Author Topic: Dash light Colors  (Read 2571 times)

Offline rrenz

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Dash light Colors
« on: January 09, 2017, 08:21:14 PM »
This may or may not be a stupid question however I haven't really been able to come up with an answer. When I first picked up my 66 coupe one of the first things I did was replace all my cluster bulbs with Blue LED's. Shortly after i sourced a 66 am radio and had it restored and converted to am/fm. when I installed it I forgot to connect the light wire. Im preparing to tear the dash apart and make some repairs to the harness. Long story short I probed the light wire to the radio to see if it would light up and it did. it lights up green. To say the least that is irritating that it doesn't match the dash. Is this the way they originally were or is there something not correct here. I've included a pic of my radio for reference.
Ryan
1966 C Code NJ Springtime Yellow
C-4 Automatic
Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline jwc66k

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2017, 08:25:21 PM »
Original Mustangs did not have blue LED's, the originals were incandescent 1895 bulbs. The radio used a 1891 bulb.
Jim
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Offline rrenz

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2017, 08:34:45 PM »
Right. At the time i wasn't headed in a concours direction I just wanted to have a brighter cluster so i switched to the led's. I'm more curious if the radio is supposed to be green or blue to match the cluster. Im assuming the blue lens's in the cluster are correct?
Ryan
1966 C Code NJ Springtime Yellow
C-4 Automatic
Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline rrenz

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2017, 08:44:07 PM »
in continuing my research i found a teardown of a radio thread. it looks like there was a blue cover for that bulb in the radio. I guess my question now is do i have a 66 radio? from what i remember it was dated 66 and i thought the 66 radio began with a 5 due to the increase of Am frequencies.
Ryan
1966 C Code NJ Springtime Yellow
C-4 Automatic
Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline midlife

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2017, 09:17:41 PM »
Original dash cluster bulbs, when passed through the blue diffuser, turned a green color with a slight tint of blue.  The radio bulb color would match the dash.
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Offline Building 3

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2017, 11:26:05 PM »
Here is what my original cluster looks like for reference. The radio matches the cluster.
1966 289 C code auto convertible December 1965 scheduled build at Dearborn.

1966 289 C code auto convertible
October 1965 scheduled build at Metuchen.

Offline rrenz

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2017, 06:56:58 AM »
Thats the information i needed. I was un aware of the diffuser turning the color green. Ill have to return to the 1895 bulbs. thanks
« Last Edit: January 10, 2017, 07:01:56 AM by rrenz »
Ryan
1966 C Code NJ Springtime Yellow
C-4 Automatic
Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline NEFaurora

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2017, 12:11:41 AM »
While we are on the subject on LEDs.. I'm thinking of putting some white LEDs to replace all my 1895 Dash bulbs... I want some good made LEDs that will last... Anybody recommend a decent brand of LEDs??

:o)

Tony K.
« Last Edit: January 13, 2017, 12:42:58 AM by NEFaurora »
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Offline 65Ford

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2017, 02:28:34 AM »
I'd like to use LEDs as well since my '65 FB will be a daily driver but I like the original green illumination.  Since the incandescent bulbs were probably more yellow in their light quality would yellow LEDs work with the blue diffusers to create same green?  I'd like the dash lighting to be a little brighter but not as bright as the modern vehicles - I like the "old" style feel.  Maybe I'm asking for two diametrically opposed qualities.

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Offline jwc66k

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2017, 12:41:19 PM »
I'm think of putting some white LEDs to replace all my 1895 Dash bulbs... I want some good made LEDs that will last...
My Mustangs (was 5, now 3) are all over 50 years old and only one 1895 bulb needed to be replaced, most I've had for over 25 years. That is what in the Logistics Profession is known as "high reliability". Replacement 1895 bulbs are inexpensive and readily available. Just a thought.
Jim
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Offline rrenz

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2017, 09:41:25 PM »
I'd like to use LEDs as well since my '65 FB will be a daily driver but I like the original green illumination.  Since the incandescent bulbs were probably more yellow in their light quality would yellow LEDs work with the blue diffusers to create same green?  I'd like the dash lighting to be a little brighter but not as bright as the modern vehicles - I like the "old" style feel.  Maybe I'm asking for two diametrically opposed qualities.

I had put white LED's in mine for the same reason. I was originally looking for some brighter gauges. what happened was it turned everything electric blue. so yes you would need a more yellow type temperature to re create the green. I saw that NPD carries a LED kit that supposedly will retain the original greenish color. They were pricey at around 40 bucks i think. superbrightleds.com has a very good selection with good prices. I've used them in the past many times.
Ryan
1966 C Code NJ Springtime Yellow
C-4 Automatic
Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline rodster

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #11 on: January 12, 2017, 12:09:27 AM »
I'd like to use LEDs as well since my '65 FB will be a daily driver but I like the original green illumination.  Since the incandescent bulbs were probably more yellow in their light quality would yellow LEDs work with the blue diffusers to create same green?  I'd like the dash lighting to be a little brighter but not as bright as the modern vehicles - I like the "old" style feel.  Maybe I'm asking for two diametrically opposed qualities.

My '09 GT has the My Color option and I have it set to 'classic green'  ;)
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1967 Dearborn Mustang Conv.
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1984 SVO - 2A

Offline sed6

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #12 on: January 12, 2017, 04:29:31 AM »
How about the rally pac in a '66, green glow or yellowish glow?

Offline sed6

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2017, 04:44:14 PM »
Anyone?

Offline midlife

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Re: Dash light Colors
« Reply #14 on: January 18, 2017, 07:11:04 PM »
I don't know for sure, but I would wager money that it would be greenish-blue to match the rest of the car.
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