VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Electrical - 6 volt Add On Turn Signals

I need to add turn signals to my 1936 1-1/2 ton truck. I will be signaling to the rear only.
I want to use the stop lamp part of my existing lights. I want the switch to look period correct for the 1950s or earlier, since that is the time period when signals would have been added to trucks like mine. I would prefer for it not to have the four-way feature as it would not be period correct.
I'm assuming I will need the 7 wire style switch so it will work in conjunction with my stop light switch. I have collection of switches but none fit all of my specs.
Does anyone have any ideas/experience (other than that I am nuts) on this subject?

Mike

Glad to hear that you are adding the turn signal feature. I encourage you to add it to the front also.

Unfortunately I have never seen what I would consider a "vintage" style 7 wire switch. My thinking is that when people were having turn signals added to 30's and 40's vehicles in the 50's and 60's they were truly "add-on" lights so a 4 wire switch was all that was needed. That is what happened to my '37.

Sorry if I am making an incorrect assumption here. I think the 1936 truck tail light is a dual bulb light with each bulb being a single filament. I know there are at least a few people on this forum that have converted one of the sockets to a dual filament bulb so they could add the turn signal function without going to a 7 wire control. I think they made the dual filament bulb function as the tail light for the less bright filament and the turn signal was the brighter filament. The brake light was a brighter single filament bulb.

I have considered doing this to my car because the rear turn signals are not as visible as I would like. They are mounted lower and inboard of the tail lights.

Rusty,
My rear lamps are converted to LED so I have the brightness issue handled.
The 7 wire feature enables he stop light switch to keep one lamp lit and let the other one blink when braking and signaling at the same time. If there is some way to utilize the brake light circuit with a 4 wire switch, I would very much like to know about it.
I have some really cool front signal lamps that illuminate an arrow to indicate a turn. I think they are age appropriate for my truck. The most logical location for these is at the highest point of my front fenders. I am philosophically and emotionally reluctant to drill holes in my truck to mount them.
The drivers in front of me or oncoming to me are in no danger as a result of me not signaling them. I am not going to turn in front of anyone.

Mike

The early 50's Guide 6004 switches are 7 wire and can sometimes be found on eBay at a reasonable price, even less at swap meets. These are the switches with the slender chrome actuating lever and dark painted case. By painting the case to match your existing steering column they blend in quite well. I believe the self canceling wheel can be removed when the case is apart for paint.

Not all Guide 6004 are 7-wire (from the factory at least), the ones sold as part of add-on signal kits came as four wire. The good news is they apparently all have the 7 wire switch inside, so you can solder on the missing wires. No big deal.

There were at least 2 mounting styles, and a few colors. Pay close attention to the pictures of what you buy. '6004" isn't really enough information by itself. I agree it is a good choice. It looks "period" and is fairly small and unobtrusive.

Thanks for the tips. I will have a look for a 6004. Take look at my truck in the truck and van area of chat. Think you will get an idea what I am shooting for, appearance wise.

Mike

The 6004 units are plentiful on eBay. I purchased one for my '51 that had 4 wires not 7 wires but the block inside had all the posts so adding the extra needed wires was easy. There are 2 mounting arrangements because one was a Chevrolet accessory and had an integral clamp to mount to the steering column, The other, that was applicable to all GM vehicles (and other makes) has a separate clamp that was able to fit a wider range of sized columns. The second one is more available and less expensive. The self canceling wheel may or may not work on your truck depending on the configuration of the steering wheel.
Jeff

I have my eye on one on eBay. I've asked some questions. Thanks, to all, for the help.

Mike

Hi Mike,

There might be an idea or two for your consideration in this recent thread.

Turn Signals & Flashers

If the vintage 4 wire control units really can accommodate a 7 wire configuration, that is a great way to go.

One other item to consider is the electrical load required to make an older style flasher work. Those flasher units require the electrical current draw of filament bulbs in order to work. I am aware of situations when the flash function would not work after the conversion to an LED bulb. The solution was to upgrade to an electonic flasher or add a dummy load such as a resistor or hidden bulb to the circuit in parallel.

Only the 6004. Most other 4 wire units cannot unfortunately.

If it will do anyone any good, I can email a copy of the instructions that came with a 1950s Signal-Stat after-market kit. I installed it on my 1950 Chevrolet in 1956. What am I doing with this old paper anyway?

I have a Signal-Stat with 4-way flasher that I removed from my '51 and installed a 6004 because it is self cancelling and the Signal-Stat is not. I would love to see the instruction sheet you have. My email is: jeffstuarts@gmail.com
Jeff

i went with the SM Electro-Tech kit for my 1929
allows me to use pretty much any light, LED or incandescent
even got the black housing switch to column mount
very nice kit and easy to install.

I got the SM Electro-Tech kit, it looks like it will work for me. They do not sell 6 volt LED signal lights, they said they should be available on the internet. The only ones I've seen so far come from Norway or United Kingdom and I am not sure how bright they would be. Since my 29 Chevy does only has the one light in the rear I will need the lights as well as the bulbs.
https://www.ebay.com/i/253886348213...dYIzl0c5A8kszEdW_ox4PO4zAUQaAquIEALw_wcB
Does anyone have suggestions as to where to get lights? One thought I had was to buy trailer lights and see if GW has the bulb sockets to fit his LED bulbs and modify them to fit.
I know BearsFan315 made his lights. I am not sure that I could do that.
Thanks

i bought the lights from Snyder's, then modified them for Negative ground :) they are 6v positive ground.
you can connect them and they work fine, just remember the metal is positive, and the wire is negative. very easy task to swap the wires internally :) expensive, but i am really happy with them !! i did make custom brackets for mine.

Thanks, Bear I didn't think to check with them.