| Tail Light Upgrades [message #203671] |
Thu, 04 April 2013 22:58  |
Pryzl1
Messages: 100
Registered: November 2011
Location: Toledo, OH
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Planning to hit a couple of men's malls tomorrow. What year Astro or Safari van tail light assemblies have been used to upgrade the tail lights on the GMC motorhomes?
John
1976 GMC Eleganza II - "The Never Ending Story"
Partial Restoration - a work in progress
455cc
NW Ohio
Member of the GMCMI, GMC Great Lakers Motorhome Club, GMCES and Dixielanders
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203675 is a reply to message #203673] |
Thu, 04 April 2013 23:52  |
Pryzl1
Messages: 100
Registered: November 2011
Location: Toledo, OH
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Gene,
Thanks for the link and quick response.
I looked at the Forum links earlier today but they don't state the replacement tail light assemblies were from an Astro or Safari van from the years of X through X.
John
1976 GMC Eleganza II - "The Never Ending Story"
Partial Restoration - a work in progress
455cc
NW Ohio
Member of the GMCMI, GMC Great Lakers Motorhome Club, GMCES and Dixielanders
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203749 is a reply to message #203675] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 12:20 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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| Pryzl1 wrote on Thu, 04 April 2013 21:52 |
Gene,
Thanks for the link and quick response.
I looked at the Forum links earlier today but they don't state the replacement tail light assemblies were from an Astro or Safari van from the years of X through X.
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Astro or Safari van tail lights do NOT fit our GMC's. (Not without some very large changes.)
The full size van of the same age as our GMC's used the same tail lights. They did a "face-lift" somewhere around 1980, and THOSE are the tail lights from these 80's full size vans are the ones commonly used to upgrade. Rock Auto had them brand new on sale for near junkyard prices.... but they did not have light sockets.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203756 is a reply to message #203749] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 12:55 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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85-96 G10 Van is easiest to remember. R & L are different.
Ken H.
On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Mike Miller wrote:
> Astro or Safari van tail lights do NOT fit our GMC's. (Not without some
> very large changes.)
>
> The full size van of the same age as our GMC's used the same tail lights.
> They did a "face-lift" somewhere around 1980, and THOSE are the tail
> lights from these 80's full size vans are the ones commonly used to
> upgrade. Rock Auto had them brand new on sale for near junkyard prices....
> but they did not have light sockets.
> --
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203757 is a reply to message #203756] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 13:03 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
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Yeah like ken said and you can buy new aftermarket lenses from keystone or parts channel for about $30 each or so.
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 5, 2013, at 10:55 AM, Ken Henderson <hend4800@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 85-96 G10 Van is easiest to remember. R & L are different.
>
> Ken H.
>
> On Fri, Apr 5, 2013 at 1:20 PM, Mike Miller wrote:
>
>> Astro or Safari van tail lights do NOT fit our GMC's. (Not without some
>> very large changes.)
>>
>> The full size van of the same age as our GMC's used the same tail lights.
>> They did a "face-lift" somewhere around 1980, and THOSE are the tail
>> lights from these 80's full size vans are the ones commonly used to
>> upgrade. Rock Auto had them brand new on sale for near junkyard prices....
>> but they did not have light sockets.
>> --
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203763 is a reply to message #203757] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 13:38 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Pete Peck sells the outside lenses, brand new, that are the same ones used to assemble the fore-mentioned GM Van OEM tail lights.
A more expensive solution than junk yard retreivals, but they are much better in appearance. As I recollect, he gets about $100 for the kit. Find him on eBay.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203775 is a reply to message #203774] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 16:02 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
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Now for an LED insert that preserves the original look. Roll your own I guess. Cannot find a replacement configuration. Lusting after the set shown in LMR's catalog as insets for the Chevy Styleside.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: Tail Light Upgrades [message #203795 is a reply to message #203671] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 19:48 |
Pryzl1
Messages: 100
Registered: November 2011
Location: Toledo, OH
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Had a big score at a very small, local Men's Mall this afternoon -- a pair of pristine, NIB GMC van tail lights for $30! The second deal of the day!
Years ago the owner fabricated an exhaust system for a locally owned GMC coach and still had a part or two in his inventory. PM me if your interested. I can get the specifics or have you contact him directly!
Thanks to all for your help and comments.
The Forum is G-R-E-A-T !!!
Photo Link:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6340-men-s-mall-gems.html
John
1976 GMC Eleganza II - "The Never Ending Story"
Partial Restoration - a work in progress
455cc
NW Ohio
Member of the GMCMI, GMC Great Lakers Motorhome Club, GMCES and Dixielanders
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| Re: [GMCnet] Tail Light Upgrades [message #203802 is a reply to message #203750] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 20:43 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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| Harry wrote on Fri, 05 April 2013 10:26 |
I don't believe you need the light sockets.
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That depends on your method of making them fit.
If you want to keep the "modern" better designed reflector of the new lights, you need them. You also need to cut the body for clearance.
If you want the modern LOOK but without cutting the body, you do not need the light sockets... but you need to cut the back of the new lights off, using the OEM sockets and reflectors.
For LEDs, I would use a panel type LED arrays placed (taped) on the original reflectors and just the lenses of the new lights.
Either way, you need to remove (most likely damaging) the chrome ring around the original lights. So it isn't that easy to return to "stock." One reason I just cut the body...
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: Tail Light Upgrades [message #203806 is a reply to message #203671] |
Fri, 05 April 2013 20:58 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
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I upgraded mine by cutting the body, and think it really is the easiest and best way to upgrade. The fiberglass is easy to cut with a Rotozip saw (or a GMC tool), some threaded inserts provide the attachment points for the new assemblies, and you have some nice, new rear tail lights. I found the lenses and bulb holders at our local FLAPS, and the prices were reasonable (though I think RockAuto is cheaper).
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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