OK, here are the new "old" taillights.







And a look at the old "new" lights for comparison.

 

That is the only picture taken during the last few decades I remember seeing of a big truck with two factory taillights. The new "old" lights sure improve the look of the truck. Nice.

 

Thanks Fred.

Yeah I was pretty excited to get the right taillight bracket and I'm really jazzed with the "original" look.

 

Saweeeeet!!!
Just make sure you use tamper proof screws and loc-tite on those right side bolts. You don't want to lose your unobtanium.

 

How bright are the new lights? (brake lights)

 

Thanks Wayne.

I'm using nylocks on it, so I don't think it's going anywhere... Maybe I should insure that part in addition to the truck?

 

I have LEDs in there. I'm still 6 volts and they are as bright as before in the "new" style lights. But they still aren't as bright as 12 volt.

BTW, the taillights came with 12 volt bulbs in them.

 

Those new "old" lights look great, Joe!

 

Thanks Howard.

Since Ross asked, and since I had only seen them in daylight, I waited until after 5:30 for darkness (I hate Standard time) and asked my obliging wife to video the lights for me. Let's see if I can make this work.

Brake lights, running lights, turn signals, flashers, with headlights...

http://vid285.photobucket.com/albums...4/DSCN2288.mp4

 

Thanks for the light show! Looks like everything works and they are bright enough.

I back my 54 into the garage. This way I can always check brake lights, and turnsignals as I can see the lights on the wall behind the truck.

 

Yes, they do, of course, look a lot brighter in the dark.

I can't back my truck into the garage because the car won't fit next to it if I do. Pulling in forward, the duallies stop before hitting the leg on my compound miter saw stand. I'd have to move over several inches to back in, and then the car would barely fit, but I couldn't get out of it.

 

That was a cool video. I love how the Ford script stands out like that.

 

Thanks Joe.

Yes, the script is one of the things I noticed first. I'm not sure why it was illuminated like that, but I thought it was cool. Probably catching light from the lights on the outside of the garage, or maybe from the street light?

I also noticed that I have a problem on the left... When I hit the right signal, the left light went out. I'll need to troubleshoot that.

 

I ordered a new gas filler pipe hose to replace the old one in the truck, which I think may actually be original.

The hose in the truck is about 3" long and 2 1/4" ID. I ordered the hose from Classic Haulers item number 1615-SHT, Gas Fill Hose 4". I received a 6" long hose 1615-LNG as they were out of the 4" hoses. The ID is only 1 3/4" but the OD is 2 1/4". So that won't work. I called CH to explain and have not heard back with an answer yet. The item I ordered says it fits 51-72. I guess I should have done more research. My fill pipe is 2 1/4" OD.

Anyway, I ordered a correct ID hose from a hose company, and got it in the mail. 2-1/4" Inch Thermoid 7318 SAE-30r7 Fuel Fill Hose 16731822503

Here are the pics to prove it.

 

I had a chance to do two things to Betsy today. Wow, how weird, I named my truck...

Anyway, the filler pipe hose and the drivers side rear cab mount are replaced.

A special thanks to Jimmy (underthebridgejim) and others who recently posted how to easily install the cab mount using a floor jack for the cab and a bottle jack for pushing the mount arm against the rubber cushion. That made it easy even for me!

And, because someone once said you like pics on this site.... at least I think I read that here somewhere...

Here are the old and new filler pipe hoses. Start with the old.



And the old removed (I sliced it).



And the new installed.



You can see how grungy the clamps were. I cleaned them up.



Then I moved on to the cab mount. I had already checked these a while back to see if the nuts were rusted to the bolts. They weren't, and came out easily. I cleaned them up a bit and installed the mount. Thanks again Jimmy.

Original next to new.



Old worn out.



More old worn out.



Took a shot of the obvious difference in hole spacing.



And installed.