Instrument Cluster Mod, adding LEDs

[scirocco_88_16v@hotmail.com (Brian Wagner)]

Raffi this rocs, I am waitning for the next installment. I don't know if I
am bold enough to split and dis mantle my cluster.

Brian
----- Original Message -----
From: "EUROROC II" <flaatr@yahoo.com>
To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2002 4:40 AM
Subject: Instrument Cluster Mod, adding LEDs


> So here is the first set of pics on my modifications to the instrument
> cluster. This is the easy part, installing the 5 new LEDs.
>
>
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaatr/lst?.dir=/Instrument+Cluster+Mods/01)+LED+
Installation&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/flaa
tr/lst%3f.dir=/Instrument%2bCluster%2bMods/01)%2bLED%2bInstallation%26.src=p
h%26.view=t
>
> Sorry for the mile long URL... It's a yahoo thing. If it doesn't work let
> me know...
>
> I assume most of you can disassemble the cluster so I skipped that part
and
> I am also doing this in conjunction with my MFA update so the pictures so
> the MFA display but the LED carrier on non-MFA clusters are identical to
> the one I show.
>
> The title of the pics basically tell ya what to do but here is the
> simplified instructions. Anyone wanting to actually publish this stuff on
a
> tech note in a web page feel free I can supply photos and stuff as I go
along.
>
> 1) take the cluster apart and get the LED carrier.
>
> 2) remove the black retainer that holds the 5 LEDs in place and also has
> the 5 fake LED lumps. Do not drill the rivet looking things out (two
> places). This holds the retainer in place and the retainer is a snap in
> part. Use a small screwdriver to pry and pop off the retainer out.
>
> 3) find a drill bit that fits snuggly into one of the 5 existing LED holes
> and then drill out the 5 fake LEDs from the back side. I recommend using a
> smaller drill to drill thru the LED and make a nice pilot hole for the
> larger drill to go thru dead center.
>
> 4) remove the bit from the drill and spin it by hand in the holes a few
> times to remove any plastic burs left behind.
>
> 5) The LEDs have a shoulder that needs to fit into the retainer, the
> original holes have a step cut into them for this. Using a larger drill
bit
> (I can provided sizes later) drill a counter sink into the retainer. Do
> this by hand and only as deep as you need to get the LED to fit into the
> retainer completely.
>
> 6) Install all the LEDs into the LED carrier (MFA display incorporates the
> carrier, non MFA is the carrier and clock). The Blue LED, well it's not
> really an LED but we'll look past that for now, has a much larger hole
> right? A regular T1 -3/4 LED will sit over this area and not sink in so
> don't worry about that if you plan on replacing the blue thing with a
> regular LED as I plan to. Snap in the retainer over the LEDs. The retainer
> will fit two ways but if you make sure the original holes with the molded
> steps go on top over the original LEDs then you'll get it right.
>
> 7) Install the newly modified LED carrier into the cluster and take a
look.
> You may notice that there is a difference in how my LEDs look in my photo.
> This is not from my process but from my LED selection. I used many
> different LEDs for this test install and some a longer and sorter and
> redder than the others. If you plan on doing this I recommend buying all
> new LEDs so they all match. I'm looking into clear frosted lens LEDs in
all
> locations. A Good sources to buy LEDs is Digikey. I'm currently talking to
> Chicago Miniatures for another project (work related, believe it or not I
> really do have a job, and I really liked the parts I got from them ) I'm
> going to see what they have that I can use for this project. Finding clear
> frosted blues and multicolor LEDs that all match is not as easy as you
> might think.
>
> Next step is how to modify the flexible PCB to connect up to the LEDs.
Some
> of the wiring is already there so this will help but nothing is simple
> right...
>
> Stay tuned.
> -Raffi
>
>
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