Clearance Light Replacement

richard waters

New member
Feb 8, 1999
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I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
plastic
pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
compartment
and the bedroom.

Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
Arch's
piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.

It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.

I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
them to more desirable locations as Arch did.

Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
project ended up being?

If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
to
do with the headliner replacement.

Thanks,
Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
 
Richard

Mine were all easily removed when it was in the paint shop 3 years ago. I
replaced the 5 front OEM amber with the chrome base models that you
typically see on trucks and pickups. The curvature of the base matched the
front roofline perfectly, and IMO, they really improve the looks. I'd do
the same thing on the rear if I could find red lenses for the elongated
chrome bases.

Chuck
77Kingsley
North Idaho

- -----Original Message-----
From: Richard Waters
To: GMC net
Date: Sunday, June 27, 1999 8:21 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Clearance Light Replacement

>I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
>plastic
>pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
>compartment
>and the bedroom.
>
>Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
>be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
>Arch's
>piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.
>
>It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
>problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
>thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.
>
>I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
>them to more desirable locations as Arch did.
>
>Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
>project ended up being?
>
>If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
>to
>do with the headliner replacement.
>
>Thanks,
>Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
>
>
>
>
 
Hi Richard

If you are replacing your clearance light you may want to consider the new
sealed LED lights.
They should never need to be replaced and they do not have bulbs to burn
out. Check out
http://www.truck-lite.com/leds_main.html and
http://www.grote.com/ for sources.

Dave
dave

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Waters
To: GMC net
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 1999 9:23 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Clearance Light Replacement

> I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
> plastic
> pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
> compartment
> and the bedroom.
>
> Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
> be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
> Arch's
> piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.
>
> It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
> problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
> thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.
>
> I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
> them to more desirable locations as Arch did.
>
> Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
> project ended up being?
>
> If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
> to
> do with the headliner replacement.
>
> Thanks,
> Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
>
>
>
>
>
 
Dave,
Neat stuff! Thanks for the link.
Richard

> Hi Richard
>
> If you are replacing your clearance light you may want to consider the new
> sealed LED lights.
> They should never need to be replaced and they do not have bulbs to burn
> out. Check out
> http://www.truck-lite.com/leds_main.html and
> http://www.grote.com/ for sources.
>
> Dave
> dave
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Richard Waters
> To: GMC net
> Sent: Sunday, June 27, 1999 9:23 PM
> Subject: Re: GMC: Clearance Light Replacement
>
> > I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
> > plastic
> > pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
> > compartment
> > and the bedroom.
> >
> > Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
> > be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
> > Arch's
> > piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.
> >
> > It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
> > problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
> > thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.
> >
> > I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
> > them to more desirable locations as Arch did.
> >
> > Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
> > project ended up being?
> >
> > If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
> > to
> > do with the headliner replacement.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
 
The roof at the front and rear is fiberglass. You can see the seam where it
changes to aluminum. This puts the clearance lights in the FG area.

> In a message dated 6/27/99 10:23:51 PM Central Daylight Time,

>
> thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof. >>
> The upper half of the GMC is aluminum, not fiberglass. Yes, I replaced all
> of mine when it was repainted. No problem, but then I didn't have much rust
> or corrosion.

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
paget
 
Richard,
It is a real pain to replace the lights! If they are rusted out or in
bad shape inside you have no choice. I ended up drilling out about 80%
of the molly's and replacing them with new. I used a clear silicone
sealer under the housings to prevent leaks. Now at least all my lights
now work and aren't filled with water.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
> plastic
> pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
> compartment
> and the bedroom.
>
> Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
> be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
> Arch's
> piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.
>
> It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
> problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
> thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.
>
> I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
> them to more desirable locations as Arch did.
>
> Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
> project ended up being?
>
> If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
> to
> do with the headliner replacement.
>
> Thanks,
> Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
 
After taking off the front and aft plastic headliners where the
clearance lights are attached, it looks like fiberglass on the inside.
Is there aluminum laid over the fiberglass on the front and rear
roof?

Anyone know for sure.
Richard Waters '76PB, Troy, MI
- ---

> In a message dated 6/27/99 10:23:51 PM Central Daylight Time,

>
> thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof. >>
> The upper half of the GMC is aluminum, not fiberglass. Yes, I replaced all
> of mine when it was repainted. No problem, but then I didn't have much rust
> or corrosion.
 
I have 1 light that doesn't work. I wouldn't consider
replacing the lights except that I have everything down now. Once I have the
headliner back up I don't want to
ever take it down again.

While I have it down I'm also putting cable, telephone, 10BaseT and
additional AC and DC circuits up there in the "attic".

Richard '76 PB, Troy, MI
- ------

> Richard,
> It is a real pain to replace the lights! If they are rusted out or in
> bad shape inside you have no choice. I ended up drilling out about 80%
> of the molly's and replacing them with new. I used a clear silicone
> sealer under the housings to prevent leaks. Now at least all my lights
> now work and aren't filled with water.
>
> J.R. Wright
> GMC GreatLaker
> 77 Eleganza II
> Michigan
>

> >
> > I'm in the process of replacing the headliner and refinishing the
> > plastic
> > pieces around all the windows, the big pieces in the driver's
> > compartment
> > and the bedroom.
> >
> > Because everything in the ceiling is now exposed, I thought it would
> > be a good time to replace the Clearance Lights. That is until I read
> > Arch's
> > piece on Clearance Light Replacement at GMCMOTORHOME.COM.
> >
> > It sounds like a real problem removing the old lights. All kinds of
> > problems with corroded fasteners, badly installed mollys etc. The last
> > thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof.
> >
> > I would keep the lights in their original positions, instead of moving
> > them to more desirable locations as Arch did.
> >
> > Has any one just replaced the lights. Was it as difficult as Arch's
> > project ended up being?
> >
> > If it going to be a major job, I'm going to pass on it. I have enough
> > to
> > do with the headliner replacement.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Richard Waters '76, PB, Troy, MI
 
The clearance lights are attached only to fiberglass. No aluminum. For sure.
Darren

> After taking off the front and aft plastic headliners where the
> clearance lights are attached, it looks like fiberglass on the inside.
> Is there aluminum laid over the fiberglass on the front and rear
> roof?
>
> Anyone know for sure.
> Richard Waters '76PB, Troy, MI
> ---

>
> > In a message dated 6/27/99 10:23:51 PM Central Daylight Time,

> >
> > > thing I want to do is tear up the fiberglass on the roof. >>
> > The upper half of the GMC is aluminum, not fiberglass. Yes, I replaced all
> > of mine when it was repainted. No problem, but then I didn't have much rust
> > or corrosion.

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
paget
 
Arch,
In my business I'm involved with networking computers.
Part of the reason for having the GMC (as far as the IRS
is concerned) is to use if in my business. While I have not
done it yet, I've thought that I could use the GMC as sort
of a mobile training/demo site. Therefore it would be useful
for me to have a small computer network installed to use
for my training/demo sessions.

That's why the 10BaseT (actually just cable with 4-pairs of wire)
for the network. I have lots of it laying around and
figured that I would just string some from one of the back
bedroom lockers to the locker over the dinette. I'm also
going to run a line from under the dash to the locker. That
way should I ever want to install a mini network, all I would
have to do is terminate the 10BaseT cable and install a small
network hub in the dinette locker and I'd be all set. In the locker
I would have a 4-port hub. That way I could connect
up to 4 computers.

I don't think very many people would want or need a computer
network in their coaches. I'd probably never hook mine up
either, but I figured since all that stuff is down, I might as well do
it. Heinz probably has a network in his GMC, he has everything
else.

I hope this helps,
Richard

> In a message dated 6/28/99 10:55:56 PM Central Daylight Time,

>
> > I have 1 light that doesn't work. I wouldn't consider
> > replacing the lights except that I have everything down now. Once I have
> > the
> > headliner back up I don't want to
> > ever take it down again.
> >
> > While I have it down I'm also putting cable, telephone, 10BaseT and
> > additional AC and DC circuits up there in the "attic".
> >
> Richard
>
> OK I still have mine down. I have installed most of what you state
> plus speaker wires for a 5 channel surround system. What do I need
> to install for the 10BaseT net? You got me on this system. I know what
> it is but I dont know what I need to include. TIA
>
> Take Care
> Arch
 
Arch --

Not far enough off the wall. I've got a Diamond homefree LAN card in my
Toshiba laptop,

http://www.diamondmm.com/products/homenet/faq.html

and we're waiting on an Intel homefree wireless system for evaluation.

They work very well with our office network, DSL, cable modems or T1's. I
just open the lid and I'm on the net at work or at home. Other than some
DHCP lease renewal issues, its great. (And I realize I'm spoiled.)

Also, this type of high speed Internet resource sharing is now a part of
Win98 second edition. (and it seems to work.)

Mark

| Think about this. I think what we need someone to equip their coach
| with a network------and wireless system. That way when we all go
| camping one of us gets a site with a phone. The rest of us could
| check mail ect using the wireless network. I know that this is off the
| wall but it might still be a good idea. Give it some thought.
|
| Take Care
| Arch 76 GB IL
|