On the top of the cab of my truck there are two plugged holes. One approximately above the driver's head and the other over the passenger's head.

I think I have seen pictures of fat fendered trucks with funny looking round lights on the roof. Were such lights a factory option? Are all cabs drilled for these holes? Were the lights running lights? or turn signals?

 

Notice the lights on this truck, is that about where you are talking about?

 

I've seen many old trucks with round lights in the upper corners of the cab. Many of these trucks were used as service trucks and a lot have two sided amber lights that would flash when the trucks pulled onto the side of the road to perform a repair job. My dad had a service station and had a set of lights on his truck (Now mine) for just this purpose.

 

Thanks for posting the picture Havi, the plugged holes on my truck are a little more aft and a little more inboard than the lights pictured


Yes Bob, those amber two sided lights are the ones that I have been wondering about - were those a factory option? Do other cabs (beside mine) have the plugged holes?

 

Mine also had the Mickey mouse ears, being the two large round lights on top of the cab. I believe they were dealer installed signal lights.

 

I wonder if it might be a Canadian thing?

 

As I said, a lot of these trucks were used for service trucks, either like my dad's as roadside service calls or as highway trucks or dump trucks. Any of these needed warning lights and where is the most noticeable place to mount them. I doubt they Ford stock items, the dealers most likely would just install a set of Grote lights on them. As in my dad's case, and I assume most others, they just went down to the local auto parts store, bought a set and threw them on themselves.

 

I found a picture here:

Mercury Pickups 1946-1968

Thanks for the explanation Bob.

 

Here's a pictures of my truck, after my dad left it sit for about 7 years:



When my dad would go out on a night service call and fired up all of the lights it was an amazing site to see. He had a couple of more sets of lights on it that he stripped off of it before he parked it. He never had to worry about being seen. He must have liked lights.

 

Hi Bob,
seeing that thing in that condition gives me lots of encouragement. It looks terrible but I bet you didn't have to remove a lot of bondo like I am going to have to do.

Later Man...

 

Dave,

You wouldn't believe how my dad patched the beast together. He pop riveted aluminum sheets in the floors, hardware clothe and Black Magic body goop in the fenders. it was a work truck when he had it and that is what it was used for. I removed it all with a gas wrench. I replaced every piece of sheet metal except the rear fenders and tailgate, which I patched together because I couldn't find replacements. I literally replaced everything except the parts mentioned and the frame, two axles, front springs, transmission and radiator. I own more of the truck than my dad ever did but I still consider it his old truck, something to remember all the time I spent with him when I was kid.

 

LOL!!
Yeah, so like we could the turn signals above the snow drifts, eh?