The nature of customizing a classic pickup to extract the utmost in personal enjoyment has always been to upgrade the truck in as many areas as possible. This includes trick body modifications to clean up stock styling and custom color changes to make it prettier than the average bear. Under the hood, the base model 6-cylinder engine typically found in most vintage trucks gets swapped out for a modern V-8, and the stick shift transmission often makes way for an automatic. To cope with the increased demands of the old truck's newfound acceleration, drum brakes are abandoned for discs and the primitive straight axle gets dumped for an independent front suspension.
It probably sounds like we have covered everything, but interestingly there's one very important detail that always seems to get overlooked; it's the truck's lighting system. Unlike the electrical system where a stock low-amp generator or alternator gets tossed out along with everything else that isn't up to date, the stock incandescent headlights always seem to escape scrutiny. A good case in point to illustrate how even the late-model classic trucks that come standard equipped with many of the modern improvements we discussed aren't exempt is the '73-80 Chevrolet C10.
The first step to starting...
The first step to starting on any electrical repair or upgrade is to disconnect the battery.
This brings us to the latest offerings from the folks at LMC Truck of Lenexa, Kansas. Made exclusively for the '73-87 range of GMC and Chevrolet trucks, LMC Truck's Euro Style lighting not only addresses the problems associated with standard incandescent sealed beam headlights they also provide a fresh new look. The '73-80 C10 models came factory equipped with dual 7-inch round, 12-volt sealed beam headlights. Incandescent sealed beam headlights were originally introduced to the market in 1940 as 6-volt bulbs permanently encased behind a disposable glass Fresnel lens. In 1955, Chevrolet and GMC trucks upgraded to 12-volt versions of the original 6-volt design with dual and quad round headlight variations until 1980. With age the quality of light deteriorates with incandescent sealed beams. Age not only affects the sealed beam it increases resistance in the stock wiring harness, and compounds the problem.
The folks at LMC Truck approached the headlight issue from both sides with a simple solution that replaces the sealed beam with a halogen bulb and supplements the stock wiring with a heavy-duty wiring harness that is 100 percent reversible. At the heart of the heavy-duty wiring harness are two relays, one for high beam and one for low beam. This arrangement removes the load from the stock headlight switch and provides a strong electrical current that eliminates flickering and delivers bright light. One hundred percent reversible means if the owner decides to sell his truck without the heavy-duty harness and halogen lights he can easily remove it and then transfer the parts to his next truck. To match the headlights' Euro styling LMC Truck designed an LMC exclusive side marker and parking light package that accentuates the Euro styling while it improves the intensity of light for the turn signals and side markers. The installation of LMC Truck's Euro Style lighting package for all '73 -80 C10 and Big 10 trucks is easy for anyone to do, and requires a minimum amount of basic tools.
We disconnected the battery...
We disconnected the battery and removed it to gain access to the passenger-side headlight. Note the battery was placed on wood instead of the cement, which will drain (discharge) the battery.
With the battery removed it...
With the battery removed it was a good time to inspect the battery box for battery acid induced rust. We used a mixture of baking soda and water to neutralize the battery acid and flush it off. Plain water was used to complete the flushing process.
With the battery box completely...
With the battery box completely dried we used LMC Truck's rubberized undercoating to seal the exposed metal and retard future acid damage. Masking with newspaper prevented overspray.
The finishing touch for the...
The finishing touch for the battery box was to trim a specially treated battery mat sourced from LMC Truck to size with a single-edge razor and a length of flat strap steel as a straight edge.
Not only does this battery...
Not only does this battery mat retard corrosion, its cushioning effect helps to dampen vibration, which can be a contributing factor to premature battery failure.
If undetected, a faulty headlight...
If undetected, a faulty headlight dimmer switch can cause a lot of extra work tracing high or low beam headlights that don't work. Cheap insurance, LMC Truck sells dimmer switches for under $10.
To change the stock headlight...
To change the stock headlight bulbs a T-45 Torx driver was used to remove the chrome headlight bezel.
Check out the freakishly large...
Check out the freakishly large rat's nest I found. Anytime body parts are removed it's a good time to look for drain blockages created by debris, which trap water and cause rust.
Look close. Extreme care should...
Look close. Extreme care should be given not to unscrew the three Phillips head headlight adjusters instead of the three Phillips head screws used on the headlight-retaining ring. With the ring removed the headlight dropped out.
To install the new headlight...
To install the new headlight we removed the rubber seal from its back, and inserted the bulb (marked TOP) into the light bucket and replaced the headlight-retaining ring.
With the Euro headlight installed...
With the Euro headlight installed the rubber seal was pushed on the backside of the headlight bucket.
The LMC Truck headlight relay...
The LMC Truck headlight relay wiring harness comes complete with the terminals clearly tagged for where they need to be connected. The 30-amp relays are for high and low beam.
It is best to mount the relays...
It is best to mount the relays as close to the battery as possible. We used a tie-wrap to join the relays together.
Installation of LMC Truck's...
Installation of LMC Truck's headlight relay harness requires drilling only two holes for the relays. Everything else is plug 'n' play, and unplug 'n' replay if want to use it in another truck.
Here's how the relays appeared...
Here's how the relays appeared after mounting. Note we left the tie-wrap in place.
We started the harness install...
We started the harness install by connecting the two plugs at the relays. It didn't seem to matter what one went where.
In order to reuse the two...
In order to reuse the two stock headlight ground locations we needed to replace the LMC Truck harnesses' ground terminals with larger hooped terminals that would fit over the stock ground bolts.
The relay harness comes with...
The relay harness comes with two red positive leads that must be connected to the battery. In order to fit over the positive post's 3/8-inch bolt we spliced the two positive leads into a single terminal with a 3/8-inch opening (hoop).
Royal Purple Maxfilm worked...
Royal Purple Maxfilm worked wonders freeing frozen bolts, and cleaning dirt and debris from areas that needed a good connection. This is where the stock headlights are grounded.
Having a good ground connection...
Having a good ground connection is as important as having a good positive connection. After cleaning the wires and ground surfaces we used dielectric grease sourced from LMC Truck to ensure long trouble-free service.
Thanks to everything being...
Thanks to everything being clearly labeled it was extremely easy install LMC Truck's relay harness. With this main area all plugged-in, we moved on to connecting the headlight plug for the driver side.
To complete the LMC Truck...
To complete the LMC Truck relay harness install we ran the new wiring alongside of the existing stock wiring on top of the radiator core support. The last steps were to plug in the new headlight plug, connect the new ground wire (same as passenger side), and tuck the now unneeded stock headlight plug away into the fenderwell.
Next in line was to match...
Next in line was to match up the parking lights and DOT side markers with the Euro look. A quick couple of twists on a T-45 Torx driver and the stock lens pulled out with a slight tug to break the old gasket loose.
A Phillips #2 fit snugly into...
A Phillips #2 fit snugly into the LMC Euro parklight assembly to remove the two screws holding it together.
Note the left and right side...
Note the left and right side Euro parklight assemblies are marked specifically for each side, and indicate TOP for the mounting position.
To clean and prepare the area...
To clean and prepare the area for reassembly nothing works as well as Mothers glass cleaner.
With the stock light socket...
With the stock light socket restored to as good as new it was twisted into the Euro parklight backing plate, and then the bulb was tested before the new Euro lens was installed.
To swap out the stock DOT...
To swap out the stock DOT sidemarkers a T-45 Torx was used to remove the lens, and then the light sockets were twisted out to remove.
A hallmark of LMC Truck is...
A hallmark of LMC Truck is to include all of the hardware necessary to install its products. No exceptions. The beautifully chromed Phillips screws come packaged with the Euro sidemarker lights.