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Hey gang, I'm looking for suggestions on how to remove the socket from the parking light housing. It seems pretty solid and I don't want to break the housing if at all possible. This is on my 55 F-250
Also, does anyone know where to get the ends for the dash light socket. Here is a picture of the whole assembly from midfifty. I could buy those, but I would like to do it myself and I'm guessing they use 18 gauge wire and I want 16 gauge. The ones I have look fine, but the wire is 60 years old.
Here is one of my current ones:
I went to O'Reilly, but I haven't stopped by Napa or any other shops to see if they even know what I'm holding.
Joe, if all of your socket wires look as good as the one in the pic, I would reuse them.
When I redid mine, I used the existing ends and soldered new wires to them for the dash lights. Since I redid my park lights to dual filament, I bought new ones.
I don't know about your year, but the 51 park light sockets are force fitted (and rusted) in. I got mine loose twisting the slot with a slotted BFH.
On my F1, I was able to drill out the old socket with a step drill. I went just big enough to remove the socket, which was exactly the diameter I needed for inserting the replacement socket like you have, above.
In my albums, there is a pic of the way I changed mine to 2 wire plugs. I heated the light socket and it slid out . Then I used the sockets from some older trailer lights . I sweated them in just like a radiator repair (soldered) . Yours look similar so it might work for you too. When you're done, paint them silver or white and they will be much brighter. I agree with Joe to reuse the dash light sockets.
Joe, I bought new parking lights when I fixed up my truck in 1999. Mine were shot as the picture below shows. The right one didn't light because the it was so rusted the ground was bad. Yours do look pretty nice. But it might be simpler and quicker if you buy new ones... Or wouldn't they blend in with the patina of your truck?
Wow! That's some great info guys.
I was able to get one out yesterday. My parking lights are already dual filament, so I'm good there. Hopefully I can reuse them. I found these lamp contacts at Ron Francis: LC-99 Lamp Contacts-Ron Francis Wiring
Now I know they are out there, It might be cheaper to get a trailer socket..
I plan on reusing my parking light assembly for two reasons. 1. I want to reuse as much as possible, because I'm weird that way. 2. I'm very cheap.
Abe, nice picture of your truck. It does look a lot nicer now though. You have done a great job making it new.
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