The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-25-2013, 12:22 AM   #1
mike805
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Oxnard, Ca
Posts: 9
89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

I swapped my 89 front end (crew cab) to a 77. I'm getting around to doing the electrical and since I'm going from 4 headlights to 2 round ones, I was wondering of anyone had any ideas regarding the wiring harness? Is it simply a pigtail swap and hide a few wires or is there more involved? Thanks for the help, Mike.
mike805 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2013, 08:50 AM   #2
ghettoluxury
Registered User
 
ghettoluxury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Waynesfield Ohio
Posts: 1,991
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

When I did mine I used the harness from a 76, it just plugged into the connection on the fire wall.
__________________

1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71
ghettoluxury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2013, 10:23 AM   #3
mike805
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Oxnard, Ca
Posts: 9
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

Ill head to the local pick your part and see what I can find. Any other ideas if I strike out there?
Posted via Mobile Device
mike805 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2013, 05:14 PM   #4
ghettoluxury
Registered User
 
ghettoluxury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Waynesfield Ohio
Posts: 1,991
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

Cut the pigtails off of your old harness and re-install the correct ones.
__________________

1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71
ghettoluxury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-18-2013, 01:05 PM   #5
mike805
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Oxnard, Ca
Posts: 9
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

So I picked up an older wiring harness out of the local pick a part but it doesn't fit. So it looks like I'm going to cut off the pigtails and use the correct ones as suggested. My only question is, what do I do with the extra wires? Since it had four headlights before do I just combine them or remove them completely? While I'm at it, I would like to do the relay upgrade as well. I obviously don't have a lot of automotive wiring experience so I'm trying to learn.
Posted via Mobile Device
mike805 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2013, 01:42 PM   #6
ghettoluxury
Registered User
 
ghettoluxury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Waynesfield Ohio
Posts: 1,991
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

You will need 1 ground and 2 hot per side for the headlights. It's not that hard to trace your grounds as you now have 2 on each side and the go back to eyelet on the core support.
__________________

1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71
ghettoluxury is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2013, 02:20 PM   #7
83GMCK2500
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

Another option for the relay harness, we have a vendor that sells it: here

EDIT: Trying to find the diagram I have seen for the wiring...

Found it:

Source: http://www.73-87.com
__________________
Devin

1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt
1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050
1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350

My Introduction with my '83s History
New Daily, the '96
83GMCK2500 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-19-2013, 04:26 PM   #8
wraprail
Registered User
 
wraprail's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City Arizona
Posts: 863
Re: 89 to 77 front end swap-headlight harness?

Keep in mind that pole 85 is just -Ground for the relay and does not need to go all the way back and connect to the headlight. Just run a short pigtail to the closest ground. The headlight should already be grounded.
You will only need one B+ wire and only one fuse since only one relay is powered at a time.. Just split it after your fuse and feed both relays.
Keep your fuse close to the junction block if possible. (18" or less)
The closer the relays are to your headlights the less voltage drop.
While this is true, I have not been able to notice any lower light output placing the relays near the firewall on my own truck. It has the relays placed under the dash and uses the factory wiring out to the lights. The biggest gains come from bypassing the headlight switch, dimmer switch and fuse block.
__________________
wraprail is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com