Cab/Roof/Clearance Lights- Who Has Added Them?

[Ironhorse]

What ever one decides to call them, who has actually added them to their non-light cab roof? Not talking from the factory lights with the raised sections of the roof for each individual light, aka... fireman's hat or hockey puck lights. Referring to the later style tear drop style from Yankee.

I have a '71 4x4 1/2 ton, swing out camper mirrors and stock height but I just really think those lights look great on a 4x4. Trouble is I paid mucho dinero, time and Budwieser to rid my truck of holes and rust. Having a really hard time convincing myself to drill holes in the nice straight newly repainted truck roof. Wish I had wanted to do so at that time but hind-sight is always 20/20,

Have seen the posting that Longhorn Man from the board posted and he had a great idea for adding them. I just have to get myself past the idea of putting new holes in my cab roof. Any one who has done it care to put my own reluctance at ease with sharing their experience? Glad you did it, wouldn't do it again, any pitfalls, problems?

[swamp rat]

I haven't done it but I bought a project truck that someone added them, and if course thru the years they have shriveled, became brittle, broke ect.. the previous owner of course didn't stay after them ether.. Tough call, one thing to consider is what you install today going to be available in 5,10,20 years down the road when one breaks??

[El Dorado Jim]

like the looks of them too, but wouldn't drill holes in my truck for them, and like swamp rat said, can you find replacements later?

[Tdrcreyn4]

I have them on my truck and love the look. It's like everything else, if you take care of it they will last you. I took the time to fish the wires down through the pillar and then wire them into the light switch like they came from the factory. Originally I just had a separate switch but didn't like the look and kept forgetting to turn them off. If you like them go for it.

[drewbert41]

My truck came with holes from the lights and no lights. Someone just let water in over the years. Not good.

[irl104]

You can find the lights on ebay quite often. Yankee 77 is the make and model of the earlier cab marker lights.

[Spartan]

If you like them add them.
I do understand your dilemma. Personally, my thoughts are if it is a 4x4 and it does not have them then do not add them. 4x4 trucks are out there in huge numbers (talking all brands up until 1976 - my cut off year) and finding a good cab is getting to be a longer wait.

Of course, I am more of a purist so if it doesn't have the pads the look doesnt intrigue me as much. They do look tough tho....
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[special-K]

The Yankee 77 style are what came on trucks prior to '69. Basically, they were the universal marker lamp. I have added the 70-72 style to non-clearance lamp tops. Never had a problem. I figured they seal on the rounded 73-87 tops and the curve is about the same.

[AKC]

My new (?) truck came with them stock. Yankee 77's you say? Nice to know.

Have the lenses always been plastic? I ask because mine have "Lavendered" from sun exposure. I thought that only happened with glass.



Hadn't really planned on changing them unless it becomes a legal issue, just run amber bulbs inside.

[AKC]

Missed the edit... I see there are glass lenses, nevermind.

[68panelman]

You have Yankee 77's. They have a single screw towards the rear of the lens, if they were glass, over tightening the screw would surely break the glass. The glass type used a metal base with gasket, then glass lens with gasket, then a chrome bezel to hold it on. California sun got the best of those. There are repro 77's in a all plastic housing you can get for $30 I think, I have a set here that came with a truck I got. I do remember replacing original lenses in the 1990's for the same white-out condition as yours for $12 per lens on a 70 K-10 lwb step side I had.

[fp1967]

I added a set of Yankee 77s on my 69 K10. They were factory ones off of a 67 K10 parts truck. That was in 87, I wouldn't do it again, but that's me. Now days, I hate drilling holes in a perfectly good roof. Like others say, it's your truck, do what makes you happy.

[68panelman]

I'm the same way, Won't drill'em if they didn't have'em. But I am a sucker for cab lights, especially on a 4x4.

[special-K]

I measured where the factory lights went and put mine there. I used a lighted toggle switch so I could do the courtesy flash with truckers. I ran the lights that came on C & K30 tailgates under the tailgate on the diamond plate

[davepl]

Keyboard-ugh!

[57larry]

I would not drill holes to add them

[jeffahart]

I let the dentist drill a hole in my jaw.... so I've no problem taking it out on my cab! I just need the lights!

[davepl]

Now that my keyboard has returned, I was going to say that I did mine before the bodywork just in case, but then had to re-fish the wires afterwards - but the holes were drilled.

I'm using the Yankee style, or whatever was popular in the aftermarket of the day.

Man, that truck was kinda ugly before I restored it! Kind of nice to see :-)

[Ironhorse]

Lots of answers, both pro and con. Thanks for the input and thoughts. Still liking the idea on a 4x4. I'm surprised at my self I even asked the question to begin with tho, . I usually don't seek others opinions on things I do with my vehicles. I think about a mod for awhile, mulling it over in my head for a bit before I decide yea or nay. I am still on the fence with this but since I don't have any lights yet it's easy to go back and forth with it.

If I ever do run across a NICE set of Yankee lights (prefer them to the "correct" hockey puck or fireman's hat style ) I'll probably still mull it over for a bit.

[Canuckvetter]

I have them on my truck. Installed by the original owner I believe. They don't work and was wondering how difficult it is to rewire? Do I need to fish down the "A" pillar? Love the looks of these trucks with clearance lights. Anyone know what brand they are?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1454862571

[CG]

Drill baby drill. I will be putting a set on my new K20. I would also like to put dual spotlights on it ... more drilling (and more expense that will have to wait haha)

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Lots of answers, both pro and con. Thanks for the input and thoughts. Still liking the idea on a 4x4. I'm surprised at my self I even asked the question to begin with tho, . I usually don't seek others opinions on things I do with my vehicles. I think about a mod for awhile, mulling it over in my head for a bit before I decide yea or nay. I am still on the fence with this but since I don't have any lights yet it's easy to go back and forth with it.

If I ever do run across a NICE set of Yankee lights (prefer them to the "correct" hockey puck or fireman's hat style ) I'll probably still mull it over for a bit.

I think you should do an LS swap, put 3 ton axles under it, paint it yellow with orange and purple stripes, but don't do the lights. Other than that it's your truck to do what you want . I think the fireman's hat lights are called Rebel 99s

Originally Posted by CG

Drill baby drill. I will be putting a set on my new K20. I would also like to put dual spotlights on it ... more drilling (and more expense that will have to wait haha)

My little shortbed I'm building as a period correct hot truck. It will have a traditional tonneau cover, snaps in the bedside and all. But those are teeny 1/16" holes that are very easy to eliminate.

I would never drill holes in the top of my '72. But I d plan to run clearance lamps. The plan is to cut the top off a cab with the lights and replace the top with it. I feel so much better about removing the top than drilling five hles

[Burbnasty]

I checked out the lights on my 70 K-20 today, (sorry for the bad lighting its in the old barn)

For some reason I only have three cab lights, does this mean the are not factory?
I read on some other posts that GM made a specific roof for the cab lights and I don"t see any sign of that on here so it looks like someone added these later, which means the holes in roof. The old owner used this thing as a farm truck so if he installed them he probably didn't do a very good job, based on his other handy work.

One of the lens is broken (has been stored inside) so I think I will just remove the 3 center lights and the old plow light.

Are the replacement lens easy to get?
Where would I get two more lights if i needed them?
If I plan on pulling them what is the best way to patch the old holes?

I am going to pull the truck out this week, put in a new seat/ and gas tank and start to drive it around a little more than I have been. Ill post more pics when I get it out.
I want to make sure water is not going to get into the cab either way,
suggestions....?

[BLAZERMAN]

The Yankee 77 was the factory installed cab light up until 68 and was even came from the factory on Suburbans up to 72. It was the dealer installed option well into the 80s. The "cheap" versions found at LMC and on EBAY I have found to be of very good quality and an exact match. If you go with this style I suggest you find a cheap used set of factory installed 67-68 lights off the board just for the molded rubber bases. The aftermarket and even most NOS Yankee lights will come with a very cheap flimsy foam gasket. The factory lights used a very good quality rubber base anf will fit the aftermarket lights fine.

[BLAZERMAN]

The difference between the factory and aftermarket base.