Tail lights and turn signals

[Travisbraz1]

I have a 55 truck theat I have converted to 12 volt and am rewireing completely. When I got truck most of the wiring had rotted off or been removed. So I don't know how lights were wired originally. And when I got truck it had 2 sets of tail lights, a plastic round set and a cool square metal light with glass lenses that had turned purple from sun. I figured someone had added the plastic ones at some point. Now I am ready to wire up lights and realize blinker switch only has 3 posts,RT turn,left turn and power. So my question is did these trucks have a four light system, if not how were the tail,turn separated on a 1 light system? I can't find meny pictures of the back of a 55 theat is not modified, to tell. Any pics or info would be great. I would like to run a 1 light system without changing blinker switch. Thought I would use a trailer box to separate, bug I am going to led bulbs and was told those don't work with LED?

[Young Ed]

I would guess rather than go through the work of separating them out they just added two new lights. If that is an aftermarket switch anyways you'd be better to just get a modern 7wire. Unless its a cool looking old one or something. 

[59bisquik]

Mine is still 6v, and I had a cool old looking blinker switch and didn't want to change it. What it did up front was replace the socket in the parking light with a dual filament socket so it has a parking light and a turn signal. In the back I modified the stock lights. There is enough room to drill and add another socket. One bulb is for brake and running light and the other is a turn signal. Let's me keep my old blinker switch and use stock tail lights without adding.

[greg g]

Typically new lamps were added that had a single element bulb with the brightness of a brake light. At the front single bulb pigtails were swapped for dual ones and dual element builbs were fitted to facilitate parking lights and signals. So at the rear you would have tail light and stop in the stock lights and signal in auxiliary's. I suppose you could wire brakes in the aux lights and have the stock function as tail and signal.

[Travisbraz1]

I have what I believe is the stock switch. It has a red jewl on it theat lights up. It's cool and I want to keep it. I drew up a complex diagram of how to do it. But it involves diodes and relays and seems like I am making this to complicated. I like 59s idea of drilling another socket.I may go that route if I can't make it simple with LED lights.

[JBNeal]

Is it similar to the Signal Stat 901?  They were a common upgrade and are still available from multiple vendors...the stock switch had a much smaller lever but a larger body...

 

Optional wiring diagram

 

[Travisbraz1]

No it's not signal stat. But I might be going to that because that is what I know. I am a diesel mechanic and have wired lots of them in the big rigs. I have one and was going to use it, but the little old one is way cooler. Problem is it only has 3 wires unlike the signal stat. I have access to lots of cool LED lights for the big rigs. And found the 4 inch LED round push in semi lights with the rubber ring fit nice in the holes where the front turn lights are. And when a chrome tint cover and bezel look very cool. I now want to make rear match. Just having trouble deciding how to do it... Sence I am putting logtruck parts on it I guess I might as well go for the signal stat switch also. It would simply things.I checked out the diagrams and those are well thought out, and if I change switch I will probably use one.this site is great and thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

[rb1949]

I believe your bulb choice will also dictate which flasher is needed. Speaking of turn signals, my 49 (car) blink quite slowly. Was that normal, or should I replace the flasher?

[greg g]

I believe your bulb choice will also dictate which flasher is needed. Speaking of turn signals, my 49 (car) blink quite slowly. Was that normal, or should I replace the flasher?

. Check grounds at all fixtures. If you don't have a body to engine / frame ground strap install one.

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[bach4660]

I originally used a high low bulb on the back of the truck, low for running, high for brake, then added the turn signal, using diodes to keep the current flow one direction, but once you stepped on the brake pedal the bulb went high, over riding the turn signal. I could not get the turn signal to flash while pressing the brake,  probably the way you have already drawn it up. It was a lot of wiring and eventually I gave up and just added two yellow led  turn signals to the bed roll ( I used slightly modified '51 ford ) and kept running/brake in red, and turn in yellow tucked into up high.

[Travisbraz1]

It can be done. If you use two relays and interupt power at the relay with two wires from switch with diodes to prevent back feed.it just seemed too complex for my old truck. I just found some old looking stake mount LED lights with two separate lights in one on e bay. So that is the route I am going with it. Now to find LED bulbs to fit in my gauge cluster....