Well I want to drill the holes for the clearance lights before I paint he cab so I don't scratch anything.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks for getting these ligned up right? Is there a template.

Are there certain measurements or do I just need to get it where I think it looks right?
I know there are 3 mounted close together in the center and one on each side of the roof.

 

Clearance Lights? I'm not familiar with the term but that's nothing new. What are those?

At least I can bump this back up to the top for you!

Good luck

 

I have always believed it was personal preference as to where you place them. Put them where you want them. Would like to see pics when done.

 

they're the 5 orange lights that mount on the roof of the cab.

I'll just keep messing with it till it looks right then break out the drill. I'll deffinetly take pics.

 

The process for a new might work for an old, just my 1/2 cent http://www.emotoman.com/f250/lights/f250lights.htm

 

Ahhhh Clearance lights... I've heard those called Marker lights before as well.

You could use some magnets to hold them on thile you move them around and look.

If you want them in straight line across, you can use a chalk line to mark them from a similar point on both sides - like the wind wing or something.

OR you can make a pattern!

If you want them to be "V" or "U" shaped, then I might be tempted to make a pattern. Easiest way is to mark the centerline of the truck hood from front to back, then get a piece of butcher paper and fold it in half.

Place it on the top of the truck, open, with the fold on the center line of the truck and tape with a couple little pieces of masking tape - not on the center line though. Draw a very small pencil line with a ruler on the edge of the paper at the center line both front and back and extend each line onto the cab top - about 1/4 inch on the paper and cab is all you need. Put a couple similar marks out toward the door about 2 feet from center as well. (this is so you can remove the paper and then reinstall it later in exactly the same place later.)

Set your lights down on the paper and get them where you want them. Then, mark those light positions on one side of center only.

If you are worried about the spacing between the lights, you can do the same thing with the first two lights on one side out from center. You would cut a second smaller piece of paper and put it over the large piece taped to the roof (loose). Position the first two lights where you want them. Mark that on both the little paper and big sheet taped to the roof. Then slide the small paper to the right or left so the holes from the first light are now aligned with the marks for the second one next to it. Then put a set of marks in the holes left originally by the second light (they will now be marking the third lights position). And just keep doing this - moving the small pattern over one light position at a time until you get the position of all the lights on one side marked on the big paper. You can use a string with two knots in it at a measured distance, to measure back and equal distances from the top lip of the windshield for each light as well.

Take the lights and paper off the truck, poke small (pencil point size) holes in the paper where the holes for the mounting screws would go on those lights you marked on one side, then fold the paper back in half and use the holes you poked on one side as a guide to make those on the opposite side.

Put the paper back up on the roof and aline the pencil marks in the center and out toward the doors, and drill on the little holes you poked through the paper - bot sides.

The lights will be perfectly semetrical on both sides.

This is very similar to mounting outside sun visors.

I hope I didn't confuse you with my explainantion. I know what I'm thinking, but it's tough to describe in a post so YOU understand what I'm thinking. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

I was hoping that some one would bring up the subject of marker lights. I've got the holes for marker lights but they are long gone. ( Or what I assume are for lights. ) A 19/64 hole above the doors and two 15/64 holes above the windshield. Where would you find some period look lights ? Or should I just fill the holes ? Any comments or suggestions are welcome.
greg M-47

 

I see them on e-bay from time to time...Maybe LMC or MACs or C&G!

 

"Modern" location or period appropriate location? The current regulations. Back in the 50s and early 60s, trucks used a cab marker light at both left and right front corners of the roof. The current placement is one centered on the front edge of the roof, one 6" to 12" on either side of the centered lamp, and one at the left and right front edges of the roof, for a total of 5.

You might want to find some trucks that have them and take a few measurements, I have just mounted the center 3 on 6" spacing and spotted the outside 2 where they looked good.

 

scroll through the antique truck museums, looking at bigger rigs. will give some good ideas. two outside lights are called clearance lamps, three inside are called marker lamps. on older units, clearance lamps were angled toward outside just a bit .