TOW HOOKS

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bucket

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One thing to mention with that is it only works if you have the aux battery wired so that it is isolated from the other battery with the ignition off. Some people wire them so they are always connected, which doesn’t give you any protection with the ignition off so both batteries would die regardless of which one had the drain on it.

True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.
 

HotRodPC

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True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.
Correct, but I'd prefer isolated myself. I've seen people leave their headlights on at the airport and be gone for a week. They'd come back to 2 deader than dead batteries. If you isolate the right way, and connect a heavy switch, you can have both worlds I do believe. So if you did kill your start battery, flip that switch, then it'll pull from the good battery kinda like a jumper cable.

I do like that idea of the headlights being on the aux battery though for that reason. Not much else being left on would drain a battery dead in 3-4 days. I don't think a dome light would kill a battery even in 3 days. A weak battery, yes but not a battery in good shape.
 

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True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.

and it’s just cool
 

Dooley

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Anybody know where I can find (or are willing to sell) genuine GM tow hooks that go on frame beneath front bumper? I don't think they change at all between minor 73-80 and 81-87 differences, but if they do, also indulge me. Thank you

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Hooks from my 1979 K30.
Same as the ones on my 1977 and 1980 K30.
The last new K30 I bought was an 88 2 dr regular cab 4x4 with the "twisted hooks.
All listed as V76 on the SPID.

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AuroraGirl

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Correct, but I'd prefer isolated myself. I've seen people leave their headlights on at the airport and be gone for a week. They'd come back to 2 deader than dead batteries. If you isolate the right way, and connect a heavy switch, you can have both worlds I do believe. So if you did kill your start battery, flip that switch, then it'll pull from the good battery kinda like a jumper cable.

I do like that idea of the headlights being on the aux battery though for that reason. Not much else being left on would drain a battery dead in 3-4 days. I don't think a dome light would kill a battery even in 3 days. A weak battery, yes but not a battery in good shape.
with my LED domelight I watched from my house as the domelight was on for 4 days before I finally went off to shut it off and the truck still started LOL
 

Kilian

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Do the hooks from any newer GM trucks fit the 73-80 frame ends? I've seen some that have a straight mounting end but didn't know if the hole spacing would work.
 

Bextreme04

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Do the hooks from any newer GM trucks fit the 73-80 frame ends? I've seen some that have a straight mounting end but didn't know if the hole spacing would work.

They can fit, you just need to drill one new hole through the frame for the top mounting hole.
 

AuroraGirl

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if the hook has a support plate from factory to not stress the frame it might be a good idea to keep that too. not sure if roudned frame horn needs it or not, because its rounded out it might be stronger than the 81+ but hell if i know maybe its thicker steel.

also never underestimate rust - me, who has a rusted pile or many
 

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Bolt spacing is a little different 73-80 is 2 3/4” and the 95 ones I have are 2 15/16”
 

AuroraGirl

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Words of wisdom from the Queen of compromised, decomposed steel. :sorry:
my car is unibody, literally all of the sheetmetal ofthe car is shifting over time, paneling is making gaps, seams now unsealed, distortion, etc. My roof ditch has several points where its pulling away. The structural rigidity of unibody cars is no fool, my floor pan looks like moldy cheese BUT its still cheese! Like, at most a couple holes through but nothing is fully broke.,

Crazy, also WHOOOOO
 

HOTFOOT

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Thanks
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Bolt spacing is a little different 73-80 is 2 3/4” and the 95 ones I have are 2 15/16”
Put the 95 hooks on my 80 k3500 backer plates and only a little bit needs to be enlarged maybe an 1/8” to get bolts through plates, 80 has 5/8” bolt and 95 has 12mm and the 95 pull straight forward on bottom of the frame unlike the 80 where it points down and you pull at a 90*!
Will it bolt up YES and they are readily available unlike the older ones
 

Lu Blunt

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I have early 90’s gmt400 tow hooks on my 1979 k30. I used the holes that were already there.

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