Project MULE - Expedition build on a 1991 1500 4x4 Suburban

[PMA4x4]

Gauge cluster upgrades!

I decided since the dash is apart lets get the LED upgrade done and lets go a step further and paint the interior housing chrome to help reflect the light. We all know how bad these gauge clusters are to see at night.

The 91s use a VSS speedo so I just had to disconnect some wires and it pops right out.

Remove the (6) 1/4" screws to remove the clear cover.

Unplug the VSS module from the ribbon board.

The black bezel pops off.

to remove the contact "forks" push down and out on one tang and it will pop out the back.

Clean the housing with with soap and water rinse and dry thoroughly. When you apply the paint give it a light dusting. this is a tack coat it will help the full coat of paint adhere better.

Spray the hard to get areas first then the rest.

4 good coats later.

 

[PMA4x4]

Now LMC shows it for 81-91. Here is the issue in regards tot he instrument lamps. Both the 168s and the 194s are "hardwired" (for lack of better word) into the plastic twist cap. It pretty much self destructs when you pull it out. You can see in the pictures how there is extra wire coming out of the bulb and it wraps over the metal contacts. I hit the yard down the street and got lucky. I found the gauge clusters out of a 88 ford F150 and a mid 90s Ford Ranger have regular twist caps with the tangs on them to make contact on regular 194/168 bulbs.

The grey cap is the factory GM one I took out and the black one is from the Fords. They are slightly different shaped but that twist and lock in just like the GM ones.

Assemble in reverse order.

 

[PMA4x4]

If you want the brightest possible light and get all of that color spectrum from that light you need to match the color of the LED tot he color fo the lens or filter it has to go through.

Below is what I did.

White is the gauge lighting
Orange is the CEL and 4wd indicators
Red is battery, seatbelt and parking brake indicators
Green are turn signal indicators
Blue is High beam.

 

[PMA4x4]

All lights purchased from Superbrightleds.com

>>> KEEP IN MIND THESE COLORS, QUANTITIES AND TYPES OR FOR MY 1991 V1500 SUBURBAN. YOUR VEHICLE MAYBE DIFFERENT. <<<

Gauge Cluster
RED LED - #WLED-R-120
COOL WHITE LED - #WLED-W-120
BLUE LED - #WLED-B-120
GREEN LED - #WLED-G-120**
AMBER LED - #WLED-A-120

Interior
REAR DOME - #3710-CWHP6
UPPER CENTER CONSOLE DOME LIGHTS - #4410-CW9
SWIVEL MAP LIGHTS - #WLED-CW5

Exterior
FRONT FACING TURN SIGNAL - #3157-A18-T
FRONT FACING PARKING LIGHT - #WLED-A5
FRONT SIDE FACING TURN SIGNAL - #WLED-A5
REAR TAIL/ BRAKE LIGHTS - #1157-R18-T
TAIL LIGHT SIDE MARKER - #WLED-R5

Correct electronic flasher is a Littlefuse brand #FLR232BP.
This is needed otherwise your turn signals just sit there like a dead fish.

**NOTE when I install the green LEDs for the turn signal indicators they would just stay constant on when I used them. They both would also light up when I turned the gauge lights on. I think that other flasher unit maybe for them but I was just out of time on that project so I put regular bulbs back in for now and will tackle them later.

I went with built backup lights in my bumper so I don't have a part number for that one. The gauge cluster lights are a bit brighter then stock. but adding the chrome paint to the inside of the housing helped a lot. Also I guess when you spray chrome you want to spray gloss black first. It is supposed to add to the reflection properties of the chrome.

Hope this helps.

 

[Renntag]

Very cool. The cluster looks great all cleaned up. The night shot will be cool once its all done.

I am planning to replace the fuel gauge with a tach and install a fuel level indicator in the quad cluster.

Recommendations?

 

[PMA4x4]

I have a tach built into the Android app and because I have the 40 gallon tank I like having the large sweep gauge. I plan on installing a fuel gauge in the lower left of the quad section for the secondary tank. I plan to keep with the stock look. the only gauge that will be non stock is the tranny temp gauge.

 

[Renntag]

Good plan. A porsche I can used to own had a 1/4 tank gauge inside the full tank. That was a cool feature.

 

[PMA4x4]

The Center console moves forward.

This was just a test piece to figure out which router bit and how it cuts certain edges.

Our new industrial sized and built cup holder!

 

[Renntag]

The Center console moves forward.
Our new industrial sized and built cup holder!

This is so cool!

 

[piratexpress1369a]

that looks great

 

[optimusprime]

That is brilliant.
Why did I not think of that!?
It's the simple ideas that are the best!

 

[Larry]

Looking good Rob! You’re going to need to swap in a Cummins 15L engine to power this thing and Rockwell axles support all the weight by the time you’re done adding goodies to this rig :sombrero:.

 

[Renntag]

...what Larry said.

 

[PMA4x4]

Quick shot update on the center console today.

 

[piratexpress1369a]

that looks cool ..keep at it