47-55.1 55 years ago I was given this USAF 54 3100

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Thanx Ricky ! .

The deal is : like many old geezers I'm on a fixed budget so I can't afford to pay, "pay To Play" is, IMO a rip anyway and causes much loss of good parts and vehicles as not everyone is rich .

I used to do the swap meet thing in the 1970's but am old and disabled, I can't mail packages etc....

To the junkyard it all goes

I'm sorry that's what is going to have to happen to those parts.

[vintovka]

Sorry to hear I'm not alone with issues about depending on others for work. All part of being human i guess. Anyway some good news and maybe a some good advice to others. I tore my 84 GM column down again for the umpteenth time. After studying it i came to conclusion that it was all the column shaft WOBBLING and not the column housing. I played with adding shims again to pull the shaft into better contact with the upper and lower bearings. (both new and properly installed). No dice. In a "hail Mary pass" i got the brilliant idea of adding the old bearing race. one on top of the new one and reinstalling the cup and spring. In addition i found the the internal parts of the steering wheel itself were loose AS WELL !! I tightened each of the torx screws Voila!!! Column and wheel are s like new!! No wobble, no shake, no binding. After a celebratory beer (or 3) I came to conclusion that the shaft above the tilt joint was so worn the second race was needed to make up for the missing metal.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by vintovka

Sorry to hear I'm not alone with issues about depending on others for work. All part of being human i guess. Anyway some good news and maybe a some good advice to others. I tore my 84 GM column down again for the umpteenth time. After studying it i came to conclusion that it was all the column shaft WOBBLING and not the column housing. I played with adding shims again to pull the shaft into better contact with the upper and lower bearings. (both new and properly installed). No dice. In a "hail Mary pass" i got the brilliant idea of adding the old bearing race. one on top of the new one and reinstalling the cup and spring. In addition i found the the internal parts of the steering wheel itself were loose AS WELL !! I tightened each of the torx screws Voila!!! Column and wheel are s like new!! No wobble, no shake, no binding. After a celebratory beer (or 3) I came to conclusion that the shaft above the tilt joint was so worn the second race was needed to make up for the missing metal.

woop! I will have a celebratory beer with you!

[vintovka]

Feel free to have 3. I did. More advances today. Installed the horn assembly and straightened the steering wheel at the new steering box, rewired the halogen floods, sorted some of the under hood rat maze. Fixed the electric wipers and about a dozen other issues. The 4x4 light on the dash eludes me despite multiple tries. Black to ground white to light and output to power yet light stays on despite being in 2 or 4 wheel position!! Oh well.

[VWNate1]

At least you're getting there .

It sounds like the 4X4 light had three wires ? .

Why ? .

[dsraven]

Sometimes black is not always ground, sometimes.
Check a wiring diagram for related donor vehicle. Are you talking the light wires or the 4x4 switch wires? Maybe a hi and low range variety, so power in then power out for hi and another for low range.
Dunno. Nice if it works though.

[vintovka]

Only two wires from Np208 black and white. Been told its some kind of odd grounded switch.

[vintovka]

Got a back surgery coming up so have been working overtime to complete stuff before i send it off for all the leak repairs. Have rewired about everything. Completely rewired the cab light, 4x4 and column shift indicators. Modded the shift indicator with an LED array light long ago and decided to do same for cab light as shown below. Would have done same for 4x4 indicator but there is no room for it so stuck with the 84 factory light. Also fixed many issues that i (or the pot head mechanic) screwed up these many years. The biggest triumph is the steering wheel fix. Pure pleasure to drive now. Saved like a grand on replacing it (and all the pain). Had to rewire the power to the cab light as the 54's original plastic coated wires have gone brittle and break easily. Again, In hindsight, reusing the 84 chassis factory harness and fusebox was a real mistake.

Had a bunch more pics but system won't let me load them.

[vintovka]

duplicate

[vintovka]

More pics:

[VWNate1]

Yes ! .

My elder brother talked me into trying LED's and I'm so glad he did .

They're not all the same so I buy very carefully and am well rewarded with betting lighting inside and out .

[Rickysnickers]

Nice, well done. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery!!

[VWNate1]

Yes, this ! .

I have a shattered L1 vertebrae, the main thing is to NOT RUSH the healing ! .

Take it easy and FOLLOW THE P.T. to the letter ! .

We'll all be here waiting for you .

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Yes, this ! .

I have a shattered L1 vertebrae, the main thing is to NOT RUSH the healing ! .

Take it easy and FOLLOW THE P.T. to the letter ! .

We'll all be here waiting for you .

No worries. My CEO/wife keeps me in line. I scheduled this as winter is coming. Think it will rain here right after Labor Day. Hope I can make it to the Rhody days on the 8th. First big car show ever for us and hopefully an end to the CEO's "why did you start this project anyway" refrain.

[VWNate1]

" hopefully an end to the CEO's "why did you start this project anyway" refrain. "

That's funny ! .

Stick to it , I did and I can ride my Motocycle again......

[vintovka]

The truck is now about 85% LEDS. Only the halogen headlights, front turn signals and 4x4 housing light are "incandescent". I expect those will change someday. Might add I had to replace the drivers side power step motor/gearbox. It was made by Amp research and exactly 5 years and month since i bought it. Seems 5 year warranty begins when you order it on Amazon -- Not when you get or install it. After some terse conversations with them they relented after i Mentioned than it might be an ADA device for us cripples. The motor relies on a very complicated set of plastic and metal planetary gears which are fascinating but not heavy duty. When it stopped working those grab bars were lifesavers.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by vintovka

The truck is now about 85% LEDS. Only the halogen headlights, front turn signals and 4x4 housing light are "incandescent".

dont do led headlights just to do them, guys always say "there is so much more light" with LEDs and they should be happy because the crappy beam pattern blinds oncoming traffic. i saw holley? made some recently, better beam pattern but wooooo pricey.


keep driving it and enjoying it!

[vintovka]

In correction i have both halogen and led fog lights. The regular incandescent headlight barely do the job alone here when its really dark. The halogen fogs help but do not blind oncoming cars. The little LEDS cause the trees to grow at night and possibly burn leaves and bark!

sorry about the upside down pic I cannot fix it!!

[VWNate1]

LED Headlights are nice but not always the best thing .

Plus, I hate how they look so I use Halogen headlights .

[vintovka]

At my age I rarely drive at night so both the halogens and leds are somewhat of a comfort to know they are there. It gets very dark here in the cold and rainy coastal winters and tree/rock debris is a constant hazard. Should mention i used them all last year in assisting/lighting up an accident scene and the State Troopers were appreciative.

[joedoh]

i put together a CRV for the mother in law when she lived in the boonies, first upgrade was a 12ga relay setup and hella driving lights that came on with the high beams. it looked like the close encounters scene but she never complained about light

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by joedoh

i put together a CRV for the mother in law when she lived in the boonies, first upgrade was a 12ga relay setup and hella driving lights that came on with the high beams. it looked like the close encounters scene but she never complained about light

Well survived surgery and on the mend. I like the idea of the idea of coupling the high beams with the led fogs and managed to do it without bending over without ripping stiches. The Leds draw such little power a relay seems unnecessary. I think this is a real safety feature for those whose eyes arn't 18 anymore. It also really grabs attention of others when you need to signal them. Still need to be cautious/courteous not to blind oncoming cars. Dimmers on late GM columns are also safer than old floor dimmers.

[VWNate1]

Good to hear you're on the mend ! .

Go easy, I popped a few stiches after my vasectomy and WOW did that hurt .

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Good to hear you're on the mend ! .

Go easy, I popped a few stiches after my vasectomy and WOW did that hurt .

Thanks and OWW!!! Luckily stiches are on upper back out of the way. Did back into the handle of my folded up chop saw which brought a few tears to my eyes but no damage. Guess my crawler will remain hung up for a while. Looking for diagram of how to wire my original standalone starter push button to the GM column neutral safety switch. Will ask on main board.

[VWNate1]

Be sure to post a picture of the starter when you ask and mention what tranny it has as slushboxes should have a safety interlock switch .

It also matters if you're running points or electronic ignition .

It's really very simple .