The front turn signals on my 55 F350 weren't very bright. I thought the PO had put 12 volts bulbs in since I had found 12 volts bulbs in many of my marker lights. I put a 12 volt bulb in one and it was much dimmer. I bought 2 new 6 volt bulbs since I didn't know how old the bulbs were.

The best improvement was to paint the rear insert with shiny reflective metallic aluminum paint. I used Super Glue to reattach two broken pieces of the plastic lens.

I put them back together and the brightness was noticeably better.







Do you realize how hard it is not take a picture of a flashing light with your cell phone! It took me four tried to capture it.

 

Do a video then Capture a frame from it to make it easier.

 

Abe, how did you get that metal part out of there? I have 2 of those lights that I need to replace the carriage bolt/stud that attaches them to the fender (not to mention I need to drill through that stud! Mine look identical to yours but I can't get that inner part out. Maybe it's just corroded on really good

 

They just popped out. As you can see the screws go through the lens and the metal part. Yours are probably stuck fast. One of mine was just a little bit but it came out easy enough.

 

thanks Abe, as easy that might have seemed mine were so stuck together that I wasn't sure and didn't want to break them. Well tonight I got them off and cleaned/fixed. Keep in mind I'm 12v but what I did is using the original single socket I used a dual filament bulb and the contact pad is big enough to contact both points on the bulb so you want to talk about BRIGHT, they work like a top. Not sure if there is a 6v double bulb but if so might be worth a try?

 

I read on some board, maybe the HAMB, that using white paint instead of silver produced a brighter light. If anyone would like to experiment I'd be interested in the results. I have a pair of lights like these, somewhere, if I find them and find time to play around I'll give it a try.

 

Mine were a reflective chrome finish

 

Read the same thing somewhere ... white paint proved to make the brightest signal. Don't road signs have paint with reflective beads in it? That would work well maybe.

 

I think when the PO painted the truck they also refurbished the turnsignals but I think they painted the back pieces grey or maybe it is just the primer. So I am pleases when my improvement.