VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans Fender mounted turn signals: keep or not to keep

Got all the sheet metal media blasted last week. Body-guy is pressuring me to fill the holes for the (front) fender-mounted turn signals/running lights. I'm on the fence:

Reasons to Keep: they were an available factory accessory, so would be compatible with an orignal resto. I've also never seen them on a show truck, so it would make my truck "stand out" from the crowd.

Reasons not to keep: they're clunky and screw up the lines of the truck.

What does the forum say? Should I keep them or get rid of them. Why?

As you know the original turn signal lamps sat on top of the front fenders. This looks OK on the big trucks but a little out of place on the small trucks. Don't look too bad a the rear of the box. Your "other option" would be to install double contact sockets in the parking lights, disadvantage, they do show up as well in sun light.
All things considered, to be original I would keep them on top of the front fenders as long as the holes were there.

Same here....I wouldn't change them.

:) :grin:

Well... no disrespect guys but IMHO those fender mounted signals are ugly and detract from the over all smooth lines the trucks came with. If it were mine I'd find a more attactive option; especially if I had no intention of having the truck judged at a VCCA meet and even if I did I'd spot them the lost points. :)

I'm a how things look kind of guy.
I'd toss them to the dog and let him bury them in the backyard!

Thanks to everyone who responded. I intend to take it to VCCA shows, and I've already made the investment of buying the factory accessory turn signal (not those crappy chrome things that clamp on the column, but the nice original one that sits up right behind the steering wheel) - so I guess I'm keeping 'em.

I'm a fan of the G.M. Accessory "Guide" brand, glass lens, fender mount directional signals. I've got several pair, on my Vintage G.M. Trucks. Actually I collect them. Check them out on my '50 GMC 1 ton, http://rides.webshots.com/album/215513853EHOavh

If it were mine. Which it is not. I would move them to the splash apron in front of the fender.
Cleon

Lyn, I’m not sure just what turn signal controller your talking about. I thought that all of the units clamped on to the mast jacket. Was there a “factory accessory turn signal” controller that was different than this?? I would like to see a picture of it since all I have seen were the type that mount with a clamp.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Lyn has a 1954 truck with the switch built into the housing under the steering wheel like the 1953-54 car.

Cleon - neat idea about moving them to the splash apron - This would work great for a 47-53 truck. With the big 3-bar grill on the 54-55 1st trucks, it would conflict with the running lights and the front license plate. For these trucks, the best option to put them low is the 2-contact switch talked about earlier in the post.

chevgene- thanks for the response - you bring up a good point. I ordered the turn signal because it said it was for a truck. (I thought I read somewhere that this was an available factory accessory for trucks.) In your post, you mentioned that it was like the ones they had for cars . So is it for a car or a truck? If it is for cars, would I get penalized at a VCCA show for having it?

oh, and even with my previous post, I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I should keep em or get rid of em.

I'll see if I can make a picture of it.

Ah yes, sorry, I was thinking early AD.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

The car and the truck just used the same housing/switch. Actually turn signals came on all cars SOLD IN THE US. It was a factory installed option but you could not get a car with out that option. The accessory kit for truck installation came with the switch, etc, the wiring and the extra lights. Everything necessary to install turn signals. The parking lights are nice and big in 1954, they would make good turn signals if you went that way. Would need to install double contact sockets for that move. I would say that the majority of judges would not realize that the factory did not do it in this manner.

The Canadian assembled cars did not come with factory installed signals.

HELLO !

OOPs your right Lyn. I was thinking it was a earlier AD.
Cleon