Chase's (BigBearDenali) cluster upgrade

[Bombsquad85]

Do you use solid wire for the strips?

I used 24 gauge stranded wire.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06XWN1NL4?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_yo_pop_mb_pd_t2

But I have used solid wire in the past, I ripped some solid wire out of an old Cat-5 network cable. You just have to be careful that the solid wire will not flex and end up breaking. So inside the cluster if should be just fine.

I just redid mine just now with LED strips. I wish I did this initially! @Bigbeardenali1992 not to hijack your thread but I did just the same set up for LEDs as @ScottyBoy and it came out great! Just with stock guage faces

 

[Rocket Man]

Nice work @ScottyBoy as usual. I was lucky that my 02 had the twist in bulbs so converting to LED was easy but at the same time the rest of the upgrades for the 02's are limited like the gauge overlays, etc.

 

[adventurenali92]

I just redid mine just now with LED strips. I wish I did this initially! @Bigbeardenali1992 not to hijack your thread but I did just the same set up for LEDs as @ScottyBoy and it came out great! Just with stock guage faces

View attachment 196719

Looks good man!

 

[04Huck]

It does look really good. Only thing is that i can see all the idiot lights without them being lit up...brights, cel, awd, tire, o/d...etc.... blinker cutout would be fine but why didnt they just blank out the rest? maybe white overlay is too thick for light to shine thru... i like the white with blue tho... looks good. Nice work Scott, good choice Chase....

My thoughts as well. I LOVE the white with blue needles and the chrome trim rings, just hate being able to see all the idiot lights. That part should be black like factory. Wonder how hard it would be to blend the two....

 

[ScottyBoy]

My thoughts as well. I LOVE the white with blue needles and the chrome trim rings, just hate being able to see all the idiot lights. That part should be black like factory. Wonder how hard it would be to blend the two....

The idiot lights are only on because I was bench testing the cluster. That's the same lights that are lit up with the IGN switch on but the engine not running. With the engine running, those lights will be off.

 

[PG01]

The idiot lights are only on because I was bench testing the cluster. That's the same lights that are lit up with the IGN switch on but the engine not running. With the engine running, those lights will be off.

I dudnt mean they were on, you can see the outline.... at least it didn’t look like they were on

 

[Rocket Man]

I dudnt mean they were on, you can see the outline.... at least it didn’t look like they were on

No the lights aren't on, the overlay is different like that. All those can be seen even when the lights are off. That's something I noticed when I bought a cluster with a white Esky overlay and I didn't care for it either. I ended up sending that cluster back and that was one of the reasons why. I thought it was just the place I bought it from but it seems maybe they're all like that?

 

[PG01]

No the lights aren't on, the overlay is different like that. All those can be seen even when the lights are off. That's something I noticed when I bought a cluster with a white Esky overlay and I didn't care for it either. I ended up sending that cluster back and that was one of the reasons why. I thought it was just the place I bought it from but it seems maybe they're all like that?

Right exactly wut im saying... @Sasquatch ’s look good....
Not that these dont look good but that just dont jive wit me

 

[Shaw520]

Yes,..understandable... The fact that you can read all the signals without lighting IS the difference,....apparantly some like it and some dont,.. I do.

 

[chevy529]

That looks really good! Nice job!

Hesitant to ask but is the X27 more reliable\accurate or what is available today?

Ignore if the question is inappropriate here.

 

[Shaw520]

That looks really good! Nice job!

Hesitant to ask but is the X27 more reliable\accurate or what is available today?

Ignore if the question is inappropriate here.

Yes,.. the X-27 is the upgraded, more reliable stepper motor.

 

[jmm121783]

looks really good my only complaint would be, Is it too bright?? I like the white and blue for sure, and I really like how you can see where the "other" indicator lights (CEL, Airbag, TC, 4x4) without the lights being on!

(which may not be valid since I am not there to see it in person and gauging from a picture has to be difficult)

 

[Shaw520]

looks really good my only complaint would be, Is it too bright?? I like the white and blue for sure, and I really like how you can see where the "other" indicator lights (CEL, Airbag, TC, 4x4) without the lights being on!

(which may not be valid since I am not there to see it in person and gauging from a picture has to be difficult)

yea,..Its kinda difficult to go by the photos,.. camera tends to pick up alot more of the blue led's,.. but there is always the spin wheel dimmer to reduce it if it is too bright.
With mine I didnt use led's, just the stock bulbs, and white face with blue filter. (see pic below)

 

[ladorn45]

So I am in the process of doing the cluster and the 4x4 switch , and hvac cluster. Is there away to blackout the existing led that work on the HVAC and 4x4 bulb. I don't want to de-solder them just in case i want to undo the led strip upgrade. Any Suggestions?

 

[Shaw520]

So I am in the process of doing the cluster and the 4x4 switch , and hvac cluster. Is there away to blackout the existing led that work on the HVAC and 4x4 bulb. I don't want to de-solder them just in case i want to undo the led strip upgrade. Any Suggestions?

The only thing I can think of is to run a separate power supply,.. but that would mean tapping the correct wire,...@Scottyboy would know better.

 

[ladorn45]

I was going to run separate power since i ended up going the RGB led route, but that is why i want to black out the light just in case my idea turns into a bad one lol.

 

[ScottyBoy]

The only thing I can think of is to run a separate power supply,.. but that would mean tapping the correct wire,...@Scottyboy would know better.

I can't think of anything that would successfully cover or blackout the stock bulbs without unsoldering them. If it were me, I would just unsolder them.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

So I am in the process of doing the cluster and the 4x4 switch , and hvac cluster. Is there away to blackout the existing led that work on the HVAC and 4x4 bulb. I don't want to de-solder them just in case i want to undo the led strip upgrade. Any Suggestions?

I can't think of anything that would successfully cover or blackout the stock bulbs without unsoldering them. If it were me, I would just unsolder them.

PlastiDip?

 

[ladorn45]

Not a bad idea I'm just worried about the heat. My other idea is since I'm just running a separate power supply just turn them off from the switch

 

[ladorn45]

Also, I noticed that the 4x4 switch has that blue tint just like the stock cluster face overlay. ScottyBoy when you upgrade those to leds do you remove the blue tint or do you leave it as is.