LED Changeover - 1970 to 1972 Skylark & GS

Discussion in 'Sparky's corner' started by knucklebusted, Jan 16, 2018.

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Page 7 of 15
  1. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Took the car out to a local cruise night. Love the LED lights. No, they don't dim.

    LEDInterior7.jpg
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 16, 2020
    #121
    knucklebusted, Cutlass and FLGS400 like this.
  2. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    Is it save to asume, that this was not the very first time you removed the dash?
    I guess I better add 2 hours for my first time.
     
    Cutlass, Sep 17, 2020
    #122
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Done it may times. Not hard, you just need to make sure you get all the screws that attach the dash bezel. Also make sure before you drop the column, you unscrew the gear indicator. Once you unscrew and remove the lower column access panel, turn the key to unlock the steering wheel. Put the gear selector in Neutral. That will bring the screw and clip on the column shell where you can remove the indicator link. Then just detach the speedometer cable, and you can pull the dash bezel forward enough to do any work you need to.

    Before removing the dash pad, make sure you get all the screws and nuts, 2 screws above the clusters, and 3 nuts above the glove box, one sticks straight down, two forward.

    This article covers it all,

    http://www.buickperformanceclub.com/cluster.htm
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
    LARRY70GS, Sep 17, 2020
    #123
    knucklebusted likes this.
  4. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    It looks like it turned out pretty good. So, the Sirius LEDs are not dimmable?
     
    knucklebusted, Sep 17, 2020
    #124
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    When I turned the knob, they just blinked. I like them full brightness. The pictures don't do it justice because the resolution gets clipped by the board photo sizer.
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 17, 2020
    #125
    knucklebusted likes this.
  6. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Larry - Did you use the 41mm in the sail panels? How was the fit?
     
    12lives, Sep 18, 2020
    #126
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    LARRY70GS, Sep 18, 2020
    #127
  8. Max Damage

    Max Damage I'm working on it!

    Make sure your grounds are good on the rear bumper? This could cause the dimmer lights to begin with and prevent the LED's from working. Also LED's only work with current in one direction, unlike regular old incandescent bulbs. Although I don't see how this could get reversed for you,
     
    Max Damage, Sep 18, 2020
    #128
  9. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    It depends on the LED bulbs you purchase. Some are polarity sensitive, some are not. It will tell you in the description.

    As an example, these 194's will work either way,

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0186P1MUW/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Buick|45&Model=GS 455|1984&Year=1970|1970&ie=UTF8&newVehicle=1&vehicleId=2&vehicleType=automotive
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 18, 2020
    #129
  10. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    Are the little dots at the vertikal levers of the climate control (Vent) iluminated with the whole climate panel, or do the have own bulbs?
     
    Cutlass, Sep 18, 2020
    #130
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    With the whole panel
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 18, 2020
    #131
  12. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    As always: Thank you very much, Larry!
    I will get working on it tomorrow.
     
    Cutlass, Sep 18, 2020
    #132
  13. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    It really was not as bad as I thought. Here is how it looks with the bulbs, I got from superbright.
    IMG_0731.JPG IMG_0735.JPG IMG_0724.JPG IMG_0725.JPG IMG_0728.JPG
    The downside of the good light is, that now I see how dirty it is behind the lenses. Well, now that I know how to remove the cluster ,the cleaning will not have to wait too long.
    I tested the LED with an adjustable power source. The dimmed down to 5V. For whatever reason however they do not dim in the car. But I am with Larry: I do not mind.
     

    Attached Files:

    Cutlass, Sep 19, 2020
    #133
    knucklebusted likes this.
  14. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I left the indicator lights alone. No reason to change them IMO. Is the tachometer lense that dirty? It looks like it is frosted over. Looks good.
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 19, 2020
    #134
    knucklebusted likes this.
  15. Cutlass

    Cutlass Platinum Level Contributor

    Thanks!
    My indicator lights were very dim, barely to see at daytime. I hope it is just dirt inside the tach, and not scratches.
     
    Cutlass, Sep 19, 2020
    #135
    knucklebusted likes this.
  16. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    The clock in my buddy's Skylark looks like that too. We tried to polish it but it didn't really help with the frosty look. FWIW, I have used fine scratch and swirl remover on the lenses to get the minor scratches out with good results. I'm partial to Formula 1's Scratch Out product. It is less abrasive than regular rubbing compound and better than plain wax.
     
    knucklebusted, Sep 20, 2020
    #136
  17. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    LARRY70GS, Sep 20, 2020
    #137
  18. Ken Warner

    Ken Warner Stand-up Philosopher

    I upgraded my dash lamps to LEDs over the summer as well. Installed the parts place bezel I purchased several years ago as well as a new set of wood grain and lenses from the DC Musclecars guy. The combo of swapping in all 3 things at once made a huge difference in the look of things from the drivers seat! Word of warning to the peanut gallery, just because the vendor claims the bulbs are not polarity sensitive please test to confirm. I did a quick test of the bayonette style that the tach and glove box use but failed to test the 194 style lamps. Fortunately with the column down it was possible to still pull the lamps and switch them around as needed... live and learn.
     
    Ken Warner, Sep 20, 2020
    #138
  19. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I can confirm that these are NOT polarity specific, they work both ways,

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0186P1MU...wVehicle=1&vehicleId=2&vehicleType=automotive
     
    LARRY70GS, Sep 20, 2020
    #139
  20. Ken Warner

    Ken Warner Stand-up Philosopher

    Larry, did you add the additional foot well lamps? My car only had 2 (looks like you have 4) and I'm considering adding a couple or at least 1 more in the center as I like the looks of your setup.

    Edit/correction, looks like you have 3.
     
    Ken Warner, Sep 20, 2020
    #140
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