38 Ford turn signals

civilwarlife

civilwarlife

Member
Hi all. I am really enjoying this forum and learning a lot. I just bought a 38 Ford De lux 2-door. It was restored as original so has no turn signals. I would like opinions on driving it the way it is or adding them. I do not want to alter the look or basic function of the car. Is it possible to use existing lights as turn signals by adding a switch? Your thoughts and opinons are appreciated. I do want to drive the car on organized tours etc. So what are the pros and cons of adding signals? Thank you.
Terry
 
I have a 1937 car and plan to have a few wires added to the lighting harnesses so that turn signals can be added. I think the rear signals are more important than the fronts, to let the people behind you know what you intend to do. I haven’t figured out how to do the front lights without adding separate lights for the turn signals.
 
I used fog lights from the period for front turn signals.
 

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For what it’s worth, my opinion is that hand and arm signals are adequate for antique automobiles if driven as such.
 
My 1946 Convertible (Avatar) has the turn signals in the fog lights in front and taillights in rear.
 
Certainly disagree - hardly any one today knows what hand signals are except for a question on their driver's test


ford38v8 said:
For what it’s worth, my opinion is that hand and arm signals are adequate for antique automobiles if driven as such.
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There are kits to convert to signal lights. You can convert the front parking lights to a dual filament receptical or add lights like the others mentioned.
 
civilwarlife said:
Hi all. I am really enjoying this forum and learning a lot. I just bought a 38 Ford De lux 2-door. It was restored as original so has no turn signals. I would like opinions on driving it the way it is or adding them. I do not want to alter the look or basic function of the car. Is it possible to use existing lights as turn signals by adding a switch? Your thoughts and opinons are appreciated. I do want to drive the car on organized tours etc. So what are the pros and cons of adding signals? Thank you.
Terry
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What with half or more of the drivers on the road today only having an IQ matching their age, You only have a couple of choices.

1 -Leave the car stock and take your chances with hand
signals in traffic or trailer it where you want to go.
2- Modify it as needed and be somewhat safer but not stock
looking.
 
I would think it might depend on where you live and drive your 38. We restored a 38 Sedan Deluxe about ten years ago and I left it stock and used arm signals when needed. I live in an Oregon rural town of about 25K population and no freeways so it works around here generally speaking.
 
I put turn signals on all my old Fords. When it's dark people cannot see your hand out he window.
 
My 48. I got new pigtails for the front park lights that catered for a dual filliment 6v bulb and mounted some original back up lights on the rear splash pan and adapted them, I used an orange 6v VW indictor bulb in them. Also cut up a clear orange kitchen cleaner bottle and placed it between the bulb and the reflector of the backup lights for extra brightness. It looks original without putting "add on" lights. It is now nicer to driver. I found people these days do not know what hand signals are and some probably think you are making "rude signs".

GB
 

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Wow thanks a diverse set of ideas. I think I'm going to stick with hand signals for now. I do not plan on driving it after dark. If I do I will use a flash light. I will look for some period fog lights for a future conversion. Thanks to everyone.
Terry
 
2022 it is . Today’s drivers / Distractions are out there . You may or may not decide to have the best updated safety equipment, or you may stay Olde school. Your car , your health, your choice.

If we live in a area where the population is 3,000, 30,000 , or 300,000 does not really matter ? It only takes once incident to make everything go bad.

I say this because I care about you Barn guys . I am not a young man. And I cherish the knowledge & wisdom that you are passing along here .
O, BTW I don’t want to hear about your sweet Olde FRD wadded up in a wreck.
Stretch
 
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I put seat belts and turn signals in all my old Fords. There's good reasons for both.
 
My turn signals on my 38 are wired into the fog lights or they make headlight buckets with an extra bulb I have seen
 
TJ said:
I put seat belts and turn signals in all my old Fords. There's good reasons for both.
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My father in law put seatbelts in the back of the coupe, at his wife's insistence, but not in the front.

I commented that the kids would be okay after an accident, but just orphans.
 
I don´t know about the laws in your location, but you could use your rear brake lamps to do the job, using an old switch ( Guide, and others ),that was added to the steering column back in the days. For the front the reflectors can be drilled to add an extra orange bulb, barely visibles with the lights on, but at least you keep the stock look.
 
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