VE Dash lighting - FULL CONVERSIONS ARE GO!!

[Phreddy]

Finally I'm happy to announce that I have tackled a full conversion in a VE SV6 from red to blue / white.

I know - I know... PICS!! I'm gettin' around to that.

Firstly a brief description of what was done.... Being a SV6, Brian's car was full red illumination - switchgear, controls, gauges, LCD displays... The car is Impulse in colour, so there was strong interest in blue - however it was decided to also add some white touches here and there.

What we ended up with was blue for the headlight switch, the LCD displays both in the cluster and the centre mount MFD, the window/mirror switch module, the traction button, and the steering wheel controls. White was used in the cluster gauge dials, the intrument dimmer up/down buttons, and the control buttons on the stereo and heater control panel. The gauge needles remained red. Unfortunately though the control knobs on this panel have a red filter moulded into the plastic, and therefore these had to remain red. (of course, if knobs from a Calais were fitted, these don't have the red filtering so would work fine - might just cost a wee bit...)

The results? In a word, OUTSTANDING! The blue characters on the reverse LCDs looks sensational, and the white gauge faces look so much crisper than the red, which seems to lack contrast with red needles against red everything else.

Brian was stoked, after around seven hours work, and has offered to call in again soon in the evening so I can get some good photos with the tripod. As soon as I do, they'll be posted.

WooHoo!!!!!

[davey g-force]

Nice work as always Phreddy I can't wait to see pics.

I might have to get this done on mine in a little while. As far as pricing; would it be roughly the same as what it cost me in the VY?

[Phreddy]

Thanks Davey!! How are you Mate? Well I hope.

So, you went and got one huh? Well done Dave, good work.

We'll talk more if and when you're keen - don't worry, the fact that you're a returning customer will very much be taken into account.... Roughly the same, yes.

Cheerz Mate, all the very best for the holiday season to yourself and yours.

[rch-13z]

Nice work Phreddy....

Will need to catch up with ya soon... For two reasons....

Finish my shifter & change my red fascia....

Two.... Update your VE work & finish the site re-vamp!

Speak to ya soon!

[Phreddy]

Fer sure Richie! Would like to have a drink with you for Chrissy too!

Cheerz Mate, talk to you later.

PS - will PM you with my new number....

[Darren]

Awesome work Phreddy, it's a real pity they got the Calais spot on, well to my liking anyway.

But hey after some pics it may very well change my mind

[Phreddy]

G'day Darren - hey, congrats to yourself Mate! Just noticed your "My Ride" bit - Jeez, you sneaked that one in, huh??

Yeh, the Calais' look pretty good as is - I can't figure why with the HSV clusters they went and changed the speedo and tacho to red.... Myself and many others think it's just a bit too much - it's really bright, and would be murder in moonless night highway running.

Anyways, it means I get a few HSVs to play with anyhow!

Cheerz boyz, later!

[rch-13z]

Hey Phreddy can you PM me your mob #.

Cheers
Rich

[Phreddy]

Got some pics - not great, but they'll do for now. Posting them tonight....

Richie - PM sent.

[Phreddy]

OK, I have some pics - sorry about the delay in getting them posted up, the last few days have been a little full-on.

The shots were taken in the early evening before sundown unfortunately, so the effect isn't quite as dramatic, but you should get the idea. I'll get some better shots when I can.

First one is of the cluster in blue/white, and the second shows the centre console panel with the heater/stereo controls (in white) and the centre MFD. One limitation I encountered is that the control knobs on this console panel in fact have a red filter as part of the knob assembly (non-removable) so these must remain red.

I'm very pleased with the result - especially the LCD displays - the blue makes them look really crisp.

Enjoy! More pics to follow....

[Skooby]

Looks the goods mate

[TehFastyOne]

That's fantastic mate. Be interesting to see what an orange or blue setup looks like for an SSV to match with Ignition or Voodoo.

Maybe go back to the good 'ol green dash for Atomic? lol

[davey g-force]

Wow Phreddy, I don't mind the VE factory red (better than the VY green!) but after seeing it in blue - that looks brilliant!

Is there anything you can do with the LCD screen in the SSV (see attached)? At the moment the characters are mainly sorta orange - similar but not even an exact match to the red in the cluster. Can you change the LCD screen (the bottom one) to blue to match a blue dash conversion?

[BruceSS]

Phreddy do you ever come up to Brisbane or is there someone who can do the VE dash only here?

[billm]

Looks great Greg so much classier looking.

[Phreddy]

Thanks Bill!! Hey, is it your GTS that I did a little while back?? If so, I'm glad you posted!! (I wanted to get in touch, and had misplaced your contact info)

If you have some time up your sleeve, I have a fix for the low brightness problem. When you're able to, pop in again and I'll fix that for you. (no charge - all part of the service...)

Oh - Bruce - that's a bit difficult for me, as I'm in full time work again now. However, it's not out of the question - I do have plenty of holidays up my sleeve, and if we can do the same as my last Brisbane "roadshow" (where a few guys are lined up to get some work done, each paying an additional split to cover my fuel costs) and I could do the same thing whereby I spend a few days up North - a bit of a "working holiday".

Feedback welcomed, if I can get enough intrest I'll surely organise another trip up that way....

Cheerz!

[davey g-force]

Phreddy, did you see my post (#13) above?

Can you do anything with the colour of the LCD screen to get it to match the cluster? Thanks.

[Phreddy]

Ah Bugger! Sorry Dave, I thought I had posted another reply to cover that - maybe I didn't hit the "submit" button....

Yeah, that's not going to be easy. That's actually a colour LCD display, the one for your stereo and climate control - it's not backit red for the red bits and white for the white bits, it backlit purely white, and the colour you see is actually under the influence of the screen itself. The top MFD however, is backlit with red LEDs - I really don't think there's anything much that can be done. If there's a colour intensity or a contrast control for the display screen you might be able to adjust that to get a closer match....

[billm]

Greg it is my GTS that you did it is just so much better even the HSV mechanic at the dealer thought it looked so much better and clearer. I will contact you soon to come and see you.
Bill

[Phreddy]

Fantastic Bill - looking forward to catching up again!

All the best to you and yours for '09

[Dave398]

Phreddy, sent ya a pm a few days ago about getting my VE SSV dash done, did you get it mate?

[Phreddy]

Yeah, sorry Dave - just need to have a word with Ant about it....

I'll get back to you soon!

[davey g-force]

Ah Bugger! Sorry Dave, I thought I had posted another reply to cover that - maybe I didn't hit the "submit" button....

Yeah, that's not going to be easy. That's actually a colour LCD display, the one for your stereo and climate control - it's not backit red for the red bits and white for the white bits, it backlit purely white, and the colour you see is actually under the influence of the screen itself. The top MFD however, is backlit with red LEDs - I really don't think there's anything much that can be done. If there's a colour intensity or a contrast control for the display screen you might be able to adjust that to get a closer match....

Thanks for the reply Phreddy. I didn't think it was do-able but thought I'd ask the question anyway...

...You gotta admit, it would look hot in say, blue with the blue dash conversion... mmmm...

[Haydz]

the engine light on a ve kinda looks like the chevy sign

[Aggro_VE]

lol@Haydz ....Yes I know your not trying to be funny but you are.

Greg, mine is Red Passion so what would go good with red? and stop giving me ideas on ways to spend money