White speedo dials for EL Falcon

argonEL · 31-03-2005, 06:22 PM

I have done the Blue LED dash mod to my falcon and have found that it is a little hard to see at times with only the numbers showing up blue ... and i then had the idea of doing it the other way around. Have everything glow blue except for the numbers.

I have been having a look around for some at the spoiler shop today and they didn't have any plain ones that are white and will let the light through. They did however have a blue EL light backing for the dash that produced its own light but they were asking $320 for it fitted, which I consider to be too much for something that is relatively simple to do.

Does anyone here have white speedo dials on their falcon? I am interested to try and figure out how much it has cost to do it.

Cheers Guys

A pic of the dash:

The problem i have is with the needles i guess... they don't really show up.

b2tf · 31-03-2005, 07:49 PM

I remember there was a guy who actually made up his own and printed them out from a computer lol, but for what they were they looked really good, were white with the Tickford logo in the middle of each dial.

They do exist, its just a matter of finding them. I think burgdesign.com.au was selling them at one point?

myxr6 · 31-03-2005, 08:00 PM

Try here , they come with blue or green illumination.

http://www.emtechautomotive.com.au/index2.htm

**M&Ms** · 31-03-2005, 08:27 PM

70 bucks off ebay with free postage

white guages

EAO WORM · 31-03-2005, 08:28 PM

I have the white in my EF XR6 and it looks awesome. White backing and the needles and numbers look black by day. But at night the needles and numbers glow red (i'm sure the colour could be changed).
The car isn't at home right now but I can take some picks on the weekend if you want.
I still have the receit where the original owner purchased the dash.
It was from: Restor-a-dash. Revesby. NSW. 02 97734163
This was in 1999 tho so I can't say there still there.

argonEL · 31-03-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myxr6

Try here , they come with blue or green illumination.

http://www.emtechautomotive.com.au/index2.htm

Yeah myxr6 ... the EL Style Dial was the one that i was quoted $320 for :(
A bit too much for it IMO

Cheers EAO WORM pictures would be awesome...

I might take some pics for you guys too, to show you what it looks like

myxr6 · 31-03-2005, 11:37 PM

I paid 220 for mine installed.

Walkinshaw · 01-04-2005, 01:04 AM

Are you just after the neadles in white to allow them to glow blue???? If so go grab the neadles out of a EF falcon.

argonEL · 01-04-2005, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

Are you just after the needles in white to allow them to glow blue???? If so go grab the needles out of a EF falcon.

That is the main problem that i am having. The needles can't be seen easily at night.

That is a good idea ... dunno how i'm gonna come across some EF needles tho...
Ill give that a try

... Off to the wreckers again...

I just thought that it would be kewl if the face glowed and the number turned up black... Ive already done the blue LED mod and because of that the glowy dials are out of the question i guess.

myxr6 i live in stupid backwards perth ... higher prices and no international rally anymore

EAO WORM · 05-04-2005, 08:33 PM

Sorry I took so long, but here is those pics I promised.
The gauges are brighter than the pics show and easy to see at night.My gauges
Sorry about the size...I'm new to all this.

Duffman · 05-04-2005, 08:55 PM

I contacted the ebay guy he sells them for $70 they sound like they are good going to get some for my au

EOA WORM - that looks great you using leds? Its such a good spread of red light I would love to get that effect in my au. Also the needles look great they are kind of goldy though I don't know how you made them that colour :/

EAO WORM · 05-04-2005, 10:08 PM

To be honest I don't know if there is LEDs in there and the needles actually glow white, I think it's just the photo. Does look good tho.

PULLY6 · 06-04-2005, 03:11 PM

WOW nice dash EAO WORM - thats exactly what i want my dash to look like.

EAO/argonEL, how difficult was the mod in terms of soldering etc? i've had a pretty close look at the article on fordmods.com.

argonEL · 06-04-2005, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PULLY6

WOW nice dash EAO WORM - thats exactly what i want my dash to look like.

EAO/argonEL, how difficult was the mod in terms of soldering etc? i've had a pretty close look at the article on fordmods.com.

Its not that hard...

Just a little on the expensive side. If you were in perth i would do them for you tho.

I have thought about it and im going to give up on the white background for now. Im just gonna get some white needles for now to replace the orange ones that aren't showing up under the blue light.

Hmmm, sorry about not getting a photo up for you guys ... ill do it tonight now that some of you are interested...

EAO WORM · 06-04-2005, 07:55 PM

I didn't fit mine it was in the car when I bought it.

argonEL · 08-04-2005, 08:58 PM

I put a pic up for you all to see what it looks like... I put it in the first post.

The blue is the perfect colour IMHO.

Has anyone else with a EL done this mod?

Duffman · 08-04-2005, 09:33 PM

I did it to my au had the exact same problem easy way to fix just use red leds thats what im gonna do next time around the falcon interors don't seem to like blue light.

argonEL · 08-04-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkau

I did it to my au had the exact same problem easy way to fix just use red leds thats what im gonna do next time around the falcon interors don't seem to like blue light.

Yer i spose the red needles would show up red well :P

Caviar · 09-04-2005, 08:16 PM

Attempted it on my EL, with limited success, was far too dim and could barely make out the speedo needles.

Figured I incorrectly soldered the wrong resistor. It is something that was easily done with a little bit of soldering know-how.

Looking at yours ArgonEL i must say i'm tempted to give it another go

Gambit · 09-04-2005, 10:03 PM

Would it be possible to get the dash to light up similar to the ba xr's? That would look sweet.

argonEL · 10-04-2005, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

Would it be possible to get the dash to light up similar to the ba xr's? That would look sweet.

The XRs have a white light (im pretty sure they are still using the same bulbs) and coloured filter plates behind the numbers and the XR symbol.

I do love the dash in the XR6 tho and driving my old mans XR6 around all the time (my avatar is a pic of it, or part of a pic) inspired me to do it to my car....

Im not completely happy with the way that it looks but im sure that when i get some white needles for it, that will change.

EFFalcon · 10-04-2005, 02:59 AM

basically you'd need to use white LED's (i have white LED's in mine coz i like white more then yellow :P)
and then u'd need to tint the back of the actual guages to the colour you want.
this would have to be done very even yet very thin to still allow enough light through.

Don't the EL needles simply have orange paint on the bottom of them, i think u can scrape it off and they'll be like EF ones, or maybe u need to add white paint to the bottom, i can't remeber, i had a heap laying around at one stage.

the LED mod is very easy to do.

argonEL · 10-04-2005, 03:08 AM

OMG there is someone else awake ....

EFFalcon · 10-04-2005, 03:10 AM

yeah, its too hot :/

Duffman · 10-04-2005, 12:03 PM

I just got the white backing off that guy on ebay for $70 should get it in a few days. The numbers are blue and he said they light up blue at night im just hoping the needles will still light up properly. Im thinking about putting in white led's though im not sure if it will make much difference as the au forte dash lights are already very white.

argonEL · 10-04-2005, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkau

I just got the white backing off that guy on ebay for $70 should get it in a few days. The numbers are blue and he said they light up blue at night im just hoping the needles will still light up properly. Im thinking about putting in white led's though im not sure if it will make much difference as the au forte dash lights are already very white.

Cool.

Think you can let us know how it went and some pics when you are done?

Cheers

EFFalcon · 10-04-2005, 03:17 PM

blinkau: the AU dash lights are by no means white.
trust me, i've compared my parents AU dash to mine (with white led's) and the pure white is way better.