Instrument cluster light "bleed thru"

KaptKane · Jun 29, 2018

Newbie here! Just bought this 88 GT. Take a look at the pic of my instruments at night with the lights on. There appears to be a strange "bleed thru" of greenish light on the Tach side.
I'd like to swap a 140mph Speedo into it anyway. From what I read on here tho, it looks like only the 88/89 Speedos (and cluster) will work. The newer ones requires some modification?
I appreciate any and all help. If you have a cluster I could use, please let me know.
Also thinking of doing a LED dash lite conversion while I have it out. Thoughts?
Thanks,
Kane

90sickfox · Jun 29, 2018

Never seen that before. Fixing that would be difficult. The black part is glued to the plastic that the light shines through. You could put a LED strip above the cluster ( shining down on it ) paint the needles with reflective paint and have a decent looking cluster. Just take out all the bulbs and wire the LED strip to the dash light wire.

Just follow the grid on the plastic printed circuit behind the cluster. From the bulbs to the connector. There will be a power wire at one end and a ground wire at the other.

Sorry, cant remember the colors.

KaptKane · Jun 30, 2018

90sickfox said:
Never seen that before. Fixing that would be difficult. The black part is glued to the plastic that the light shines through. You could put a LED strip above the cluster ( shining down on it ) paint the needles with reflective paint and have a decent looking cluster. Just take out all the bulbs and wire the LED strip to the dash light wire.

Just follow the grid on the plastic printed circuit behind the cluster. From the bulbs to the connector. There will be a power wire at one end and a ground wire at the other.

Sorry, cant remember the colors.

Thanks for your input on that.
I'm kinda leaning towards changing the complete cluster out if/when I find the right one. Somebody has to have one (That I can afford).
Novel idea tho...using a LED strip. Hadn't thought of that!
Kane

Mustang5L5 · Jun 30, 2018

The gauges faces are glued to a plastic frame. As they age, the plastic delaminates and separates from the frame and you get what you see here.

Only mid 1989-late 89 mustangs got the compatible 140mph gusge cluster. 1990 changed physically and requires a rewire to use. You could also use an SSP cluster from an 87-89 police mustang or a Motorsport 160 gusge if you can find one for cheap.

You can match the miles too so I won't be off. It's actually quite easy to do so and if you have a low mileage car and might someday sell it, you might want to document matching the cluster

KaptKane · Jun 30, 2018

Mustang5L5 said:
The gauges faces are glued to a plastic frame. As they age, the plastic delaminates and separates from the frame and you get what you see here.

Only mid 1989-late 89 mustangs got the compatible 140mph gusge cluster. 1990 changed physically and requires a rewire to use. You could also use an SSP cluster from an 87-89 police mustang or a Motorsport 160 gusge if you can find one for cheap.

You can match the miles too so I won't be off. It's actually quite easy to do so and if you have a low mileage car and might someday sell it, you might want to document matching the cluster

Thanks Mike. That's the kind of info I'm looking for. Now, I just have to find one of those later 89 Clusters or a 87/89 SSP cluster. Somebody out there has to have one, right?
I appreciate it.
How can I get a pic of my car in my "profile" (to replace that "K"?) I can't see how to do it.
Kane

General karthief · Jun 30, 2018

Go into your profile settings, it has to be approved so it may not show up right away.

billison · Jul 2, 2018

For the led, something like this is plug and play. Just test after each light cuz they are directional

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/251620379636

KaptKane · Jul 2, 2018

billison said:
For the led, something like this is plug and play. Just test after each light cuz they are directional

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/251620379636

Thanks for the tip on the LED lights. I ordered a set.
I found a complete 85mph cluster on eBay and bought it. I'm just going to change the LED's out and swap the complete cluster..
Thanks again.
Kane

KaptKane · Jul 13, 2018

So, I found a (supposed) 1988 complete Speedo Cluster (85mph). I put my LED bulbs in (although the 88 cluster doesn't label the wiring schematic like the later models are supposed to. So, I had to guess atvthe common ground circuit. Of course I guessed wrong and had to pull it and reverse all the dash lites!) (I tested all my life sockets with jumper wires before I installed. Figured out which side was the positive and negative. I marked my negative side with a paint pen so when installing I knew at a glance which side was which). Now i have it all put back together and working but my speedo seems to be running about 8mph slow?

Mustang5L5 · Jul 13, 2018

Speedo cable jammed in there too tight?

KaptKane · Jul 14, 2018

Mustang5L5 said:
Speedo cable jammed in there too tight?

KaptKane · Jul 14, 2018

Mustang5L5 said:
Speedo cable jammed in there too tight?

Well...i didn't think about that but...i dont think so. We just pushed the cable housing head back upmon the back of the speedo head and then slipped the white plastic retsiner up over it till it "clicked".

KaptKane · Jul 14, 2018

Thanks. (as you can see) got it done.

Instrument cluster light "bleed thru"

KaptKane

New Member

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

KaptKane

New Member

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

KaptKane

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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

billison

I like tinted tail

KaptKane

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KaptKane

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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

KaptKane

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KaptKane

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