1947 plyouth brake light help!

[dynaflash_8]

So on my 47 P-15 4 door sedan, i started wiring it up. I ran into an interesting problem. It only has tail lights, as in plugs for single filament bulbs.

How did they run brake lights on these cars?

[BobT-47P15]

The only brake light when new was the triangular one on the trunk lid.

The ones on the fenders were only like marker lights........lit up when parking or headlights were turned on.

To make them into brake and turn signal lights, you simply need to go to the auto supply store and buy

double contact bases that replace the single contact base and slide 'em right into the original holders.

You can do the same for the parking lights to make turn signals there.

So, on mine, when I step on the brake......all 3 rear lights light up, and there are turn signals as well.

Edited July 29, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[steveplym]

You can hook the high side, or brighter side of the bulb filament right up thru any aftermarket turn signal switch. It's pretty easy to do.

[Don Coatney]

I bought dual (staggered) pin sockets at the local auto parts store and soldered them to the original clip as pictured.

[BobT-47P15]

Don, I like your idea about the entire socket.

I put the little bases into the original sockets, but the

problem is not knowing which contacts need to mate up,

and that disc doesn't fit the best.....will turn some. I had

heck making the correct connections last time I replaced a

tail light bulb.

Can you get both staggered and non-staggered 6 volt bulbs?

Edited August 2, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[Young Ed]

Ya Bob both are available. Just off the top of my head I think the #s are 1154 and 1158

[Cpt.Fred]

i widened up one of the slots of the original holders because i didn't know

then that there are modern bulbs with bayonet socket, learned that on the board a few days ago. but it works just fine with the originals,

plus you now know which contact you're going to get.

[deadbodyman]

You think thats a problem ? on a 40 ford they only come with one taillight the other is an option...when I saw this car I was scratching my head...

[Young Ed]

All the prewar cars were like that to a point in time. My 46 Dodge truck was the same way.

[Cpt.Fred]

it seems the odds of meeting another horseless carriage on the road were a lot lower than today...

[deadbodyman]

keep in mind the newer replacement bulbs are 12v so if your running the 6v system you might want to go to raido shack and see their selection...Its been a while but some of these old cars have a pos + ground so check it out first just to be sure....threre are always high intensity LED bilbs ,they can be mounted in a scoket fairly easily too they use 3.2 v ea and draw less current

[BobT-47P15]

I think there are sellers on ebay who have 6 volt bulbs available.

Or do a google search on the net.

[49roadster]

In my area the Napa store has 6v bulbs that fit all the sockets on the '49s

[richards47deluxe]

Kragens still sells the 1154. bought some today.