new gauge cluster is in!!
 

The job is done I installed my new 2003 ranger cluster in my 2000 xlt ranger :biggthump

Although I didn't plan on doing it 100 degree heat today lol.

Anyways on to the picts:

Before:
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/4966/p6230049m.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3954/p6230051.jpg

All painted:
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4329/p6190045.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6200/p6180043.jpg
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5397/p6180042.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/4626/p6180041.jpg

Dialing her in(needle checks):
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6590/p6230056y.jpg

After:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/5256/p6230064.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/8961/p6230062.jpg
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3539/p6230063.jpg


Now the problem i have is the display is not bright enough. I used plugin WLED-B LEDs from surperbright.com that mudranger96 had used in his truck. I cant even see the orange needles at night lol. So I need to find something that works better. I'm debating between blue LEDS or white ones for back lighting. Anyone got any suggestions? If all else fails i might just put the origonal 194 incandescent back in.

solder solder solder...I've got 36 5mm 13000mcd LED's in mine. you can't miss the blue or the orange needles. I plan on redoing it all down the road with one of my spare clusters. Bring some purple in to the mix maybe. IDK. I'm thinking a row of LEDS directly behind the needle sweeps(numbers).




just an idear. lol. I HATE YOU! I want that cluster in mine!!

shane, if you plan on redoing it with a spare cluster, let me know, i want a pre modded one that i can just plug in

yeah I'm most likely going to have to go that route. I just wonder if it would be beter to go with clear white LEDs as they produce more light over blue. Only problem I have with soldering is my iron sucks and I have shaky hands to boot lol.


well if you want that cluster look just keep an eye out..hell I will as well(and let you know) I just got lucky and found this one on ebay one day and pounced on it :biggrin:

oh yeah I had some major trouble with the headlamp switch. I was trying to switch to led like this mod. I couldn't get the damn socket thing to go back in right(clockwise) though so then I tried hot glue which also didnt help. Basically it kept coming loose and flickering until the LED and resister burnt up :( I'm bummed now I have to order another LED and start over.

LEDs are cheap....try it out.

I know where 2 are for $41 each, but dont wanna spend that. lol.

LOL well i wound up spending near $100 for mine :happysad:


now I'm painting my hvac to blue to match :biggthump
so more picts to come :wink:
I almost want a silver plate to match my gauges though lol

hmmm... not sure if you have any hookups on this - perhaps have someone run a CNC machined copy of yoru current cluster, except onto some thin steel, 1/16" or 1/8", then you could give it a brushed steel lok, clearcoat.. and you have a custom mod done.. But thats only if you have a buddy with access to a CNC ;)

that sort of reminds me of NuImage platinum gauge overlays mudranger96 is using on his truck but more custom.

I'm still debating on a few options with LEDs for my cluster. The first is trying better plugins. Second is components which will require me to buy a better soldering iron first :wink:

here they are:
WLED-BHP5(194 type) Blue 5500 mcd 360° plugins.

36 RL5-B12120 5mm Blue 1200 mcd 120° LEDs
or
36 RL5-B08-360 T-1 3/4 Blue 800 Luminous Flux(mim) 360° LEDs

If i do just components I'm thinking of soldering them into clusters of 6 using two 510k ohm resisters like TrePaul86 did in his howto but instead doing it in the 194 twist-lock socket bases if possible so the LEDs can be easily installed/removed.


It also looks like it might be possible to do a combo of both plugins and components as yet another option. Gah I cant decide ;)

Just ordered 100 5mm 13,000 LEDS from ebay for $17:biggthump

I assume that's where Shane got his...and i couldn't pass up a deal like that. Beats the price of superbrightleds too :wink:

dude how did you get your blue paint to look so even and perfect? I did my old cluster with blue translucent paint and it looked like crap. blotches everywhere

yeah I had to redo it a couple of times to get it perfect. I used a bottle of glass paint i picked up from Joanns which came with a tiny little tip on it making it easier to apply smoothly. I kind of applied a little at time in sort of a rolling fashion like you would do with a pen. I will say painting the gauges where a bit of a pita.

Yeah I spent awhile on mine and the more I worked on it the worse it got. When I do my Sport Trac gauges I'm not gonna **** around, I'm going to use blue transparent film this time.