DIY photo guide for dashboard ABL - Page 11 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Rikarus · 09-23-2009, 08:48 AM

Hey Rick, was that Aquarium tube rigid, or the air hose tube?

camarorick · 09-23-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rikarus

Hey Rick, was that Aquarium tube rigid, or the air hose tube?

It's a rigid tube, approximately 40" long, and CHEAP ( $1.99 at my local pet shop

).

skuttduck · 09-23-2009, 12:09 PM

I posted in the other thread about changing the ABL color, but after getting my car and pulling off the drivers side trim, I suspect the way that GM did it initially was to put lights in the original holes behind the trim. Maybe I can plug in a some of my LED christmas lights and see how the lights shine through.

TJ91 · 09-23-2009, 11:26 PM

No im not sure thats what they did, because the door panels have a groove in which the acrylic tube goes and the Blue led light from GM. Im not sure though

camarorick · 09-24-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skuttduck

I posted in the other thread about changing the ABL color, but after getting my car and pulling off the drivers side trim, I suspect the way that GM did it initially was to put lights in the original holes behind the trim. Maybe I can plug in a some of my LED christmas lights and see how the lights shine through.

I believe those extra slots are there for brackets to hold the light rod. If they were to use individual light in each slot, you would get a VERY blotchy light effect on the trim.

TJ91 · 09-24-2009, 10:46 PM

then again they did have a lot of uneven spots on the dash which they were trying to perfect. But i still doubt they would use those wholes.
Im going to be pissed if GM brings full ABL out in 2011

d69chris · 09-24-2009, 11:18 PM

They will

camero · 09-26-2009, 05:25 PM

Thanks to the great pictures and explanation posted here and in the other thread I got my lights installed in less than an hour today with no prob except for my sore fingers from trying to pull apart all the dashboard parts that are held on with the worlds strongest clips. That car is build tight!!! I don't know how it's going to look yet because it's still light outside but I'm excited to find out!

viper1cobra · 09-26-2009, 06:11 PM

My lights are working, but I am triing to tweak the appearance on the passenger side. It fades to much toward that end. However the entire panel does light up. I will post pics later when I finish the project.

camero · 09-26-2009, 08:13 PM

I don't love the way mine looks yet. You can see the shadow of the black glue stuff on the back very clearly. In some of the pictures in this thread I see duct tape that looks like it might be a solution to the problem but theres no mention of that anywhere. Or is there some other solution.

KTCAM · 09-27-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camero

I don't love the way mine looks yet. You can see the shadow of the black glue stuff on the back very clearly. In some of the pictures in this thread I see duct tape that looks like it might be a solution to the problem but theres no mention of that anywhere. Or is there some other solution.

when using the digi-key light you will need to use duct tape

skuttduck · 09-27-2009, 07:12 PM

I was able to get a LED christmas light behind the drivers side on the dash and noticed that light will indeed shine through if you use the existing holes. I believe you would need to sand a bit off of the top of the trim if you use this method, and my suggestion earlier of using foil tape may also help and even out the light and prevent light from shining through the bottom.

It looks like if I was to do this, then 10 LED lights would be needed. 2 for the drivers side, and 8 for across the rest of the dash.

qbert48 · 09-27-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skuttduck

I was able to get a LED christmas light behind the drivers side on the dash and noticed that light will indeed shine through if you use the existing holes. I believe you would need to sand a bit off of the top of the trim if you use this method, and my suggestion earlier of using foil tape may also help and even out the light and prevent light from shining through the bottom.

It looks like if I was to do this, then 10 LED lights would be needed. 2 for the drivers side, and 8 for across the rest of the dash.

?

would be soooo uneven

skuttduck · 09-27-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qbert48

?

would be soooo uneven

Luckily I had this strand of Christmas lights that I can put through the holes. Tell you what, when I get some more time, I'll put two in the drivers side and sand the top of the trim and align the bottom below the holes with some tin foil and see how it looks.

Maybe it is just me, but I hate cutting holes in my car. The light tube method is pretty good, but seeing that there are holes in behind the trim originally leads me to believe they are spaced out to provide even light.

Plus with the lamps being on back order, it might be kind of fun to work on this.

09-24-2009, 11:18 PM	#147
d69chris Florida C5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Vortech L99 IOM Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tequesta, FL Posts: 2,610 View My Garage	They will __________________ Ordered 11/08/08....Del. 08/05/2009 Loving every minute of it! Don't hate me because i'm Pretty....

09-26-2009, 05:25 PM	#148
camero Drives: IOM V6 RS 38808 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: S.Detroit, Ontario Posts: 776	Thanks to the great pictures and explanation posted here and in the other thread I got my lights installed in less than an hour today with no prob except for my sore fingers from trying to pull apart all the dashboard parts that are held on with the worlds strongest clips. That car is build tight!!! I don't know how it's going to look yet because it's still light outside but I'm excited to find out! __________________ I've known how to spell Camaro since before you were born.

09-26-2009, 06:11 PM	#149
viper1cobra Member Club Elite #131 Drives: 2017 50th Anniversary H50 2SS Join Date: May 2009 Location: Far West TEXAS Posts: 1,729 View My Garage	My lights are working, but I am triing to tweak the appearance on the passenger side. It fades to much toward that end. However the entire panel does light up. I will post pics later when I finish the project. __________________

09-26-2009, 08:13 PM	#150
camero Drives: IOM V6 RS 38808 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: S.Detroit, Ontario Posts: 776	I don't love the way mine looks yet. You can see the shadow of the black glue stuff on the back very clearly. In some of the pictures in this thread I see duct tape that looks like it might be a solution to the problem but theres no mention of that anywhere. Or is there some other solution. __________________ I've known how to spell Camaro since before you were born.

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09-23-2009, 08:48 AM	#141
Rikarus I can't tpye! Drives: 2010 RS/SS Victory Red Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 580 View My Garage	Hey Rick, was that Aquarium tube rigid, or the air hose tube?

09-23-2009, 12:09 PM	#143
skuttduck Drives: 2010 RJT 2LT Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 2,530	I posted in the other thread about changing the ABL color, but after getting my car and pulling off the drivers side trim, I suspect the way that GM did it initially was to put lights in the original holes behind the trim. Maybe I can plug in a some of my LED christmas lights and see how the lights shine through.

09-23-2009, 11:26 PM	#144
TJ91 :chevy: Drives: 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,033	No im not sure thats what they did, because the door panels have a groove in which the acrylic tube goes and the Blue led light from GM. Im not sure though

09-24-2009, 10:46 PM	#146
TJ91 :chevy: Drives: 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,033	then again they did have a lot of uneven spots on the dash which they were trying to perfect. But i still doubt they would use those wholes. Im going to be pissed if GM brings full ABL out in 2011

09-27-2009, 07:12 PM	#152
skuttduck Drives: 2010 RJT 2LT Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 2,530	I was able to get a LED christmas light behind the drivers side on the dash and noticed that light will indeed shine through if you use the existing holes. I believe you would need to sand a bit off of the top of the trim if you use this method, and my suggestion earlier of using foil tape may also help and even out the light and prevent light from shining through the bottom. It looks like if I was to do this, then 10 LED lights would be needed. 2 for the drivers side, and 8 for across the rest of the dash.