The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts cab light spacing

hey all

i bought some very cool vintage nos cab lights to go on top of the cab on my 1946 2 ton. they are green, which is allowed in california on old trucks (i checked the vehicle code)

my question is about spacing. I have 5.
is there any standard spacing? the middle 3 are always closer together, but I dont know if there is any standard, or just go with what looks good.

any help would be appreciated

best regards

i guess the three in the middle are identification lamps, and in california:
25351 (a) A commercial vehicle and, except as provided in subdivision (d), any other vehicle 80 or more inches in width may be equipped with identification lamps mounted on the front or rear. No part of any such lamps or their mountings on the front of a motor vehicle shall extend below the top of the windshield.

(b) Identification lamps on such vehicles manufactured prior to January 1, 1968, may exhibit either amber, green, or white light to the front and red light to the rear.

the middle is obviously on centerline, but are the others spaced out at 6 inches?

Take a look in the Gallery at the 1946 big trucks...there are lots of trucks with either three in the middle or two on the corners. I didn't see any using 5...

Mike B

there is a definite DOT standard, the 3 identification lights are spaced at 6-12" in virtually every jurisdiction world wide - the additional 2 marker or clearance lights, are mounted as near as practical to the outside, any other arrangement is some wannabe trying to run with the big dogs .... the ID lights weren't a federal requirement in the 40's, but I believe the clearance lights were

Bill

thanks everybody!

....its so nice to learn something new everyday. Just leave it to the Stovebolt. I enjoy learning and this "light" post has been, shall we say, "enlightning".

I was just thinking about cab lights last night while removing the remnants of the 3 on my 6400.
Already have numerous replacements and hadn't decided on 3 or 5... took a look through the gallery just now and of the trucks that have them 3 is more common than 5, and to my taste the trucks with 3 look much better than those with 5.

Looks like I'll be using 3 again.

Grigg

I've alway thought two looked better on the '47-'55 trucks. I've seen more '41-'46 trucks from my area with the older three light cluster bar clearance lights.

I found this in the 1965 truck book.

http://www.hommie.net/forum/clights.jpg

the lights aren't matters of taste like paint colors, they're mandated by the DOT for a reason > identification of vehicle size in poor visibility conditions -safety- the federal statute was passed [1968] to standardize Conspicuity Systems, note it specifies identification lights to be exactly 3, the Canadian rules are the same, and although the clearance lights started earlier there was no previous reg that specified fewer ID lights .... the page Jake shows is what was done from the factory by the 60's on trucks that were the 80" width specified

Bill

Generally the center 3 ( called idenification lights )are on 6" center spacing while the two outer ( called clearance lights )are as far out on the cab roof as possible. Those are still the DOT regulations to this day

But the way I understand it if you want to restore your old truck (pre 68) as it was, with only corner lights, you can do so.

Mine's under 80" anyhow, I'll stick with 3 widely spaced.

Grigg

yes Grigg, every updating of the regulations includes a "grandfathering" that allows what met the rules at the time a vehicle was produced, like the green color of front markers Jay mentioned to start

Bill

My 1939 Chevy 1.1/2 ton COE tow truck originally only had two amber cab lights in front, on each corner of cab. Also it had two red at the back corners of cab. My truck was out of Arkansas.

Well I am planning on putting all the lights I need to bring my 52' 454-30 up to current standards. Currently my truck does not have cab ID lights or rear ID lights. I am putting 5 Amber lights on the cab roof and 3 red lights on the rear of the dump bed.

What brand marker light/lamp will you use? I'd like original looking streamline (teardrop ?) style ?

chrome would not be right on my plane-jane COE (white grill, red body, black bed and black bumpers)

truck-lite black base
truck-lite white base

grote - white base (looks cheap)

I also will be doing this on my '42 dump. I'm trying to find era correct even '50s style. I really like the KD 517 model cab light. I recently bought a Beehive 3 lamp light bar from grote #49002 for the rear of the truck that look really good. No offence to what Tim posted, But I think all those styles look cheap.

Tim [and alltruck72] - those original style teardrop lights [1st you link, like KD 517's] are very scarce new - Arrow Safety had similar until about a year ago that I think were by Grote, but generally they're now an e-bay thing - similar ones can be found at Tail Light King, but good used ones go pretty fast .... used ones with stainless covers are more likely to be restorable than those with plain steel covers

Bill

Thanks, Bill

I had forgotten about Tallightking

Happy New Year