Dude, this is a friggin awesome writeup.

The reason why mycolor was confined to the instrument cluster: the same reason we don't have IRS. The same reason we don't have magnetohelogicial shocks. The same reason we don't get body-colored side-view mirrors. Its all a matter of cost. I actually read an article from one of Fords stylists in charge of the S197. They DID want MyColor throughout the interior, as well as body color mirrors, but the S197 is all about optimizing where Ford spent its money, and they wanted the money elsewhere in the car.

 

Here's a few shots of my conversion (the pics aren't perfect, there's no variation in the shade of blue in real life for instance, but pretty good such low light conditions)

 

That's going to be my next mod,looks good.

 

Just got most of my junkyard parts in today - center console stack as well as power windows switches. Just need to get power lock switches and I should be ready to go! I already have the steering wheel onces.

As for the Radio, I think that I am just going to get a new one and install at the same time.

Cannot wait to get this one started!

 

Wow this is awesome. Great job Deric. I think I may be adding this one to the mod list.

 

For anybody planning on doing their gauge cluster it uses plcc-4 leds. there are 50 of them on the cluster. I changed mine to white two years ago by simply desoldering the green ones and swapping them with white ones. here is a link to my original post that has a pic of the gauge cluster included for reference.

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/showth...h+lights+white

just figured it might help...

 

Thanks Faber!

 

The headlight switch bulb is white, but changing it wont matter as there is a green film that is used to give the (puke) green hue. Deric, you mentioned replacing the green screen on the stereo in your tutorial, did you do this or find one from another unit that was a different color or something?

 

I had to look twice to make sure that wasn't done by tacobill. very nice Deric...

 

I got a piece of blue acrylic from a local shop but they didn't want to cut and polish the bevels in it. I decided to push forward with my CarPC install instead.


Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment. TacoBill has set the bar on writeups. I just tried to meet those standards.

 

Just finished my new gauge cluster and interior led mod. my camera is kinda funky but you will get the basic look anyway. I am stoked at how it turned out!

 

I really want to do this. I really hate the green. Unfortunately I do not have the ability, or the bizalls to do it.

 

Find a wreck one and get the pieces from it. I'm sure it wouldn't be that much more and then there wouldn't be any stress

 

a 15 watt or variable iron, a little flux paste (makes a huge difference) some solder braid and good solder and you are all set. if you use the right technique you won't have any trouble. you just want to put a light film of flux on both surfaces, tin your iron with a little solder and then hold the led to the pads with a tweezers and tap each end with the iron only holding it on the for about 1 second. the solder will flow perfectly due to the flux, and this will also keep you from holding the iron on the led for too long. (they can take the heat though so don't worry if you hold it for two seconds) the trick is patience, good lighting, and the right wattage on your iron.

 

That looks excellent Faber

 

Man that looks great, Is that an amber color, I would like that in my car if only I had the ability also to do this.

 

I just swapped the last few leds on the tach with high intensity red ones. and the rest white. as for the stereo, ac etc. they are also red.

If anybody else wants this done but does not have the tools, skills, or will to do it I could do it for you if you want to send me the parts you want modded and pay for time and materials. Just send me a PM.

I figure it takes me about an hour to do a cluster, the same for a shaker, the AC probably took me 40 minutes and the little switches took about 10 minutes per switch.

the LEDs cost about $50-60 to do the whole car

so i would price labor it as follows

cluster $100
shaker $100
AC $65
door and window switches $25
misc switches $10

you pay shipping and material

I can turn the whole thing around in 2 days and ship it back.

 

Just sent you a PM bud. Wouldn't need radio or speedo/tach done.

 

Update for those asking about the RGB kits:

I was able to get a good etching on my test board and hope to get the RGB kit moving a bit quicker than it has been going. I'm currently looking into a stand-alone controller since my CarPC is still in pieces. I should have something in the next few weeks.

 

Deric,

That is really something. You are doing this for all the LEDs in the car? Amazing! I definitely want this done!

Cheers