Turn signals but keeping single element bulb

[edhd58]

I want to put turn signals on my 42 but keep the single element parking light up front and use it as turn signal.
Has anyone else done that or am wishing in one hand and s#%÷$=:g in the other?
What's the switch used if It's been done and how did it get wired?

[Mart]

You would need to swap out your headlights for those that incorporate a parking light. (We call them side lights here in the UK) the type of headlamp you need is the type fitted to early Minis.

You can then use your existing parking light base as a turn signal.

Now get this (I only found these recently) some of these modern mini bikes use a very small 21W indicator bulb, that fits in an early ford side (parking) light base.

This is exactly what I did on my 41 pickup.

Side lights incorporated into the headlamps and 21W orange indicator bulbs in the old side light holders (above the headlamps on the 41).

Mart.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I want to put turn signals on my 42 but keep the single element parking light up front and use it as turn signal.
Has anyone else done that or am wishing in one hand and s#%÷$=:g in the other?
What's the switch used if It's been done and how did it get wired?

I'd never heard that phrase before, but I'd strongly advise that you don't absentmindedly clap your hands!

I don't know about Kentucky laws, but a white lens facing forward cannot be used as a turn signal in California.

[meric42]

C&G sell a dual filament socket for the '42 - '46 park light so you don't have to modify anything and still keep the original look.

https://cgfordparts.com/ufolder/ford...er=21A-13235-R

[TJ]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

I'd never heard that phrase before, but I'd strongly advise that you don't absentmindedly clap your hands!

I don't know about Kentucky laws, but a white lens facing forward cannot be used as a turn signal in California.

Unless they have changed the law you can certainly have a white light facing forward and used as a turn signal. You cannot have a white light facing rearward.

[Andy]

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I have that on my cars for years. I use relays. Double pole, double throw. Un intergised, the current comes from the light switch. When the relay is grounded, the relay disconnects the light feed and connects the turn signal flasher lead. I have parking lights that switch to turn signals with one filament. My stop lights are using the same system.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by TJ

Unless they have changed the law you can certainly have a white light facing forward and used as a turn signal. You cannot have a white light facing rearward.

Hmmm....no WHITE light facing rearward! So, how 'bout them "back-up" lights? DD

[flatford8]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Hmmm....no WHITE light facing rearward! So, how 'bout them "back-up" lights? DD

Ther’re only on when you’re backing up........not on when your going down the road.....If your not a fireman or a cop, you can’t have a red or blue light facing forward.....I got stopped on my motorcycle with them......Mark

[slowforty]

Also make sure the bulb is big enough to trip the flashee

[Pete]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I want to put turn signals on my 42 but keep the single element parking light up front and use it as turn signal.
Has anyone else done that or am wishing in one hand and s#%÷$=:g in the other?
What's the switch used if It's been done and how did it get wired?

Just rewire the parking lights to the turn signal switch.
You can use the original tail lights by rewiring but put 32/50 bulbs in.
I have done similar conversions like you are doing to several different cars.
I have used the switch from a 55/56 Ford pickup by cutting the column tube only, below the dash mount and grafting the 55/56 upper piece on.
Some simple machine work on the steering wheel hub and you can press the cancelling sleeve on to the hub. This will give you the self cancelling feature.

[edhd58]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

I'd never heard that phrase before, but I'd strongly advise that you don't absentmindedly clap your hands!

I don't know about Kentucky laws, but a white lens facing forward cannot be used as a turn signal in California.

The entire saying is wishing in one hand s&^$$#@g in the other and seeing which one fills up the fastest.

[redmodelt]

I heard; Put all the wishes that come true in one hand and shit in the other and see which fill up first.

[Paul Bennett]

Andy - #6 - times two

[Tinker]

I picked up some stands for commercial vehicles for my 38 with light inserts. This by no means helps you. but I'm bored. haha


Don't you have marker lights upfront on the 42? I did on a 42 sedan. They could be converted to blinkers.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

edhd58. Yes I went with the part from C&G that Meric 42 quotes. The part number fits all the "fatty Fords" from 42 to 48 as well as Mercs and "jail bar trucks". Just get under the fender and twist out the factory bulb holder and replace with the 2 fillament plug....now you've got your 2 wires

I used Ford accessory back up lights for rear turn signals with 6v orange VW bulbs and clear orange plastic from a kitchen cleaner bottle behind the bulb to give the light some spread. Here's a pic of the rear, the front just looks stock with no hint that there are turn signals lurking behind the park lights.

I used a Trucklite/signal Stat 900 type switch that bolts to the steering column. Wiring instructions come with the switch, easy to follow. If I could wire them up any dumb " see you next Tuesday" can do it.


GB

[Frank Miller]

My 49 Ford has white forward facing turn signals that use the one filament bulb in the parking light. Even your rear lights use the same filament for bake and turn so it is just a matter of getting the right controller and wiring it up.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Hmmm....no WHITE light facing rearward! So, how 'bout them "back-up" lights? DD

Back up lights are the exception. Can't have white light facing rearward when going forward on the road.

[DD931]

When I set up the turn signals in my '48 F-1 I put dual filament sockets (from C&G) in the parking lights and wired it the same as if they were separate lights (which they are electrically, of course). Very happy with the result.

[redmodelt]

My 48 F2 had turn signals installed at some point by my Great Uncle. The parking lights have double contact offset pin sockets installed. If you are still running 6 volts the bulb brake/tail light number is 1158, it's a double contact with even pins.

If you just install the double contact pigtail and have even pins, you will need to install the bulbs to light the correct filament.


While I was driving it as my every day rig I noted that oncoming people did not seem to see the white parking lights flashing for a turn. I used some amber glass stain to color the bulbs, I could see the results the same day. Oncoming people at the intersections could see I was making a left turn because they saw the correct color. In Oregon it is red brake/turn to the rear and amber to the front.

[RalphM]

I used one of these, added bulbs up front, uses the brake as a turn signal.

[sidevalve8ba]

The Fords I drove in my youth ('56 & a '57 models) had clear front turn signal bulbs and clear lenses in them as original equipment and seemed to do the job. It was somewhere in the sixties model years the the cars changed over to amber bulbs if memory serves me correctly. I have turn signals on my '32 and I use clear bulbs on the front of it because it's old and so am I!

[rich b]

No matter what you do; you have to rewire both front and rear circuits to provide separate left and right wires; should be no big deal to add new double contact sockets to the front at the same time.

If you are resistant to that you can always use relays as Andy mentioned; relays also have the advantage of providing the ability to use a simple toggle switch or a vintage four wire signal switch.

The trailer converter mentioned could also let you use the single element front bulbs for dual purpose; but seems like an overly complicated idea.

[cmbrucew]

My 61 Ford V8 came with white front turn signal bulbs, but in 62 I bought amber colored bulbs at the auto supply store.
Bruce

[Mart]

It's just my humble opinion, but you can't use a side light as an indicator. I'm talking white at the front here, like the OP asked. Side lights are 5W. Indicator bulbs are 21W. Using a 5w bulb as in indicator just isn't bright enough.

The method I described works great and is really simple.

Using relays or fancy switches is the best solution at the back where you have 21W brake light bulbs, but are not the answer for the front.

Mart.

[edhd58]

https://cgfordparts.com/CATPICS/LOGO...0035000400.JPG is the complete socket with wires. Thinking of putting this in the front parking light socket.
The one Meric referenced in post 4 is only the end with wires not the socket too.

https://www.vintageautogarage.com/He...7r-90651-k.htm

What do you think of this switch?
I have led tail lights now should I use the led relay?
will it handle bulbs up front or should I convert the front to led 2 brightness bulbs?


here is a two stage led bulb i found.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...15d-bulb/2625/


Any thoughts on the switch, socket exchange and LED bulbs up front? I already have the LED tail lights installed. I know I'll have to run wires everywhere and thats okay.

[Karl]

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Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Hmmm....no WHITE light facing rearward! So, how 'bout them "back-up" lights? DD

They are there so that when you engage reverse on the freeway at 50mph
the cars following can dodge the fragments of your exploding gearbox !

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Karl

They are there so that when you engage reverse on the freeway at 50mph
the cars following can dodge the fragments of your exploding gearbox !

ha!

[cmbrucew]

Originally Posted by Karl
They are there so that when you engage reverse on the freeway at 50mph
the cars following can dodge the fragments of your exploding gearbox !




I saw a green 1956 ford hit reverse at a drag strip. Car slowed down and started backing up. Heard his axle broke the next week.
Bruce

[solidaxle]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I want to put turn signals on my 42 but keep the single element parking light up front and use it as turn signal.
Has anyone else done that or am wishing in one hand and s#%÷$=:g in the other?
What's the switch used if It's been done and how did it get wired?

You can take an amber colored marker and color the bulb. Once colored you need to be careful handling it, your touch will remove the amber from the glass. I would say it works ok, not great, but ok.


What are you doing for the rear directionals?

[B-O-B]

My high school buddy had a 49 buick convt. He would put it in R while going forward just to thrill the girls. Doing that saved our bacon one night when a 48 Chrysler town & country vert pulled out from a side street in front of us. He evidentially did have to repair the dynaflo tranny.

[edhd58]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

You can take an amber colored marker and color the bulb. Once colored you need to be careful handling it, your touch will remove the amber from the glass. I would say it works ok, not great, but ok.


What are you doing for the rear directionals?

I have ordered a turn switch and relay and led lights for front. I will replace the single element sockets up front with double element socket and Amber bulbs. LEDs on back already. I'll run the wires needed.

[Vintage Copper 47]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I have ordered a turn switch and relay and led lights for front. I will replace the single element sockets up front with double element socket and Amber bulbs. LEDs on back already. I'll run the wires needed.

A question on your rear LEDs... is the light worth it?.. I mean do I need that bright a light to the rear?

[edhd58]

Originally Posted by Vintage Copper 47

A question on your rear LEDs... is the light worth it?.. I mean do I need that bright a light to the rear?

I'll put it this way. A neighbor passed me going the opposite way a couple weeks ago and said he could barely see my tail lights, and he wasnt the first one to say that.
My wife followed me a couple times and fussed at me abut how dim they were. I thot she was just exaggerating.
When the neighbor actually turned arund to tell me that I figured I would go LED on the rear

[bosborn38pu]

Originally Posted by edhd58

I want to put turn signals on my 42 but keep the single element parking light up front and use it as turn signal.
Has anyone else done that or am wishing in one hand and s#%÷$=:g in the other?
What's the switch used if It's been done and how did it get wired?

FWIW: I went with http://www.turnswitch.com/Turnsignal.htm. Very pleased.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by edhd58

https://cgfordparts.com/CATPICS/LOGO...0035000400.JPG is the complete socket with wires. Thinking of putting this in the front parking light socket.
The one Meric referenced in post 4 is only the end with wires not the socket too.

https://www.vintageautogarage.com/He...7r-90651-k.htm

What do you think of this switch?
I have led tail lights now should I use the led relay?
will it handle bulbs up front or should I convert the front to led 2 brightness bulbs?


here is a two stage led bulb i found.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...15d-bulb/2625/


Any thoughts on the switch, socket exchange and LED bulbs up front? I already have the LED tail lights installed. I know I'll have to run wires everywhere and thats okay.

I think this is the Asian made copy of USA made Signal Stat 900. Trucklite which looks the same as the 900 is also US made probably licensed . Google them. I have one with the black casing and chrome lever . Pay a little more for the real Mcoy would be my advise. Signal Stat has been around since lights were invented for cars, you need the 7 wire one. I can't advise on LEDs as I'm running 6v posative and using standard bulbs.

GB

[redmodelt]

The Signal Stat should not matter, it is just a switch. But the flasher does come into play esp when you mix and match bulb types. Ok that is all I can add. I run stock type bulbs on my 48 and T with Signal Stat switches.

[model.a.paul]

I'v heard that - how big is big? does this affect LED's?

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

The Signal Stat should not matter, it is just a switch. But the flasher does come into play esp when you mix and match bulb types. Ok that is all I can add. I run stock type bulbs on my 48 and T with Signal Stat switches.

Full range of USA made flashers Novita technologies which bought out Tridon

http://novitatech.com/?q=aftermarket/products

Anyone using a standard 6v positive system should use a LL535 . Rock Auto does them at a good price. There will be some here that would suit LED.

GB

[Kahuna]

Ed
You could accomplish what you want with a diode on each light

[edhd58]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Ed
You could accomplish what you want with a diode on each light

Please explain.

[Kahuna]

If you have a single wire coming from the light, just graft that wire so that you now have 2 wires coming from the socket, One would be used as original, the other would have a diode installed to keep the current from the Parking light power from affecting the turn signal pulse.

[solidaxle]

Something you may have considered already. You have to make sure the brake light doesn't wash out the directionals.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

Something you may have considered already. You have to make sure the brake light doesn't wash out the directionals.

I think with the 7 wire switch there is an extra wire to install for that purpose that is redundant if you are using separate turn-signal lights.

GB

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by solidaxle

Something you may have considered already. You have to make sure the brake light doesn't wash out the directionals.

Not sure I understand this, with a two filament taillight, the brake and turn signal use the same filament. When the brakes are applied, it is the brake light filament that is being turned on and off to function as a turn signal. The tail light filament is the dimmer of the two and (if on) remains lit with both brake/turn signal functions.

[edhd58]

Looks like I'll be doing some wiring this weekend. Yep,I know, some this stuff is made China and other places. It is what it is. I have two different 1157 sockets. One those will be fitted to the running lights up front giving me two element bulbs up front.
I'll try remember to takes pics of how I do things.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

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Originally Posted by edhd58

Looks like I'll be doing some wiring this weekend. Yep,I know, some this stuff is made China and other places. It is what it is. I have two different 1157 sockets. One those will be fitted to the running lights up front giving me two element bulbs up front.
I'll try remember to takes pics of how I do things.

Have fun. There is great satisfaction doing it yourself.

GB

[edhd58]

Originally Posted by Graeme / New Zealand

Have fun. There is great satisfaction doing it yourself.

GB

Thanks Graeme, yes there is, and sometimes great frustration. But hey that teaches us too.

I will have this installed this weekend I'm sure. It's simple, straightforward wiring. I already have installed a fuse block to take the extra current off the column switch. Its a fused block with 6 fused circuits.
I have my wipers, electric fan, and of all things my voltmeter going through it. I did my voltmeter so it would be battery voltage, the way I had it before was at the voltage regulator where the generator hooked to it. it may have worked just fine, I just didn't like the look of the extra wire on the regulator.
After this weekend the turn signal will be on it as well.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

If you follow the instructions that come with your switch you can't go wrong. I brought a number of rolls of coloured wire similar to the switch wires and ran them to the various positions through the length of chassis rail on the drivers side and crossing to the other side front and rear and then taped it all into a separate loom which I cable tied to the existing loom. To enter the car I ran it through the handbrake/speedo cable grommet, under the carpet, up behind the kick panel and over the top of the hand brake lever bracket so you can't see it. It was the just a matter of tidying the wires up under the dash and tapping into a hot wire. I used a spare pigtail that was actually in my existing loom, and that is permanently hot so I can use the flare tab for the hazard flashers when the ignition is off. The flasher unit I mounted under the dash by finding a place to screw one of those stainless clips that stretch to hold tube shaped objects. My flasher unit is can shaped. I don't have a radio so I secured it to one of the screws behind the speaker grill that holds the grill to the dash. The flasher being there is very audible when the switch is operated while the car is running.

Double check every connection as you go, it is imperative that you get the right wires running to your switch and to your flasher unit terminals. I fused the hot wire with an inline fuse.

Let us know how it works out.

GB

[edhd58]

Okay guys. I now have turn signals using the factory marker housings up front. Attached are pics of the sockets used. The sockets from C&G wouldnt work after I pressed them into place in the old socket housings.
I don't know if it was the sockets or something I did pressing them. Whatever the cause the spring loaded bottom would not come after pushed down.
I used new plastic sockets and attached them to the old housings.
It was a simple straightforward job as long I read and followed the directions with the turn signal switch.
I am however getting to old and fat to keep worming my self under the dash doing wiring.
All wiring went through the firewall with the factory wires. So everything under the hood cleaned pretty nice. I still have some ziptieing to do. But all in all I'm pleased with the outcome.

[solidaxle]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Not sure I understand this, with a two filament taillight, the brake and turn signal use the same filament. When the brakes are applied, it is the brake light filament that is being turned on and off to function as a turn signal. The tail light filament is the dimmer of the two and (if on) remains lit with both brake/turn signal functions.

I went back and read the past posts. He is using the 7 wire turn signal. In that case there is not a problem with the brakes washing out the directional lights.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by edhd58

Okay guys. I now have turn signals using the factory marker housings up front. Attached are pics of the sockets used. The sockets from C&G wouldnt work after I pressed them into place in the old socket housings.
I don't know if it was the sockets or something I did pressing them. Whatever the cause the spring loaded bottom would not come after pushed down.
I used new plastic sockets and attached them to the old housings.
It was a simple straightforward job as long I read and followed the directions with the turn signal switch.
I am however getting to old and fat to keep worming my self under the dash doing wiring.
All wiring went through the firewall with the factory wires. So everything under the hood cleaned pretty nice. I still have some ziptieing to do. But all in all I'm pleased with the outcome.

That's unusual that your sockets from C&G wouldn't work. I know that theses sockets are earthed through socket to body contact so surfaces need to be clean. Looking good though....i'm a skinny bugger, but it was still hard "worming" under the dash.

GB

[edhd58]

Graeme, the C&G socketts worked fine until I pressed them into the old sockets. I have feeling was something I did.

[edhd58]

update on the signals.
They worked fine for two days then started blinking erratically when turned on. It came with a flasher for all LED lights, I have LED in back but elements up front. I wound up putting in a heavy duty flasher and now they are working fine. I'll let you know if this stops working the way they should.

[Fredo]

Redmodelt, can you contact me? In lake Oswego..