Add me to the LED club

[alec2538]

LED's came in the mail today. I had the day off so I tackled the project. I ordered 20 #194 bulbs and 4 42mm festoon bulbs total. The bulbs changed were:

All gauge illumination (cluster and gauge pod)
Glove box light
Footwell lights
4x map lights and 1x dome light
License plate light

I have 1 festoon bulb left over and 4 #194 bulbs left. Two of the remaining #194's are earmarked for the trunk light and shift indicator. I think the results were well worth the hour of effort and $20 investment!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141702_zpsvtgp7i5j.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141714_zpsqgbnmxv7.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141724_zps3amwhwrk.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141738_zpsj0p2rrz3.jp g

[whitey]

Looking good!

twix is the only candy with the cookie crunch.

[fastblackmerc]

Nice!!!!!!!!!!! :beer:

[ctrlraven]

Did you do the gear shift bulb?

[detrailers]

do the gauge pods take the 194s??

[justbob]

Yes.


Builder Of Badassery

[detrailers]

wow, I imagine the whole cluster needs to come out to do it but it looks awesome!

[champ1173]

wow, I imagine the whole cluster needs to come out to do it but it looks awesome!

It does, which is why I'm amazed it only took an hour. I'm sure it would take me longer, but I hope to do it soon! By the way, it looks great alec2538.

[ctrlraven]

wow, I imagine the whole cluster needs to come out to do it but it looks awesome!
It can be a pain if you have an aftermarket radio like a double din in-dash screen unit (with all the wires behind it) but it's not hard. I've done it so many times I can do it in my sleep now.

This is standard incandescent bulbs
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/ctrlraven/DOOM%20LED/DSCF0185.jpg

This is with 5000k (white) led bulbs
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/ctrlraven/DOOM%20LED/DSCF0187.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a164/ctrlraven/DOOM%20LED/DSCF0195.jpg

[alec2538]

Did you do the gear shift bulb?

I was going to but ran out of time. I plan on doing it though.

The cluster really is easy to get out. Pull off the aluminum /plastic trim from both sides of the dash, remove 7 screws and pull the entire bezel/vent assy. out. I left my aftermarket radio in place and just flipped the whole piece up and to the right. 4 more screws and the cluster is out.

[justbob]

Where did you get all these for $20?


Builder Of Badassery

[tdotcv]

does the Marauder lettering also light up and the three needle gauges. I swapped my cluster lights bUT now those look like they are barely on Compared to yours.

[Badass_forever]

can you link the bulbs you used please, this will be one of my first mods

[fastblackmerc]

I always get cool white / 6000k bulbs. They are hard to look at with bare eyes.

[kutlass69]

I was surprised also at only 1 hour. And - what a great price for such a noticeable mod.

A couple questions/requests:

1) Did this include the door panel switches? Mine are all out. I gotta dig up the thread in here somewhere in which someone showed how to fix all those.

2) What is the link to your source of LEDs?

3) Does your dash light dimmer switch still work with those LEDs?

Thanks! It looks terrific!

[detrailers]

LED's came in the mail today. I had the day off so I tackled the project. I ordered 20 #194 bulbs and 4 42mm festoon bulbs total. The bulbs changed were:

All gauge illumination (cluster and gauge pod)
Glove box light
Footwell lights
4x map lights and 1x dome light
License plate light

I have 1 festoon bulb left over and 4 #194 bulbs left. Two of the remaining #194's are earmarked for the trunk light and shift indicator. I think the results were well worth the hour of effort and $20 investment!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141702_zpsvtgp7i5j.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141714_zpsqgbnmxv7.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141724_zps3amwhwrk.jp g
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/alec_b/20150526_141738_zpsj0p2rrz3.jp g
Thanks for the inspiration to complete my LED changeover. I just did the guage pod but have a question....is the cluster still dimmable with the leds and if not is it too bright at night?
I ask this because I was under the impression that LEDS are not dimmable

[Chayton]

For the Dome and map lights in the overhead console, I heard you have to drop the entire console to change them, is this true? I was trying to pop the little lens covers off but stopped when it didnt feel very safe lol

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks for the inspiration to complete my LED changeover. I just did the guage pod but have a question....is the cluster still dimmable with the leds and if not is it too bright at night?
I ask this because I was under the impression that LEDS are not dimmable

LEDs are dimmable.


For the Dome and map lights in the overhead console, I heard you have to drop the entire console to change them, is this true? I was trying to pop the little lens covers off but stopped when it didnt feel very safe lol

Yes the console has to come down......

[detrailers]

Yep...from the time I sent that to the time I'm typing this I changed the 5 bulbs in the cluster and learned they are indeed dimmable. I'll probably go back in and change the low fuel, OD off and other idiot lights eventually.
What a great upgrade this is for our cars....should be a sticky! My son called all the standard bulbs and headlights "Vanilla Lights" due to their color lol

[jwibbity]

For the Dome and map lights in the overhead console, I heard you have to drop the entire console to change them, is this true? I was trying to pop the little lens covers off but stopped when it didnt feel very safe lol

I used a flat head with electrical tape on the end, ain't nobody got time to drop the whole overhead console....

[detrailers]

that is just asking to break a delicate piece....take the time and pull the console, it only takes about 10 minutes to pull it.

With the plastic on these cars becoming more and more brittle, and parts harder to come by, I treat all the plastic, lenses, moldings, etc very carefully now. Just did the cluster and gauge pod LED upgrade and I was cringing when I was manipulating the dash plastic pieces...

[Lowndex]

Fastblackmerc,

I sent you a pm asking for valet and under hood white leds, please.

[alec2538]

Sorry it took so long to get back everyone! To answer a few questions:

Here are the bulbs I ordered. Sorry, I lied. It actually cost me $20.24 with the combined shipping discount ;)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301173064469?_trksid=p2060353. m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291002760258?_trksid=p2060353. m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

As for dimming: YES! Not only do the cluster/gauge pod lights dim perfectly, the "theater dimming" function of the dome lights works perfectly as well.

The project took me "around" and hour, maybe an hour 10. The footwell lights are easiest, followed by the rear map lights, then the overhead console, then the license plate light and finally the cluster. Keep in mind I have an electric ratchet that makes trim removal much faster than with hand tools.

kutlass69: I have not touched my door switches. I only have 2 out, the window switch on the passenger door and the lock switch on the drivers, and I would rather not take them apart. I'll just snag a few from the pick-n-pull and find a good set.

[alec2538]

that is just asking to break a delicate piece....take the time and pull the console, it only takes about 10 minutes to pull it.

With the plastic on these cars better more and more brittle, and parts harder to come by, I treat all the plastic, lenses, moldings, etc very carefully now. Just did the cluster and gauge pod LED upgrade and I was cringing when I was manipulating the dash plastic pieces...

I concur with this. At first I thought I could sneak the dome lights in by popping out the lenses. I quickly realized this is not the case. When you get the console down you'll see the the lenses were never designed to be removed from the bottom.

Note to anyone: many of the dash trim pieces are Marauder specific. You may be able to find the PART from a CV/MGM, but the interior color of the MM is specific from what I've found. I had to order a new drivers window switch trim and both through my own research and the dealer I found that the charcoal interior is a slightly different color than was available on other Panther cars. Not a cheap piece at ~$60, and that's wholesale cost.

[fastblackmerc]

Note to anyone: many of the dash trim pieces are Marauder specific. You may be able to find the PART from a CV/MGM, but the interior color of the MM is specific from what I've found. I had to order a new drivers window switch trim and both through my own research and the dealer I found that the charcoal interior is a slightly different color than was available on other Panther cars. Not a cheap piece at ~$60, and that's wholesale cost.

Old news.... but a good reminder for any noobies......

[fastblackmerc]

Fastblackmerc,

I sent you a pm asking for valet and under hood white leds, please.

Got it. Still testing out a new valet lighting configuration.

[ctrlraven]

Yep...from the time I sent that to the time I'm typing this I changed the 5 bulbs in the cluster and learned they are indeed dimmable. I'll probably go back in and change the low fuel, OD off and other idiot lights eventually.
What a great upgrade this is for our cars....should be a sticky! My son called all the standard bulbs and headlights "Vanilla Lights" due to their color lol
Don't bother with the other lights, they will end up too bright when you put an led bulb in as there is only a very thin piece of colored plastic on the gauge face, it's not the same as the 5 you already replaced. If you really want to go for it but when I changed all of mine including getting rid of the green filter, the OD light, turn signal and high beam lights were too bright even for my liking.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/228146_1520198543452_6875161_n .jpg?oh=88e42757517997e279b195 454198d697&oe=5606AF13

[jwibbity]

Don't bother with the other lights, they will end up too bright when you put an led bulb in as there is only a very thin piece of colored plastic on the gauge face, it's not the same as the 5 you already replaced. If you really want to go for it but when I changed all of mine including getting rid of the green filter, the OD light, turn signal and high beam lights were too bright even for my liking.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/228146_1520198543452_6875161_n .jpg?oh=88e42757517997e279b195 454198d697&oe=5606AF13

I left the factory filter on all of the indicator lights and switched over to color matching leds, makes them more noticeable, well at least for me...

[JBeezy]

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/228146_1520198543452_6875161_n .jpg?oh=88e42757517997e279b195 454198d697&oe=5606AF13[/QUOTE]


That looks bright