Turn signals

cooke

cooke

Member
I need to install turn signals on the Model A, most people these days don’t seem to understand hand signals, at least not the ones I am giving.

I have a brochure for Tickin Through Time, they make a hidden turn signal kit but was wondering how involved the wiring is. I just bought my A with a brand new wiring harness that is set up for brakes and running/headlights, no signals. The rear light are L.E.D. and I guess I would just use the existing front cowl lights for the front signals, they are still a standard bulb. The car is still a 6 volt system and I don’t want to change that. Would all the wiring be done at the base of the steering column? I am not an electrical person so I am looking for a simple way to this, any advice is appreciated.
 
I bought my first turn signal system from Vintique. It was junk. I took it out after about a week. I then purchased the turn signal kit form Snyders (part#A-13310-USA). It is a good reliable set. I found that I needed to run a ground wire from the turn signal switch to the steering colum support bracket. This set is designed to use your tail and cowel lights. I also bought the beeper and installed it in line so I would not forget to turn the switch off. Very helpful.
 
I have the ticken thru time setup on my 1937 sedan and am getting ready to put them on my 1930rpu, I love it. If you go to Snyders online and type in turn signals they come up and you can see the installation directions, the box can be put pretty much anywhere in the cab and has a phone wire up the gearshift with a small toggle switch, it has the beeper so no need for a light.
 
Try doing a search as this has been covered many times before, complete with wiring diagrams, recommendations, actual users, etc. Good luck.
Paul in CT
 
All good advise above. Most vendors sell a kit that even I was able to install twice-not that hard. Last kit I purchased from Bert's and it has worked well.
 
I like the signal stat I got from Snyder's some years ago. It's not hidden, but it has an old-time look to it--and was an easy installation.
 
A signal-stat 900 can be found about anywhere and isn't too costly. Just run an extra ground from the unit.
 
Cooke,
I put a LED turn signal kit on my 31, it's [6 or 12 volt + or -] very easy to install, I got it from Mike's "A" ford-able, but the other venders sell the same thing, it is kind of high $169.95, but you get "every thing you need", the control mounts on the dash left of the steering column by magnet, the lights are small but bright.
I am not an electrical person ether, but had no problem installing the kit, the instructions are very simple and easy to follow.
 
Sacramento Vintage sells the Signal Stat 900 and has wired it specifically for the Model A, and used wire that is cloth covered like the original Model A wiring. It can be wired to use tail/cowl lights, or separate fixtures -- either way.
 
I have the LED panel in my taillite and cowl lamps so using a SIGNAL STAT 800 repro from China I just use the cowl lamp and the brake lite section of the taillite and everything works great.

I used the repop Signal Stat wire diagram maybe eight years ago and all is still great.:)
 
I got pulled over once in a 54 chevy that probably shouldn't have been on the road. One of the items I got told about was turn signals. I told the officer I was using hand signals, which I was. His reply, "no one knows what those are, get your signals working."
 
I'm also a huge fan of the Logo-Lites kit. I got mine in 2004 and it's still doing the job beautifully. Simple bolt-on, discreet, but very bright. The only improvement I made was to paint the (very small) control unit to match my dash color and make it even less noticeable.

I'm sorry they no longer sell their LED rear-window stop light kit. I was lucky to get mine while they were still available. Super-bright, spelling out "STOP" so that no one behind me can possibly miss it. If you go to a show it pops right off in a second, and can be replaced just as quickly with a simple plug and suction cups holding it to the glass.

Great products. Not cheap, but worth it.
 
I've posted this elsewhere, but I'll put it up again :p

It's possibly not something you want to attempt yourself, if you have limited electical skills, but it's an idea anyway.

We were concerned, as you are. Not only about turn signals, but brake lights too. We weren't going to do it, as our car is only a 5 owner car, but we decided a modified tidy car was better than a bent undrivable car! At the same time, the more in fitting we could make it, the better!

We used all repro parts, so the we still have the orginal bracket and light etc.

In addition to the below, we fitted one of those brakelighter 6V LED stop lights.

The new outer lights are standard "A" lights that have the amber top. We wired them so the amber part is the turn signal, with an orange coloured bulb fitted to make the colour obvious. We ran a separate turn signal loom, that we made ourselves. On the front we have a pair of V8 wagon cowl lamps fitted on driving light brackets mounted on the front of the chassis, where the front mounting screw is for the panel under the radiator - also with orange coloured bulbs.

Below the Amber section is the original tail light.

The inner lamp is from a 32 ford, and we chose that, as it is basically a copy of the "A" lamp, without the central bar - the screws and everything are in the same spot. This lamp come standard as brake light in the top, and tail light in the bottom. We've wired both as the stop light.

We have the same setup on the other side (without the number plate obviously). The wiring you can see hanging down had been loom-taped and secured properly too!

photo0109j.jpg
 
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I did the same thing AllenW did on the rear of my roadster. But, on the front, I mounted a pair of '32 Ford cowl lights with brackets I made to the front bumper just inside the bumper clamps. These lights have the same lens pattern as the headlights which makes it kinda neat.
 
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