Front turn signal ideas

[38plymouth]

I'm in the planning stages of adding turn signals to my 38 plymouth. I want to make the rear signals flash inside the brake/tail lights. The front is giving me problems, I haven't seen or found anything to put on the front that doesn't look out of place. I want it to appear either original or installed a long time ago. I saw a few small lights that wouldn't show too much but then they won't be very bright. Anyone got any ideas of what to use? Pics of front signals would be great.

[Young Ed]

I was going to use these on my truck. However the 3 of them fell off the shelf and of course the one with the non matching lense wasn't the one that broke

[greg g]

You can get stalks from a motorcylce recycling yard, then change the bulbs for 6 v. If they look out of place, you can tuck them behind the grille or down under the bumper, in the rear just get some dual contact pigtails and switch to dual filament bulbs. I mounted a set of MC stalk light to the rear of mine to act as seperate flashers indepent of the brake lights. I got them for 10 bucks for the pair.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Image search on 1938 Plymouth on Yahoo returns a few images of front signals attached..bumper mounted slightly out weighed the fender mounted units...but the fender mounted unit was sleeker in my opinion..will however require cutting holes..probably an option you would not want to undergo on a finished stock vehicle...

[Norm's Coupe]

Do you have sealed beam headlights in the buckets or the older type with small bulb? If you have sealed beam headlights you could switch over to the type bucket with the smaller headlight bulbs and reflectors. If you did that you can add a turn signal inside the lower part of reflector inside the headlight bucket. That way you would still keep the same appearance the car has now, and get your front turn signals. You can buy the kits to do this with from the street rod catalog people.

Outside of that, you could put the signals inside the grill. As a last ditch effort, pick up a pair of fog lights and turn those into signals.

P.S. You could also pick up the small bullet type lights like they use on motorcycles and put them on the bumper.

I would probably go with the first option. That way the car stays looking original and cleaner.

[Young Ed]

The 38 should have bulb and reflector headlights already. I imagine you could hide an extra bulb in there for a signal. Not sure how visible they would be-even the headlights are pretty bad on the non sealed beam cars.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed, I've seen that type signal in a lot of street rods. They do seem to work well and are visible. Guess because the signal bulb is amber. At least this way he wouldn't be changing anything real visible on the car. And, if he wasn't happy with the results, it could easily be changed back to original.

[Young Ed]

Norm highly doubt any of those street rods are still 6v. Also they are probably running those specialty sealed beams with the light in the bottom.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed, I can't speak for all those street rods and exactly what headlight system they are using. However, like you said, they probably are 12 volt. That's not a real problem though, just change the light bulbs.

It will work with a 6 volt system though and you really don't need the kits to do it. My brother in law has been looking at this for his 36 Ford 3 window coupe. It's still 6 volt. He has the parts to do the turn signal inside the original headlight buckets. All he did was pick up some used buckets, then picked up small light sockets to put in them. He didn't actually put the lights in yet and who knows when he'll get around to it. He's in no hurry to do anything on that car. He's been putting the rebuilt engine for over a year now. It's in now, but the front clip is still only partially back on the car. I gave him a Watson stop light switch about 3 years ago, and that's not in either of his cars yet. He drives the 38, but even when the 36 is done, I doubt you'll see it on the road except around his house. He likes working on it more than driving it, so he'll probably find some other reason to take something apart on it. So............it could take forever to do anything with any type turn signals on the 36.

[RobertKB]

On my '38 Chrysler I used some bullet style lights I got from a local motorcycle shop. Changed the bulbs from 12 to 6 volt. They are a little smaller than I would have liked but are certainly visible and have a similar shape to the headlight buckets.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Actually the small bulg is a daylight running type light..it is highly over powered by the beam when the headlight is turned on..

[builtfercomfort]

Here's what I got for my 39 Chrysler. Has a rounded back that fits the lines of the car better - I'll paint it body color. I'm going to try LED bulbs from www.dealextreme.com first, may need something brighter.

"Brand New!! Signal-Stat, Model: 73A. The light measures 4 1/4" in diameter and is a fixed stud mount style. Stud and lock washer are included. Bulb wire lead, and lense cover screws are not included. You may purchase a singal or double wire lead, depending upon your application, at any automotive supply store.

http://saturnsurplus.com/lights/ambertractor.htm

[T.Tom Meshingear]

How about using Visibolts http://www.visibolt.com/

in place of the outer bumper bolts.

They wouldn't stick out like the proverbial sore thumb and supposedly they are bright enough for daylight work.

Tom

[Captain Neon]

My father has a '36 Dodge and used foglights (bulbs, not sealed beam) for his front turn-signals. They work well.

http://members.tripod.com/se_mn_super_cars/ironwood/index.album/imag0022?i=21&s=1

[BobT-47P15]

Here's a link to the ebay section on vintage fog lights. Probably most any of them would work.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&from=R10&mppfqy=turn+signals&mppfqy=turn+signals&_trksid=m37&satitle=vintage+fog+lights&sacat=6000%26catref%3DC6&fmmk=&fmmd=&fylo=&fyhi=&mppfqy=fog+lights&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=64804&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

[claybill]

go to a garm supply store for a small tractor light...maybe even 6v.!

bill

[builtfercomfort]

I like the fog light idea, but not any of the tiny lights. I want people to see my turn signals - these cars have poor visibility and if I accidentally do a lane change with someone in my blind spot, I want them to see my signal so they can get out of my way. They may be good for side marker lights or something.

The lights from SaturnSurplus are only $16.50 / pair, but have no 'guts' in them, need to buy lamp sockets.

[Reg Evans]

For my 38 Dodge Coupe and my 35 sedan I'm going to mount these old GM backup lights off of the front bumper bracket. They are shaped like the headlights. I'll paint the inside of the lenses with semi-transparent amber paint from the stained glass store.

[38plymouth]

I still have the original headlights with the glass lens and small bulb inside. I really don't like the look of the big yellow lens on the front bumper, it seems so out of place. I know I could put something smaller on that wouldn't show much but then it wouldn't show up very well either. Does anyone know how these work? I don't even understand how or where they mount.....http://www.haganstreetrods.com/thcart/view.php?retid=LTS

I was toying with the idea of putting them behind the grill but then they won't show from the side.

I think I'm starting to settle on some kind of chrome or black light around 3 inches wide with a clear lens and a yellow bulb inside. I think the light wouldn't stand out as much with the clear lens. I don't know how bright they will be though.

[greg g]

I believe those that you are showing go inside a composite headlamp sold by the same outfit. They would be much like todays modern lamps in that the signal would be under the lens of the headlamp assembly. Whay do you feel you need an amber lens? Amber turnsignals became the deal i the late 50's or early 60's. So it would be OK for a car of that vintage to have a white front facing lamp. And brightness is determined by the bulb so you can get nearly as bright as you want. I like Reg's idea of the backup lamps.

[38plymouth]

I like Regs idea too, I just need to go find some now. I'm not doing this until later on in the winter while the car is put away so I have time to make up my mind and find something I like.

[Reg Evans]

I found mine on eBay while searching "Guide model 31 backup light".

[blueskies]

Does anyone know how these work? I don't even understand how or where they mount.....http://www.haganstreetrods.com/thcart/view.php?retid=LTS

My brother has a set of these on his '35 Chevy, and I think they work really well. They are almost invisible until they blink, and they can be seen even when the headlights are on.

I like them because you get a much better headlight, and the signals are inside the same lense so there is nothing else to add to the car.

Pete

[38plymouth]

My brother has a set of these on his '35 Chevy, and I think they work really well. They are almost invisible until they blink, and they can be seen even when the headlights are on.

I like them because you get a much better headlight, and the signals are inside the same lense so there is nothing else to add to the car.

Pete

Do you have picture of them installed? I still don't understand how they work, they bolt behind my original headlight lens? Will they really show when the headlights are on?

[Jims50chrysler]

not that it matters for turn signals but out of curiosity do you have the slant back 38 plymouth or the hump back?

Jim