Add Cab/Clearance Lights??

[Gasasaur]

I think cab lights would look good on this truck, but lets face it, once you drill the holes there is no going back.

Looking for opinions. It's a real nice low mileage truck, so I'm extra nervous about it, but no guts no glory.

Should I do it?

[TexasJeff]

I added them to mine, I think it was well worth the effort. When you do it just make sure to do a layout of them before you drill any holes. After drilling I made sure to put paint on any bare metal.
I did use the newer style (88-98) rather than the style for (73-87) style, I just think they look cleaner.

[Gasasaur]

Texas,

Did you use the clip on style nuts that place a threaded hole on the back side of the roof sheet metal, or did you use sheet metal screws that go directly into the sheet metal?

I heard there can be clearance problems because the electrical connection on the back side of the lights will not clear the headliner. Is that the case?

Thanks, would love to see a pic if you have it.

Gasasaur.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Gasasaur

Texas,

Did you use the clip on style nuts that place a threaded hole on the back side of the roof sheet metal, or did you use sheet metal screws that go directly into the sheet metal?

I heard there can be clearance problems because the electrical connection on the back side of the lights will not clear the headliner. Is that the case?

Thanks, would love to see a pic if you have it.

Gasasaur.

I also installed GMT-400 cab lights on my '83. I'll have to look for pictures this weekend, I took some during install. It's a double wall roof, the harness is between the outer and inner skin, hence, no headliner interference. My '83 was mid-optioned, no headliner, so I ran the wiring down the A-pillar. As for fastening I used rubber well nuts.

[mongocanfly]

I put low profile smoke color led clearance lights on mine...I like them much better than the big orange soup bowl lights it had..got em off ebay

[andrewmp6]

I'm not a fan of them unless you have to have them,The old reason for them was 3 yellow or red lights close in a row was to warn other drivers of a trailer thats wider then 8 feet.I have seen people put them on everything from a ranger to a jeep grand cherokee.

[TexasJeff]

Like Devin mine has no headliner, and it is just as he said, double steel roof, and the wires feed down the a pillar then into the fuse box. I did use the u clips nuts for my screws, I thought that better than just into the sheet metal. I will have to check if I took pictures or not, I took pictures of most of the build so I bet I have some.

[Gasasaur]

Are the holes in the roof the same whether you use the older style correct lights or the newer style found after 88? I prefer the look of the new lights, but want to make sure they can be swapped out for the "correct" ones.

I assume you used a pattern you made off of a truck that came with these lights so you could lay out yours?

[83GMCK2500]

Here's a write-up on the 88-98 style install that a friend of mine wrote: http://www.gmt400.com/threads/cab-light-install.117/ on his '88. Note: the spacing will be different for a square.

The square body style screws are transverse to the truck, the 88-98 are longitudinal. Converting from one to the other would require filling holes, drilling new ones. When I drilled my cab I used the large hole or grommet center for my spacing/alignment of them and then used the measurements in that write-up for screw position.

[mongocanfly]

The factory holes for the lights are recessed on my truck..luckily the new lights i put on covered the depression..the screw holes for factory are on the sides of the lights..the new ones I used are front and back..

[83GMCK2500]

Found a few pics, here's setup and layout.


Installed

[86454k30]

As much as I like cab lights, if that is as clean as it looks in the pictures and it is low mileage I wouldn't add cab lights...my 2 cents. Nice truck!

[Gasasaur]

Where did you get the spec's for laying out the lights? Did you measure from another truck or wing it?

[hatzie]

If you want a nice clean hole with straight edges get one of the Klein carbide tipped hole saws. They're pricey but very worth it.
I use them to drill 1-3/8" & 7/8" antenna holes in metal transit coach roofs. I've picked em up at one of the usual suspects... Lowes or Home Depot or ACE or True Value.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 86454k30

As much as I like cab lights, if that is as clean as it looks in the pictures and it is low mileage I wouldn't add cab lights...my 2 cents. Nice truck!

I don't care for cab lights for the same reason I don't like sun-roofs or T-tops..... Anywhere there's a hole in a roof, sooner or later there will be a leak from said hole. I absolutely would not poke holes in a roof for lighting.

[83GMCK2500]

Originally Posted by Gasasaur

Where did you get the spec's for laying out the lights? Did you measure from another truck or wing it?

Both. Because the bolt patterns are 90 degrees from each other I measured the large hole that the grommet & harness occupy and started there, adjusting for fitment, curvature, aesthetics.

Originally Posted by hatzie

If you want a nice clean hole with straight edges get one of the Klein carbide tipped hole saws. They're pricey but very worth it.
I use them to drill 1-3/8" & 7/8" antenna holes in metal transit coach roofs. I've picked em up at one of the usual suspects... Lowes or Home Depot or ACE or True Value.
Attachment 1577782

Have you seen a 1-3/16" in that flavor? I clean up the holes I make with a deburring tool, doesn't take much but I wouldn't mind using a better hole saw.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Both. Because the bolt patterns are 90 degrees from each other I measured the large hole that the grommet & harness occupy and started there, adjusting for fitment, curvature, aesthetics.



Have you seen a 1-3/16" in that flavor?

You can get em down to 5/8"
1-3/16" may be difficult. Slightly bigger or slightly smaller either 1-1/4" or 1-1/8" will likely do just fine.

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

I clean up the holes I make with a deburring tool, doesn't take much but I wouldn't mind using a better hole saw.

I use those tools all the time to break sharp edges. It takes less time if the holes are pretty clean to begin with.