I'm hearing a lot of back and forth stories so I thought I'd ask the pros. I'm being told that some had them and others didn't and that you have to wire them for turn signals and blah blah blah. My '51 does not have a turn signal lever but it does have the green arrows in the instrument cluster...? I am new to this truck so please excuse my dummy-ness. lol.

 

I think (but not for sure) that this was mentioned on one of the turn signal threads and that the arrows where non-operational (not factory hooked-up),

Julie or someone that knows will be along soon.

 

My 51 F1 original wiring harness had turn signal wiring installed. I later put in a complete new set of aftermarket (not OEM or NOS) wires, and it also had the turn signal wiring.

 

On the 1951 trucks (and some later) turn signals were a dealer installed option as were many items back then. The speedometers had the little arrows for signals but they were not a hi-pri item. Shoot you are talking abut a truck where even having a RIGHT TAIL LIGHT was optional.

Back then if you wanted signals, they actually installed four additional lights to the truck - two on the tops of the front fenders and two on the bed stake pockets above the tail lights.

These were operated by a remote switch which was clamped to the steering column. There were no provisions in the stock column for a turn signal switch.

If you want to install signal lights on your truck, and it is all stock - ie 6V positive ground, you can buy an "Everlasting" signal switch on e-bay in either 12 or 6 volt (the switches themselves are not voltage dependent, they have little indicator lights in them that are 6 or 12 volt). Then you will have to hook it into your present wiring.

But also, unless you want to install the four extra lights, you will need to replace your existing parking light (the front little guys) and running (tail) light sockets with upgrades designed to support a dual filament light bulb AND ground through the base of th e socket rather than through the second wire - as they do now. Normally, the sockets come with the switches as a kit. My lights wiring diagram show that kind of switch installed. It's in my #1 gallery, I'll post a picture of it here, and if you want an original in Power Point that's BIG, just send me a PM with your real e-mail address.

Bob Jones and Ross have both posted some great info and wiring diagrams on other types of switches. Hopefully, they will jump in. But if they don't come along, just try the search function for their posts. I think everyone here is pretty much on the same page about signal lights.

Food for thought. Your running and parking lights are powered by one circuit which flows through your headlight switch. And when you install signal lights that circuitry is not affected or adapted to the signal lights.

Signal lights are powered through your brake light wiring and power sources. In the back, it's the brake light that flashes on and off - the running light is completely unaltered. In the front, the two element light bulb is what allows you to run the flash up to that light - even with the headlights on (which because of headlight switch wiring means the parking lamps are off).

It's a fairly simple installation IF you can find your wires in your harness going to your brake light switch on your master cylinder, and the wires for your running and parking lights. Depending on your harness configuration yo may have to runs a second wire (if one is not already present) to the parking and running lights.

Newer aftermarket lights for front and back are available already modified for the signals.

Here's the Spaghetti!

 

Any chance you'd be willing to move in until this truck is on the road?

 

Ok, so I'm building a retro-rod sorta thing. I'm converting it to 12 volt (just because) but I want to use whatever would've been used back in the day. So if I need an aftermarket clamp-on style turn signal, that's what I'll get. What is it exactly that I'm looking for though?

 

VINTAGE UNIVERSAL TURN SIGNAL SWITCH LEVER STREET ROD - (eBay.ca item 380116020075 end time 12-Apr-09 12:02:31 EDT)

 

Here is the "Everlasting" switch I have but chrome - not black. I wired to a 7 wire system - you can see the wires in my drawing above!

eBay Motors: FORD 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 TURN SIGNAL SWITCH **AJ (item 260389254584 end time Apr-13-09 00:11:05 PDT)

Here's the last discussion we had about switches:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...al-switch.html

And a "Signal Stat" switch on e-bay. They are also available at NAPA I believe.

eBay Motors: UNIVERSAL DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL SWITCH 30 40 50 60*H5 (item 260317761209 end time Apr-16-09 19:56:03 PDT)

 

the wires in my 1951 ford f truck are shot does any one have a diagram of all the wire so i can rewire this great truck

 

Yes, Julies cool f1 has wiring diagrams in her gallery. If you cannot find them and no one comes along you will have better luck with starting a new post rather then tagging on to an old one, sometimes you will get lost in the nut house.

By the way……..welcome.

 

There are OEM wiring diagrams in the back of the shop manual if you have one. If you don't, it's time to buy one:

1951 Ford Truck Shop Manual items - Get great deals on eBay Motors, Collectibles items on eBay.com!

But, I have a set of MS Power Point Diagrams that will help you rewire your truck, and I have an A-Z rewired guide that will tell you step by step how to do it and why.

Nice thing is, they are in color and actually legible! With the Power point, you can enlarge them or change them to the wire color/ routing you install. So if you keep up with any changes you make, when you are done you have a custom wiring diagram just for your truck. That's nice to have if you ever want to add anything or troubleshoot.

If you send me an e-mail to babbiebuddie@***.net I'll send them to you in a return e-mail.

Here's a sample: