VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Correct Fog light installation

Hi, I did a frame off restoration on my 1948 Chevy convertible and need to install a set of NOS Fog lamps. This may sound funny but even with the directions I am not clear on how the wiring connect on the switch end. Keep in mind this is a correct NOS unit! The switch has 3 terminals.

1. The directions indicate to splice the two fog light wires together approximately where the junction block is on the driver’s side wheel well, understood.

2. Then wire the ignition to battery terminal on switch together, understood.

3. Next is what is confusing and I wrote it as it is on the directions “connect wire from tail terminal on switch to tail lamp terminal on lighting switch”

4. Also no mention to connect wire coming from fogs.

The diagram picture shows a wire from the fogs to the switch, a wire from switch to a dot with a leader to (2) above and then a wire from switch to a dot with leader to (3) above.

Now I can go ahead and make the connections per (2) and (4), but that only uses two of the three terminals on the switch.

Is there anyone who can help me with this? Is there a third connection to the light switch? If so, to what terminal of the light switch. I built this car as correct as possible and this is one of the last accessories to install but I want a correct installation.


Johnny
www.1948chevy.com

Any chance you can scan a copy and email to me? I think it might be easier to sort out with their picture and words.

The fog light switch is designed so any time the fogs are turned on the tail lights will be lighted.
The fog light wire is connected to the road light terminal on the fog switch.
The tail light terminal on the fog switch is connected to the tail terminal on the light switch. The Ign. terminal on the fog switc is connected to the ignition switch terminal that is hot only when the Ign. is on.

Chevgene, what you wrote makes perfect sense now. Knowing that the tail lights are meant to go on when the fog lights are on. Now (3) is clear and so is (4) to connect the wires coming from the fog lights, although not mentioned in the directions. Also the unit came with five eyelet wire terminals to make the connections, which is the right amount for the connections to be made.

I guess back in the day when someone bought a fog light unit and it was unclear they would simply call the dealer and speak to a serviceman who would clear it up for them. Today all we have are our knowledgeable VCCA members!

Thanks so much for the help.

Johnny Johnson
VCCA# 33448
www.1948chevy.com

Gene -

Thanks for the insight. I had never thought about the "fact" that you'd want the tail lights to come on if you ran the fogs. Sure makes sense. I haven't installed my fogs yet because I haven't convinced myself I want to drill the holes in the front splash apron... :-)

Even in 1941 some accessories were priced installed.