Cargo Light Question
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
From: Moneta, VA
Cargo Light Question
My dad and I are putting the finishing touches on the restoration of a '68 F100 Ranger. The truck is turning out very nicely. The red and white tu-tone came out gleaming. Anyway, my question concerns the cargo light.
There are two ways to install it in case no one noticed. Here is the first:
Notice how it goes against the cab lines of the truck. This is how the original one came of the '68. I started looking around at shows and it seemed some were mounted the other way around, flowing better with the cab lines. I figured it was time to go to the ultimate source: my uncle's '72 F100 Ranger XLT. It's 100% completely original only accumulated 38K miles since new and has been garaged kept since 1973. It's mounted with the lines flowing with the cab, the opposite of the '68 and the picture above.
Is there and agreed upon correct way to mount the light or should I just install it however I feel like?
How is yours originally installed?
There are two ways to install it in case no one noticed. Here is the first:
Notice how it goes against the cab lines of the truck. This is how the original one came of the '68. I started looking around at shows and it seemed some were mounted the other way around, flowing better with the cab lines. I figured it was time to go to the ultimate source: my uncle's '72 F100 Ranger XLT. It's 100% completely original only accumulated 38K miles since new and has been garaged kept since 1973. It's mounted with the lines flowing with the cab, the opposite of the '68 and the picture above.
Is there and agreed upon correct way to mount the light or should I just install it however I feel like?
How is yours originally installed?
Last edited by Tiggie; Jan 23, 2007 at 09:59 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Georgia
My truck did not have one but I added one and turned it into a third brake light. I installed mine as shown in the photo. It has always look funny to me but the logo and such is "right-side-up". I don't know, but am still curious.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
From: Moneta, VA
So isn't a agreed upon correct way to mount it? That's pretty much what I figured looking at the trucks I've seen.
I think I'll mount it the way it came off, even though it looks upside down to me!
I think I'll mount it the way it came off, even though it looks upside down to me!
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by Tiggie
There are two ways to install it in case no one noticed. Here is the first:
Is there and agreed upon correct way to mount the light or should I just install it however I feel like? How is yours originally installed?
Is there and agreed upon correct way to mount the light or should I just install it however I feel like? How is yours originally installed?
Picture in catalog shows cargo lamp mounted the reverse of how you show it in the above pic. Flip it over...that's correct.
1964/72 FORD Truck Parts Catalog; Illustration: Section 137, page 5.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Jan 24, 2007 at 07:14 PM.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 3
From: tulsa
I have never seen on mounted like that. mine and all other trucks I have seen are mounted the other way around. but do what you want, your truck sould be yours not a redetion of somebody elses thoughts.
!["Beemer Nut"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23bc5285' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
My 68 CS (me second owner) and has the wide part on top
from factory new by way of paint marks.
Granted it would look better with narrow on top but i'll
leave it alone. I installed a red diamond lens inside the
glass lens (not plastic as posted above) and wired it to
the brake light switch. Now have a third brake light vs
driving light getting brighter on a 1157 lamp.
Anything to keep a plastic car from wrecking old iron.
from factory new by way of paint marks.
Granted it would look better with narrow on top but i'll
leave it alone. I installed a red diamond lens inside the
glass lens (not plastic as posted above) and wired it to
the brake light switch. Now have a third brake light vs
driving light getting brighter on a 1157 lamp.
Anything to keep a plastic car from wrecking old iron.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
I went that route the first try with a single element lamp,
didn't get as much even lighting that the diamond lens provides.
How did you get a stagger pin 1157 lamp into a equal pin depth
single element socket?
On the tail lights I installed (don't laugh) tin foil, this reflects
better than the factory finish.
That 3rd lamp being off gets your attention better than a already on
lamp that gets brighter like 1157 lamps.
didn't get as much even lighting that the diamond lens provides.
How did you get a stagger pin 1157 lamp into a equal pin depth
single element socket?
On the tail lights I installed (don't laugh) tin foil, this reflects
better than the factory finish.
That 3rd lamp being off gets your attention better than a already on
lamp that gets brighter like 1157 lamps.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 3
From: tulsa
the light sockets are just a press fit into the light housing, sometimes there is a shrink wrap type material on the back that holds the socket in the housing. i took a small pice of wood and a hammer to remove the socket from the housing. then just put an 1157 socket in the single element's place. I used an old tail light I had laying around as a donnor, but you can buy the sockets at an autoparts store. hook up the wires and you are done, I hooked the high side to the brakes and the low side to the cargo light switch so it is still operational.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
Now that's a cool idea to still have a cargo light.
I wired thru the cargo light switch, every time brake
light goes on the cargo light switch goes on. This
way I know that I have power to the rear lamps
and power. The pisser is when you almost get
rearended ant the other party cusses you out.
I have had switch failures, once when the wire
broke behind the switch. A habit of checking the
brake light on the neighbors car in the dark.
Good idea again I have to press in a 1157 socket,
thanks bro.
Carl.
I wired thru the cargo light switch, every time brake
light goes on the cargo light switch goes on. This
way I know that I have power to the rear lamps
and power. The pisser is when you almost get
rearended ant the other party cusses you out.
I have had switch failures, once when the wire
broke behind the switch. A habit of checking the
brake light on the neighbors car in the dark.
Good idea again I have to press in a 1157 socket,
thanks bro.
Carl.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
I check my brakelights from the driver's seat on my '68 Ranger CS. I removed the little access plates from the pillars on each side and can merely glance into the openings as I apply the brakes and can see if they're working from the light reflected inside the openings. I can usually even see it in the daytime, except maybe on the brightest days.
I do like the idea of the cargo light doing double duty as a high-mount brake light though...
I do like the idea of the cargo light doing double duty as a high-mount brake light though...