On your 67
pull the pod out
puts some new lamps in,
and it will probably out last you.

 

Superbrightleds.com

 

Just grabbing bulbs and putting them in is really not the way to go. You need to test some bulbs in your shop to ensure you get the lighting you like.

Here is the testing I did on my 1966 Corvair instrument panels (a Monza and a Corsa). I will post my Camaro testing later. This is just to show testing is needed to get the color shading for night driving.

"I did some testing and found 3 smd green LED bulbs for turn indicators have the right illumination for me. They are a bit dim in daytime, but not glaring at night time. The 5 smd bulbs would blind you unless you used a thicker green lens, which I didn't have. I was using the top off a Cascade dishwasher detergent box to make the lens. 5 smd green bulb with 1 layer of green lens was too bright. 2 layers was non-existant indicator display. 3 smd bulb and 1 layer of green Cascade lens worked fine. Oh, I found most factory 50 year old turn signal lense were on the light green to amber range, due to aging of the plastic. Just a heads up, check your lenses for aging effect.

Same thing with the red high beam indicator. I changed my hi beam indicator to blue to get rid of a red light on the dash. It too took testing of bulbs and blue plastic material to make a lens for it. 5 smd blue bulb was used, since it was also my instrument lights. It took 2 pieces of blue plastic hanging folder to get a light intensity I liked for night driving.

The instrument lights are 5 smd blue bulbs. Here are the lamp numbers and candlepower I was trying to emulate. Since the bulbsare not dimmable, the 1816 spec I had to set to a lower number in lumens. When I redo testing on the Camaro cluster and bezel, I will have colors and bulb smd info to go with that panel. My Corsa panel still need some changes like the housing interior clor changed to light blue to see effect of blue and white bulbs. I have acouple of spare panels I will test on for working out the kinks.

Here is the first and the final configuration lit up in a darkened garage at night. Photo was taken straight on from 2 foot away. Intensity does not affect night driving due to the angle of the panel. Gage housing were painted with Krylon Cactus Green or Catalina Mist, not sure which one I got. I will confirm later today.

1st test. white bulbs with the inside of housings painted in light green. Never tested green in the panel, as it was not my color preference for night driving.

Final configuration with the blue bulbs (turn & hi beam indicators intensity level remained.

 

I used Marsauto 194 LED 2825 on my 68 cluster, worked great, night and day difference. Mars Auto 194 2825 LED bulbs from amazon

Just beware you can't use them for turn signal indicators on the cluster, at least I couldn't, I think you have to switch out the actual turn signals for led and the flasher units for led compatible ones.

 

Superbrightleds for mr

 

Doesn't matter where you get your colored 194 bulbs. They are all made in china. Luck of the draw how long they last. I have lost none of the Corvair bulbs (1445 & 1895), after 5 years. On our Camaro, I have lost 3 red 2 smd & 3 blue 3 smd in past 5 years, just being in my shop unpowered. Yes, I tested them both ways in the instrument cluster to ensure they were inoperative. I am taking them to the Corvair garage where I have some 194 sockets to use with a battey to confirm the failure.

I have more blue and red bulbs on order on ebay. All 5 smd bulbs, since I had no issues with them (so far).

So my testing and photo taken session came to a screeching halt for the next few days.

 

Thank you all for replying. I'm old enough that I got conditioned to simply replace a bulb when it goes out. While florescent bulbs seemed to draw less power and last longer, my experience with LEDs has been very mixed. Georgia, who are you buying the bulbs from on Ebay? Different vendor for the 5 smd bulbs? Thank you to the other members who also responded. The superbrights look excellent. Do any of the bulbs you all are using have some kind of built in capacitor? If LEDs are used for the turn signal lights, would that necessitate a new flasher?

 

Thank you all for replying. ....?..... Georgia, who are you buying the bulbs from on Ebay? Different vendor for the 5 smd bulbs?....... Do any of the bulbs you all are using have some kind of built in capacitor? If LEDs are used for the turn signal lights, would that necessitate a new flasher?

I find the ones I may buy and place in a wish list. Then I go through them to see what I selected will meet my needs. Then I select best seller by feedback per centage. I also order a 20 pack if I know the bulb. 4 pack if I don't, for testing. LED bulbs in the dash don't affect the park/brake turn function, that I know of. But I did all interior & exterior bulbs at the same time. Give it a try. If it does, you need the electronic flasher. Also get a few led 211 bulbs for the console and overhead dome. If you have sail panel lights get the bulb that matches the socket terminal. Dual contact sockets are #90 bulbs. I believe they are the same as the dash courtesy lights. Be aware that I had problems with #90 bulbs with 9 sms under a plastic bubble lens. They fail quickly 1 and at a time. That is why I went LED panel in the sail panel lights

The exterior LED light conversion I went with was all panels on the Camaro. I haven't powered up the Camaro to see if any other electronic item is needed to make the panels function, but product description does not indicate a capacitor will be required. For my Corvair, I needed JDM 1157 bulbs to function correctly in the rear. EBay 1157 bulbs hyper flashed in sequence with the ignition pulses (6 flashes, a pause then repeats). The park lights got amber/white switch back bulbs. They are white for park function, then when a turn is selected that one bulb flashes amber. It is required that clear front park lenses are installed on the car, which a Corvair member was making.

This is the flasher that has been operating for over 5 years in my Corvair.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

I used the flasher posted above for my turn signals

 

My testing and photo taken session is delayed until after Aug 26. That is the expected arrival of the blue LED bulbs. Tracking of blue bulbs show them leaving NJ USPS on Aug 17. So bulbs could here by weekend but I am not high hopes since USPS from northeast seems to get delayed frequently. Red bulbs have not shipped yet, but USPS delivery is by Aug 20 - Aug 24.

 

The paint I used in the housing and its cover is Valspar Destiny. Saturn Jade would be close to the current paint. Not close to original, but would work nice on reflecting the light. Krylon Cactus Green was the closest to the factory color. The original Cactus Green paint is no longer found by Google search.

If I had to repaint a cluster and using blue bulbs, I would go with a light blue paint, like Krylon Ocean Blue or Ocean Breeze. I have to find some, since my other Corvair needs it housings painted. There are 6 housings and 6 covers for them. I think my Camaro housing will be repainted to a blue. More work to take them apart now, But less after cluster install.



Valspar Destiny

Krylon Satin Jade, Catalina Mist,

Krylon Ocean Blue, Ocean Breeze,

 

#12·a moment ago

The below cluster cover's green color is what is expected from the factory painted parts. Any other color is a owners preference. I am going to use a satin blue on the interior surfaces, coated with a satin clearcoat to keep color change from happening. Exterior surfaces typically I will paint satin silver or aluminum. Surfaces that do not look good will be bead blasted then painting will be done.


Painting the cluster and its coveer and using LED bulbs, use a satin light color that coincides with your colored bulbs. Incandescent bulbs, use a paint as close to the factory color.

This photo show one mint green paint use and blue LED bulbs. Camaro cluster got the mint green Valspar Destiny paint. Interior paint color changes with blue LED bulbs, as it appears blue now but unknown what a mint green cluster cover and the bezel will produce. Paint pigmentation is affected in its color using blue light. Might be different with a satin light blue paint job. That is a test I need to do. Additionally, the results will be different with the cluster cover and bezel installed.

This photo of my Corvair panel shows the mint green paint use with clear LED bulbs. It has a green tint.

This photo of my Corvair panel shows the mint green paint use with blue LED bulbs. It has a bluish green tint.

I hope this helps in understanding how the color of the LED bulbs and interior paint color makes a difference with final lighting results.

 

Now some info on getting compatible LED bulbs for the Red Warning Indicators, the Red Hi beam indicator and Green Turn Signal Indicators for night driving.

On My Corvair panel. the turn signals are a bit dim in daytime, but not glaring at night time. I was used the top off a Cascade dishwasher detergent box to make the lenses. The 5 smd green bulbs would blind you, unless you used a thicker green lens. I didn't have have any other green material. 5 smd green bulb with 1 layer of green lens was too bright. 2 layers was non-existant indicator display. 3 smd bulb and 1 layer of green Cascade lens worked fine. Oh, I found most Corvair turn signal lenses were on the light green to amber range, due to aging of the plastic. Just a heads up, check your lenses for any aging effect.

With the red high beam indicator. I changed my Hi beam indicator to blue to get rid of a red light on the dash. It too took testing of blue bulbs and blue plastic material to make a lens for it. 5 smd blue bulb was used, since it was also my instrument lights. It took 2 pieces of plastic cut out of blue plastic hanging folder to get a light intensity I liked for night driving. It is viewable in daytime, but not glaring at night time.

Red warning lights I am unable to make lenses due to the Lettering on them. I just find a good 3 smd or 5 smd bulb that would glare in daytime and nightime.

I will be testing my indicators in about 10 days to get all suitable LED bulbs in the cluster. I will also investigate doing the Heat & A/C Controller light in blue LED bulb. Console blue bulbs will be pulled, due to bulb failures on the cluster installation. I may have to put a ash tray light fixture in the mount, if the fiber-optic option doesn't work well enough. Starting all again beginning on my Camaro instrument lighting.