The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Cab Lights

I'm building a 63 K20 and it's going to be big. I think it needs cab(roof mounted) lights but can't find the proper "look" for this era truck. Does anyone have pictures of older trucks equipped with cab clearance lights that they would like to share? Any comments on this subject?
Scott

Scott - as those markers were all aftermarket, anything you like the look of is 'proper' - I'd go to a few autoparts places and look at their selection of lights, or a big truck parts place, or an RV place, or hit a few vintage vehicle swap meets - just make sure you check the laws for your area and put the proper pattern of lights on - usually 3 in the middle, one on each corner, front and back - there is a purpose to those lights! I always shake my head when I see guys w/ ½T's w/ a string evenly spaced across the roof - on my 46 1½T dump I used the small bullet-nose lights front and back, w/ the front ones on the headache rack that curved up over the cab

Bill

I'm planning to run clearance lights on my '52 6400 when it is ready. Bought some from a guy who was parting out a similar truck. Real expensive, I think I only paid postage.

Hey Steve,
How many lights are you going to use. I have a 54 4400 that only has three, the ones in the center. I'm not sure I lke that much, I like the three in the center with one on each side too.

Thanks for the reply red58,
I know those lights are aftermarket, but I'm looking for something other than the "farm and fleet" style lights. Everything available now days is cheap with plastic bodies and lenses. I'm looking for unique. I would like something made with steel or aluminum with some detail and real amber glass lenses. I'll probably have to go to a truck stop or a truck shop and spend real money to get what I'm after. Thanks again,
Scott

Scott - the 3 in the center are 'identification' lights, the ones at the outside are 'clearance' lights - they do indicate specific things to commercial truckers at night or in the fog!

from our provincial MVcode:
Clearance lamps:
1) A commercial vehicle may be equipped with 2 amber clearance lamps mounted on the front of the vehicle, near or at the top of the vehicle, in such a manner as to indicate the overall width of the vehicle.

(2) A truck tractor must be equipped with amber clearance lamps mounted on the front of the vehicle.
(3)A vehicle with an overall width of 2.05m [6.8'] or more, or a trailer or semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 1,400 kg, must illuminate
(a) a clearance lamp,
(i) mounted on the front at each side of the vehicle, displaying only amber .... or
(ii) mounted on the front of the vehicle, that is capable of displaying amber, green or white light, but only if the vehicle was manufactured before January 1, 1959, and
(b) a clearance lamp, mounted on the rear at each side of the vehicle, that is capable of displaying only red light visible from the rear.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to a pole trailer.
(5) Clearance lamps on vehicles manufactured after December 31, 1993 must be mounted near or at the top of the vehicle in such a manner as to indicate the overall width of the vehicle.
[most big trucks here have the clearance lights on the rear view mirrors nowadays]

Identification lamps

(1) A commercial vehicle may be equipped with 3 identification lamps, mounted in a row on the front of the vehicle at or near the top, that are capable of displaying only amber light.
(2) A commercial vehicle with an overall width of 2.05 m or more may be equipped with 3 identification lamps,
(a) mounted in a row on the rear of the vehicle at or near the top, or
(b) mounted below the rear door of a van trailer when the top header is 2.5 cm or less in width
......

Bill

I have put those on several trucks. I think they are real cool. They are on my 70 stepside & I get lots of compliments on it. There are real nice set of crome ones called High-Fives. Iget them from J.C. Whitney but I noticed LMC has them too.They are not real expensive.

Check eBay, you can routinely get the old chrome/glass lights.

They weren't always aftermarket...you could have them installed by your friendly neighborhood Chebby and GMC dealers.

I'm going to use at least the five on top. I'm thinking I might overdue it a bit.... Five on top, five at the rear, all four corners and along the sides of the bed. I like light.

I don't know the local law regarding such things, but will find out before going overboard.