'50 Lighting question
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: McHenry Co, IL
'50 Lighting question
the previous owner rewired my truck and got a few things backwards (front parking lights only came on with dash lights)
I think I have that fixed but....
now when I pull the switch out halfway the front parking & tailight comes on.
when I pull it out all the way the headlights come on, tailight stays on but the front parking lights go off
is that the way they were way back when?? (still drives me nuts you have to turn on dash seperatley)
How were the factory turn signals isntalled? where the front parking lights in the grill the front signals or were they add on lights somewhere?
and Finally, has anyone added an aftermarket fusebox to their truck??
I'm not to sure I like the idea of not having one for safetys sake
thanks again
I think I have that fixed but....
now when I pull the switch out halfway the front parking & tailight comes on.
when I pull it out all the way the headlights come on, tailight stays on but the front parking lights go off
is that the way they were way back when?? (still drives me nuts you have to turn on dash seperatley)
How were the factory turn signals isntalled? where the front parking lights in the grill the front signals or were they add on lights somewhere?
and Finally, has anyone added an aftermarket fusebox to their truck??
I'm not to sure I like the idea of not having one for safetys sake
thanks again
Last edited by toonman; Jul 25, 2003 at 11:11 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
'50 Lighting question
Your headlights/park lights are working normally.
You're right on the bubble for turn signals - I'm not exactly sure when they were added equipment. My '48 didn't have them and due to OEM vehicle laws are not required today(but I added them as a safety feature - same as seat belts).
Usually holes were drilled in the top of the fender and those big round goobers were used - yellow or red/yellow lenses. When I added my turns I went to NAPA and bought dual filament pigtails for the light bucket sockets and now my parking lights double as turn signals. If you go this way and use the original sockets you'll need dual filament bulbs with straight pins (not off-set pins like an 1157) Then weld the holes in the fender shut.
Aftermarket fusebox - no I haven't added one yet. I'm currently using the stock circuit breaker which in some ways is superior. I'll probably end up adding one just for extra circuits. Just power it with the main cable - yellow battery wire and run your wires.
You're right on the bubble for turn signals - I'm not exactly sure when they were added equipment. My '48 didn't have them and due to OEM vehicle laws are not required today(but I added them as a safety feature - same as seat belts).
Usually holes were drilled in the top of the fender and those big round goobers were used - yellow or red/yellow lenses. When I added my turns I went to NAPA and bought dual filament pigtails for the light bucket sockets and now my parking lights double as turn signals. If you go this way and use the original sockets you'll need dual filament bulbs with straight pins (not off-set pins like an 1157) Then weld the holes in the fender shut.
Aftermarket fusebox - no I haven't added one yet. I'm currently using the stock circuit breaker which in some ways is superior. I'll probably end up adding one just for extra circuits. Just power it with the main cable - yellow battery wire and run your wires.
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From: McHenry Co, IL
'50 Lighting question
Thanks Tim
I thought it would be cool to have them as the from parking lights..
I've seen them with the big round ones on top of the fenders but I always thought those were a home grown solution!
how hard was it to get the dual filament sockets mounted in the stock park light housing (I haven't tried taking mine apart yet)
did you use a stock turn signal lever or afftermarket?
I thought it would be cool to have them as the from parking lights..
I've seen them with the big round ones on top of the fenders but I always thought those were a home grown solution!
how hard was it to get the dual filament sockets mounted in the stock park light housing (I haven't tried taking mine apart yet)
did you use a stock turn signal lever or afftermarket?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 785
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From: Columbus, Ohio
'50 Lighting question
Yep, that's the way they were. I don't know the year when pkng lights stayed on w/the headlights. But it means you've got it wired right! 
I want to rewire mine so the pkng stays on w/the headlights. I'm no electrician.....so here goes!
I want to rewire mine so the pkng stays on w/the headlights. I'm no electrician.....so here goes!
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Senior User
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From: McHenry Co, IL
'50 Lighting question
sixoh, I used the diagram in the shop manual, it was a little difficult to read but not that all that bad.....
you should be able to wire them into the lug for the tailights (or splice them into the tailight circuit)
that way they'll come on in both positions
if you run into any diffuculties let me know, I'll see if I can help
(thinking of rewiring the whole thing anyway, wires are spliced 3-4 time from begining to end)
you should be able to wire them into the lug for the tailights (or splice them into the tailight circuit)
that way they'll come on in both positions
if you run into any diffuculties let me know, I'll see if I can help
(thinking of rewiring the whole thing anyway, wires are spliced 3-4 time from begining to end)
Last edited by toonman; Jul 25, 2003 at 01:24 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: McAlester, OK
'50 Lighting question
On most of the switches I've messed with, the parking lights are ment to go off when the driving lights come on. You can change it around if you don't like it by connecting it to the tail lights. I figured that Ford replaced the parking lights with the turn signals, but I don't really know for sure.
I've added a fuse block to the origional mess I bought the truck with, then rewired all of it after losing patience searching for a short, and then put in a harnest from an '87 Ford F-150. The fuse block was simple to add on. I bought one from Advance Auto with 8 slots fro $8.99 or something. All you have to do is wire the main wire up to ignition switch to the power source you want, either acc. bat. or ign. Then hook up all the things you want fused to the individual terminals. Hope that's what you wanted to know.
Clayton
I've added a fuse block to the origional mess I bought the truck with, then rewired all of it after losing patience searching for a short, and then put in a harnest from an '87 Ford F-150. The fuse block was simple to add on. I bought one from Advance Auto with 8 slots fro $8.99 or something. All you have to do is wire the main wire up to ignition switch to the power source you want, either acc. bat. or ign. Then hook up all the things you want fused to the individual terminals. Hope that's what you wanted to know.
Clayton
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
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From: Valley Center, CA
'50 Lighting question
My 55 fairlane also has the running lights on in the first position and off when the headlights come on. On the fuseboard question, yes my 54 f100 has a new unit under the dash just right of the emergency brake. It makes it very convenient for fuse replacement and circuit testing. Good luck, John
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: St. Louis USA
'50 Lighting question
The suggestions for rewiring the parking lights so they light up with headlights sounds right and is easy enough. I didn't think they had factory turnsignals on trucks back then...?
It is possible to wire the parking lights to function as turn signals -- have it that way on my truck, but used a harness from Sacramento Vintage Ford. You can't used the parking light sockets though, have to pop them out with a hammer and then tap in new sockets and wires (same as what's used in the taillight). The sockets are a little larger so you might have to widen the hole just a tiny bit. There's three reasons for all this -- 1. the dual filament bulb base is a little wider than single filament, 2. need dual filament bulb (and two wires, one for parking light and one for turn signal), and 3. the dual filament bulb's base nubs (that hold it in the socket) are positioned differently than the signal filament's.
It is possible to wire the parking lights to function as turn signals -- have it that way on my truck, but used a harness from Sacramento Vintage Ford. You can't used the parking light sockets though, have to pop them out with a hammer and then tap in new sockets and wires (same as what's used in the taillight). The sockets are a little larger so you might have to widen the hole just a tiny bit. There's three reasons for all this -- 1. the dual filament bulb base is a little wider than single filament, 2. need dual filament bulb (and two wires, one for parking light and one for turn signal), and 3. the dual filament bulb's base nubs (that hold it in the socket) are positioned differently than the signal filament's.
Last edited by jeffh; Jul 25, 2003 at 10:24 PM.
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
'50 Lighting question
My turn signals are after-market, but same style used in the 50's. Federal Mogul/ Signalstat with the plain chrome lever. Includes emergency flashers. Bought at NAPA.
I found the stock sockets work for dual filament. Remove the button with the wire pigtail and replace with a dual filament button with 2 pigtails. In true hotrod fashion I sanded the locating tab off the new button and then by trial and error held the button in place where the lamp contacts line up with it.
NAPA also found lamps that are dual filament with the pins directly opposite like on a single filament 1156. Offhand, I can't remember the number, but if you need it I'll hunt it up.
In some ways knocking out the original socket and replacing with an 1157 socket would have been much easier.
I found the stock sockets work for dual filament. Remove the button with the wire pigtail and replace with a dual filament button with 2 pigtails. In true hotrod fashion I sanded the locating tab off the new button and then by trial and error held the button in place where the lamp contacts line up with it.
NAPA also found lamps that are dual filament with the pins directly opposite like on a single filament 1156. Offhand, I can't remember the number, but if you need it I'll hunt it up.
In some ways knocking out the original socket and replacing with an 1157 socket would have been much easier.