Bret 944

Anyone ever heard of or seen anything like this? I recently installed some white gauge faces on my '88, which by the way look great, but I would like some lighted needles to go along with them. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Bret

ArcticCzar

Uh, I have a suggestion. And I'm sure Perry, IceShark and RaceIt can guess that suggestion.

Bret 944

Which suggestion is that?

Perry 951

I don't see a way to adapt lighted needles to VDO gauges. You need a bulb in the center of the gauge, and there is no room for it in ours.



This is my solution to better lighting. Read about it <a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/forums/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=15&t=013849" target="_blank">Here: LED Gauge Lighting Update</a>.

Bret 944

Thanks Perry, but that's not really what I'm looking for. I actually pulled out the bulbs at the bottom of my cluster, because I like the look of the indiglo gauges without added white light. I just wish I could see those orange needles better, but thanks anyway.

Bret

ArcticCzar

Hey Bret -
Give me about a week, and I may have a solution for ya!!

bs

are your "indiglo" gauges backlit electroluminescent or front-lit flourescent?

if the latter is your case, then you have a uv light source illuminating your gauges from the front to get them glowing; all you need is some flourescent paint or dye on your needles and they will glow, too. i'm not sure what to use for dye, though... highlighter ink comes to mind but i'm not sure how long that would last.

Weissach

The 928 has almost the same cluster as the 944. Check out this post...web page

944Play

Hobby shops that specialize in R/C cars will have flat fluorescent paint for clear plastic car bodies.

Bret 944

ArcticCzar-Definitely get back with me on that one, let me know what you can come up with.

bs-my gauges are backlit electroluminescent, so the "glowing" needles will not work.

Weissach-I'm not exactly sure what you're pointing out to me. I see your gauge cluster, but I can't tell what you're trying to tell me.

Thanks for everyones responses.

Bret

Matt O.

Bret, I think he's saying you might be able to use those gauges? I think the 928 guys had a special order with a company online that does those... something "shack" a few months ago.

-Matt

944Play

[quote]Originally posted by Matt Olde:
<strong>I think the 928 guys had a special order with a company online that does those... something "shack" a few months ago.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Speedhut?

Matt O.

[quote]Originally posted by 944Play:
<strong>

Speedhut?</strong><hr></blockquote>

There ya go! "shack" - ha.

-Matt

Jessa

There was much discussion on the 928 board about lighting the needles to use w/ Speedhut's reverse indiglo faces (glowing letters on black background). Painting the needles with fosphorcent paint or ink then lighting with uv will was among the ideas that came up there, too. There was concern that painting would increase the weight of the needles, requiring the gauges to be recalibrated.

Speedhut offered the reverse indiglo with an option of glowing centres, so the needle would still stand out.

The simplest option is to leave the factory front-lighting in to light the needles, but personally I think this defeats the point of having the gauge faces glow in the first place.

If someone comes up with a good solution that doesn't require gauge recalibration, I and a lot of other 928 owners would love to hear about it. Also, since the gauges in our cars are so simmilar, Speedhut may be able to produce 944 faces with a lower minimum order.