LockDoc's "Low Budget", "Low Maintenance" Project Thread

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

That sounds like a bit of a headache.

That's what I thought too.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I installed the van tilt and gauge cluster today. I am going to have to pull the column back out because when I installed it I moved it down so the steering wheel would be a little closer to the dash. I used one of the two factory locator slots in the mast jacket and it moved it down too far. If I use the lower slot it would move it up too far. I think I will just drill a hole for the locator tang instead of cutting a new slot since I know exactly where it has to be now. The steering wheel is not going to stay, I just put it on there for the picture. I will either use a '67-'68 wheel that I have, or get one of the new 15" stock type wheels.

LockDoc

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

From what I read, if you use the Dakota Digital lever that you have to use relays to change the "Normally Open" state they use to a "Normally Closed" state. What I was reading was a little dated so maybe they now have one that is NC. I don't know.

LockDoc

Would a GM 1981-83 C/K style turn signal lever work for your application (part number 25030993)? The nice thing about this lever is that it has the OFF/ON/RA switch, and it has the old-style screw attachment. The Dakota Digital documentation says that factory GM controls have the opposite logic than their turn signal lever.

https://www.oldsobsolete.com/product...h-gm-25030993/

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Would a GM 1981-83 C/K style turn signal lever work for your application (part number 25030993)? The nice thing about this lever is that it has the OFF/ON/RA switch, and it has the old-style screw attachment. The Dakota Digital documentation says that factory GM controls have the opposite logic than their turn signal lever.

That is a 3 wire lever and I think my setup would need the 4 wire lever. There is a thread on here that shows how to put a 4 wire switch into that lever and it is really easy to do.

LockDoc

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

That is a 3 wire lever and I think my setup would need the 4 wire lever. There is a thread on here that shows how to put a 4 wire switch into that lever and it is really easy to do.

LockDoc

Actually this is a 4 wire switch.

[rickcdewitt]

Hey doc with that 02 you may want to change the intake gaskets as a prevetative measure while its easy to get to.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by rickcdewitt

Hey doc with that 02 you may want to change the intake gaskets as a prevetative measure while its easy to get to.

Thanks Rick,

I think I will do that. I already changed the crank sensor before I installed the engine. Another problem area. I'm pretty sure it had been changed before, it came out pretty easy.

LockDoc

[CG]

Coming along nicely, and quick!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by CG

Coming along nicely, and quick!

Thanks Mark.

I worked on cleaning up the cab lights today. I am going to use the Yankee 77's.

I bought the lights from member "countr" (Russ) couple of years ago. I got lucky, when I opened the boxes there were a couple of original GM installation instruction sheets in them. That will make it easy. Can't have a C30 without cab lights...

LockDoc

[Yerboogieman]

That's awesome. The only thing that would make it better is if it were a crew cab. I wanted to do an 8.1 swap into my Suburban but I couldn't find one anywhere.

[regan wilson]

Lookin good Doc.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Yerboogieman

That's awesome. The only thing that would make it better is if it were a crew cab. I wanted to do an 8.1 swap into my Suburban but I couldn't find one anywhere.

Fortunately I don't need a crew cab any more... .. The 8.1's are pretty easy to find around here.

Originally Posted by regan wilson

Lookin good Doc.

Thanks guys!

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I worked on the cab lights today but I only got 3 of them installed. The used ones I have are in pretty good shape but I still disassembled everything and cleaned them inside and out. Also cleaned the bulb sockets and connectors.

I didn't take the camera out with me so pictures tomorrow.

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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Finished Mounting the cab lights today. I couldn't decide whether to mount the outboard ones straight or on an angle. After looking at some pictures on here I decided to mount them straight. I had one light that all of the chrome had come off of so I disassembled it and used it for the setup. Without the wire and rubber base on it, it was real easy to tell where the light fit the curvature of the roof the best.

The assemblies that are on there now are not the good ones. I used these to get all of the holes drilled and lights mounted, to make sure of my spacing. I will remove these and run the wiring and install the good ones tomorrow.

LockDoc

[Dieselwrencher]

That turned out nice! I like them as you don't see much of them out on the road anymore.

[Ol Blue K20]

They look great!

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That turned out nice! I like them as you don't see much of them out on the road anymore.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

They look great!

Thanks Guys. I didn't get to work on it much today. We will see what tomorrow brings....

LockDoc

[LT7A]

Lots of cool progress. I like how you're buildng almost the entire thing out of parts you already had.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Lots of cool progress. I like how you're buildng almost the entire thing out of parts you already had.

Thanks! Lord knows I have a lot of parts. I'm just trying to use up a few of them...

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I had a cab light wire loom that was in pretty good shape but it had a couple of small bare spots where a mouse had chewed on it. I thought about taping it up but decided to bite the bullet and build a new one. It made it pretty easy since I had the old one for a pattern. I don't want to have to pull that thing back out again....

Installed the new loom and tested all of the terminals so I am ready to install the nice cab lights and finish up that part of the project. I will do that tomorrow hopefully.

First picture is the new wire loom and second is the wire loom installed. It may be a little hard to see the terminals sticking up out of the holes in the roof but they are there.

LockDoc
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[LockDoc]

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OK, cab lights are finished up and all work great. I also installed the dome light and fuel tank sender wiring. I found a pretty nice complete cigarette lighter assembly in my parts stash so I can get it installed tomorrow.

Basically all I have left to do inside is the lighter, mirror, visors, and Radio. All pretty simple stuff. I am going to try and get all of those finished up tomorrow, then I will work on the under hood wiring some more, and a few other things on the engine.

LockDoc
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[68Gold/white]

As they say on Vice Grip Garage, You've got lightage!!!

[Ol Blue K20]

I like them, I might have to find some of those.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

As they say on Vice Grip Garage, You've got lightage!!!

You betcha' ...

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I like them, I might have to find some of those.

I have had these for a while but I think they are pretty easy to find. I think they look more "old school"...

LockDoc

[LockDoc]

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I decided to do a little write-up on the cab lights. I wanted to make sure they were going to work from the git-go, so I disassembled and cleaned them good inside and out. I removed the wire pigtails (because I was going to replace them) and cleaned the inside of the sockets. Some of them had a little corrosion inside so I used a battery terminal brush to remove the bad stuff. I think a brush for cleaning the inside of copper tubing for plumbing or a gun cleaning bore brush would work good too. I know they make brushes specifically for the bulb sockets but they tend to be a little pricey and I had the battery terminal brush.

Below is a pictiure of the pigtails I bought. They look a little light weight but they worked good.

I bought the FRYIC racheting double terminal crimper and after a little practice it works really well to crimp the terminals on the new pigtails.

https://www.amazon.com/Fryic-Termina...s%2C160&sr=8-2

I also included a picture of the card from the bulb package. You can probably tell I have had these for a while.... .. I actually bought them at a swap meet.