The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Simple Question about fender lights.

I noticed most of the big trucks have the round lights mounted on top of the fenders as well as the lights in the grill. Did they come as an option or were they added later?

Top of fender lights are added on at least through 55, I can't say about later ones.

The Taskforce big trucks came that way. The parking lights on a big Taskforce are just that a singe filliment bulb. The smaller trucks had a dual filliment bulb and the turn signle is incorperated into the parking light.

all TF trucks standard had no signals, so single element bulbs and sockets .... turn signal optionss: for big truck and light truck , including replacement sockets and bulbs

Bill

My uncle had a '49 3/4ton when I was a kid, and I remember that on had lights on top of the fenders. They were a metal housing with a small metal visor on the front, and they actually had on arrow on them. I always thought they were cool, but I don't know if they were original or not.

These look like the lights I\'m talking about. Maybe John or Peg could post a closer up picture of these. If these are the ones I'm thinking of, they're pretty cool.

My '47 has lights like those. I've always assumed they were aftermarket add-ons. Mine were not working when I got the truck, but I did get them functioning again. Actually, they're kind of jerry-rigged right now. Eventually, I'll need to take them apart and replace the socket assembly altogether. At that time, I'll also clean them up and repaint them.

Seems to me I was told once that 1953 they said we had to install turn signals on the older models, here in Iowa. I think the deal was if you ran on the hyways much you had to do it,,but the farm trucks had to option of not doing it. Looks like the law is either not inforced now, or was changed, as all you have to have is what the factory installed as new. I'm sure its differnt is every state. Seems that the high pop areas alway freak out about the single tail lights.

I have a 55 2nd series 6400 with the round lights on the fender.

Looking thru the shop manual wiring schematic, there is NO turn signal, just stop signals.

The signal on the steering column does look like it was added afterwards.

Was thinking of doing away with turn signals, like the cool Harleys - just use hand signals. The thing is, instead of 500-700 lbs between me and the next car, I have 7500 lbs!!!

The thing I dont understand is that on my 56 4400, It has "guide" fender lights, wich would seem original GM, but on the column is a "signal stat" signal switch...

My 55 has them, not sure if it came with them or not. I'm just glad they work, LOL.

the signal stat blinker units are aftermarket, at least for the TF - I think there were optional turn signals earlier than the 55.2nd and they may have been the add-on type

with the 55 2nd, there's a turn sig option that is 'built in' to the top of the column, and the lights were in the parking lights, but the fender top lights were an options for the big trucks - either units with a forward facing lens only, or one with lenses on both sides - the one with the arrows was aftermarket

Bill

1954 was the first year that direct...del Chevrolet (and GMC, I think) trucks. These were not available as an RPO (an Regular Production Option installed at the factory - they were installed by the dealer or owner).

In 1954 asnd later, the GM accessory directional signal kit included a column-mounted control that was built-into the column (not a clamp on).

In prior years (and later years), other styles of fender-mounted (or body-mounted, on some models) add-on lights were available as GM accessories (and as non-GM after-market odd-ons). These could be wired as directional signals and/or dual brake lamps by the dealer or owner. A non-GM clamp-on controller was used (Signal-Stat & Truck-Lite might have been two brands?). The front fender-mounted GM accessory directional lamps had "arrow-heads" on them (and were available as early as 1949 and maybe earlier).

Does anyone know what year the dual tail/brake lamps were standard items? Some states (Washington, for example) required them to be available from the dealer in the late 40s (from the factory or installed by the dealer).

Does anyone know when directional signals were standard items?

So, if mine has a hose clamp holding it on, chances are it is an aftermarket?

Also check for signal stat or truck lite? Then it is for sure aftermarket?

Thanks for the help!!

Pakrat -- those lights on my truck are the Signal Stat 2-3-4 "arrow" lights that were on the truck when I bought it.

V/R
John

Corrected, per below, to eliminate bad gouge.

My 37 1 1/2 ton has those cool "juice can" signals with visors and arrows on it. I'm sure they were added at a much later date. A set just went on ebay for $120 bucks and one had a broken mounting stem! Wahoo40 p.s. my lenses seem to be melted into the housings...cool eh!

I hesitated before posting this - in some cultures it is risky correcting a Grand Poohbah.

In 1954, complete turnsignal kits were available from GM as an accessory for all sizes of trucks (different kits for different trucks). A link to a photo of these accessories is given in a post above.

Also, fender-mounted directional signal lamps, but not the controller, were available as GM accessories for earlier Advance-Design Chevrolet trucks. Here is page from the 1949 Chevrolet Truck Data Book.

Tim

Thanks for the correction, Tim. I don't want to pass bad gouge!

I'm not sure what other cultures you may be used to, but in the Stovebolt Culture, we leave our egos at the door -- the important thing is to help one another and to foster a culture of continual process improvement.

Regards,
John