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View Full Version : LED lights for interior? - Hoping for advise


First Bird
08-21-2011, 07:12 PM
Hey all,
I am putting a 1968 Pontiac Firebird back together. One thing I hated about the old car was dash and tail lights always blowing out. I have gone to LED tail lights. I'm pretty sure I want to replace interior incandescent bulbs with LED, but before I do I would be grateful for your knowledge of LED.
FULMNTE
08-21-2011, 07:47 PM
I have done all interior lights with LEDs and LOVE it!

I used www.superbrightleds.com as a source
Mike Holleman
08-22-2011, 04:35 AM
Hey all,
I am putting a 1968 Pontiac Firebird back together. One thing I hated about the old car was dash and tail lights always blowing out. I have gone to LED tail lights. I'm pretty sure I want to replace interior incandescent bulbs with LED, but before I do I would be grateful for your knowledge of LED.

Go to your local West Marine and look at what they have. I have used LEDs for years, all from marine sources.
Mike
Bigblue73
08-23-2011, 04:15 AM
X2 on the marine applications. The stuff they are using is very small, bright and can be hidden discreetly.
Jim Nilsen
08-23-2011, 04:27 AM
make sure you get the right color leds to make the car look inside like you want. White bright leds give a look that is not very warm.
yellow1098Greg
09-05-2011, 10:18 PM
i have done my dom light and kick panels in LEDs and love it over the old fashion bulb look
CreepinDeth
09-07-2011, 02:33 AM
Most of your gauge and dash lights are going to be 161, 168, or 194 wedge bulbs.
The only difference is the wattages for incandescents.

The best replacement is a 5 or 9 SMD LED wedge bulb.
They're typically called 194 LED SMD bulbs. I get mine off Ebay for $2 a pop.
I looked into SuperBriteLED's but they sell the same stuff with a 100% markup or more.

These are the 9 element ones. The 5 element one's are just 1 row shorter.
I have these in both my classics.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-T10-194-168-W5W-9-LED-5050-SMD-SMT-White-Turn-Light-/130396369409?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e5c3ab201

As for the dome light festoon bulb, you can also get those.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-42mm-High-Power-9-SMD-LED-Festoon-Dome-Bulb-White-/130572053941?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e66b36db5
First Bird
09-09-2011, 04:25 PM
Thank you guys. I am grateful for all of your advice. I'm going LED. I'll update here when I get those in.
DarkoNova
09-09-2011, 05:56 PM
I have done all interior lights with LEDs and LOVE it!

I used www.superbrightleds.com as a source

Man that site is confusing as hell. Tried to find some nice bright reverse lights and my head is spinning...
MyFriendScott
03-03-2012, 10:09 AM
I'm looking into this now too. Some people were saying that the 194 5SMD replacement LED wasn't bright enough. I found some 20SMD's in the 194 style thinking they would be much brighter. Anyone have any before and after pics and part numbers that have switched the dash lights over to LEDs?
Red Rocker
03-04-2012, 05:29 PM
I'm looking into this now too. Some people were saying that the 194 5SMD replacement LED wasn't bright enough. I found some 20SMD's in the 194 style thinking they would be much brighter. Anyone have any before and after pics and part numbers that have switched the dash lights over to LEDs?


This may be of some help: http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=204459
CreepinDeth
03-04-2012, 08:45 PM
I'm looking into this now too. Some people were saying that the 194 5SMD replacement LED wasn't bright enough. I found some 20SMD's in the 194 style thinking they would be much brighter.

The only place I can see a 20 SMD LED bulb fitting is in the dome light
......which is recommended, but it will be the festoon style ends.

You will not fit one that long in any dash bulb area that I can think of.
Maybe a 9 SMD LED in the 194 wedge will fit , because some guys have used those.



Anyone have any before and after pics and part numbers that have switched the dash lights over to LEDs?

I have a few for a few applications with perimeter lighting.
First one up is my 1970 442's gauges, after restoration of the gauges insides with fresh paint for maximum reflection.
Left is incandescents, and right is 194 5 SMD LED's.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/2011OldsGaugeComparison-1.jpg

2nd one is another member of Nastyz28 who took his new Autometer Phantoms and stuck
5 SMD LED 194 wedges in half his gauges to show the difference.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/03/WoodyLEDGaugedifference-1.jpg