GMC Jacke's van

Man, I knew the So Cal traffic was bad but how much horn honking does it take to blow out a steering wheel like that??!!

It looks like Russell is testing you.  He sure sent you a tough one.  I have no doubt that you can do it, though.

Well thanks I will do my best. I like a challenge

So I finished the indicators in the dash and replaced the gauges... I am waiting for tho darn part for the dome light. It is so nice to see the turn indicators and high beam lights work. I need to hook up the heater defroster switch...I will need to look that up in the wiring schematics! Ugh. Maybe not so bad it is not behind the dash at least.
Now I need to try to separate out the wires for the heater switch, a lighter addition, and glove box light & radio. My gas gauge needs a new sending unit ground too. I have dropped that tank 4 times in 3 years. But, I checked the gauge it is good.
So I have been told if the gauge is good and it pegs to full , it may be a bad ground somewhere in the mix? Any knowledge you can send over is appreciated. The gas sending unit is only 2 years old.
But, maybe they go out fast? For now I am the $5 bucks in every time I drive... just in case I am on empty really

Okay I got the dash back in and the blinkers work, But the darn new heat gauge is not working...
my gas gauge is not working.... I am not an electrical problem solver it seems. 50/50 that I just got lucky on the blinkers! I am going to have to have somebody who really knows how to connect simple gauges, fix them... Because I am lame and cannot. I wish I had some knowledge about these things. I do not know how to fix something that should work. I changed the gauge out and connected the wires the same way I found them!
So money is my next way of fixing the darn gauges. You through about $250 dollars away to a shop and poof you have working gauges! OK I give up! Here is my wallet.
You fellows are very lucky that have grown up working on engines and wiring. It is a steep learning curve
when you try to learn by the seat of your britches. Frustrating to say the very least.

Easy Jacke, breath-in, breath-out, the sun is warm, the grass is green...You'll get there...
I'm sure one of those left-coast gentlemen will lend you a hand with those wires.
Those gauges are Nice...now you just have to get them all to work.

Sometimes it's good to walk away and take a breather, then, when you're not so stressed, go back and revisit. I find that sometimes when I do that, I'll either think of where I could have gone wrong when I'm doing something else totally unrelated or even sometimes in my sleep.

Weird how sometimes the subconscious mind takes over when you least expect it...or maybe it's just the voices in my head... I have faith in you Jacke! You Can Do It!!!

Thanks Paul. I am better now. I just had to have a rant. I realize it is just a matter of two wires. I just hate to not do things correctly the first time. But those pretty little turn signals work! I did that right.
So, I will get some help to maybe just run some new wire. I cannot get under the van too much anymore.
I found a couple little burned spots on the temp gauge sending unit wire... so that is most likely the problem there. The wire was hitting the manifold. Usually something simple stops the train.
Thanks again for the voice of reason.

Well, I am the proud owner of a Horn Ring. I reached out to some vanner's and poof! I bought a ring/
I am not going to post Lord of the Rings "my precious"...that face is too scary for me. LOL
I am very happy. This was the last thing on the vans bucket list. I am complete.
"

Nice score, fwiw...I don't think you are ever done...JM2C..I could be wrong...hehehe

Yea Jacke!  Here I'll post a pic of Golem for you.


Ewww, you're right.  That is creepy.

I agree with Space, a van’s bucket list is never finished, but you’re a lot closer than I will ever be! Goldie is one lucky van!!!

vanny wrote:I agree with Space, a van’s bucket list is never finished, but you’re a lot closer than I will ever be! Goldie is one lucky van!!!

No don't say that!! LOL I have all my original parts that I had been searching almost 3 years to collect. These are JUST the original parts!!

1. 1st and 2nd Gen sway bars (so if/when I get the master changed over to dual, I have the correct sway bar!) But until then... I have my 1st gen sway bar.
2. Original rear tail light bezels
3. Original Front bumper guards
4. Vintage Window rain louvers
5, Original Bottom heater vent deflector
6. Original Rear pop out windows
7. Set of No window rear doors- painted and waiting for me to swap out if I feel like it
8. Belly pan
9. Second gen doghouse, cross member support and cross flow radiator.
10.NOS 1st Gen original antenna
11.Original HORN RING
12. Original GMC Horn Cap

I received my GMC Cap for my horn ring... just needs a re-chroming, same with the horn ring. I have a really great chrome shop in Idaho which will make them like new.

Pay for the insurance when you ship them...

I was just teasing, Jacke...you've done a Great job of accumulating all those parts and should be proud of the results! That's a van I would love to see in my driveway!!!

samsvan wrote:Pay for the insurance when you ship them...

Yes, definitely full coverage and I am gonna build a little box to ship the goodies. I would rather over pack and pay extra... then have a broken or bent ring. I worked in a fine art lab in my early days. The boss would have me build crates to ship expensive artwork that they restored. He would ask me "Can I drive my truck over it?!" so I am taking that attitude. It has to go up to Idaho.

vanny wrote:I was just teasing, Jacke...you've done a Great job of accumulating all those parts and should be proud of the results! That's a van I would love to see in my driveway!!!

I know you were joking, it just made me start thinking about all the stuff on the bucket list. I really did get a huge list finished.

Thanks Paul. I always appreciate you

Got an estimate for re-chroming the cap and horn ring $300. That's about $50 more than I had expected.
But, it has been a couple years since I have had chrome work done. Prices only go up.

JackeFriend wrote:Well, I am the proud owner of a Horn Ring. I reached out to some vanner's and poof! I bought a ring/
I am not going to post Lord of the Rings "my precious"...that face is too scary for me. LOL
I am very happy. This was the last thing on the vans bucket list. I am complete.
"

My horn ring shipped today! I should received it maybe by Saturday... I am so looking forward to getting the ring and having the cap and ring chromed. Then the front cab of Goldie is finished

Can you post the info for the chrome shop you used? I can't believe how fast they turned those parts around.

No, I am just getting the ring. I have not sent it to the chrome shop yet. I will be sending it out soon though. It is being sent to Utah. The shop I use does not do the process for this type of metal.

MY HORN RING IS OUT FOR DELIVERY!!

JackeFriend wrote:Well, I am the proud owner of a Horn Ring. I reached out to some vanner's and poof! I bought a ring/
I am not going to post Lord of the Rings "my precious"...that face is too scary for me. LOL
I am very happy. This was the last thing on the vans bucket list. I am complete.
"

Jacke, are you excited by any chance???