2nd Gen Ram Tech 1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

White Gauges For A Ram

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-23-2006, 07:52 AM
Racinfan83's Avatar
Racinfan83
Racinfan83 is offline
All Star
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: West Of St Louis, MO
Posts: 939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default White Gauges For A Ram

Saw this site while looking for goodies for my Nova.
http://www.whitegauges.net/whitegaug...oductsID=50839
Looks pretty cool. I would like to do it to mine - but I dont know if I have enough 'nads or knowhow to disassemble my dash........
 
  #2  
Old 05-23-2006, 03:10 PM
RM_Indy's Avatar
RM_Indy
RM_Indy is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,827
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

Its not too bad. Go for it, if you get stuck or need pics give me a shout.

On my 96 I had to disconnect the steering shaft from the dash to remove the gauge cluster and the connectors on the back were a bit tricky to get my big hands back there to disconnect. I took pictures of my gauges with the truck fully warmed up at both idle and 1000rpms to use as references when reinstalling the needles so things were accurate.
Oh yeah, shifter indicator has a white plastic adjuster screw on the back side of the steering shaft. Loosen the white screw to release the shift indicator cable.
 
  #3  
Old 05-23-2006, 03:26 PM
gphilpot's Avatar
gphilpot
gphilpot is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

The conversion is not too bad, as they are really designed to slip over your needles and sit on top the original. I did it on my 2001 RAM 1500.

However, the aftermarket guages you get aren't always the best. They just aren't exact when it comes to the letters and symbols showing up when turned on.

That being said, I removed my guages a second time and removed the old guage's faceplate (the factory black). This did improve how the white set appeared. But that introduced a whole other set of gotcha's. Then I realize the seperate idiot lights where no longer seperated (the lights, when lit, would bleed over to other indicators). This was because the original faceplate had foam strips that seperated the light for each indicator. Thus it sectioned off each indicator when lit.

So.... I cut up the old faceplate, glue the foam seperators to my new white guage faceplate. That helped. Then I didn't like the way the normal incandescent light bleed thru around the needles pivoting point. Remember how I said these are designed to slip over your needles? Well that means the cut outs for this to happen are over-sized. To remedy the problem, I mask around these openings with black electrical tape.

Finally, I bought a metal bezel and painted it black to give the gauges a seperated look from each other. As most after-market white faceplates come in just one piece. In 2001 Dodge, did not have anything that masked/blocked off each guage to seperate them. The original faceplate was designed to allow light to be emitted from behind.

Last thing to keep in mind, most after-market faceplates (white) are generic. Meaning they are all printed with every option available for the model and year. In my case, my truck was a 2 wheel drive, no trans temp, no shift pattern (5 spd manual). But the faceplate I purchased had all those options imprinted in the faceplate itself. Small detail, but enough to annoy me. I hated being reminded that I didn't have 4-wheel drive.

Good luck. Didn't mean to discourage anyone, just hoping to lend some advise to help them plan this out. As I wish I had a second chance.

GP

[IMG]local://upfiles/35703/A38F4001473E4A69AFE2D73E7B029119.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/35703/00025475C09A46ACBD0E99517970E2DB.jpg[/IMG]
 
  #4  
Old 05-23-2006, 05:52 PM
crazy1snow's Avatar
crazy1snow
crazy1snow is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: White Salmon Wa
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

eh.. i'm not a big fan on the white face gauges... reminds me too much of my mom's ford escape...

if you do it though it seems pretty easy by the way steve's christmas present shows or even haynes has a good layout for it.

if you do it.. show us some pics would be cool.

good write up gphil.
 
  #5  
Old 05-23-2006, 07:58 PM
Tani1500's Avatar
Tani1500
Tani1500 is offline
Champion
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wyckoff, NJ
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

i did them in my truck with some i got from ebay. i like them alot and they light up that really cool blue color. look in my gallery, theres pics.
 
  #6  
Old 05-24-2006, 12:06 AM
crazy1snow's Avatar
crazy1snow
crazy1snow is offline
Record Breaker
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: White Salmon Wa
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

ok now those i like..
 
  #7  
Old 05-24-2006, 12:05 PM
shott8283's Avatar
shott8283
shott8283 is offline
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bett-neee
Posts: 3,811
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

The only thing that would drive me into insanity, is that the trip/odo stays green. Im picky enough for that to cause me to have nightmares since the odo and the speedo arn't the same colors when lit. LOL
 
  #8  
Old 05-24-2006, 06:22 PM
Tani1500's Avatar
Tani1500
Tani1500 is offline
Champion
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wyckoff, NJ
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: White Gauges For A Ram

haha on mine you can actually switch the colors between green and blue!
 



Quick Reply: White Gauges For A Ram



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:55 PM.