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one project DONE

752 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  bergovoy, 
B
well, I have several projects going on at the same time.... most seem to get so far and then I can't figure it out, or I get sidetracked by something more important/necessary...

but, today... I have one project complete... never to be touched again...

the dash board/instrument panel is now, DONE... complete... fini...

every gauge works, every light works.... TADAH!!!!!!!:drinks:


I replaced the flexible circuit board behind the instruments/gauges... I replaced all the lights with the LEDs...and lubricated everything with dielectric grease... touched up, painted, and used all screws so no holes are lacking... (I bought extra screws)...

I hope to never take this panel off again.


it isnt that hard.. but, it is a little difficult getting some of the screws in place... and there is this little black plastic 'divider' screen thingy that seperates the gauges/lights from the heater control thing and the radio hole.

not sure why that plastic is there, maybe to shield light from bleeding over into different sections of the dash???

but, since it has survived this long, I probably should keep on using it..

anyways, I will try to get some night time pictures.... as it glows a nice blue(ish) color... (I wish the gauges would lumeness [sp?] a little more? but it's good enuf)
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ZeddnAdie
Getting ready to undertake this project myself. My idiot panel won't light up and I figure I might as well clean everything up while I am in there.

Any tips or things you wish you had done differently?
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A
Which LED bulbs did you use? I've gotten everything working, but would like to go LED.
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DREDnot
I just did mine using the white 194 replacement LEDs. Great mod.

A little cheat to get that plastic shield in place super easy...take one of the bottom middle mount tabs of the gauge cluster and make the hole into a slot. That way you can take one screw and start it through the shield to hold it in place then start mounting the cluster.
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B
i got the led's from autozone... I didnt want to use the eBay specials as I didnt want any more troubles from unsuspecting parts...

My suggestions would be to not bother trying to rework the original flexible circuit board... i did, and got several gauges going, but had to try several times befoer I got them all working, and then a little cable that I soldered on, came off later, so it was just a headache afte a headache.

spend the money on the new replacement part from morris4x4.com

the material is new and flexible and soft.../ supple...

use dielectric grease everywhere.

make the connections with the nuts snug... torque them well... use a washer under the little plastic clamp on the gauges so that the gauges make contact with the circuit board, (the center connection).

test the led bulbs before you put it all back together because the LEDs go in only one way...

I also used liquid insulation and pasted it over the screws on the clock... those terminals/screws are always HOT... so when you are taking the assembly in and out of the dash, those screws can come in contact with the dash frame.. and short out.


the clock hands can be bent, so be careful.. also make sure they aren't sticking UP, andor rub on the plastic cover plate.

I used plastic polish to clean that cover plate... it's like rubbing / polishing compound but finer... I have heard some folks use tooth paste...



good luck
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2
well, I thought I had a good surprise tonight when I went to see the lights at night.

I thought my oil pressure gauge was reading properly... and at first it was... until I got it up to temperature... then it dropped like a rock...

it's a brand new sending unit...

I'm not beginning to wonder if it isnt an oil pump...

damn... they aren't cheap.. probably the most single expensive part I have seen so far ...

also, note the little twinkly little light light under the dash gauges...

thats the heater control.... it has a little lite but the plastic cover is all scratched up... and it doesnt seem to throw the light around the heater control. nothing illuminates except where it is scratched...

I want that fixed... any suggestions... I have already replaced it with another used panel for other reasons... but not sure the plastic cover is removable or if it will stick if I try to swap it out?

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B
im not sure why the picture is coming out upside down.. I have tried to delete and reupload them but each time, the preview shows it right side up but then when I post it, the picture flips upside down..
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