|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
01-02-2008, 01:13 AM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Tutorial: How to change your clock to blue, red or whatever color you want
So after reading interior color change threads by Trunk Monkey, Mecchie3 and others, I decided to go ahead and change my interior, starting with my clock first.
Threads I referred to: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1166377 http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690922 Taking some advice from these threads, I think I found a pretty easy way to change the clock using stage lighting gels. Basically all you'll need is: dremel, phillips screwdriver, plastic wedge, crazy glue, stage lighting gel sheet, and a razor blade. Step 1: Remove the clock from the car This can be a bitch if you don't have the right tools. You need to use a plastic wedge to remove the piece of the dash that holds the clock, you don't want to scratch it by using the wrong tool. There are four places where the piece of the dash clips into the dash...one at each corner. Choose a side and force the wedge into it, and then gently pry up that side until it pops out. After you've got it out, disconnect the plug from the clock and unscrew both screws that hold the clock to the dash piece. Step 2: Take apart the clock Use a pocket screwdriver or something skinny and flat to gently pry the cover piece off of the clock. Don't break the tabs that hold it together. Tabs are being pointed to in red: Step 3: Glue piece of stage lighting gel onto clock surface After you have the cover off of the clock, measure and cut a piece of stage lighting gel with a razor blade, and then glue it onto the clock surface at each corner with a SMALL dab of crazy glue. You don't want glue to go everywhere once you press down the gel piece. Step 4: Cut out tinted plastic piece that is within the clock cover This is can be a little tricky, and you must take your time cut it out clean without scratching the rest of the inside of the clock cover. I used my dremel and a small cutting wheel to cut it out. Red arrows point to where the tinted piece used to be: Now if you want, you can just stop here and put everything back together and be happy. For me personally, I still felt that the blue was just not bright enough. So I decided to go a step further and remove a section of the clock cover, and replace it with a clear acrylic piece of some kind. Step 5: Retrofitting clear acrylic piece into clock cover This took me a long time because I was being as careful as I could, and I wanted it to look as factory as possible. You can buy the clear acrylic from a couple different places...I bought mine at an arts & crafts store. It's supposed to be used for picture frames, as a replacement piece for the glass cover that goes over the picture. I can't remember the brand. Anyways here's some more pics. I think they are self-explanatory: By installing this clear plastic piece, it's a whole lot easier to see the blue numbers during the day. It was kind of tedious to make it work, but all in all I think it was worth it, and it's hard to tell that it's not factory unless you're looking super close. Hope that helps! Nate
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
01-02-2008, 01:46 AM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 68604
Join Date: Aug 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: http://www.indianaimpreza.com
Vehicle:06 STi OBP |
Nicely done. A little different method but with the same end result.
FWIW, all I have to do is tug on the clock pod using the lip of the thing, then slide my fingers below the unlatched portion, then tug up on that and the whole assembly comes free. Is it worse in the newer models or something? |
01-02-2008, 02:44 AM | #3 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Well yeah it probably should get easier the more times you take it apart, but the dash piece on my '07 was super stiff. I tried to get it out first with just my hands, but it wouldn't budge.
|
01-02-2008, 10:48 PM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I used Rosco stage light gels, blue #79.
I like it because it isn't too dark, and because it matches my pioneer head unit. |
01-02-2008, 11:43 PM | #5 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 167364
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
Quote:
Where can you find these Rosco stage lighting gels...at like a craft store or something or Sam Ash in the dj dpt.? Looks petty good....want to do mine in red. Just bought stained red glass paint today but the stage gel looks easier IMO. |
|
01-03-2008, 01:31 AM | #6 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71092
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Licking County, Ohio
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS Wagon Regal Blue Pearl |
To get the gel, call whatever theatrical supply store you have in town and tell them you need a gel swatchbook. Doesn't matter what vendor, whatever they're pushing that month works. The swatchbook will be free and contain ~500 swatches. The swatches are large enough for this mod and will serve as reference for ordering gel sheets later.
Yes, being a Lighting Designer from time to time does mean I have some interesting resources for car stuff. |
01-03-2008, 09:38 AM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
I actually bought my stage gels from a theater store on the internet, but getting a swatchbook of 500 different colors sounds like a good idea. And it's free.
BTW, I actually tried red before I glued anything on, and it looked really good. |
01-03-2008, 10:14 PM | #8 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 167364
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
so what exactly gives the clock the oem green color? is it the tint you cut out, or are the actual led's green?
just wondering.... |
01-03-2008, 10:44 PM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71092
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Licking County, Ohio
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS Wagon Regal Blue Pearl |
The actual LED's are green. Actually, come to think of it, I don't remember if it's a LED or VFD. Anyway, the ability to change its color is based on the weak emmission in other colors. Filtering the clock will make it substantially dimmer. The real way to do this would be to take the part number for the display and cross-reference it to one in a different color, then swap.
|
01-03-2008, 11:06 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
I plugged my clock in without the cover, and it really isn't a very strong green color...more of a whitish-green/light green color. Something in the tint piece makes it look more green than it really is.
|
01-03-2008, 11:08 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71092
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Licking County, Ohio
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS Wagon Regal Blue Pearl |
OK, that's a VFD (not an LED) then. I couldn't remember since it's been so long since I've pissed with one. VFDs have a broader emission spectrum, so they're more able to be filtered. Still going to make it darker.
|
01-03-2008, 11:08 PM | #12 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Quote:
|
|
01-03-2008, 11:17 PM | #13 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71092
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Licking County, Ohio
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS Wagon Regal Blue Pearl |
|
01-04-2008, 12:22 AM | #14 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Well, I think the important info in all this, for those who might consider doing this mod, is that they won't sacrifice the clock's brightness with stage gels, as long as they remove the inner tint piece that sits in the clock cover. The inner tint piece and a stage gel accomplish the same thing...they both filter the light that is produced by the clock. Installing a stage gel over the clock means you need to remove that tint piece so that you don't have two layers filtering the clock.
|
01-04-2008, 12:33 AM | #15 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71092
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Licking County, Ohio
Vehicle:2005 2.5RS Wagon Regal Blue Pearl |
Yes, that's exactly why I bolded the bit about removing the existing tinted bit when I quoted you.
|
01-04-2008, 02:00 PM | #16 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 167364
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
So do you guys think this will work with the radio face as well or no....stage gel right over the green tint
got me thinkin now..... |
01-04-2008, 08:12 PM | #17 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
I'm not really sure to be honest...as you can see in the pic I don't have my stock radio anymore. Where is the green tint located in the radio?
|
01-04-2008, 10:11 PM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 167364
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
on the inner piece of the radio face plate, but the tint is on both sides i think, so i might be able to get stage gel on one side, but not the outer....it's hard to explain
|
01-06-2008, 09:06 PM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 139076
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Scranton PA
Vehicle:2002 stg2 wagon 03 suzuki sv650s |
looks cool at night, but sorry kinda cheezy with the face hacked up. what would it look like with the tinted piece still there and the gel just behind it?
|
01-06-2008, 10:19 PM | #20 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Quote:
For me it was too dark still. That's why I installed the clear piece in the cover. If you had no idea that I had messed with the clock, you probably wouldn't be able to tell it wasn't stock. |
|
01-08-2008, 06:13 PM | #21 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 139076
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Scranton PA
Vehicle:2002 stg2 wagon 03 suzuki sv650s |
|
01-08-2008, 06:54 PM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 167364
Join Date: Dec 2007
|
Well, i changed my clock to red saturday, picked up a huge sheet of roscolux red stage gel, and did all steps, EXCEPT the cutting of the tinted plexiglass b/c i don't have dremel. I have to agree with lennytr. It matches perfectly at night with the rest of my interior, but is very faded in broad daylight, unless u cut the outer piece.
I liked it at first but now it's starting to urk me....i might just pick up a red clock piece from interior flaire, so i can see it during the day. Same goes for the radio. |
01-08-2008, 07:08 PM | #23 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 142379
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Triad, NC
Vehicle:2007 WRX TR Satin White Pearl |
Quote:
It will make it brighter. |
|
01-26-2008, 04:08 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5824
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Washington State
Vehicle:2005 STi Aspen White 1990 240sx "SR20" |
Let's see some examples of the red clock.
|
02-23-2008, 12:04 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 51164
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region:
International
Location: UK - F&F mag 06
Vehicle:Jap Jp mag 09 Ti mag 09 (cover) |
top for some red pics!
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
DIY: How to change your door card color | brcewane | Interior & Exterior Modification | 228 | 04-27-2018 09:11 AM |
How to make your clock red | phenemwrx | Interior & Exterior Modification | 94 | 11-06-2015 10:49 PM |
How often do you need to change your brakes? | plunk10 | Off-Topic | 114 | 04-08-2010 09:30 AM |
PIC Request '04 wrx in white...or whatever colors you have pics of.. | M3toWRXin3seconds | Member's Car Gallery | 5 | 04-28-2003 08:54 PM |
How do you know when to change your brake pads? | Alex RS | General Forum Archive | 5 | 12-04-2000 12:27 AM |