Headlight turn signal pondering

Lyn in Atlanta

Lyn in Atlanta

Junior Member
I have read many of the great turn signal suggestions, but was wondering if anyone has tried this idea:

First the basics:
I really don't want to add any more lights or brackets to the car. I did add an extra brake light for safety.

I use LEDs for both brake lights.

Have retained the 6 volt system

Idea:
My headlight bucket has an parking light bulb.

I was thinking of buying an Orange 6 volt LED bulb for the parking light socket

Then rewiring that socket to be used as a turn signal. I never use the parking light anyway or I could maybe add a double contact socket and retain the parking light option.

What do you think?

Lyn in Atlanta
 
Lyn in Atlanta said:
I have read many of the great turn signal suggestions, but was wondering if anyone has tried this idea:

First the basics:
I really don't want to add any more lights or brackets to the car. I did add an extra brake light for safety.

I use LEDs for both brake lights.

Have retained the 6 volt system

Idea:
My headlight bucket has an parking light bulb.

I was thinking of buying an Orange 6 volt LED bulb for the parking light socket

Then rewiring that socket to be used as a turn signal. I never use the parking light anyway or I could maybe add a double contact socket and retain the parking light option.

What do you think?

Lyn in Atlanta
Click to expand...

That's what I plan to do....well, sorta. I'm going to use the parking light as a turn signal, but with a conventional bulb. You could use a dual element socket and bulb to retain the parking light feature, but it would be amber.
I also plan to change the tail light sockets and bulbs to dual element, so I can have stop, turn, tail lights and emergency flashers. I already have a clamp-on turn signal lever with a built in switch and e-flasher.
Speaking of wiring; I also plan to upgrade to a custom built wiring harness with the 12 circuit fuse panel and dual flasher sockets.
Hopefully that will work out as well in fact as it does in theory.
 
I run my turn signal light in the headlight and used a clear bulb as the yellow one looked bad in the headlight. A clear bulb shows up just fine.
 
Have you found the required orange 6 volt LED light bulb to fit the socket?? I want to make the same change, but haven't found the bulb to do it. There is a 12 volt from the Aussy supplier, but no 6 volt.
 
The vast majority of other drivers will not interpret a flashing headlight as a turn signal.

If they see it at all, they will think it is a faulty headlight rather than a signal. People expect to see turn signals in fenders and bumpers, and anything else will go right over their heads.

Joe
 
I would assume its possible to make it so the actual headlights flash? That will certainly show up at night.
 
I am using a dual filament bulb in the cowl lights for the front. On the rear, I put a RH tail light on, using the brake light as a turn signal, just like many modern cars. I got the trun signal kit from Sacramento. They have all the wiring made up to do just about any configuration that you could possibly think of.
 
In my 30 roadster I use the cowl lights as the turn signals and the headlights have the parking bulbs. I thought of using the headlight parking bulbs for signals but knew they wouldn't show up at night with the lights on.
 
Barry B./ Ma. said:
I thought of using the headlight parking bulbs for signals but knew they wouldn't show up at night with the lights on.
Click to expand...

They will though. I've seen it done and it works pretty good. Especially if you partition off the parking bulb from the headlight, but even if you don't it's plainly visible.
 
Lyn in Atlanta said:
I have read many of the great turn signal suggestions, but was wondering if anyone has tried this idea:

First the basics:
I really don't want to add any more lights or brackets to the car. I did add an extra brake light for safety.

I use LEDs for both brake lights.

Have retained the 6 volt system

Idea:
My headlight bucket has an parking light bulb.

I was thinking of buying an Orange 6 volt LED bulb for the parking light socket

Then rewiring that socket to be used as a turn signal. I never use the parking light anyway or I could maybe add a double contact socket and retain the parking light option.

What do you think?

Lyn in Atlanta
Click to expand...
The idea did not work for me, I tried very bright plain and amber bulbs but in every case the headlights made the blinking light very hard to notice. You may notice the blinking amber if your headlights are poor enough.
Rainmaker Ron
 
I would not use the headlight as a turnsignal. My view is that most people would just think that old car has a bad headlight. Be safe and use a different light for for the signal such as the cowl light or any other auxillary light.
 
I love the idea of a flashing light in the headlight. Just do what Chrysler does on there new vehicles, turn the headlight off when the light is flashing! It will show up nicely.....
 
54A in MN said:
Have you found the required orange 6 volt LED light bulb to fit the socket?? I want to make the same change, but haven't found the bulb to do it. There is a 12 volt from the Aussy supplier, but no 6 volt.
Click to expand...


I helped Brent Terry do a set for a customer car and I just used a yellow sharpie to color the bulb.
 
MrTube said:
I would assume its possible to make it so the actual headlights flash? That will certainly show up at night.
Click to expand...

THAT will definitely catch the attention of local law enforcement ! :rolleyes:


I have seen Model A cowl-lights mounted down on the bumper-irons with amber bulbs for turn-signals... kind of expensive, but it's a tasteful look.
 
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