correct brake light switch wanted

[harmony]

My brake light switch works fine but since I'm ordering a bunch of stuff soon, I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a spare switch on hand.  But when I started to shop around I discovered that the suppliers ( Andy Bernbaum, Mopar Mall, ) both varified by email that they have female prong switches for my 48 Chrysler C-38.  My switch has male prongs.  The wiring going to the switch looks original with the bakalite type female fittings on the end of the cloth covered wires.  The parts catalog p/n is 8-58-60 and the illustration in the catalog shows it having male prongs.  Even the illustration on Andy Bernbaum's web site shows the switch as having male prongs.

I did find a supplier that shows the switch with male prongs for the '48 Imperial C-40. But then right below that switch is another switch for the same car with female prongs.  I also discovered that ford uses the male prong switch up to 1964. 

I prefer not switching to a mechanical version off the brake pedal if the day ever comes that my brake light switch should fail.

Might there be a difference in the switch pressure setting between the various switches?  I've noticed that some switches have one male and one female prongs.

I suppose if push came to shove and I had to buy the female prong switch, I could use a couple pieces of solid copper or brass round rod to connect female to female and then use some heat shrink over the connections, or even some black rubber hose.

Does anyone know of a supplier for the switch that I'm looking for?

[Dodgeb4ya]

The 1946-48 chryslers ALL use two male prongs.

Your bakelite female wire connectors are factory correct.

Most vendors either don't know or care.

They will tell you to change a wire connector to make their switch work.

 

[Adam H P15 D30]

NAPA has the male prong switches but I don't know the application.  Pressure settings should be compatible no matter what switch is used.

[harmony]

8 minutes ago, Dodgeb4ya said:

The 1946-48 chryslers ALL use two male prongs.

Your bakelite female wire connectors are factory correct.

Most vendors either don't know or care.

They will tell you to change a wire connector to make their switch work.

 

Thanks for that verification. 

[harmony]

7 minutes ago, Adam H P15 D30 said:

NAPA has the male prong switches but I don't know the application.  Pressure settings should be compatible no matter what switch is used.

Our local Napa parts store don't have p/n going back into the late 40's.  But I might go there and see what they come up with for a '64 ford.  Our store is pretty good and if they don't have it in stock and when it arrives if it isn't right, I don't have to buy it.

[Adam H P15 D30]

I feel your pain with the current crop of people at the parts counter.  I have a paper NAPA catalog that I find what I need and give them a part number to order.  Better yet, here is a quick search at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Warner-S194-Hydraulic-Stoplight-Switch/dp/B000E72NLI/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=stop+light+switch&qid=1604598987&refinements=p_89%3ABorgWarner&rnid=2528832011&s=automotive&sr=1-3

or here:

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-U855-Professional-Brake-Switch/dp/B0012OZO1I/ref=pd_sbs_263_1/134-9558945-0900459?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0012OZO1I&pd_rd_r=fcaedf03-59cb-4746-ad12-199ea1965767&pd_rd_w=4Xvd7&pd_rd_wg=b0Af7&pf_rd_p=ed1e2146-ecfe-435e-b3b5-d79fa072fd58&pf_rd_r=Q0ZYC4Y60363DERKRTCV&psc=1&refRID=Q0ZYC4Y60363DERKRTCV

Edited November 5, 2020 by Adam H P15 D30

[harmony]

8 minutes ago, Adam H P15 D30 said:

I feel your pain with the current crop of people at the parts counter.  I have a paper NAPA catalog that I find what I need and give them a part number to order.  Better yet, here is a quick search at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Warner-S194-Hydraulic-Stoplight-Switch/dp/B000E72NLI/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=stop+light+switch&qid=1604598987&refinements=p_89%3ABorgWarner&rnid=2528832011&s=automotive&sr=1-3

or here:

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-U855-Professional-Brake-Switch/dp/B0012OZO1I/ref=pd_sbs_263_1/134-9558945-0900459?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0012OZO1I&pd_rd_r=fcaedf03-59cb-4746-ad12-199ea1965767&pd_rd_w=4Xvd7&pd_rd_wg=b0Af7&pf_rd_p=ed1e2146-ecfe-435e-b3b5-d79fa072fd58&pf_rd_r=Q0ZYC4Y60363DERKRTCV&psc=1&refRID=Q0ZYC4Y60363DERKRTCV

Thanks for those AC Delco and Borg Warner p/n's  That will help pave the way better than giving Napa Canada a year and make of vehicle.  

[desoto1939]

According to My Wagner Brake Catalog  the proper Wagner Brake light switch for Chrylsers from 1937-52 Is the Wagner part number FC5550 and this has the two male ends.

 

This also goes for Desoto 37-52, Dodge 37-52, plymouth 37-52

The correct switch is th eone on the left bottom row

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

 

[61spit]

That switch - FC5550 - sure looks like it has two female terminals on it. The FC7715 in the illustration looks like it has two male terminals.

[harmony]

2 hours ago, 61spit said:

That switch - FC5550 - sure looks like it has two female terminals on it. The FC7715 in the illustration looks like it has two male terminals.

I agree. According to the above reference supplied by Rick ( thanks Rick), the FC7715 goes with the Ford family as well as a few other cars.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Out of my 1994 NAPA Echlin Electrical Catalog...

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by Dodgeb4ya
Add pics

[Merle Coggins]

I don't know if Napa has updated their switches or not, but I went through several of their Echlin brake light switches on my truck (each one replaced under warranty). They would only last a couple of months before the contacts would oxidize and stop passing current. I finally gave up on them and got a Standard brand from Rock Auto. That one has been happily working for 10+ years now. 

 

This is one of the failed ones that I cut open. 

 

 

A quick wipe with Emory cloth found the copper again. 

[Adam H P15 D30]

Good point Merle!  The newer switches may not be able to handle the extra amps in a 6v system.  Since none of my cars remained 6v, I never thought of that.

[harmony]

2 hours ago, Merle Coggins said:

I don't know if Napa has updated their switches or not, but I went through several of their Echlin brake light switches on my truck (each one replaced under warranty). They would only last a couple of months before the contacts would oxidize and stop passing current. I finally gave up on them and got a Standard brand from Rock Auto. That one has been happily working for 10+ years now. 

 

This is one of the failed ones that I cut open. 

 

 

A quick wipe with Emory cloth found the copper again. 

Good to see the inside.  I was wondering how they worked.  I recently watch a you tube channel where a guy was having trouble with the same thing.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Yeah....NAPA= crappa now days...same with a lot of other diy'er parts stores.

[desoto1939]

On 11/5/2020 at 4:39 PM, 61spit said:

That switch - FC5550 - sure looks like it has two female terminals on it. The FC7715 in the illustration looks like it has two male terminals.

The FC 5550 is made to receive the male bull-it end of the wire and the two metal spring clips hold the male end tight in the hole.  This is what I have on my 39 Desoto and it has the two male ends. So look for these at you next swap meet.

 

Rich

[harmony]

2 hours ago, desoto1939 said:

The FC 5550 is made to receive the male bull-it end of the wire and the two metal spring clips hold the male end tight in the hole.  This is what I have on my 39 Desoto and it has the two male ends. So look for these at you next swap meet.

 

Rich

That's the opposite of what I need Rick

[Dodgeb4ya]

SL134...two male bullet terminals.

[harmony]

On 11/6/2020 at 10:43 PM, Dodgeb4ya said:

SL134...two male bullet terminals.

Thanks for the images.  I've taken a picture of them to show the parts counter person.

[ccudahy]

I have a 1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe and a Friend and I just replace the original FC5550 Style mentioned before with an Accel Brake Switch P/N# 181100 for old Harley Davidsons. The connector ends have little screws. We put eyelet on the end of the brake wires and just screwed them down. We just did it a week ago we will see how it works.

 

Edited November 16, 2020 by ccudahy
Image had price, sorry.