are not in pictures and remember to make it simple enough for Mike of Marlboro....Skip..hehehe.. __________________ Resident Redneck of the forum and Birthday Greeter Keep on the sunny side of life It tant Christmas without Christ.

02-10-2008, 03:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Skip, I was hoping you wouldn't ask that - and where's my damn Cuban cigars, Michael? What I did was put the needles back on where I had marked them on the old facade. And then I put the old face plate over the new one so I could see the center of each gauge through the old needle holes (you can't see through the old face plate). In the photo essay pic with the pencil, there's a barely visible pencil mark below the first "n" in "spinning" and where I have the pencil pointing. These areas are covered when assembled. I then moved the old gauge plate slowly in the direction of the line of the needle for each gauge and could tell if the needle was in the right position. This probably isn't the way it should be done, but I'm kind of a Rainman and I could tell when I got them in the right position. One thing to remember is that after turning off the car, the needles drop significantly below the "zero" mark, so don't skip marking them and assuming that they're at "zero". __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights Last edited by jel : 02-10-2008 at 03:06 AM.

02-10-2008, 03:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
Skip First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: deep in the land of cotton where good times there are not forgotten Posts: 4,736 My Photos: (0)	Well you know Mike is on vacation and as soon as he sees this thread it will be question time...I also alerted a mod to make this thread a sticky....Skip... Good work... __________________ Resident Redneck of the forum and Birthday Greeter Keep on the sunny side of life It tant Christmas without Christ.

02-10-2008, 03:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Skip First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: deep in the land of cotton where good times there are not forgotten Posts: 4,736 My Photos: (0)	I think after the fourth month Mike was wanting to use a Solstice faceplate cause of the color of the LEDs. Now he did not know how to take apart the dash , but now there is a sticky about that. And now he has a sticky about taking apart the guages and redoing the LEDs and faceplate So be prepared and don't be within 50 miles of him or he will bring over a sixpack and watch you do it for him....Skip... __________________ Resident Redneck of the forum and Birthday Greeter Keep on the sunny side of life It tant Christmas without Christ.

02-10-2008, 12:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
ThunderSky Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 116 My Photos: (0)	Replacement LEDs ?? Looks great, nice job. What brand and part # of LEDs did you use as the replacements. I have wondered about changing the LED color. Do you find with the red it's still OK to see the guages in the daytime ??? Looking back, would you have rather used a brighter LED ??? I have access to several different mfr's LEDs but want to be sure about the light output (lumens) and light dispersion angle. Thanx __________________ ThunderSky Graphite RedLine, Red / Black Leather, Manual Tranny, Windrestrictor, Monsoon with XM , Spoiler, Drilled/Slotted Rotors, Painted calipers, Magnaflow 3" Quad Tip Exhaust, CAI Ordered 9/12/06 In My Garage 6/13/07

02-10-2008, 04:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Post 5 has the info and they sell the LEDs also. The red is VERY red and VERY bright so daylight viewing isn't a problem. Here's another shot of the panel to give you an idea of the brightness. Kind of hard to tell in a daylight photo. Attached Thumbnails __________________ JPM leather dash Dual XDVD8285 Interior carbon fiber kit Wind Restrictor V2 Fujita dual filter CAI Kappasphere KS2/Li'l Chromies Blackcat gauges Billet grille O-series stubby/FlameBall shifter V doors Sequential brake/3rd pulsating lights

02-10-2008, 07:35 PM	#12 (permalink)
marklynn70 First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Oldsmar, Florida Posts: 2,560 My Photos: (282)	Great job, Missy's tach is about 500rpm low after I changed hers last year. I must have bumped something the wrong way putting her back together. I will take another go at fixing it later this month I think. __________________ *Mark* Black Onyx B/R Interior 5-Speed XMMP36-Disk*Monsoon Stereo 18in Chrome Wheels _00565_ GM CAI Mud Flaps Stubby Antenna KS Little Chromies Chrome L/P Frame 1ST 1000 Badge Windscreen by http://www.windrestrictor.com

02-16-2008, 07:02 PM	#13 (permalink)
COSky Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 35 My Photos: (0)	Just a quick reminder for those of you trying to change the color of the lighting. LED's do NOT have the same resistance the lamps that are factory installed do. If you try to simply put 2 LED's in place of each lamp you will release the magic smoke from your instrument cluster and then you have a cool blackish color lighting I would recommend getting the lighting kit from the aforementioned manufacturer, as you will spend about the same amount of money buying resistors and LED's that will make it all work properly. Good luck to all, and Green looks really cool as well, I'll post pics when I get my camera working again :P

02-20-2008, 08:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
darkpark Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 My Photos: (0)	hi, i´m german. and i will made a custom gauge for my opel gt. can you scann the original sky gauges for me please?

04-20-2008, 01:41 AM	#16 (permalink)
marlboromike First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Marlboro, NJ Posts: 7,119 My Photos: (6)	Jel...u r truly a man of great talent. I would never touch those factory LEDs...soldering no less. That takes balls...(can i use that term?). I myself will wait until I can get a R/L instrument cluster...it is definitely much richer than the stock they gave us. I believe that can be interchanged with the CLASSIC SKYS...but I applaud you on taking on this job....and yes SKIP, if he lived on this side of the CONTINENT...i would use him to pull apart my dash...wouldn't YOU?

04-20-2008, 10:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
CJsSky Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 437 My Photos: (0)	Looks Great. Definitely one for the futures list. __________________ Maria #284 Midnight Blue Monsoon Sound

04-20-2008, 12:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Thanks for the kind words. I really enjoy the end result of this mod. I may have posted a similar pic on another thread, but this is what it looks like with everything in place. Attached Thumbnails

04-20-2008, 12:47 PM	#19 (permalink)
marlboromike First 2000 Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Marlboro, NJ Posts: 7,119 My Photos: (6)	that looks great...but what r u doing with the rest of the LED lights on your steering wheel and radio...r u changing the LEDs or letting them remain? Last edited by marlboromike : 04-20-2008 at 01:02 PM.

04-20-2008, 01:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
jel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Western Washington Posts: 393 My Photos: (8)	Mike, I changed out my radio. All I have on my steering wheel is the cruise control LED. Other than that, the original amber (ugly) cluster indicator is the only thing still stock. Attached Thumbnails