My "new" 72 Javelin SST

CamJam wrote: Hey James, not sure what you mean, but this IS the factory look. I'm using the original 158 bulbs and just cleaned things up and got them working. I have considered replacing the incandescent bulbs with LEDs though. Maybe what you're saying is that the light is more green than the factory look? Could be just the way the camera interpreted the color, but maybe the colored lens over the bulbs has faded with time?

Ah, i assumed that you went with LED by how bright white it looks.

Yes, the camera does play a lot into the lens and light colors.

I will pull my lens out and post a picture of it on bright white paper. To show how the light tent of the lens.

Mine is near perfect oem. Needs some buffing, but free from the blasted haze that most notice, from direct sun light when parked over time.

Here it is... Notice the lens is a stock 120 MPH modified to work with tic tac clock. I do believe original clock lenses have elongated holes.



Edited by 304-dude - Aug/12/2017 at 7:22am

Just to give you a reference Cam, I replaced mine with Blue LED's to go with the blue in the interior. The stock greenish lens is still there. If you do switch to LED's, you'll need to jump the rheostat because they don't like dimming.

CamJam wrote: Thanks Keith! Good to see the photo. I wondered how much of a difference LEDs would make and whether they could be dimmed. They sure look nice! I picked up two very good lenses at the Kenosha swap meet. I paid too much for one and then the next day saw another for only $5, so of course I had to buy it too!

Maybe in the winter, I will make a voltage to frequency generator using a 555 timer circuit and an op amp.

Since I have a few various 12v to 16v voltage dependent LEDs, the only way to dim them is to drive them with pulsed DC voltages between 60 hz and 120 hz with an on duty cycle of 25% when dimming is needed. I will need to make it any way and see how well it works with what I got.

Most plug and play LED kits have a mess of odd quirks that limit them in verify ways with older cars.

One way to make old dimmer switches work is to limit on time of an LED, which is how many display devices operate to achieve depth in color or brightness by the way.

Somewhere I found kits long ago to make such VFC devices for hobby use. I am sure modules can be found as well. For me I make most all my circuits from parts I have around. The cost of $25 is to high when either I have them on hand or a buck or two at Fry's or RS.

If I come across a kit or module online, I will look into how to make it work with our voltage ranges and for hook up in series with our switches.


I checked online for a module and found one that is cost effective enough to try out. I found it on a blackberry forum. The good is you do not need to solder as far as I can tell, and is robust enough for automotive use.

The big problem is it needs setting up, and may be beyond the non electronics oriented minds here.

Here is an amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/XINY-Frequency-voltage-converted-frequency/dp/B01HXS9SOA

Edited by 304-dude - Aug/12/2017 at 11:56am

looking great Cam. Those dashes are a real PITA, especially with AC. I understand not wanting to take it apart again!

Edited by CamJam - Aug/20/2017 at 7:32pm