The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay turn signals, tail lights, '57 3800

I'm trying to get all the lights working on my '57 one ton. It has the factory turn signal switch on the column. Under the bed is a conglomeration of broken and well worn wires and there is a collection of old broken tail lights hanging from the back of the bed. I can't really make sense of what's left so I'd like to run new wires from the front and put new tail lights on the back. Can I use trailer lights with the turn signals included or do they need to be separate lights? Any problems with using LED lights? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

depends on how many wires are coming out of the turn signal switch. I have seen some with all 6 wires (rear turn and stop use the same bulb) but have also seen some with only 3 wires (same switch, only 3 wires connected though). If only 3 wires, you either need to add the other 3 or use separate bulbs for stop and turn.

My '57 3600 has the factory turn signal switch built into the column. The tail lights are like trailer lights with a single fixture on each side with dual filament bulbs.

Matt

What kind of be do you currently have? If you are running the standard pickup Stepside bed, reproduction versions of the OEM taillights and brakcets are readily available with the filament sockets. They are also available with LED lighting as well.

There were 2 different "factory" turn signal switches. If you only have 3 wires coming out you will need separate lamp assemblies. However a 7 wire switch assembly is available and will fit in your switch housing if you prefer combination lights.

wiring diagram for 57 factory signals [six wires from the column] .... yes you can use dual filament "trailer lights"

Bill

The bed is a flatbed, grain bed with the sides removed. I have 3 wires coming out of the column so I guess I need 2 lights on each side, one dual filament and one single. I'm going to have to take the switch off and check it out. The front signal lights used to work but now the RH side isn't working. I'll clean it up and make sure it's working ok before I proceed to re-wiring the tail lights. Could take awhile because I have too many irons in the fire right now. I was hoping for a quick fix but that never seems to work out. Thanks for the help.

you can order a new 6-wire switch, or, if you are a cheap sucker like me, you can probably remove the switch and solder on the 3 additional wires. I had my dad take one of mine and he did that for me. 16ga wire is what you want, there is just not enough room to work with 6 pieces of 14 ga in there and get them all soldered in and bent around properly.