Blue Bulb Mod for Phantom Gauges
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From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
Blue Bulb Mod for Phantom Gauges
I originally did the blue sharpie mod to the bulbs when I install my phantom gauges. I thought it looked pretty close to the stock gauge cluster and life was good.
My boost gauge went out of calibration and had to go back to Autometer. While the gauge was out I got to thinking about the sharpie mod and wondered what a blue bulb with the green cover would look like.
I went to Autozone and bought a 2 bulb pack of blue bulbs. They were Blazer Xtreme Lites, 168NB series, instrument/accent, 12 volts.
When the new guage came back I put the blue bulb with the green condom in and left the sharpie mod in the WBC gauge to compare.
I was blown away at the difference. The WBC gauge didn't even look close to the the same color as the stock gauge cluster anymore.
This is the cheapest mod I've done in a while. It was $2.99 + tax.
REVISION: I edited the part# for the bulb. The 168NB is brighter than 161NB. It is a little brighter than the stock bulb which is a good thing.
My boost gauge went out of calibration and had to go back to Autometer. While the gauge was out I got to thinking about the sharpie mod and wondered what a blue bulb with the green cover would look like.
I went to Autozone and bought a 2 bulb pack of blue bulbs. They were Blazer Xtreme Lites, 168NB series, instrument/accent, 12 volts.
When the new guage came back I put the blue bulb with the green condom in and left the sharpie mod in the WBC gauge to compare.
I was blown away at the difference. The WBC gauge didn't even look close to the the same color as the stock gauge cluster anymore.
This is the cheapest mod I've done in a while. It was $2.99 + tax.
REVISION: I edited the part# for the bulb. The 168NB is brighter than 161NB. It is a little brighter than the stock bulb which is a good thing.
Last edited by LTNBOLT; Feb 2, 2005 at 03:46 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: folsom,la
Nice job ... Just installed Auto Meter boost gauge w/pod
dual mode bulbs 2 green LEDs and blue main bulb .. main bulb on w/ head-light sw .. LEDs w/ separate lightning sw
dual mode bulbs 2 green LEDs and blue main bulb .. main bulb on w/ head-light sw .. LEDs w/ separate lightning sw
Last edited by WickedQuick-L; Feb 2, 2005 at 05:43 PM.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,928
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From: The People's Republic of Los Angeles
Originally posted by WickedQuick-L
Nice job ... Just installed Auto Meter boost gauge w/pod
dual mod bulbs 2 green LEDs and blue main bulb .. main bulb on w/ head-light sw .. LEDs w/ separate lightning sw
Nice job ... Just installed Auto Meter boost gauge w/pod
dual mod bulbs 2 green LEDs and blue main bulb .. main bulb on w/ head-light sw .. LEDs w/ separate lightning sw
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: New Orleans
Re: Blue Bulb Mod for Phantom Gauges
Originally posted by LTNBOLT
I originally did the blue sharpie mod to the bulbs when I install my phantom gauges. I thought it looked pretty close to the stock gauge cluster and life was good.
My boost gauge went out of calibration and had to go back to Autometer. While the gauge was out I got to thinking about the sharpie mod and wondered what a blue bulb with the green cover would look like.
I went to Autozone and bought a 2 bulb pack of blue bulbs. They were Blazer Xtreme Lites, 161NB series, instrument/accent, 12 volts.
When the new guage came back I put the blue bulb with the green condom in and left the sharpie mod in the WBC gauge to compare.
I was blown away at the difference. The WBC gauge didn't even look close to the the same color as the stock gauge cluster anymore.
The only negative is the light is slightly dimmer but still plenty bright enough to read the gauges.
This is the cheapest mod I've done in a while. It was $2.99 + tax.
I originally did the blue sharpie mod to the bulbs when I install my phantom gauges. I thought it looked pretty close to the stock gauge cluster and life was good.
My boost gauge went out of calibration and had to go back to Autometer. While the gauge was out I got to thinking about the sharpie mod and wondered what a blue bulb with the green cover would look like.
I went to Autozone and bought a 2 bulb pack of blue bulbs. They were Blazer Xtreme Lites, 161NB series, instrument/accent, 12 volts.
When the new guage came back I put the blue bulb with the green condom in and left the sharpie mod in the WBC gauge to compare.
I was blown away at the difference. The WBC gauge didn't even look close to the the same color as the stock gauge cluster anymore.
The only negative is the light is slightly dimmer but still plenty bright enough to read the gauges.
This is the cheapest mod I've done in a while. It was $2.99 + tax.
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From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
The backlit gauges don't show up very well in pics like the stock gauge cluster. I tried it when I first installed them with the sharpie mod.
Install one blue bulb first and compare to the sharpie mod. You'll be amazed at the difference.
I don't know if the tint or brightness varies on bulbs made by different manufactures but if you use the same part# as stated above the result will be positive.
Install one blue bulb first and compare to the sharpie mod. You'll be amazed at the difference.
I don't know if the tint or brightness varies on bulbs made by different manufactures but if you use the same part# as stated above the result will be positive.
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From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
I revised the part# in my original post after new findings.
I went to buy Dealerjim a couple of packs of bulbs for his 3 gauges and they on had 1 package of the 161NB and 3 packages of the 168NB. I ask the parts guy what the difference was since the color of the bulb looked exactly the same. He said the only difference was the 168NB was a brighter bulb. I bought all 3 packs of the 168NB so I could change my 161NB out to see the difference.
The 161NB was dimmer than the stock bulb and the 168NB is brighter than the stock bulb. The 168NB comes closer to lighting up the gauge face more evenly than the stock bulb or 161NB instead of being dark in the center of the gauge.
So now you not only get a good color match to the stock gauge cluster but also better readability at night.
I went to buy Dealerjim a couple of packs of bulbs for his 3 gauges and they on had 1 package of the 161NB and 3 packages of the 168NB. I ask the parts guy what the difference was since the color of the bulb looked exactly the same. He said the only difference was the 168NB was a brighter bulb. I bought all 3 packs of the 168NB so I could change my 161NB out to see the difference.
The 161NB was dimmer than the stock bulb and the 168NB is brighter than the stock bulb. The 168NB comes closer to lighting up the gauge face more evenly than the stock bulb or 161NB instead of being dark in the center of the gauge.
So now you not only get a good color match to the stock gauge cluster but also better readability at night.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: NC
Originally posted by LTNBOLT
I revised the part# in my original post after new findings.
I went to buy Dealerjim a couple of packs of bulbs for his 3 gauges and they on had 1 package of the 161NB and 3 packages of the 168NB. I ask the parts guy what the difference was since the color of the bulb looked exactly the same. He said the only difference was the 168NB was a brighter bulb. I bought all 3 packs of the 168NB so I could change my 161NB out to see the difference.
The 161NB was dimmer than the stock bulb and the 168NB is brighter than the stock bulb. The 168NB comes closer to lighting up the gauge face more evenly than the stock bulb or 161NB instead of being dark in the center of the gauge.
So now you not only get a good color match to the stock gauge cluster but also better readability at night.
I revised the part# in my original post after new findings.
I went to buy Dealerjim a couple of packs of bulbs for his 3 gauges and they on had 1 package of the 161NB and 3 packages of the 168NB. I ask the parts guy what the difference was since the color of the bulb looked exactly the same. He said the only difference was the 168NB was a brighter bulb. I bought all 3 packs of the 168NB so I could change my 161NB out to see the difference.
The 161NB was dimmer than the stock bulb and the 168NB is brighter than the stock bulb. The 168NB comes closer to lighting up the gauge face more evenly than the stock bulb or 161NB instead of being dark in the center of the gauge.
So now you not only get a good color match to the stock gauge cluster but also better readability at night.
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From: Sacramento, CA
The blue bulb mod works great! The sharpie mod sucks IMO (doesn't match too well).
One of my friends has the blue bulbs from Autozone and it matches very closely to the stock gauge cluster color.
Steve
One of my friends has the blue bulbs from Autozone and it matches very closely to the stock gauge cluster color.
Steve
