What did you do for backup lights on your Flare Side? My '70 SB FS needs new rear lights and I'd like to include backup lights.

 

Check with Rick at Carolina Classics in Durham.



John

 

Check eBay. I see a lot of those rectangular tail lights with back up lights. You can find used ones and new ones. I bought a pair of used ones at the junk yard and a third that was like new that was used on the rear of a fleet of vehicles as they tow them on the highway... They are not exactly stock for 67 -72, but have the same shape and size.

 

I went with the 40s style blue dot shield with Ford in script because I liked the look better than the 69 rectangles. The 69 lights came with a reverse light, the older style did not, so I had to come up with a back up light.

I cheated, you can see in the photo, and added a round LED light to the rolled lip on the box side:



I think this was the part I used:
MAR-K Featured Products

I got the tail lights and mounting hardware from either LMC or NPD.

 

Thanks, John. I'll see what he has to say.

 

I saw the rectangular ones in the catalogs but it looked like they only had two wires. Guess I should call and see if they can tell me if those lights have brake, tail and backup lights. If yes, that would work.

 

THAT is cool!! Just gotta convince myself to spring for $145+. May just have to do it. I prefer the badge tail lights to the rectangulars (that come with BU lights) but didn't want to add other light housings to the back.

Very nice truck!! Is that a new tail gate? Mine needs some work. Will get to it someday. Your pipes, lights and bumper look good together.

 

I too like the shield type of taillight stock on 55-66 flaresides. But as you said they have no backup lights. Here is a pic of my truck with the big taillight that was put on by the PO. It is a head light from a pickup that has a snow plow mounted. I didn't like it. My brake lights were not working correctly anyhow so I got the 2 lights off a truck in the junkyard to use as separate brake lights and backups. Then I got a third one to put in the original spot to make it look more balanced, more symmetrical. This also has the backup light. It is not the original 67-72 style but the 73 and up style.
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Yellow truck, I like your black fenders on your red truck! Very nice!

 

Do the backup lights work OK where they're mounted? They're a lot higher than where BUs are usually mounted. Guess if they're bright enough it wouldn't matter.

 

Quote:

I too like the shield type of taillight stock on 55-66 flaresides. But as you said they have no backup lights. Here is a pic of my truck with the big taillight that was put on by the PO. It is a head light from a pickup that has a snow plow mounted. I didn't like it. My brake lights were not working correctly anyhow so I got the 2 lights off a truck in the junkyard to use as separate brake lights and backups. Then I got a third one to put in the original spot to make it look more balanced, more symmetrical. This also has the backup light. It is not the original 67-72 style but

 

I agree on a single light for a flare side, if you can. On my 54 I have taillight and brake in one light (the round original type) and turn in another. Since my truck didn't have turn signals originally I couldn't put all three in one light.

The rectangular lights would work well, used or new. If you must have the stock style you can buy them from the repop catalogs....

 

MavSpring - they throw a lot of light, they do tend to throw it higher but that is usually where I am looking when I back up.

I think you can find them cheaper, they may even be available in plastic rather than billet aluminium. I was in so deep at that point, and I was kind of in a hurry to just get finished, that I didn't really try to shop around.

Replacements for the stock 69 light should include a reverse light, I just didn't like the look and I was going down a slightly custom path, clearly the paint is custom. In fact, there is so much gold flake in it that when the sun is on the hood you MUST wear sunglasses, and the black looks grey until it is hit by direct sunlight, then it is deep black that sparkles.

Abe - thanks - it really needed contrast fenders because it was too much being as it is a long box. Needed to break it up a little.

 

Abe - on the flat bed I kind of like the snow plow light. It has that utilitarian look that the truck really needs.

 

Well, thanks, but it is gone....

 

If you want backup lights for a flareside, just buy the tail lights for a 78-79 F-150 flareside.