Tailgate lights bulb replacement

[jlmerie]

I have a set of one ton tailgate lights that I want to use. All of them work, but some have at least one bulb burned out. It looks like you should be able to replace the bulbs but I don't want to screw up the light itself without knowing how to take them apart. I'll bet someone on here knows how to do that and maybe where to get the replacement bulbs. Thanks

[DetroitDan]

if you're talking about the 5 marker lights that go across the tailgate, then I'm confused. I've only ever seen them with one bulb in each light. are you sure they aren't some aftermarket two bulb marker lights that someone put on a tailgate?
I had a couple sets of the cheap aftermarket lights that I put on a couple trucks, wasn't a worthwhile investment. The white plastic backing witha white bulb and thin red lens made it light up almost pink. I took them apart, which they arent made to do, by cutting the backs with a razor knife. Bulbs were soldered in and not replaceable, so instead of putting red bulbs in I ended up painting the inside of the lens red and gluing them back together. Looked really good, had a bright red almost led look. Looking for replacements now for mine, I have a tailgate with factory marker light housings but last guy swiped all the bulbs. I forget the part number but they are reasonably available.

[DetroitDan]

So to answer your question, they are not designed to have replaceable bulbs. Its a sealed unit. Got any pics of the lights you're talking about?

[87 V20 Scottsdale]

The 70's models had a different style of marker light, that had two small twist bulbs behind the lense, and the lense presses into a rubber base. The 80's models I think are a one-piece sealed unit, you pop the light assembly out of the receptacle and press a new one in. Which kind have you got?

[pig rig]

you can buy the whole light assembly through NAPA in black or chrome and they are the push in sealed lens with one bulb in it and the base piece

[DetroitDan]

Originally Posted by 87 V20 Scottsdale

The 70's models had a different style of marker light, that had two small twist bulbs behind the lense, and the lense presses into a rubber base. The 80's models I think are a one-piece sealed unit, you pop the light assembly out of the receptacle and press a new one in. Which kind have you got?

oops my bad, I didn't know that. Come to think of it my friends older truck has a little different lookiing light than mine, but I never noticed it having two bulbs. just looks a little different shape and sticks out a little further. And I know its factory, he's a GM purist.
I looked at the NAPA website, couldn't find the bulbs for mine except for LED. Wish I could figure out a part number, could probably find them cheap on Ebay

[pig rig]

like this




ok maybe not here's the link

http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Mul...06R_0217779917

[87 V20 Scottsdale]

Originally Posted by jlmerie

I have a set of one ton tailgate lights that I want to use. All of them work, but some have at least one bulb burned out. It looks like you should be able to replace the bulbs but I don't want to screw up the light itself without knowing how to take them apart. I'll bet someone on here knows how to do that and maybe where to get the replacement bulbs. Thanks

Re-reading your post, I'm pretty sure you have the 70's style lights, in the Classic Parts catalog they show that style going into '82, then changing to the later style. The rubber base should be pliable enough to gently pry the lense out of the groove that it sits in. After that you simply change the bulbs and pop the lense back in place.

[hitcher]

on a related subject did only the duallys come with the tailgate lights ? i remember seeing them on fleetside 1 tons on the air base in england but in catalogs they state they are for duallys

[87 V20 Scottsdale]

My K30 is a SRW model and it came with lights in the tailgate from the factory.

[jlmerie]

I am pretty sure these lights came from a one ton truck from the mid 1970's. It felt like I could pull the rubber part away and open them up. However, in the past it is not unusual that I try something like that only to find out I destroyed something that was not intended to work that way. Thanks for your help. Here is a picture.

[DetroitDan]

yeah, those are definitely different than mine. That is what my friends 74 has. I like them. Never noticed two bulbs in them though. Having one bulb out would drive me nuts, I'm the type of guy that has to fix even a little insignificant bulb the minute it goes out.

[jlmerie]

Hopefully another picture will tell the whole story. Thanks everyone who chimed in.

[DetroitDan]

someone just posted a picture of a yellow crew dually with those style lights in the "lets see some pictures of crewcabs" thread, but it has the 81-82 style nose on it. Wonder if it's original, and what year they actually changed over. I'm liking those lights more and more. Might try to source them instead of what I've got. My tailgate came off an 87 1 ton, so I'm pretty sure the little plastic housings take the newer style lights, which I haven't got yet. I just realized my replacement tailgate has the housings and I don't need the whole kit.

[87 V20 Scottsdale]

They changed sometime during the '82 model year.