73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: Uncle G on February 07, 2018, 10:12:46 AM
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I have an 85 C20 Scottsdale. The vin says its a HD ( M in the vin). It came factory without cab lights. What trucks came with factory cab lights? I'm having trouble finding this info. Can somebody put me on the right trail? Not sure if this is the right place to post this cause I'm new.
Thanks
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Are you referring to the roof mounted clearance lights?
They were an option on most C-10 & C-20 cab styles and generally standard on C-30 1-ton dually trucks and heavier.
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Here is an option for you. They offer several style light bulbs from factory style 194 bulbs to bright LED https://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Amber-Lens-Cab-Clearance-Light-Marker-1313A-3020-2825-White-LED-for-73-87-GMC/122652764481?hash=item1c8eaca941:g:mU4AAOSwl~tZlTg6&vxp=mtr
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thank yall
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FWIW the M in the VIN signifies a 5.7L engine
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Thanks zieg85
I looked at one of the decoders and it showed a vin with L as 350 and M as 350 HD. I think chevy made a light duty 3/4 ton and I was told that they didn’t come with cab lights. I was talking with another chevy fan and he said that back in the 80’s you could order trucks with cab lights. After talking to him I believe only 1 ton trucks came factory with cab lights. All others had to be ordered. Does that sound right?
Thanks
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Sounds about right. I had an 84 Cab and Chassis that had them and a 87 that didn't. I had a 87 Crew cab dually that did.
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If you are talking about the lights on the top of the cab, those are clearance lights. The lights are mandatory for a dually because the truck is more than 80" wide. They are also required for most 1 tons because of the GVW/height/length/trailer towing (the DOT regs are a little complicated, but it boils down to needing lights for tall, long vehicles and vehicles that pull big trailers). Some 3/4 tons may also require the lights.
Bruce
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I looked at one of the decoders and it showed a vin with L as 350 and M as 350 HD.
The VIN code differences are about emissions equipment.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=28056.msg233789#msg233789 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=28056.msg233789#msg233789)
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I think I got the answer to my cab lights question (maybe?????). I talked to a mechanic that worked for a Chevy dealer during the 80's and he said the 3/4 ton trucks that had cab lights were put on by the dealership. He said they didn't come from the factory with them.
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Clearance lights were standard on certain trucks, any dual wheel. Pretty sure you could order them if you had your truck built. I know I had them on my 92 I ordered and it was a 2 wheel drive 1/2 ton
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Not totally positive on this, but if the GVWR is 8600 lbs or higher, then all 5 lights are required. If the vehicle is wider than 72'', then you need the outer 2 clearance lights.
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Option Code U01 - Roof Marker Lamps
They were included when option R05 Dual Rear Wheels (DRW) was specified. Roof lights show as included equipment on later 1980's K-30 single rear wheel models.
Their availability to California vehicles seems to have been rather restrictive. Otherwise, they were offered as a factory installed option that could be selected in the remaining 49 states.
Depending upon the model year, the option may or may not have been available on C/K-10 vehicles. It also appears from various option lists that marker lamps could not be ordered for California emissions trucks unless they were DRW.
Additional information on the various options for 1985 are available from the link below:
https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1985-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf (https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet-Trucks/1985-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf)
Curiously, some of the 1985 information kit option list pages have a October 1985 date and shows for 1986 model year.
Using the 1985 Chevrolet truck information kit (with October 1985 dated option page), shows roof marker lamps could be ordered if either NA-5 or NA-6 emissions was also selected on C/K-20 pickup trucks and Cab & Chassis Trucks (10-1985_OptionList & 1985_U01_option_Cab_Lights_pickup).
Additional examples, the U01 - Roof Marker Lamp option was available on 1975 models (1975 U01_option_Cab_Lights). The lamps were included on R05 DRW specified trucks. Also noted as "Not available for registration in the State of California."
Suburbans could also be ordered with the U01 Roof Clearance Lamp option (1-1991_Suburban Options) though not to models with YF-5 California Emissions .
The 1981 Pickup option list shows the roof marker lamp was available for pickup models, no restrictions given other than it was unavailable if YF-5 California Emissions or Z77 Chevy Sport options were selected (1981_OptionList_Example).
By 1984, U01 Roof Marker Lamp option was limited to "C-K2-3 models only" and still unavailable to California Emissions optioned vehicles, unless R05 Dual Rear Wheels were specified (1984_U01_option_Cab_Lights).
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nice, I learned something today, thanks for sharing
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Thank you for that Jason.
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Louisiana must have gotten a lot of trucks that were California equipped . The dealership mechanic said he installed lots of cab lights back in the 80's. Almost all of the C20's running around home had the lights.
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More likely that the U01 marker lamp option wasn't selected when the dealer placed their order with Chevrolet.
Similarly, rear bumpers were an option and a lot of these model trucks went to the dealers without a factory installed rear bumper. The dealer would install the rear bumper, usually an aftermarket variety, when the truck arrived.
Factory tachometers were also optional, but appears those weren't regularly selected either.
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When I ordered my ‘02 2500HD it specified that the cab lights weren’t available on California trucks. Not that it matters since I ordered my ‘02 with the cab lights from a dealer in IL.
What is California’s reason for this?
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Cal. Veh. Code §24011.
Whenever a federal motor vehicle safety standard is established under federal law (49 U.S.C. Sec. 30101 et seq.), no dealer shall sell or offer for sale a vehicle to which the standard is applicable, and no person shall sell or offer for sale for use upon a vehicle an item of equipment to which the standard is applicable, unless:
(a)The vehicle or equipment conforms to the applicable federal standard.
(b)The vehicle or equipment bears thereon a certification by the manufacturer or distributor that it complies with the applicable federal standards. The certification may be in the form of a symbol prescribed in the federal standards or, if there is no federal symbol, by a symbol acceptable to the department.
which means if theres a federal regulation on something it cant be offered for a vehicle that doesnt meet those standards. the clearance lights by federal guidelines are required on all vehicles/trailers over 80". that being said "clearance lights" are on the sides of trucks and trailers. if over 80" you have to have clearance lights by federal standards (duallys). the 3 center cab lights are called "identification light" thats to identify that the vehicle is over 80" and the outer lights are stilled called "clearance lights". the purpose of the 3 "identification lights" is more of a universal signal to say "im over 80"" there is no other piratical use for them, theyre not to see if youre going to clear a bridge but only as a sign for other drivers and the outer lights are to see the width of the vehicle.
all that being said my 91 crew cab SRW with Cali emissions has the roof lights but NY state (where my truck is from) also uses Cali emissions.
"Code of Federal Regulations"
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-1999-title49-vol5/xml/CFR-1999-title49-vol5-sec571-108.xml
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Here is the latest and greatest of FMVSS 108: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=8b3d691516eeeb525c0e57c76550af23&mc=true&node=pt49.6.571&rgn=div5#se49.6.571_1108
It is slightly easier to read, but still is a pretty poorly formated specification.
The interesting thing to note is that in Section 5 it states: References to SAE publications. Each required lamp, reflective device, and item of associated equipment must be designed to conform to the requirements of applicable SAE publications as referenced and subreferenced in this standard. The words “it is recommended that,” “recommendations,” or “should be” appearing in any SAE publication referenced or subreferenced in this standard must be read as setting forth mandatory requirements.
Clearance and identification lamps are covered under section 7.5.
The latest writing of the FMVSS specification removes references to SAE J standards, however, SAE J2042 that deals with Clearance, Sidemarker, and Identification Lamps for Use on Motor Vehicles 2032 mm or More in Overall Width states the following in the Scope:
This SAE Standard provides test procedures, requirements, and guidelines for clearance, sidemarker, and identification lamps intended for use on vehicles 2032 mm or more in overall width. A clearance lamp, sidemarker lamp, or an identification lamp conforming to the requirements of this document may be used on vehicles less than 2032 mm in overall width.
One clarification is that it is for vehicles that at 80" (2032) or more in width.