72 GMC Short Step Build

[Z10]

It's been awhile since I posted anything on the truck, so I thought I would post a couple of pics of the "Chief" and my little buddy.

[Z10]

LED H4 Bulbs

It's been awhile since I posted on this thread, and today I finally had something new to share.

First the truck is running excellent and has almost 11,000 mile on the new drive train. My work and family schedule has limited my chance to drive it as much as I would like, but hopefully I'll have more opportunity over the next few months.

I purchased some 5 3/4" H4 headlamps when we were building the truck with hopes that they would be better than the old sealed beams that came with it originally. I know many have used the newer LED headlamps and with good success, but I just didn't like the looks of most of them, so I went the H4 route.

Recently I've noticed some new LED H4 bulbs that no longer required cooling fans and have a heat sink built into them to handle the heat, so I though I would give them a shot to see if the install was simple and they actually would work with my existing H4 headlamps. Here's what I purchased:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252295580117...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I bought a pair for the low beams and now I think I'm going to need to buy another pair for the highs.

Here are a few pics showing the results, comments?

[OutlawDrifter]

Looks good, how's the light output?

[Z10]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Looks good, how's the light output?

Outlaw, they seem to be working very well, I just need to adjust my aim. Also, I did order another pair for the high beams.

[Z10]

LED Taillights

Well the headlight led bulb conversion seem to have worked out, so let's play around with the taillights.

I purchased these http://www.ebay.com/itm/252083378160...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT from eBay although I think there are less expensive alternatives. What I did want were bulbs made with Cree led's.

I installed the bulbs but soon discovered they would not blink and with a little research on this forum I found an electronic flasher from Speedway that should and did fix the issue. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/LED-Fl...rong,9549.html

The flasher was a direct fit, but I did end up using the pigtails to reverse the polarity.

Here are a few pics and they are definitely brighter than the 1157 bulbs, which is what I was looking for.

[OutlawDrifter]

I would like to do LEDs in my 1998. Headlights are OK, but I'd like to do all other exterior lamps. Generally without the correct flasher you get "hyper" flash. Keep up the good work!

[NewType72]

Fighting a very similar issue but with my side markers on my 72 Cheyenne. I have turn signals all the way up to headlights but as soon as I'm out the driveway they stop working with the headlights on. Such a pain to know they work but still not get it al the way right

[Z10]

Originally Posted by NewType72

Fighting a very similar issue but with my side markers on my 72 Cheyenne. I have turn signals all the way up to headlights but as soon as I'm out the driveway they stop working with the headlights on. Such a pain to know they work but still not get it al the way right

Dylan,
Wish I could help. My headlight harness was custom built by friend EE. He maybe monitoring this thread and offer some advise.

I now have a new problem. My cruise control will not work. After consulting Diceman, he thinks it's because the cruise utilizes the break light switch. I'm needing some help from EE also. I love that cruise control more than I do these LED taillights! lol

[OutlawDrifter]

I'm reaching deep through the cobwebs in my brain, but I believe it has to do with the grounding differences between the incandescent and LED bulbs.

[Z10]

(High Beam Install)
I finally got around to installing the LED High beam bulbs and took a few pics. What a dramatic color change! The headlights are glass and resemble sealed beams and accept H4 sized bulbs. I have been able to adjust them and I'm very pleased with the low's. Now I'll have to play around with the high's to get them where I want them.

[OutlawDrifter]

Wow, looks great!

[Advanced Design]

Does look good! Are you, Diceman and EE doing ok?

[Z10]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Wow, looks great!

Thanks OD.

[Z10]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Does look good! Are you, Diceman and EE doing ok?

Everyone's doing good Doug, everyone is busy and working on some other projects, like 58 Apache, 50 Merc, 69 Camaro, 79 Trans Am, 81 Corvette, 85 El Camino, and of course the 72

[Z10]

A word of apprciation
It's been about 5 months since I updated this thread and thought I would take a minute to thank Diceman & EE, for the outstanding engineering, fabrication, and attention to detail that they performed on "Chief".

I have three other cars that I've gotten sidetracked on and haven't spent as much time with the truck as I would like to. But last week I brought it back to the house and it truly is my vehicle of choice. It was built right, and everything works. I could use this as a daily driver with no hesitation and one day when I retire, it just might turn into one.

Today, I jumped in the truck to drive the 95 miles to my daughters house for a visit. Fired up the injected ZZ4, plugged in my iPhone for tunes, turned up the Retrosound radio, turned the A/C up to full blast, brought it up to 78mph, set the GM computer controlled cruise control and settled in. Nothing really unusual about this.

However, West Texas is going through a heat wave at the moment and this turned into a test of the cooling and A/C systems that were so skillfully planned and executed by my great friends.

Conditions: 110F, 78mph. Temp is steady on about 200F, oil pressure sitting at 50psi, A/C temp at the center vent 42f.

Results: I'm comfortable in the cab, and the truck doesn't miss a beat.

Thanks to Vintage Air and Engineering Cooling Products. Good stuff.

[Z10]

Chief

[Z10]

New Valve Covers

I've been fighting a loosing battle trying to keep oil from weeping from the center bolt holes on my valve covers so I purchased a set of Trick Flow valve cover adapters so that I could use early style valve covers. But you just can't bolt on new valve covers without a little Diceman (Car Boss) modification. So with a little help from his Horizontal Mill he worked his magic this afternoon. Hope to have them on the engine soon.

What do you think?

[72bowtiestepper]

Looks Great ! Were the letters epoxied to the valve covers, or are they fastened with some other method ?

[OutlawDrifter]

I like them!

[Z10]

Originally Posted by 72bowtiestepper

Looks Great ! Were the letters epoxied to the valve covers, or are they fastened with some other method ?

They have an adhesive on the back. They were designed to attach to body panels. I'll just have to watch them to see how they hold up under the heat. They are metal so thats good.

[Z10]

Yesterday I gathered the TrickFlow center bolt adapters and attempted to install them and bolt on my new valve covers. What I discovered was that the adapters will not work if you are using anything but narrow rockers. My Comp rollers are to wide to allow the adapter to drop between them. Well shoot.

So, I spent the afternoon polishing the original center bolt covers and licking my wounds. If anyone is interested in converting from center bolt to perimeter bolt valve covers and are running standard rockers or just need some custom "GMC" valve covers, drop me a note and we'll see if we can work something out.

[Z10]

New Home for "Chief" and his stablemates

I have some of the greatest friends a man good have. One of my old college buddies built a new 100' x 60' building for the sole purpose of storing cars in and offered to let me park my little fleet in it. This is the first time I've been able to park them all under the same roof. The really great news is my will have a permanent indoor parking spot.

Thought I would show it off a bit.

[BossHogg69]

Man, that's a nice collection of iron there! Congrats on the new 'parking spot'!

[Z10]

Thanks Adam. It's nice to have them in one spot and ready to go. But....the GMC usually wins out.

[Z10]

A Very Minor Update

Ran across a factory emblem and thought I would use it. Do I go back to the first one? Nah, I'll run it for awhile.