Blazer courtesy lights

[57taskforce]

In recently installed the blazer floor courtesy lights, plug and play factory style from painless. They work great and I love them, Although I had to use different door switches because the ones sent were too small for the factory Cheyenne switch holes. No big deal, Napa had factory style replacements for a little more than $10 total. My factory switches were both bent and not useable.

Here’s my question on this. I’ve always seen that these floor courtesy lights were only offered on certain blazers with the double wall top that had no dome light. My truck had the holes pre drilled in the bottom of the dash for these lights, the inside of my truck is factory paint and the holes were still painted over in the original dark olive poly, ie they had never had screws or a drill bit in them. The mounting screws that came in the kit fit the holes perfectly. I didn’t think to take a picture of it at the time, it didn’t hit me till I thought back on it that those holes might have been out of place. In talking to another member he said his cab had the holes from the factory as well and he thought they were drilled in all of them. So Definitively, did only blazers get these lights? Could they be ordered as a stand alone option on the pickups? Or did GM just make the holes in all of the dashes so they didn’t have to make a blazer specific dash? I’m curious to see the responses here.

[truckster]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have a question for you: How did you get to the back side of the switches? I bought some for my Blazer, but I haven't figured out how to get in there to mount them.

[57taskforce]

You tap the sheet metal to the threads of your switch then they thread in from the outside. The factory holes if You have them will be threaded to 3/8 fine thread. I ran a tap thru my holes to make sure I’d have a good clean ground via the switches.

[Accelo]

Maybe truckster was referring to how did you get the wiring through?
It isn't easy but doable.
I drilled and tapped the hole for the switch. (Mine were blank, undrilled) (Truck)
Then drill the wire feed hole above the vent.
I used a small piece of copper wire with a sharp bend on the end. I feed it through the switch hole and fished for the wire. There was a partial bulkhead between the two holes. That makes it more difficult.
I fished it through in a loop and then plugged in the switch.
If you remove the vent it will help with access. Maybe took 15 min per side. Don't forget to put the grommet on the wire before feeding it through the hole.
Factory switches are self-adjusting for the door gap.

[57taskforce]

Interesting you had some trouble. Maybe because mine had the holes from the factory they were lined up perfectly. I had no trouble at all feeding the wires thru the holes. It literally took less than a minute on each side to run the wires.

[special-K]

Not available in trucks that I am aware of. GM made all dashes the same, if it looks the same it is the same. I'd venture to say the under dash light mounting holes would be in K/5 to C/60s. I didn't know anyone made replicas. I also didn't know aftermarket replacement jam switches were available. Both good to know. I always used OEMs taken from Blazers and have kept a stash. I love them. I like to not hook them into the jam switches and give them their own switch so I can run down the road using them w/o the dome light on.

[57taskforce]

I figured that was the case Tim, but wanted to confirm that. I’ve never seen a truck with them confirmed to be factory installed or noted them on a truck spid.

Another question, does anyone have a source for the wire holders that clip to the lower side of the dash to secure the door switch and courtesy light wiring? Mine were partially missing and overall in bad shape. I have not been able to find them reproduced.


Here’s the kit I used along with the factory correct door switches. I got the light kit from summit but it is this painless part number.
https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/30708
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHDJ6402
Standard motor products makes a correct door switch as well and it’s part number is standard 173.

The painless kit looks and performs factory, with the correct color wiring and obviously engineered in a way that it correctly mounts to the dash in the factory holes.

These pictures were just me testing both sides out before I wired in the door jamb switches, so the wiring is kinda all over the place

[Rich72C10]

That's kind of cool, yet another thing I need that I didn't know I needed.... until now!

[Accelo]

The courtesy lighting provided by Auto Wire works great but the look is different than the stock ones you pictured.
I used two style of clips;
https://www.amazon.com/Luckkyme-Stai...816B8VCL&psc=1
and
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The magnetic ones are cool as they can be placed anywhere under the dash and moved at will if you don't like the placement.

The door switches are the same ones used in my 1963 Chevelle. They were used for so many years they are widely available.
They have a cool self adjusting feature that isn't obvious.

I have never seen a fuel tank switch like they one shown left of your dash. Great option as Blazers had such small tanks from the factory.
My friend had a 1972, back in the day, with a transplanted 390hp 427. You didn't go far on the stock tank!

[57taskforce]

Thanks for the links Accelo I’ll give them a shot. That is actually my K20 not a blazer. That’s the factory fuel gauge switch for NL2 rpo auxiliary tank setup.

[truckster]

Thanks, 57TaskForce and Accelo. I have a CST but the holes weren't drilled. I didn't realize they needed to be tapped... I'm glad I asked. I thought they had to come in from the back side. If you have time to post a pic of what they look like installed I'd appreciate it.

[CG]

Originally Posted by special-K

Not available in trucks that I am aware of. GM made all dashes the same, if it looks the same it is the same. I'd venture to say the under dash light mounting holes would be in K/5 to C/60s. I didn't know anyone made replicas. I also didn't know aftermarket replacement jam switches were available. Both good to know. I always used OEMs taken from Blazers and have kept a stash. I love them. I like to not hook them into the jam switches and give them their own switch so I can run down the road using them w/o the dome light on.

I have several of these lights im pretty sure they are replicas. Might have gotten them from Koop here on the board (years ago).

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by truckster

Thanks, 57TaskForce and Accelo. I have a CST but the holes weren't drilled. I didn't realize they needed to be tapped... I'm glad I asked. I thought they had to come in from the back side. If you have time to post a pic of what they look like installed I'd appreciate it.

No problem at all. Sorry it’s dark out but here’s a picture (not the best quality)

[truckster]

Thanks! That puts the courtesy lights back on my project list. Have a very safe and happy New Year.

[MDFarms]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I figured that was the case Tim, but wanted to confirm that. I’ve never seen a truck with them confirmed to be factory installed or noted them on a truck spid.

Another question, does anyone have a source for the wire holders that clip to the lower side of the dash to secure the door switch and courtesy light wiring? Mine were partially missing and overall in bad shape. I have not been able to find them reproduced.


Here’s the kit I used along with the factory correct door switches. I got the light kit from summit but it is this painless part number.
https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/30708
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHDJ6402
Standard motor products makes a correct door switch as well and it’s part number is standard 173.

The painless kit looks and performs factory, with the correct color wiring and obviously engineered in a way that it correctly mounts to the dash in the factory holes.



These pictures were just me testing both sides out before I wired in the door jamb switches, so the wiring is kinda all over the place

Question is the wiring to plug these in from painless plugs to truck plugs already in truck harness as well?

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by MDFarms

Question is the wiring to plug these in from painless plugs to truck plugs already in truck harness as well?

Yes the painless courtesy light harness plugs into the factory dome light wiring right at the fuse block with OE appearing connectors, it’s the orange and white wire harness. If you have the factory light switches in good shape, the ground wiring from painless will plug into the factory switches. It’s 100% plug and play if you’ve already got factory door switches, just as the OE blazer harness is. If not it comes with door switches for you to add.

[Accelo]

In talking to another member he said his cab had the holes from the factory as well and he thought they were drilled in all of them. So Definitively, did only blazers get these lights? Could they be ordered as a stand alone option on the pickups? Or did GM just make the holes in all of the dashes so they didn’t have to make a blazer specific dash?

It is my understanding that not all trucks had the switch holes from the factory. I have never seen them as a separate option but I wouldn't be surprised to find out different. I know my 1970 truck didn't have the door switches or holes from the factory. Of the trucks, I have observed, switches were only factory installed in Cheyenne Supers. It appears, to me, they may have been part of the Cheyenne Super package. I did notice the noise guard in the door jam of 57taskforce picture. This guard/dam or what ever you call it appears to be a CST or Cheyenne Super only item.

I find it interesting to find the holes there without any wiring or switches. One has to remember how GM was run in the 60's. I know many of the GM trucks were delivered with Chevrolet Tailgates. Dealers would call around and look for another with the correct logo and color.
Cheers

[57taskforce]

The door switches were standard on CST/Cheyenne, and super. You are correct not all trucks had the switch holes for sure. I probably wasn’t very clear but I was referring to the screw holes in my dash for the floor courtesy light bulb sockets, as well as the possibility of the floor lights being a standalone option which they do not seem to have been. Mine has the Cheyenne/super door wind deflectors they are just sitting in a pile of parts waiting for me to rebuild/replace the rubber portion of them. My truck is 100% a Z84 Cheyenne.

[Already Gone]

Bought my underdash Blazer lights from Roger Koop and because I had the factory door switches they the wiring was plug and play and installed lights in existing factory dash holes. Installed LED Bulbs and with an LED Bulb in the dome light and the two dash LEDS very bright inside when door is opened.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Accelo

In talking to another member he said his cab had the holes from the factory as well and he thought they were drilled in all of them. So Definitively, did only blazers get these lights? Could they be ordered as a stand alone option on the pickups? Or did GM just make the holes in all of the dashes so they didn’t have to make a blazer specific dash?

It is my understanding that not all trucks had the switch holes from the factory. I have never seen them as a separate option but I wouldn't be surprised to find out different. I know my 1970 truck didn't have the door switches or holes from the factory. Of the trucks, I have observed, switches were only factory installed in Cheyenne Supers. It appears, to me, they may have been part of the Cheyenne Super package. I did notice the noise guard in the door jam of 57taskforce picture. This guard/dam or what ever you call it appears to be a CST or Cheyenne Super only item.

I find it interesting to find the holes there without any wiring or switches. One has to remember how GM was run in the 60's. I know many of the GM trucks were delivered with Chevrolet Tailgates. Dealers would call around and look for another with the correct logo and color.
Cheers

Post #6:

Originally Posted by special-K

Not available in trucks that I am aware of. GM made all dashes the same, if it looks the same it is the same. I'd venture to say the under dash light mounting holes would be in K/5 to C/60s. I didn't know anyone made replicas. I also didn't know aftermarket replacement jam switches were available. Both good to know. I always used OEMs taken from Blazers and have kept a stash. I love them. I like to not hook them into the jam switches and give them their own switch so I can run down the road using them w/o the dome light on.

Maybe some dashes didn't get holes drilled. But GM always tried to crossover parts when ever possible for their economic, but great for us owners. One reason I fell in love with Chevys after owning a Dodge and watching Ford owners at parts counters returning part, then the parts guy saying "It's what the book calls for".

[Accelo]

Thought I would add a picture of the Autowire courtesy lamps.

[Bobby Schulz]

Any chance you have a part number for that kit? They have several versions.

[Accelo]

Part #: 31685
Cost is $40.

[Bobby Schulz]

Thanks!

[Rich72C10]

I needed some barrel clips for my tailgate handle (getting a chromed handle replacement) so I ordered the Courtesy Light Harness 67-72 from classicparts.com (part number 52-753 / $35.95). While I was at it, I got a pair of stainless steel Vent Shades (part# 19-716 / $34.95) to make the order even more worth while!

I was going to order from Manes Truck Parts but they don't carry the barrel clips.