Tips and Tricks: Brighter Gauge Lighting

I've had the gauge cluster out of the '66 a number of times over the past few years for various "refurb" projects. I have experimented with new incandescent bulbs with new diffusers, and blue LED lighting in place of the stock incandescent bulbs as well. Recently, while the gauge cluster was out to add an XM module to the Pioneer stereo, I decided to experiment once more.

The gauge cluster itself basically sandwiches the gauges and some oddly-placed light bulbs attempt to light up the gauges at night. But even with new incandescent bulbs and new blue diffusers, the gauges usually appear with a dim, green glow.

Well, the green glow won't change with this method, as I believe this is caused by a yellow incandescent light bulb lit behind a blue diffuser (yellow + blue = green). But the green glow will appear much brighter by repainting the white gauge cluster with a silver metallic paint...

Before: The white background of the gauge cluster wasn't bright
and shiny anymore, so the dash lights were ineffective. 

During: With gauges removed, paint the white areas with silver metallic.
Don't paint the black areas. (Sorry for the blurry photo...)

After: With shiny silver metallic paint and new diffusers, the bulbs
light up the gauges much better.

Here's what I used. You'll need a silver metallic paint
for this task. The more reflective, the better.

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Slip Sliding Away

A quick little update—more of a tip actually. One problem I was having on the '66 was that the pedal pads on the clutch and brake pedals would slip off. I tried gluing them on, and saw evidence that a previous owner tried the same thing, but to no avail. The only way I've found to solve this issue for stock-style pedal pads is to install the stainless trim rings around the pedals.

You can buy these trim pieces as a set or separately.

These trim pieces have a series of metal tabs that wrap around the back side of the pedal plate using a screwdriver for leverage to help bend them. I actually think they look better too!

Did I See What I Thought I Saw?

For years I've been making the drive between North Carolina and Virginia for business and personal trips. On I-95 North near Ashland as I come around the bend in the road, and in a clearing to my right, is some sort of Mustang advertisement. I'm never able to get a photo of it—until just recently.

Old Dominion Mustang/Camaro has quite a billboard on I-95!

It would be nicer if everything was closer to the road, but a gearhead is able to spot what's going on across the clearing. :)