On my 49,the license plate bracket when attached to the tail light bracket hits the bed side(without the license plate) Are the light brackets to short? they are 5 1/8"long.

 

Hey Joe!

Could be a number of things - including a PO solution that created a new problem.

So, a pic would go a long way to helping to troubleshoot. Any that you can share?

DW

 

It all depends upon which side of the stake pocket/body side support you put the light bracket and which way you have it flipped. My truck came from the PO with no lights so when I gathered the parts I wasn't sure. But I soon found out that when you mounted them in the back of the support the mounting bolts on the back of the lights hit the fender and there was no room for the stone shields. So I mounted them under the tailgate support on the front side of the support. The holes are exactly opposite those in the back so no modification is needed.

I'm not sure which is correct but I'm sure somebody on this Forum does but this works and looks fine. Of course if you can't decide you can always do as some FTEers have done and change to the really great looking panel truck lights mounted in the fender.

 

There are two different lengths of license plate brackets, because there are two different types of tail lamps.

Round tail lamps used 1932/54, shield type tail lamps introduced 1955, used thru 1966.

The correct bracket for 1948/54 (1932/54) is stamped: DUO-LAMP = B-13406 .. License Plate Bracket-Use with round tail lamp.

1955/66: The bracket is stamped: TL-55 = B5C-13406-A .. License Plate Bracket-Use with Shield type tail lamp.

1967 and later use a different bracket because the tail lamps are different, are squarish in appearance. Clear back up lens moulded within red tail lamp lens.

 

I've seen some that have used the left mount on the right side so it goes mounts upside down and moves the taillight/plate up... it gives a little more room. and th right mount on left side

 

Yes Moe, that is what I meant by "flip". That still didn't give me enough room for the shields which I thought were a good idea given their location.

Bill if I understand you correctly the Ford parts manual says that the shields were only used 1955-66? I got mine from LMC Truck and they list them for use on '48-'54. See http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fa/full.aspx?Page=99. Regardless I think that they are a good idea and they work well with the lights mounted under the tailgate bracket.

 

I don't need to look because LMC has absolutely no clue.

Shield taillamps were introduced in 1955 and thru 1960, the lenses (B5C-13450-D) have FORD block letters moulded into the lens.

1961: B5C-13450-D was replaced by C1TZ-13450-C .. this lens is plain, has no FORD block letters.

Therefore, shield tail lamps are NOT ORIGINAL for any truck prior to 1955.

I wouldn't trust anything LMC has printed in their catalogs, cuz this isn't the first time a scenario like this has occurred.

The 1948/56 FORD TRUCK PARTS CATALOG is available on a CD from hipoparts.com for $21.50, or you can buy a repro of the original printed catalog from Carpenter for $250.00.

Either way, you'll get the correct info, instead of this LMC crap info.

 

Pete, you are referring to the wire shield on the back of the tail light, correct?

 

Yes, that is correct. It just slips over the mounting bolts and protects the wires where they enter the tail light housing.