New Ideas Have a new idea for your Ford Ranger? General discussion of new ideas for the Ford Ranger.

HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!

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Old 01-09-2013
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HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!

Hey Everyone!!

I'm lookin into doin some LED mods to my baby!! i've ordered the lights that i need nd know the general information of what i need to do!! but i still got some questions!!

I know from the research i've done that the needles don't always show up when you change the color of your cluster.. nd ive been told to just change my needles from red to clear but find $80 on some damn needles to be incredibly insane!! so i need some help!!

i know that you can shine i small LED where the needle is to light it up nd show.. nd that's what i was thinking about doing to my truck, but i don't quite know how cover the rest of the light so it doesn't interfere with the color!!

can i get some suggestions :D
thank ya'll
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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The way the needle is made won't allow you to "cover" part of it up. The needle and the housing piece are all orange plastic, with the cap piece painted black.

your best bet would be white needles. You can find them in Explorers and 99-03 Rangers.

Third option would also be White LED's. They'll just be a brighter version of what you have now, but make it look clean IMO.
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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thing is i want to ad blue LEDs..

would i have to add some space for white LEDs just for the needles??

cuz i really dont wanna have to buy new needles
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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-no needle older than 2004 will fit so don't listen to the previous post

-if you want to do blue LEDs, you'll have to remove the gauge cluster, remove the needles, and then remove the overlays and then sand the back of the overlays to remove the green factory paint. you'll need to then paint your overlays with glass paint, install the LEDs, and calibrate the speedometer. I don't know how it is to mod an 04+ cluster, ive only messed with 95-03 ones in terms of changing the color. I kept the factory green in my current truck but added white LEDs behind them so they'r brighter.
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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i just think spending over $70 on some CLEAR* needles is utter crap.. lol

i just want them to show up.. i just want to see my cluster needles nd with all the picture i see you really can't see the needles.. i just wanna what what people did ((without buying new needles)) to see the dang needle!!

but thank you guys for your help :D
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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there are some pictures in this old classified


https://www.ranger-forums.com/interi...aps-il-134520/
 
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Old 01-09-2013
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Originally Posted by 99offroadrngr
there are some pictures in this old classified


https://www.ranger-forums.com/interi...aps-il-134520/
heyy sweetheart!! thanks for the link!! it truly helps!!

ive been lookin all over for clear needles for 04+ but can't find anything!! i'm truly lookin for a clear needle with black hub/:
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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I modded my 04 cluster with red LED's. I didn't mess with the needles because I wasn't willing to drop the coin for that. Big difference between 04+ is a digital odometer.

I think someone did some work with lights and needles... Maybe jp07 of whatever his name is. I just replaced my bulbs with red led's , sanded the back of the overlays and painted them red and filled the spaces with led strips to help make the light more even.

I think I have some pics posted of the after of mine, but I don't think I took any during. I bought a second cluster to experiment on also.
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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https://www.ranger-forums.com/vehicl...-103093/page3/

In that link towards the bottom it shows my gauge cluster after led install.. Also linked to where I got the parts to do it. Lots of soldering BTW.
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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i PM'ed you sweetheart!! message me back whenever you get some time!! thankk you :D
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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City_southern reminds me of the southpark raisins episode..
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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ooo well that's cute -_-
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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just thought it was funny
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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it was hil-ler-ious!!! i died laughing!! -_- lol
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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fawkin butters...
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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you got jokes now!?!?

lmbo
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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as is tradition..
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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i may be a girl!!

but i'll still whoop *** :D lmfbo
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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youre not a south park fan are you..
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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on nd off..

i don't watch it like it's my religion!! lol
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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i dont either i just remember the funny ****.
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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my dome light at night!!
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_200535.jpg

dome light from the front of the truck :D
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_202205.jpg

view from inside!!!
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_202300.jpg

from my passenger side!! ((my stereo is blue too!!))
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_202509.jpg
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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the bulb!!
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_162228.jpg

lit up!!
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_162236.jpg

nd installed :D
HEYY!! In need of some ideas nd knowledge!!-img_20130110_162252.jpg

i got my LEDs for my cluster too!! just waiting on my headlights nd taillights to come in to install those!! so a week or two!!

i feel like a kid at Christmas!!
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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Not bad. do you have everything to swap the HVAC and other misc. lights to blue also?

You should look into an Overhead Console Mod.
 
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Old 01-10-2013
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no i just got leds i today im waiting on my headlights nd taillights to knock it all out in one weekend.. nd im still learning how to recalibrate this dang speedometer nd crap after.. but i'm shooting for aa couple weeks to have it all done by
 


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