1965 GMC restore help...

[Lisa Carter]

I have recently purchased a 1965 Gmc pickup and am trying to locate a pair of parking light housing units. I can find Chevy housings everywhere and can also find the lenses for both. It currently has a chevy parking light housing in the hole now but they don't fit right and would really love to locate a pair of GMC ones. With the age of internet I really didn't think it would be this hard therefor I am thinking people are using the chevy ones because the GMC can not be found... Please if you have any ideas let me know.

[pimpston65]

welcome to the world of auto restoration, that being said I've been looking for and have found various parts for my C10 swb bbw stepper I've had since 1998, yes its a very long time and im just getting to the final bits for complete redo. most of the great and cheap unique parts I found came from word of mouth and me always looking online and in print,friends, on road trips, where ever. I wish you well in your search... ps i'll ask around and get back witcha

[pimpston65]

I found em ebay here's a pic and item number chrome or amber u pic, sorry iphone isues no pics but here's the item number 231065727540 $39.99 plus $11.45s/h that's the chrome one I just looked up 66 gmc parking lights and it hit on a few not sure if this will work of if u want NOS or used but hope it helps ....

[pimpston65]

Posted via Mobile Device

[factorystock]

To my knowledge, the whole housing is not available, just the lens are repoped. GMC originally riveted the lens to the housing and sold the whole unit as a parking lamp assembly. Some might still be out there NOS (new old stock) but are very hard to find. Most used units are discolored and cracked. Brothers sells the repop lens, amber color is correct for '63 thru '66.http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=PLG66AM

[Lisa Carter]

Thanks for the info. I think I will buy the lenses and figure something out. Not really wanting to change the hood to a chevy hood but I am thinking that is what some are doing so solve this problem.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by Lisa Carter

Thanks for the info. I think I will buy the lenses and figure something out. Not really wanting to change the hood to a chevy hood but I am thinking that is what some are doing so solve this problem.

ALL YOU NEED ARE THE BUCKETS, LMC HAS THE LENSES NEW AND THEN YOU RIVET THEM TOGETHER. HERE IS A LINK TO HOW WE DID MY 66. PS I THINK THE CLEAR WHITE LENSES LOOK MUCH NICER AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COPS. KIETH



HERE IS MY TRUCK BEFORE THE BUILD:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...5158&k=c93wLV9

HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTERED TRYING TO INSTALL THE NEW LENSES....JUST CLICK ON EACH THUMBNAIL AND THEY WILL POP UP ON THE RIGHT.

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...8785&k=WTZF5KZ

HOW IT LOOKS FINISHED:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...xggwv&lb=1&s=A

[Daking19]

I just sold my white parking lights and housing on ebay sweet gmc im in the middle of my 65 gmc how did you lowerer your truck do you have rear leaf springs

[kieth]

Originally Posted by daking19

i just sold my white parking lights and housing on ebay sweet gmc im in the middle of my 65 gmc how did you lowerer your truck do you have rear leaf springs

Rear: my truck is on trailing arms, we just added air bags, a small resovoir and 1 solenoid, and 2 schrader valves. Front Used 2.5" drop spindles. It handles great and rides even better. Kieth

[Lisa Carter]

Originally Posted by kieth

ALL YOU NEED ARE THE BUCKETS, LMC HAS THE LENSES NEW AND THEN YOU RIVET THEM TOGETHER. HERE IS A LINK TO HOW WE DID MY 66. PS I THINK THE CLEAR WHITE LENSES LOOK MUCH NICER AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COPS. KIETH



HERE IS MY TRUCK BEFORE THE BUILD:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...5158&k=c93wLV9

HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE PROBLEMS WE ENCOUNTERED TRYING TO INSTALL THE NEW LENSES....JUST CLICK ON EACH THUMBNAIL AND THEY WILL POP UP ON THE RIGHT.

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...8785&k=WTZF5KZ

HOW IT LOOKS FINISHED:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...xggwv&lb=1&s=A

Do you remember where you purchased the buckets at? I have looked and called around and nobody seems to know.

[Daking19]

hey kieth did you have rear leaf springs before? and was it easy to convert to trailing arms

[kieth]

Originally Posted by daking19

hey kieth did you have rear leaf springs before? And was it easy to convert to trailing arms

nope it came that way. One could get trailing arms or springs just had to order it the way u wanted it.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by Daking19

hey kieth did you have rear leaf springs before? and was it easy to convert to trailing arms

conversion is easy if you have the truck torn down to the frame, if not it will be a little more difficult.........

one would need a crossmember from a trailing arm chasis, along with the arms springs, etc. best thing to do would be find a donor chasis on the cheap. I have a 65 gmc frame on spring swb, and a chevrolet swb frame with trailing arms......could shoot pictures if you want to see the difference. Kieth

old chasis shows trailing arms and crossmember
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...2013&k=hWdMLKM

picture of crossmember only:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...8874&k=vv44T7W

after assembly still no air bags:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...5705&k=2MD5CwP

air bag detail:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...1554&k=HrvtMh3

detail of attachment to crossmember:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...2773&k=5qG4N9z

pictures of air tank, mounted drivers side :
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...9522&k=gqt9LcM

picture of rear spacer blocks:
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...3558&k=QhxZCfT

we really played around with the ride height, this is how she sits today..........starting with bags on the rear makes everything a lot easier since you can adjust it.
http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...6807&k=sp9rbKX

[Lisa Carter]

Here is a couple of pictures of it when I first got it. Just finished getting it legal to to state inspection. Two weekends to get it legal and they don't check one thing when I get there. Just received the new gauges in the mail today so that will be this weekends project. I will be sure to post new pictures as I go. Thanks everyone for all of the advise and all of your help. This is going to be a lot of fun!

[Captainfab]

That looks like a clean and solid truck Lisa Carter

Keep us updated on your progress.

[Vernski]

Lisa Carter finding new parking light buckets is slim & none you may be able to find some used ones from someone who is changing there's to a chevy and you might get there old buckets. In any case you will have to clean them up and paint them with chrome silver paint. Check at the parts for sale or wanted on the forum 60-66 GMC-Chev leave a note at the parts wanted section.Good luck to you Hon..Vernski

[kieth]

Lisa, found the turn signal buckets in Colorado (used--no new available), a pair for $45.00 Call Rich at RJs' chevy and gmc parts, his cell is 719-250-5057, Kieth

[Lisa Carter]

Originally Posted by kieth

lisa, found the turn signal buckets in colorado (used--no new available), a pair for $45.00 call rich at rjs' chevy and gmc parts, his cell is 719-250-5057, kieth

Thanks Kieth!

[1963c-10]

Welcome to the forum..... nice truck and very clean.

[gulfcoast66]

Very Clean Truck!! Welcome to the board, from Baytown, Tx...

[Lisa Carter]

This weekend despite the rain we accomplished two things. Replacing the worn out gauges and old alternator.

[64shortbed]

Looks good! Did you get those turn signals yet?

[Lisa Carter]

Yes sir! Haven't had a chance to put them in yet. Maybe this weekend.

[Lisa Carter]

Been working hard every weekend and starting to see a difference. Little bit at a time. Here is some of the work we have been doing. Have replaced the sad frame with one we found on craigslist, replaced the engine with a 350 crate motor, put on new disc brakes, fixed a hole in the dash with a patch panel, and replaced both rocker panels.

[Lisa Carter]

Rocker panel