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My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and LS Swap 2021

Overview Gallery Discussion
thats a cool idea. And ya I have a stick so its just void space now. Although I have decided not to use my oil temp gauge so I can retain my stock BRAKE light. So I can sell/return it and get some $$ back. Or I will mount it on the lower left side of the bezel which I can do at any time.


But tonight I did a little bit of work and have the column harness cut crimped and installed along with the new alternator in and the idiot lights epoxied in because I didn't realize that Autometer replacement gauge lights are the wrong size. Also I have all my gauges mounted to the bezel and ready to go in.

Wiring 031.jpg

Wiring 032.jpg

Wiring 031.jpg

Wiring 032.jpg
 
If you go with LEDs, make sure they have an internal resistor compatible with 12V or you'll need to add an external resistor.
 
I am wicked excited I just finished up the engine harness and was able to start the truck up and see my new alternator spinning. Although nothing else is hooked up yet...

For this weekend I picked up a case of beer so I am ready to have this thing finished by sunday night. :D
 
Are you using the complete wire kit from EZ Wire? I have been going back and forth between that kit and Painless wiring, but there is such a huge difference in cost. For the money that kit looks good, but I don't want to buy a bunch of different connecters unless it doesn't come with any. Good luck this weekend!:laugh:
 
Dalejrfan said:
Are you using the complete wire kit from EZ Wire? I have been going back and forth between that kit and Painless wiring, but there is such a huge difference in cost. For the money that kit looks good, but I don't want to buy a bunch of different connecters unless it doesn't come with any. Good luck this weekend!:laugh:
Click to expand...

I highly recomend the EZ-Wiring harness because unlike the Painless harness the wires are labled every 6" or so and that in itself is such a HUGE help in figuring out where each wire is going or coming from. Being a Universal harness some wires are cut out while others arent complete like the windshield wiper harness. I mean they include a wiper power wire but from there you have to wire it yourself. If you follow the book they give you and study some factory wiring diagrams you can easily figure it out. Right now the only thing thats keeping me from having this complete is that I am working on it leasierly.

They do include some connectors but not enough and not all are the right size. So go down to autozone and pick up a few connectors and some heat shrink with some conduit to protect the exterior harness.

To me you cant justify the price of a painless harness when this harness is that good.
 
Some work done:

Windshield wipers wired up, speedo cable in, further trimming and adjustment to bezel for gauges, healight relays mounted and have started to run the wires for them.

Pics:

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looks good, i can't wait to see the finished product. are you still going to run the mojave heater? also is there anyway you could snap a pic of your windshield wiper squirter system? mine is m.i.a. from the po
 
chevyridinhigh79 said:
looks good, i can't wait to see the finished product. are you still going to run the mojave heater? also is there anyway you could snap a pic of your windshield wiper squirter system? mine is m.i.a. from the po
Click to expand...

Ya sure i can do that. But as far as the mojave that would be nice, but the stock HVAC system is staying for a while longer.

As far as the wipers though, when I bought it the washer jar was sitting on the floor boards. So I just wired it up through an accessory connection and had a separate switch for it. But now I have been studying wiring diagrams and it appears the power for the wiper motor and squirter are tied together and both opperate on a ground switch being the actual wiper switch. My switch is an early 80s style dash mount Lo/Hi that you push it in to opperate the squirter. Then of coarse there are different style squirter pumps and jars all dependant on the year. Pull up LMC and look at their diagrams so you can determine which one you need.



Also BIG update, but its too late tonight and didn't take any pictures yet, so you'll have to wait till tomorrow night after work. :D
 
what size exhaust are you running and did your headers interfere with the clutch linkage at all? i know im going back a bit, but i just ordered a set of headers today that have a 3" collectors.
 
chevyridinhigh79 said:
what size exhaust are you running and did your headers interfere with the clutch linkage at all? i know im going back a bit, but i just ordered a set of headers today that have a 3" collectors.
Click to expand...

The set that I ordered didn't interfere with the clutch linkage at all. Very nice set, good quality product. I'm running dual 2 1/4" pipes so I have a reducer coming off of the headers.
 
Edited for captions:

Ok so progress has slowed because I am have come down with a nasty cold. I left work early today and I think I'll call in tomorrow. If I'm feeling better then surely this truck will be completed.


I need to get my sleep so pictures will do most of the explaining. I'll type up an explaination later:

wiring037.jpg


I know looks a little messy but not everything was in place.

wiring038.jpg


This switch is the On-Off-On switch for my aux lights so that I can just set it off all the time, automatically on only with the high beems, or on when i choose.

wiring039.jpg


This is my headlight switch. I had to ditch the the harness connector in favor of some female spade connectors since it was screwed up. Ok so working left to right, top down:
Dash light hookup - Parking Lights - Dash light power
Dash light hookup - Power to dimmer switch
(not connected) Dome light ground - Main headlight power

wiring040.jpg


I ordered a Lokar speedo cable because the factory one wouldn't connect to the Autometer speedo so I ran it and the thing is shorter by about 6" or so. So there is no slack in the cable at all. I guess they didn't have 4x4 trucks in mind when they made that cable.

wiring041.jpg


wiring042.jpg



What really pisses me off is that I get this far on my dash and then the bezel doesn't fit because the fuel gauge is hitting whats left of the green plastic part... well back out its gotta come to trim that sucker up. Good thing I hooked everything up with spade connectors to make for easy dash removal... :doah:
 
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Great job. Behind the dash wiring has always intimidated me. I usually add a fuse block and go from there. I've taken a few dashes apart for spare gauges, but never done a full replacement before. Looks awesome with the white faced gauges! Keep it up. I assume you'll be driving it soon!
 
Headlights and dash finished!

Headlights and dash have been finished and I must say that the headlight mod with the solenoids definately makes them brighter. Or maybe its just replacing 30 year old 18gauge wiring with new 14 gauge. :screwy:

I'm very happy with how the dash turned out and I must say that the Autometer tach just seems to read rpm better then my autozone special sunpro. I think it adds about 10hp or so. :D

So pictures:

wiring043.jpg


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Unfortunaly I had to use the old wiring conduit loom thingy whatyamacallit.

wiring047.jpg


Low beems, honestly I feel bad for any oncoming traffic because headlights high up and that bright will blind people.

wiring048.jpg


High beems with Aux lights switched into auto.


Only thing left to do is bring the tail light wiring down the frame and hook up about 5 wires or so. So by tomorrow night I'll be cruising around in it again :D:D:D
 
looks great glenn, are you going to do something about the column shift indicator hole in the bezel? if you don't mind me asking, what did it cost ya to do the wiring and gauge upgrade?
 
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