TBird Emergency/Parking Brake Warning Light

paul2748

paul2748

Well-known member
A rare option, the 55/56 Tbirds had a emergency brake warning light mounted on the left side of the dash. I've run across a couple that look like the original but need a measurement. Any one happen to have this option in their Bird? I need the outside diameter of the bezel around the jewel/lens and the diameter of the lens itself.


Thanks
 
It has been a very, very long time since I took my dash out. I do not recall whether my car had it or not. I do recall it in other cars I've owned. I'm assuming it would bolt under the dash bottom to the left side. Do you think one from a full size Ford of the same era or possibly from a Falcon or Mustang would be the same? I have looked through all my Thunderbird books and have not been able to find it.
 
I thumbed thru the big red CTCI Thunderbird restoration manual hoping to find a photo or mention of an e-brake warning light, but didn't find it.
 
It may not be in the Restoration Manual, but it's shown on the Tbird Electrical Assembly Manual. Her's a pic of the kit (this ones for a 55(6V). There was a hole in the dash (next to the light switch) just above the parking brake


dmsfrr said:
I thumbed thru the big red CTCI Thunderbird restoration manual hoping to find a photo or mention of an e-brake warning light, but didn't find it.
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paul2748 said:
... it's shown on the Tbird Electrical Assembly Manual. ...
Click to expand...
The diameter of the hole and distance to the left the headlight switch is shown on page 25 for '55
and page 65 for '56. (those measurements are the same both years)
I'll assume you have the '55/'57 T-bird Electrical Assembly Manual. But if it's like mine it doesn't show the bezel or lens outer diameter measurement you're looking for.

The reprint '55/'57 Thunderbird Assembly Manual I have lists the part numbers for those two years of warning lights (yours may as well).
But it isn't the same as the part number on the box in your photo, which looks like FDH-15848-A

From the T-Bird Elect Assembly Manual . . .
'55) Parking brake signal lamp kit, FEA-15848-B
Lamp assembly FDH-15850-B

'56) Parking brake signal lamp kit, FEF-15848-A
Lamp assembly FDR-15850-A

Also, if the illustrations on those two pages are to be believed, the lens for the '55 warning light has the word 'Brake' on it and the '56 does not.
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Do you have to drill a hole to install said light? I only have two hole in that part of the dash. One is for the light switch and the other is for fresh air vent.
 
fordrodsteven said:
Do you have to drill a hole to install said light? I only have two hole in that part of the dash. One is for the light switch and the other is for fresh air vent.
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The install manual I've got says to drill a new 11/16 inch hole centered 2.44 inches left of the headlight switch and .05 inch lower.
.
 
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The only thing I know about the kit I showed is what was in the ebay ad. I agree on the numbers for the 56 Bird.


That's why I'm inquiring about the sizes. I got a light and switch that looks just like the original but off something else (not a Ford) and I want to see if it meets the original specs. It's tough to find some one that has an original. I have made a mount that looks just like the original.


The biggest problem is trying to locate the flasher. Very hard to locate. It's Tung-Sol part # 642, Ford part # B6A-15858-A. The only one I was able to find was over in Europe for mucho Euros.




dmsfrr said:
The diameter of the hole and distance to the left the headlight switch is shown on page 25 for '55
and page 65 for '56. (those measurements are the same both years)
I'll assume you have the '55/'57 T-bird Electrical Assembly Manual. But if it's like mine it doesn't show the bezel or lens outer diameter measurement you're looking for.

The reprint '55/'57 Thunderbird Assembly Manual I have lists the part numbers for those two years of warning lights (yours may as well).
But it isn't the same as the part number on the box in your photo, which looks like FDH-15848-A

From the T-Bird Elect Assembly Manual . . .
'55) Parking brake signal lamp kit, FEA-15848-B
Lamp assembly FDH-15850-B

'56) Parking brake signal lamp kit, FEF-15848-A
Lamp assembly FDR-15850-A

Also, if the illustrations on those two pages are to be believed, the lens for the '55 warning light has the word 'Brake' on it and the '56 does not.
.
Click to expand...
 
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