So I have a 2001 F150 xlt and I have become interested in swapping all the lights to red and white LEDs. I have seen the blue but I want to be different haha. I would like to do the dash lights, door switches, and the temp. controls. I have a couple of ?s about doing the swap.

1. How long do you think it would take for 2 people to do this(me and my dad)?
2. How much do you think it would cost?
3. Do I need alot of skill and knowledge to do this?

And a few more about the actual swap(if I can bring myself to do it).

1. Has anyone done the odometer?
2. What about the radio(I was just thinking go aftermarket)?

Thanks for any input you guys, I would really like to do this and hope I can if it isnt to risky(me screwing up something) and if it wont take to long(hopefully a weekend, or two if I can split up doing different parts) or cost too much.

 

the dash and hvac will be your two hardest areas. youll need to acetone the face for of your gauges to get rid of the green film. this is the trickiest part of the whole thing. search for the how to on the cluster swap as there is alot of good info on how to do it and what bulbs are needed

ive done two write ups on led swaps. one for the headlight switch and one for the door switches and they are not difficult to do.

cant comment on your odometer but id go aftermarket with the radio. theres alot of options out there now. mines about 3-4 yrs old and its got red buttons and blue display but the new pioneers you can pic the color

 

the hvac controls in my 01 were easy as can be, just a green film you can easily remove off and then just use whatever led's you want.

 

I have read through your write ups and I WILL use them if I do this mod. They look very helpfull and look very detailed(the pics also help alot). And how long did it take you to do this? Did you do it by yourself. Also about the acetone, would you recommend practicing on something or just go for it? And about the skill/knowledge required? (sorry for all the ?s but I am really wanting to do this and just want to get some facts and opinions before I tackle this?

Thanks!

 

Thanks coobies5, if I do it Im thinking of doing the hvac and window switches one day and save the dash for another. Again time wise how long did it take you(coobies5)?

 

coobies did your hvac still use the 194 leds??

it really didnt take long once i figured out what the process was that needed to be done. you could easily do both of them in one or two days (minues the acetone part.) i did them all by myself and the only really skill needed is soldering which is fairly easy to pic up on

i had the fortune of installing the switches after the swap so i didnt have to have them back in the truck to drive it. i got the switches done in a couple hours while watching tv and the headlight switch i ran without a bulb for a while so if i needed it i just plugged it in and then took it out when i got back. took about 15-30 minutes once i got that figured out.

 

Ok so how hard is it to get to my window switches? And I would prob. save the dash for a seperate day, because I would have to acetone it and my truck cant be unusable for more than a day(maybe 2 if I have a break or I dont do much one weekend). So I would prob be looking at how many hours for everything?

 

window switches id say max about 2 hrs of work once you get them outta the truck. that may be one of the hardest parts also haha. another member here was gonna buy my switches and id get his stock ones but he couldnt get the plug out of the back of the switch and still cant.

so id say about 3 hrs for the door switches and headlight switch. the hvac will be simple as coobies has posted so id say 30 minutes max and then to do your dome light will be just replacing the bulb so 30 minutes max.

im gonna make a list of leds for the swap for another member and ill post it here also

 

Ok sweet thanks for the info. Ill see what I can find on the door switches(Im guessing you have to take off the door panel or something??) and also which dome light are you talking about? My overhead light?

 

mine come off as a plate without the door panel but im not sure on the 99+. and yes the over head light.

 

Ok thanks. Thats what I thought you were talking about. Thanks for all the information. I will be looking for the parts list and if its ok I will pm you some ?s when and if I do this.

 

heres a list of what youll need to swap everything except the cluster, 4x4 switch (if you have it) and glove box lights. just ask if you have any questions

Headlight switch.
1- 5mm led color of choice. I like the 120 deg viewing angle ones (also need a 680 ohm resistor as stated in write up) part number from superbrightleds.com RL5-B12120 Blue LED (blue)
Door Switches
10- 3mm led color of choice. I ordered 12 to be safe. Part number from sbl.com RL3-B2030 Blue 3mm LED (blue)
HVAC
2- WLED-x-x LED bulb in color of choice (using white in a 97-98 it will shine blue) again I like 120 deg viewing angle
On the superbright web site go to the miniature wedge bulb section and then the one with the heading “WLED Miniature Wedge Base bulbs” click on the small pics on the right until this one appears then select buy now and choose the color
Courtesy lights in door
2- WLED-x-x LED bulb in color of choice (white is a great choice) again I like 120 deg viewing angle
On the superbright web site go to the miniature wedge bulb section and then the one with the heading “WLED Miniature Wedge Base bulbs” click on the small pics on the right until this one appears then select buy now and choose the color
License Plate
2- WLED-x-x LED bulb in color of choice (white is a great choice) again I like 120 deg viewing angle
On the superbright web site go to the miniature wedge bulb section and then the one with the heading “WLED Miniature Wedge Base bulbs” click on the small pics on the right until this one appears then select buy now and choose the color
Dome light
3- Festoon bulb in color or your choice needs to be 44mm long part number from sml.com 4410-x9 LED Festoon bulb ( I choose blue for the main light comes on when you open the door and then white for the map lights so 1 blue and 2 white)
Go to car bulbs then festoon bulbs then in the second set of bulbs on the page click on the small pics until the 4410x9 shows up and then select buy now

 

Sweet thanks! And do you think I could get these from a local store? Or would I be better off ordering them? And total price for everything?

Thanks so much for the help!

 

your best off ordering them you can get crappy led boards with dome light adapters at autozone and the 5mm leds and resistor at radio shack but not the 3mm and its about 5 bucks for the one bulb there.

the total for what i listed is around 30 plus shipping of your choice. ( took a little while for the 5 dollar shipping)

where are you located??

 

Sweet thanks. And Im in Oxford, NC.