How is this effect created?

Is it possible to fit a blackout dash into an older car, and if it a 4 speed?

Thanks

What model mate :) I have put it in my KF, Best mod iv'e done so far :) Also a mates TH

Instead of the numbers being painted on and the light shining on the cluster so you can see it at night, the numbers and needles have lights behind them and light up when the car is on, and it looks like a blank black hole when its off. (unless you look closely)

I don't have a Magna/Verada yet but I considering buying a KF in about 8 months.

Do you guys know if this look can be executed on different cars clusters which have backlighting?
ie, by tinting the cluster and using brighter lights?

Well maybe, but you'd have to drive around with parkers on all the time. I wouldn't recommend it.

No, you don't need the parkers in, I'll take a video now of mine to show all sequences

edit, just clicked to what the OP said. still a bit tired:)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IIPf3iiF4c

if its a TE, TF, KE, KF you will need to chop the loom for it to work, MR SPL has done this and was a full day job for him due to lack of info

TH it will be a straght sawp, just pull the dash out and change the loom, but the cigerette light connecter is different, on the stock TH loom its just wires where as the new loom will have a 4 pin connector, so you will need the wide draw that has the ashtray and lighter in one to use these applications

it doesnt work in TL,TW due to differnt cluster altogether

i dont think it works in some models of TJ i believe

HI there,I have a Tj.What do you mean about 'chopping the loom'.Thanks

so what would be required to try and recreate that "blackout" look on a non-blackout cluster...

the ralliart has the dash lit up even without the lights being on, so this would be a good foundation to start on...

could you just retain the original cluster and just tint the cluster screen (or source a tinted cluster screen from a later model) and change the bulbs to brighter ones?

how dark would you tint it, and where would you find replacement dash lights that would be bright enough to shine through the tinting?

does anyone think these would be bright enough if the cluster screen was tinted? and with 20 SMD LED's pointing in every which way, they should minimise and dark spots in the dials right??

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2x-T10-W5W-168-194-501-White-Car-20-SMD-LED-Side-Light-Bulb-DC-12V-New-/270819221094?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f0e155e66#ht_4407wt_1242

Any TJ1.5 or TJ2 with the trip computer in the cluster, it is a direct change over to a blackout dash. Plug and play AFAIK.

The clusters differ for earlier cars. Wiring changes must happen.

Go to a used car yard with veradas and look for ones with blackout clusters, have a look in there with a torch.
You have to tint all the numbers and needles more likely, and have them lit up when its on.
Not reccomended.

My last Diamante was a Jap import, TH 1995 model '30 RSE', and it had the black out dash. It looked good and was really clear to read day and night. That car had the 5 speed tippy so all set up once you sort any wiring issues.

The 30 RSE also had the auto-dipping interior rear view mirror which automatically changed at night when cars approached from nehind. Should be another simple but worthwhile change.

hey guys, sorry to bump an old thread, just have a quick Q about the blackout clusters... were they standard on *all* veradas from KH onwards? or is it only the Xi veradas that featured them? As quite a few of the veradas I am looking at on carsales seem to have the standard dash... although they do all feature that "high contrast/high intensity" lighting for the cluster, correct? Also how come some blackout clusters have a standard digital odo/trip computer and some have the black one with the white lettering? The latter looks way better in my opinion.

ALL Veradas from KH onwards have the black out

edit: all good, finally realised that the cluster was changed slightly from the KJ to the KJII, causing me some confusion. thanks :)