turn signals

twostickmutt

Senior Member
at some point in time ,the way traffic is nowadays, i would like to put turn signals of some kind on the '39. hand signals just don't work up here in the northeast. i am looking for lights that are not to out of place or gaudy looking. any suggestions ? thanks.
 
I usually try and use the parking and rearlights as turnsignals.
Sadly over here people are so used to turnsignals being separate they dont notice a blinking rearlight sometimes.
 
On my 39 I did just that. In addition I changed the front parking light bulb with an amber bulb. I also opted for exact replica 6 volt Led tail lights, which are much brighter.
 
There are the two basic approaches, wire it up to use existing lights (brake light, front parking lights, etc.) or wire up additional lights. The later is much simpler wiring. With add-on lights a sample toggle switch and flasher canister can be used to turn the lights on/off. If you use the existing brake lights you need to reroute the brake wire to the a turn signal switch that allows for the dual function of brake signal and flasher signal. This is not super difficult just not as simple as add-on lights. I would also add, with either approach, a third brake light in the rear window. You can also add third brake lights that incorporate turn signals.

Henry had a post a while back with some LED add-on lights as well.
 
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Note: that is for 12 volt system. Also aside from cost of Amber bulbs and LED tail lights - I purchased a $27.00 turn signal switch (mounts on col) 2+ years ago and they still work great.

You are correct, mine is a 12v system. But, as you stated, the third light setups and other add-ons can be purchased in both 12v and 6v. The column mounted switches work fine, I just don't like the looks of them.
 
On my 39 I did just that. In addition I changed the front parking light bulb with an amber bulb. I also opted for exact replica 6 volt Led tail lights, which are much brighter.
where did you find the 6 volt led's? all i have been finding are 12 volt replica's
 
I was looking a while ago and found several sources, would have to go back and look again. I believe a search for Model A LEDs worked. A search of Henry's post should turn up the ones he was using, but they may have been battery powered now that I think about it.
 
I have tried several different approaches to turn signals but found them very marginal. Using the parking light bulbs encased in a headlight shell such as found in pre-'40 cars are practical during the day but with the lights on at night they become virtually invisible. If you use fog lights you really need to operate the lights through relays. The small gauge wires often used in aftermarket turn signal units becomes a restriction to current flow to the fogs making them dim and difficult to distinguish even during the day.

What I have done is to use motorcycle turn signal units on my '35 and '36. In my opinion, the egg-shape shell looks period correct and bulb changing is a snap. Obviously, others have their opinions.

Tom
 

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I also do not like the turn signal units hanging off the column. I mounted mine under the dash with the arm pointing down with the main body of the signal hidden under the dash. Makes for a cleaner more stock looking appearance ....
 
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