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Old Bastard !
Joined: Fri Dec 22nd, 2017
Location: California USA
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Head Unit looks good, is it easy to use ?
What is the difference between the Mountaineer Cluster and the Ranger/Explorer Clusters ? Is the wiring the same, I know the earlier Clusters weren't wired up the same as the '03 is !
When I started the original Dash Cluster Color Conversation in the '03, I scraped off the back side of the cluster, painted it RED, that went ok, reinstalled the unit; clicked on the lights and WHAM-BAM... the thing is Pink... wtf ! The Defuser built in to the Gauge Faces caused the RED Paint to turn PINK !
Didn't want that, I contacted a guy, I think in NY State, and he makes Ranger Clusters in whatever color you want. I got one with a lot of RED and a Heater Panel with a lot of RED.
The heater panel got installed and looks great, the Dash never got finished, I still have the new panels for the Cluster just sitting there so I cant say if they will look good or not but based on the Heater Panel, I would say the Dash Cluster will look great.
Oh Ya, my Dash Cluster is without a Tach.
Then I went to the Radio and converted the face to all RED SMD LEDs, that looks great but I need a resistor in line to compensate for the high output of the LEDs. With the Dimmer set low and the radio at an acceptable level the dash lights were too low, so a resistor will be my only option.
Back to the Lighting topic, the lighting for my Cluster, I tested a string of CREE LEDs in the cluster housing for approximately 3 hours, with the Gauges in place and the new Gauge Faces, first the faces didn't look bad outside the truck, second the heat was's more than I thought would be a good idea but it was bright, so I started looking at high wattage resistors to check the amount of output, but again, never got them in the truck so never got a chance to really check them out.
I like to check out things like Heat Levels (over time), Brightness, and Coverage before installing them in the truck, takes a lot of the guess work out and reduces the time involved.
Hope the new LEDs in the Mountaineer Cluster work out, I would like to see it installed.
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Ltr,
2003 EDGE, Std Cab, Steppie, E4 Red, 5sp, 4x
5" SuperLift, 33" x 12.50 x 15"
Hurst Shifter
Mod'd Backrack to fit Steppie
Front and Rear Bumpers by Custom 4x4 Fabrication, OK; now Mike's Welding and Fabrication.
Working on more Mods, just need more time, longer days would work !